The Foote School Viewbook

THE

FOOTE SCHOOL

At Foote, there is a real sense of school community involvement touching every child’s life. We feel that it is the perfect fit for our son Nicholas. We see his love of learning and his excitement everyday when he comes home.

—Deborah (Fong) Carpenter ’82

Mission

Laete cognoscam et laete docebo the Foote school nurtures a lifelong love of learning and teaching and fosters a commitment to excellence in its students and faculty. teachers lead children to ask questions and discover connections; to think and work independently, collaboratively, and creatively; and to learn by doing. our community values each child, appreciates differences, and challenges prejudice while giving our students the skills to explore the world with joy and purpose.

Welcome to Foote The Foote school is a dynamic community of learners and teachers.

We value critical thinking and the hands-on opportunity to learn by doing that is the hallmark of experiential learning. Throughout this booklet and on our website (www.footeschool.org) you will see examples of what i see every day—excitement in teaching and learning. but the very best way to get the feel of the school and determine whether it is the right fit for your child is to visit our campus and our classrooms and see our students and teachers in action. Witness firsthand the programs that make Foote school an environment that nurtures a lifelong love of learning. i hope to greet you on campus soon. sincerely, carol maoz Head of School

Foote is a school where‌ 11

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Gladly will I learn— At Foote the school day is full; the pace is varied so there is time for quiet reflection as well as stimulation. Students work individually with teachers for personal instruction, in small groups for specific skill-building and cooperative problem-solving activities, and as a class for lessons and meetings.

Classrooms are designed to ignite students’ curiosity, placing a multitude of information and experiential materials at their fingertips. Lower school students (Kindergarten—grade five) follow a basic curriculum of reading, writing, mathematics, science, social studies, and world languages. This forms the foundation for multidisciplinary activities in which they explore the world around them, and apply the skills and knowledge they acquire in class.

Small classes, small group instruction, and individual attention help children achieve their potential.

Creativity, independence, leadership, and an inclusive and respectful approach to interacting with others are as much a part of the Foote classroom as the core curriculum. Through the fifth grade, instruction is primarily based in the homerooms, but students also go as a class for “Specials,” formal instruction in the library, world language classrooms, the computer lab, art studios, music rooms, theater, and gymnasium.

…hands-on, discovery-based science

and math begin in

At Foote I developed a passion for languages and became a life-long environmentalist.

—Michael Fertik ’93

Part of the Kindergarten science curriculum includes tapping the campus maple trees, tracking the fl ow of syrup, and fi nally, participating in the actual making of the syrup.

kindergarten.

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Middle School (grades six-nine) students have homerooms but move from class to class for specialized instruction across the disciplines.

Their challenging and demanding core curriculum includes English, history, (combined as humanities in grades six and seven), mathematics, science, and French or Spanish. Latin begins in grade seven. Technology is woven in to enhance the curriculum; theater, the arts, music, and physical education continue.

As in the Lower School, teachers use the multidisciplinary, experiential approach so that students understand connections to their learning, their lives and the world around them. Students encounter more rigorous expectations and deepen their knowledge and skill set.

Each year Middle School students participate in local, regional, and national competitions in math, government, world languages, and athletics and experience a high degree of success in each.

Both Lower and Middle School classes supplement the curriculum with field trips to the seashore, orchards, nature parks, and rivers as well as art and science museums, plays and performances, exhibitions, businesses, and other places of interest. These trips provide focal points for learning through observation, interactions, discussion, writing, mapping, drawing and threedimensional construction.

Community is important across the grades: Diversity of thought, background and cultures strengthens the global orientation of the curriculum and enriches the experience of every member of the community, in and out of the classroom.

‌reading, writing,

L anguage French, spanish and Latin are studied at Foote. children in grades kindergarten through three have introductory lessons in French and spanish. These oral lessons enhance linguistic skills. Families choose either French or spanish for more advanced work beginning in the fourth grade; classes are conducted primarily in the language being studied. Latin instruction is added in the seventh grade in addition to French or spanish.

abouT FooTe… students: 470 boys and girls in Kindergarten through grade nine Faculty and staff: more than 120 dedicated, highly qualified men and women.

Foote School encouraged me to be curious, investigate, and keenly observe how things work. I use those skills every day now in my chosen career in the sciences, and feel very lucky that I got such encouragement at an early age as a student here.

