Baltimore Fishbowl Guide to Baltimore Independent Schools by independentschoolguide

2020-2021

Guide to

Baltimore Independent Schools Helping you make the best choice for your child’s independent school experience.

C AT H O L I C S C H O O L S ENROLL TODAY

Independent School Guide Publisher & Editorial Director

Advertising Executive

Associate Publisher

The Baltimore Fishbowl Guide to Baltimore Independent Schools is published once yearly by Indicia Media, publishers of baltimorefishbowl.com.

Susan Gerardo Dunn Nicole Allen

Editor in Chief Muffy Fenwick

Contributors

Julie Sawyer

To advertise in the guide, contact Nicole Allen at nicole@ baltimorefishbowl.com. Indicia Media, 1014 West 36th Street Baltimore, Maryland 21211 443-668-2152.

Elizabeth Heubeck Marian McCusker Karen Nitkin

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Dear Readers, It is hard to believe that this year’s Guide to Baltimore Independent Schools marks our fifth edition. We continue to discover innovative ideas in and out of the classroom, meet new leaders at the helm, and celebrate the vibrant students who make their schools so special. However, this year, every independent school, both here in Baltimore and across the nation, faced unprecedented challenges. In these pages, you will learn how the global pandemic has both changed the way schools are thinking about traditional curriculum practices and accelerating multi-media initiatives. An emphasis on wellness has dominated many of these discussions and we explore how independent schools are supporting the whole child- not

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just academically but socially and emotionally as well. In tandem with these efforts, schools continue to develop new programs to promote a 21st-century education for their students. Programs from STEAM, outdoor education, service learning to entrepreneurship abound. Longtime school leaders collaborate with newer administrators to create robust programs and address the everchanging climate of our world. As always, at the heart of all of this work, is the students: the scholars, the athletes, the thespians, the artists and the inventors. They have shouldered the previous spring’s global pandemic with its sudden pivot to online learning and elimination of spring rites and yet still look to the coming year with

enthusiasm and determination. Hear from them how, despite everything, they remain committed to their schools and define what makes each one unique. As always, we hope the guide will give you a snapshot of the wealth of school options we have in and around Baltimore. As a city, we are so fortunate to offer so many choices, many of which are tailormade for your child. Take the time to explore each one then dig further, using the directory resource at the back of the guide, to schedule a tour or attend an open house. As we have learned, nothing beats an on-campus visit to truly experience the flavor of a school firsthand.

Contents

Editorial

Independent Schools Enter Uncharted Territory The 2020-21 school year will be like no other featuring smaller class sizes, heightened safety protocols, and a mix of in-person and online lessons. See what area schools have planned to re-open their doors this fall.

Weaving Wellness into the School Day

Educating students to be their best selves means more than just teaching facts and figures. Independent schools are embracing wellness initiatives to combat adolescent stress and promote healthy living.

Moving Forward in a Time of Uncertainty An interview with the Association of Independent Maryland Schools Executive Director Peter Baily.

Sponsored Content

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School Spirit

Program Spotlight Influencers Independent School Directory Guide to Baltimore Independent Schools

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School Spirit Resilient, thoughtful, resourceful and

spirited, today’s independent school students juggle academics, extracurriculars, service and leadership. Meet lower, middle and upper schoolers whose passion for and commitment to their school communities are evident in all they do.

Guide to Baltimore Independent Schools

School Spirit THE BRYN MAWR SCHOOL, GILMAN SCHOOL AND ROLAND PARK COUNTRY SCHOOL: Three distinct institutions united by two bridges create an expanded educational experience. Each campus provides the best of both single-sex education and co-education through middle and upper school collaboration with its neighbors. Beginning in the sixth grade, boys and girls come together for musicals and performances as well as joint social events. By the upper school, boys and girls take classes together. Upper school students can choose close to 200 electives between the neighboring campuses. Crossing the bridges over Roland Avenue and Northern Parkway, Bryn Mawr, Roland Park and Gilman students come together, collaborate in and outside of the classroom, then return to their respective campuses where they head organizations, compete on athletic teams, and share in their unique schools’ traditions and celebrations. CAMMY, TEM and SOLAI, tri-school student leaders, share what makes their school experience so special.

THE Bryn Mawr School CAMMY, Bryn Mawr’s student government president, has called her school home since kindergarten. Her involvement in the community touches all areas, from the squash courts to the school newspaper, the Quill, to peer mentoring younger students. Here, she reflects on her 12-year Bryn Mawr journey.

What makes you feel proud to be a student at your school? Bryn Mawr’s commitment to inclusivity makes me feel proud to be a student here. We have countless clubs and forums to discuss social issues and to provide safe spaces where students can share their beliefs. Our administration is also extremely supportive and open to hearing from the students about how Bryn Mawr can continue to evolve as an institution.

