Strategic Vision Update 2017

2017

ENGAGING EVERY STUDENT UPDATE GERMANTOWN ACADEMY

STRATEGIC VISION

Dear Friends, In 2015 Germantown Academy introduced our Strategic Vision, the primary goal of which was to distinguish our school as a leader in student engagement. Since then we have developed and expanded upon curriculum, co-curricular programming, and facilities in order to allow our students to thrive, to find new opportunities for personal and academic development, and to grow to love learning in such a way that they will be inspired to pursue intellectual passions for a lifetime.

Our annual Engagement Updates provide a distillation of this compelling work occurring across our campus. Whether we are enhancing instruction in traditional GA areas of expertise like critical thinking or exploring new ways to meaningful integrate technology into the curriculum to allow students greater voice and creativity, know that GA remains resolute in providing our scholars-in-the-making with the skills they need to be successful leaders, innovative thinkers, and empathetic individuals.

From PreK through the Upper School, our faculty stand committed to constantly reexamining what and how we teach in every context. At the same time we recognize that the personal and interpersonal skills required for 21st century success are as dramatically different at the time of our founding 258 years ago as they are from the skills emphasized even just ten years ago. Intellectual flexibility and adaptability must become hallmarks of a 21st century education, and our approaches to student engagement are clearly the foundation of this work. We embrace the exciting challenge before us as we strive to fulfill GA’s Mission through this Vision in ways that befit our current times and cast a bright light around the bend on what is yet to come.

Best,

2017

Rich Schellhas Head of School

UPDATE

STRATEGIC VISION

OUR VISION

Germantown Academy will distinguish itself as a leader in student engagement.

Know Every Student A Critical Skill Bringing Literature to Life Passion Projects Meeting Students Where They Are Full Steam Ahead

2017

KNOW EVERY STUDENT

Knowing students as learners and as individuals is a key component in engaging students in their learning. This fall, GA is introducing a new 9th grade retreat to offer faculty a head start in learning more about their students and in forging positive connections before the school year moves into full swing.

For the students, Head of Upper School Chris Nelson hopes this experience not only will provide 9th graders with a better understanding of the supports in place, but also will make those supports feel more approachable and accessible. Additionally, and importantly, whether as new students or as children rising from the Middle School, the ability for students to form early friendships and deepen connections with their classmates will help support their transition to the Upper School.

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2017

A CRITICAL SKILL

Educational leaders and organizations recognize that critical thinking is the essential skill our children need to master to be prepared in the 21st Century.

GA embeds the learning of this skill through all grades and academic disciplines, but will take another step this coming year by offering a new Upper School minimester in “Critical Thinking.” The Academy is fortunate to have former GA faculty member Craig Merow, who has returned to the area upon completion of his doctoral studies in bioethics and philosophy, at the helm.

In an increasingly digital world, we are bombarded with a continuous stream of opinions and arguments.

How do we distinguish between “alternative facts” and well-supported conclusions, “fake news” and responsible journalism, emotional rants and logically sound arguments? Dr. Merow will help students employ the tools of logic, empirical science, and statistics to develop the skills necessary for the systematic evaluation of beliefs, factual claims, and arguments.

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2017

BRINGING LITERATURE TO LIFE The Middle School English Department took to heart that The Beard Center for Innovation was designed to further engage students in learning for all academic disciplines, and not just the sciences, when the seventh grade students used Makerbots and laser cutters to create physical renderings of the most vital symbols in Ray Bradbury’s foreboding novel Fahrenheit 451.

The mesmerizing results were unique objects that connected the symbols in the novel with its overarching themes using compelling textual evidence.

Department Head Kristen Donches noted that when it came time to write essays students were able to recall and articulate the different symbols with greater ease than in previous years due to the impact of their own hands-on learning and the creation of physical manifestations of their literary interpretations.

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2017

PASSION PROJECTS Germantown Academy continues to strive to give students a voice in their learning whenever possible, and our eighth grade elective offeringshave been a huge success! In 2016-2017 we offered Coding, the New Community Project for MS, The Art of Literature and Film, Drama, and Mythology.

In 2017-2018 the Middle School will offer Coding, Mindfulness, CAD Design & 3D Printing, Character & Leadership in Sports, and Drama.

Electives, like minimesters in the Upper School, are passion projects of sorts for both teachers and students alike which allows them to join together around areas of interest and explore topics in depth. This risk-free learning environment heightens student engagement and empowers students as life-long learners.

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2017

MEETING STUDENTS WHERE THEY ARE GA believes that engaging teachers challenge and support students appropriately. This belief was the underpinning of the Lower School’s decision this past year to move forward with a single-subject acceleration approach for math. By enhancing skillsbased groupings, students in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades, who met the established criteria for acceleration, were able to take the next level math course during their own grade level’s math period.

In addition, faculty were able to expand the co-taught, smaller group model for 1st-5th grade students to offer increased support in mastering concepts and skills, with the goal being that all students would meet grade level standards or even stronger at the end of each school year. This personalized approach offers faculty another way to meet all students where they are on their own learning path and to provide dynamic learning possibilities.

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2017

FULL STEAM AHEAD In the Lower School, technology is integrated into art in a variety of creative ways. When young students experiment, play, and use technology as a tool in their individualized design process, their skills grow and apply directly to more sophisticated technical engineering and industrial art in later years. In addition, technology allows ideas and iterations to happen quickly and without commitment or fear of failure.

This past year, fifth graders learned in-depth about Alexander Calder, the inventor of the mobile, through his large-scale kinetic sculptures. Students created several CAD (computer-aided design) models of their own mobiles, which were then printed on our 3D Makerbots. By bending wire, drilling, sanding, sawing, sculpting, painting, and most important, precision balancing, the students proudly created mobile sculptures Ă la Calder with a wide variety of materials and colors.

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• Work Hard and Embrace Challenge • Demonstrate Resilience and Perserverance • Listen Well and Communicate Thoughtfully • Develop Critical Thinking Skills • Seek and Share Their Passions • Create and Innovate • Learn Actively and Collaboratively • Express Curiosity and Ask Questions • Take Academic Risks • Connect to the World Beyond GA

• Inspire Interest in and Passion for their Subjects • Offer Varied Multi-Sensory Learning Experiences and Assessments • Teach Critical Thinking Skills • Stimulate Intellect, Curiosity, and Academic Risk Taking • Challenge and Support Appropriately • Strive for Growth and Improvement • Draw Connections to the World • Cultivate Problem Solving and Resilience

ENGAGED PARENTS

• Encourage their children to live the mission.

• Support their children’s involvement in the GA community • Help build the GA community • Are ambassadors for GA • Remain actively informed • Partner with their children’s teachers, coaches and administrators • Know their children’s friends • Model the Civility Pledge

• Promote a Creative, Innovative Spirit • Know Students as Learners and as Individuals

GERMANTOWN ACADEMY

2017

ENGAGED STUDENTS

ENGAGED AND ENGAGING TEACHERS

UPDATE

STRATEGIC VISION