—Cecelia Azhderian ’93, science illustrator and sea otter biologist

and oral presentation are stressed in all grades.

campus: • 17.8 acres and 10 classroom buildings • 47,000 volume library • Science and computer laboratories • Black-box theater, music rooms, art studios • An activities center, a gymnasium, two regulation-size playing fields, and two playgrounds • A tree trail, butterfly garden, and wooded area for exploration and outdoor education.

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Foote challenges students to ďŹ nd their voices, to understand that there are stories to be told, and gives them the intellectual tools to tell them. This is important across the curriculum from English to world languages to science. —Bill Dennett, Educational Consultant

Le a de rs h i P ninth grade students take leadership roles in various middle school activities: student government, yearbook, literary magazine, assemblies, community service, school newspaper, tutoring program, amnesty international, model congress, environmental action, and grey and maroon school teams. They are role models for the community.

‌classes are small and

Teachers at Foote not only instill the joy of learning—they exemplify it. As role models for students, they weave authentic experiences into the life of the classroom, helping students to question and to see the interconnectedness of what they learn. They cultivate children’s strengths and help them develop their full potential by learning skills to improve areas of need. Sensitive to the diversity of individual talents, teachers stress cooperative effort, accountability for one’s actions, service to the school community and the world beyond, and above all, kindness to others.

Teachers collaborate across grades and disciplines to enrich the academic program at every level. Our Middle School teachers and advisors specialize in middle school learning styles and developmental needs. Although more than half of the faculty hold advanced degrees and serve as mentors for other teachers, they continue to take courses and attend workshops. Collegiality and allegiance to Foote are strong; half of the faculty has been here for more than 10 years.

A Learning Support Program provides educational screening, individual tutoring, and consultation with

—and gladly teach.

discussion-based.

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‌there is an emphasis on inquiry and cooperative effort.

teachers, parents and other professionals to respond to specific learning challenges and to support different learning styles.

Close relationships develop between students and faculty throughout the grades. In the lower grades children spend most of the day with homeroom teachers. From grade six on, when students begin to change classrooms depending on the subject, each student is assigned an advisor who monitors the student’s progress and serves as liaison with other teachers and with parents. The advisor, who typically works with six to nine students, also functions as a mentor and resource for the student.

Parents and faculty share information frequently.

All grades hold individual teacher/parent conferences in the fall, and additional conferences are held during the year (at teacher or parent request). Written reports are sent to parents twice a year. Beginning in grade six, students receive letter grades for effort and achievement along with a written comment in each subject.

Our advisory system leads to in-depth discussions that promote the open sharing of information and ideas between faculty and students on important academic, community, and emotional issues. The main focus for small advisory group meetings is on values and decision-making.

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The Perrine Library—a hub of activity Our 47,000 volume library is the heart of the school, and Foote is truly a community of readers.

Three full-time librarians help students and teachers select books and identify and use on-line resources for research and pleasure. Their stated goal is for students “to discover that libraries are wonderful places where they can find literature to feed their imaginations and information to answer their questions.” Weekly circulation averages 1,000 books.

The Perrine Library • 47,000 volumes • 1,000 books/weekly circulation • 3 full-time librarians

The library is open before and after school hours, and parents are always welcome. In addition to selecting books, hearing stories, and discovering new authors, from Kindergarten on students learn how to use the library and pursue research. Computers augment the library’s extensive collection and students are taught Web navigation techniques and to evaluate sources as they search for additional information. A vibrant website allows students to search the library catalog and recommended on-line databases from school or from home.

…the campus is part of the curriculum.

technology as a Learning tool Technology at Foote supports the curriculum with innovative approaches to learning. In addition to the dedicated computer labs that accommodate classes, and the library computers, there are another 150 networked computers in classrooms throughout the campus. Four Information Technology specialists instruct students and help faculty identify appropriate websites, use appropriate programs, and augment curriculum.

Technology was not isolated to one area. I learned to use technology as a creative tool to solve problems. —Ben Berkowitz ’94, co-founder and CEO of SeeClickFix.com

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The World is Our classroom: The china Program Love is without borders… these visits help to deepen our understanding of each other and promote exchanges and cooperation.

—Chen Guangwen, 2004 guest teacher

Each fall since 1998, a teacher from China has come to Foote school and worked with students throughout the semester, introducing them to chinese history, art, family life, and mandarin—all from a personal perspective. The teacher is hosted by Foote families.

The ninth grade curriculum has a special comparative cultures component, giving students an understanding of other cultures as well as their own. students from the yali middle school, our sister school in china, have visited Foote, and Foote students and faculty have visited china.