Which two adjectives best describe your school? Curious and emboldened. I can say with complete confidence that the spirit of a true Bryn Mawr student is characterized by an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. We see the great value in our Bryn Mawr education, we ask questions to further our understanding, and we continue our learning beyond the school’s borders because we are simply interested in knowing more. Bryn Mawr instills in each student the value of our opinion. We are taught to not only share our beliefs but to advocate for them, which is a lesson that has provided me with the confidence to pursue countless opportunities in my life outside of school as well.

What is the greatest lesson from your school you will take away with you? The greatest lesson that Bryn Mawr has taught me is the power of self-advocacy. Bryn Mawr cultivates an environment where the students feel as though they are not only allowed to share their opinion, but their beliefs truly matter and can enact real change. Our administrators are accessible and more than willing to meet with students in order for their voices to be heard, and taking advantage of these opportunities has taught me the power of sharing my perspective with others. Whether I’m asking a teacher to clarify a concept or discussing my opinion on recent events with the Dean of Students, I’ve been taught at Bryn Mawr to feel empowered by my beliefs and to advocate for them.

Gilman SchooL TEM, Gilman’s senior class president, is excited for the upcoming school year. Walking the campus for the first time since the spring, he looks forward to the renewed camaraderie with his friends. He also plans to resume his role as manager of the varsity basketball and volleyball teams. Which two adjectives best describe your school? The two adjectives that best describe my school are accepting and independent.

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Which two adjectives best describe your school? Spirited and welcoming. All of the staff and students here are friendly and encouraging. From the energy of Opening Day to the cheers of the Dodgeball Tournament, there have been innumerable displays of spirit shown throughout each school year. What makes you feel proud to be a student at your school? I’m proud to be a student at RPCS because I’m given the opportunities to take a range of different classes, be an athlete, a leader, and a friend at the same time; I don’t have to choose to be just one.

What makes you feel proud to be a student at your school? I am proud to be a Gilman student because Gilman has strong academics that uniquely challenge each student. Gilman has a faculty and staff that not only care about students as people but they also help guide students with things that are happening outside of the classroom. The Gilman community prepares students for a future after college because they understand that there are so many possibilities for us after our time is done at Gilman and they want us to be prepared for anything and everything. What is the greatest lesson from your school you will take away with you? The greatest lesson I will take away from my school is to always stay true to myself because by trusting in your instincts and believing in yourself you can reach your goals without compromising your values.

Where is your favorite place on campus? The grade-level dean’s office is my favorite place on campus because it is where I can go on my good and bad days and always feel safe. This room is a place I can get candy, a reality check, a laugh, reminisce on some great memories with friends, relieve some of my stress and worries, and let out my emotions when I’m overwhelmed. What do you think distinguishes your schools from the other independent schools? I think our wellness and entrepreneurship programs distinguish RPCS. Students, parents and guardians, and faculty are well-educated on health and wellness from information given by our counselors, nurses, athletic trainers, peers, and discussions from professionals. The RPCS Leadership and Entrepreneurship Institute allows us to make a change in our community and to inspire others to create a positive change in our world through programs such as the R.E.D. Block Seminars, the Capstone Fellowship Program, Debate, the Philanthropic Literacy Board, and summer internships.

Where is your favorite place on campus? My favorite place on campus is easily the studio art room. Who is your favorite teacher? My favorite teachers are Mr. Fitzgibbon and Mr. Connolly.

Roland Park Country School SOLAI, an RPCS 12th grader, looks forward to leading her class as senior class president. She already envisions creating new traditions to mark the class of 2021’s final year. In addition, she runs on the track team, is a peer health mentor, and helps cultivate the on-campus garden.

Guide to Baltimore Independent Schools

School Spirit

The Boys’ Latin School of Maryland Boys’ Latin Laker, JONATHAN, will serve as the school’s student body president during his senior year. He brings to this role involvement in theater, Diversity Club and Black Awareness Club as well as a great appreciation for his school and a commitment to diversity. Which two adjectives best describe your school? Welcoming and caring. If I had to use a third, I would say open. BL is a welcoming, caring, tight-knit community. It’s who we are as a school. What makes you feel proud to be a student at your school? At Boys’ Latin, you are immediately part of a family. I felt this way from the moment I began at Boys’ Latin as a third grader. Teachers and students come from diverse areas, which was different from my old school, making me more comfortable. At BL, you never have to worry about feeling uncomfortable, because faculty and students have your back, and, as I said before, we are a family. What is the greatest lesson from your school you will take away with you? Embrace who you are, and stay true to yourself. I never felt like I had to put on a façade at BL or that I had to change. As I moved into high school, I further embraced who I was, and the verbal support that I received from teachers and peers made all the