…world language instruction begins in kindergarten and continues throughout the grades.

community Service Awareness of the larger community begins in the kindergarten classes. As students move through the grades, their horizons broaden beyond Foote to the greater New Haven and world communities.

All students take part in recycling, campus clean-up, food, book, and clothing drives and other activities that benefit the greater community. Whenever possible, community service is tied to subjects studied. For example, in conjunction with its unit on ecological systems and the environment, the fifth grade has run the school’s recycling program for more than 25 years. In addition to community service work and projects, older students address ecological concerns locally and globally in the Environmental Action Group. They study political concerns through the Amnesty International Group, and they craft government bills for the good of the greater community through Model Congress.

I can’t believe something I made with my hands will keep someone warm this winter. —Foote School Fourth Grade Student

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Every grade goes outside to play— every day!

Developing healthy Lifelong habits: Physical education and Sports The Foote School’s well-balanced physical education curriculum helps children develop skills at all levels, learn teamwork, follow directions, practice sportsmanship, build self-confidence, and develop a lifelong appreciation of the value of physical fitness.

All students have regularly scheduled gym periods as well as daily recess. Three full time physical education instructors work with all the grades, tracking individual progress. In the upper grades, sports teams meet daily after school. Seasonal offerings include soccer, field hockey, swimming, basketball, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and tennis. More than 85 percent of older students at Foote participate in sports programs each year.

inTerschoLasTic sPorTs in addition to regularly scheduled gym classes, Foote’s athletic program provides the opportunity for every seventh, eighth and ninth grader to play on an interscholastic team. (sixth graders may join the swim team.) The program is optional, but as many as 85 percent of our middle school students participate most seasons. several sports have both varsity and junior varsity teams. our program stresses sportsmanship, skill-building, perseverance, and increasing self-confidence and teamwork.

The focus is on participation and cooperation so that all team members have regular opportunities for playing time.

It’s great to compete with your friends (on Field Day) knowing they’ll still be your friends afterwards and that they’ll still like you no matter who wins and who loses.

—Caitlin Cahow ’00, Olympic Ice Hockey Player and law school student

Fall: • Field Hockey • Soccer Winter: • Basketball • Swimming (also open to sixth graders) Spring: • Baseball • Softball • Lacrosse • Tennis 15

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…you can be an athlete and an artist

MAROON & GREY The school’s colors, maroon and grey, go back to the 1930s.

New students are assigned to either the maroon or grey team their first year at Foote (families are always on the same team) and friendly competition is a highlight of the annual field day.

When asked whether she was a grey or maroon, Caitlin Cahow ’00, a member of the US Olympic Ice Hockey Team, responded “grey” but noted that “It’s great to compete with your friends knowing they’ll still be your friends afterwards and that they’ll still like you no matter who wins and who loses.”

and a musician.

middLe schooL acTiViTies and cLubs amnesty international chess club chorus community service drama productions environmental action group Footenotes—literary magazine Foote steps—yearbook Jazz-rock ensemble model congress orchestra sPi—student newspaper student council

committed to community involvement, Foote school sponsors programs involving neighboring public schools. sTars (schools Together for arts resources) activities involve teachers and students from Foote and public schools meeting on saturday mornings during the winter term for arts-focused activities. in Footebridge, new haven public school teachers and students ages 6 to 8 come to Foote’s campus during the summer for a full-day literacy enrichment and teacher training program. both programs, funded through grants and individual donors, are free to students, and teachers receive stipends.

o uTre a ch P r o g r a m s

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Parents are an integral part of the Foote community.

At Foote School Pa r e n t s at F o o t e

Parents are an integral part of the Foote community.

Beyond their commitment to the educational process, they enrich programs tremendously by sharing particular interests and expertise. They help in many ways: library volunteering, cooking with classes, driving for field trips, organizing and running the Foote Family Fun Day, Book Fair, and Book Swap. They conduct vision and hearing screening, host new families and organize a potluck supper following the fall Parents Night.

All parents and teachers are members of the Parent Teacher Council (PTC), which organizes many events and projects and provides a variety of services to the community. New parents are encouraged to become involved in a PTC project of interest to them.

Aft e r - S c h o o l P r o g r a m Kindergarten though sixth grade families may enroll their child in Foote’s after-school program Monday through Friday for an additional fee. Children enjoy a warm, relaxed atmosphere with a choice of indoor and outdoor options, including the gymnasium, art studios, and computer labs. Thoughtful, caring supervision provides continuity with the school day. The program runs until 5:30. Mini-courses are

offered each trimester, and private music lessons are offered throughout the year. While many of our older students participate in our after school sports program, those who do not may remain on campus under After School Supervision at no extra cost.

Va c at i o n P r o g r a m

A Vacation Program is offered to families during most of the times that Foote School has vacation days. This is popular with many families.

Summer Program

The summer program welcomes students ages four to 18 from Foote and the greater New Haven community with a wide range of recreational, creative, and educational activities—theater, sports, basketry, sculpture, hiking, yoga, cooking, knitting, quilting, woodworking, science exploration, exposure to world languages and culture. The emphasis is on enjoyment and relaxed, exploratory learning.

…everybody knows your name.

T r a d i t i o n s a n d Sp e c i a l Ev e n t s Assemblies Groups of classes gather regularly to make announcements, share projects, and celebrate achievements. Some assemblies feature special speakers, presentations, recitations or recitals. Each season, students participate in assemblies presented for parents. Drama productions are performed in the school’s Sandine Theater.

Foote Family Fun Day in September, featuring food, music, and games, provides a low-key, informal opportunity for parents and children to meet new families, see friends, and have fun on a Sunday afternoon.

Grandparents Day in October brings grandparents and special friends from near and far to attend classes with students, meet teachers and experience Foote’s lively spirit.

Parade with students and faculty walking in costume.

The Parade is followed by the Fair, which features special activities prepared by older students to raise funds for community service.

At Field Day the Maroon and Grey all-school teams take part in friendly competition with sack and threelegged races, sprints, relays, medleys and tugs-of-war.

Parents share their children’s excitement.

May Day is an annual spring tradition. All students perform various folk or country dances, highlighted by the third grade dance around the Maypole and the ninth grade rendition of the sword dance. Families look forward to this beautiful festivity, and parents of fourth graders and older join in the Virginia Reel.

Halloween Parade & Fair Parents gather around the athletic field in anticipation of the Halloween

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…it’s cool —to be smart.

after Foote …

Students leave Foote with a global education and a commitment to lifelong learning and active, ethical leadership. Just as important, they take away a sense of having contributed to a close community that valued them and supported their journey from childhood to young adulthood. They and their families benefit from thorough secondary school counseling, ensuring the best option for each individual.

We were first drawn to Foote by the many alums we taught, coached, advised and got to know as young people. As Foote parents for over a decade, what we appreciate most is the excitement for learning that is a critical part of Foote’s culture and the outstanding and committed faculty who inspire that excitement from kindergarten onward.

—Stephen Farrell and Susan Peel Farrell, Choate Rosemary Hall faculty

The three most common secondary school choices in recent years have been the independent schools based in the area: Choate Rosemary Hall, Hopkins School, and Hamden Hall Country Day School.

Feedback from boarding and day schools indicates that Foote students have high degrees of academic success and involvement with student life.

Recent top college choices have included Yale, George Washington University, New York University, Amherst, Wesleyan, University of Connecticut, Brown and Harvard.

Our graduates include college presidents, playwrights, scientists, musicians, journalists, restaurateurs, computer engineers, actors, athletes, judges, diplomats, authors, and more.

Foote students who’ve graduated come back to visit—whether they’ve left just a few years ago and are stopping in to see some favorite teachers, or are celebrating their 65th reunion with returning classmates on an official reunion day! Many come and share their expertise with our students in the science or computer lab, in the theater, and art studios or during informal discussions.

The Foote School is a Kindergarten—ninth grade school that affirms diversity. It admits students without regard to race, color, national and ethnic origin, religion, physical disability, or any other status protected by law. Foote does not discriminate on these bases in the administration of its admissions, financial aid, or extracurricular activities, or its hiring policies.

Credits | Writing: The Foote School | Photography: Kim Tyler and The Foote School | Design: Good Design, LLC

Driving Directions From I-91 take exit 6, Willow Street.

At the end of the ramp, turn right and go west on Willow Street to its end at Whitney Avenue. Turn right onto Whitney Avenue, then take the second left onto Highland Street. Go up the hill; the third left is Loomis Place, where the school runs the length of the block on the right.

Note: I-95, the Connecticut Turnpike, both east and west bound, connects with I-91 at exit 48 in New Haven.

The Foote School 50 Loomis Place • New Haven, CT • 06511-2284 203-777-3464 • fax 203-777-2809 • www.footeschool.org

50 Loomis Place • New Haven, CT 06511-2284 • 203-777-3464 fax 203-777-2809 • www.footeschool.org