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difference. The school’s motto, Esse Quam Videri, meaning to be rather than to seem, is fundamental to our community. You often hear it on campus, and it is something we strive to live by. Who is your favorite teacher? I am fortunate to have had so many great teachers at BL, but my favorite is Ms. Tubman. Since my first day in the upper school, she has been in my corner. She is a supportive voice and has always encouraged me, both in and out of the classroom, while stressing that school comes first. Where is your favorite place on campus? To be honest, I have two favorite spaces. The first is Ms. Tubman’s room (Ms. Tubman is an upper school Spanish teacher and the Community & Global Programs Coordinator). Her room is the first place I go when I arrive on campus; my friends are there, and I interact with lots of different people. It is a place where there is no pressure, and I can just let my guard down. I also love spending time in the theater arts room. Whether I am rehearsing a play or a few of us have stopped by to see Mrs. Molling (upper school theater arts teacher), you can often find her engaging students in deep conversations around life lessons or important topics. Also, the boys who participate in plays are a tight-knit group. Many students who perform are also heavily involved in campus life and other activities, such as varsity athletics or robotics. What do you think distinguishes your schools from the other independent schools? The strong connection that exists between all three divisions: lower, middle, and upper school. I can’t speak for other private schools, but I think this makes us unique. We have a Laker Buddy program where upper school boys are paired with lower school students, and they often become really good friends. Every day after school from 3 p.m.-6 p.m., I work with lower school boys through our Harford Heights program, our after-school child care for lower school. It’s a great experience.

Garrison Forest School The call to “Be Spirited” is at the heart of Garrison Forest School’s mission and represents one of its five core values. Embodying this are the student leaders who rally the girls in their division to not only showcase their spirit but to compete in team events, from games to service projects. Garrison’s spirit captains, MINA, RAYAH, LIVY, MOLLY and LUCY, lead the school’s two teams, the Light Blues and the Dark Blues. Students, faculty and staff are sorted in a school-wide celebration, often to loud cheers, colorful outfits, and resounding spirit. Each captain tells how Garrison Forest has instilled her to “be spirited.” Where is your favorite place on campus? Mina, 2019-20 Lower School Spirit Captain: The outdoor classroom because we can explore nature and have fun! What makes you feel proud to be a student at your school? Rayah, 2019-2020 Middle School Spirit Captain: I feel proud to go to Garrison Forest because the teachers and students are amazing. The community has always pushed me to try harder and fulfill my intent to improve. I also feel proud to have classes with friends from all over the world and learn about their cultures and their languages.

every student to become an amazing young woman who will be ready to take on the world when she completes her final years at Garrison. What is the greatest lesson from your school you will take away with you? Lucy, 2020-2021 Upper School Spirit Captain: The greatest lesson I will take away from Garrison is that you should always ask for help if you need it. Garrison has taught me to be confident and not afraid to be who I am. This confidence that I have gained will stick with me for the rest of my life. What do you think distinguishes your school from the other independent schools? Molly, 2020-2021 Upper School Spirit Captain: What I think distinguishes Garrison from all of the other independent schools is that we are an all-girls school that supports students in all areas of the school. Our teachers, coaches, advisors, and counselors all want the best for us and will support all students in any way possible. All of the teachers are willing to do whatever is needed to get each student to be her best and achieve the best results possible in every situation. At Garrison, we are taught to be young women who will go out into the world and make a difference wherever we end up.

Which two adjectives best describe your school? Livy, 20192020 Middle School Spirit Captain: Garrison has five core values which include being authentic, brave, compassionate, curious, and lastly, being spirited. These words signify what a Garrison girl is all about. If I had to describe Garrison in two adjectives, they would be nurturing and diverse. I believe that Garrison guides and structures

Guide to Baltimore Independent Schools

School Spirit

McDonogh SChool KIBIR, a junior at McDonogh, has immersed herself in the life of the upper school as a violinist in the strings orchestra, a participant in the school plays, and a member of the Comic Book Club and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She reflects on what makes her school so special, including Roots Farm, where she enjoys spending time. Which two adjectives best describe your school? One word would be supportive. I can’t count how many times teachers and administrators have reminded us that we can always reach out to them if we need any support either academically or personally. The second word is hardworking. This describes both the faculty and the students. The teachers use different teaching strategies and ask us for feedback so they can make sure that we are all learning fully. When it comes to the students, I believe that every one of us has at least one thing that we are passionate about in school that we work hard to grow in. Where is your favorite place on campus? Any place where I can see a lot of nature is a great place on campus for me. There are fields at school that are nice to look at during certain times of the day. The Roots Farm is a great place to see different plants being grown, and it is very calming there. Even the woods are fun to walk in when you are with your friends. Who is your favorite teacher? Honestly, it’s really difficult to choose just one teacher to be my favorite. Sometimes, I think a certain teacher is my favorite because of a certain quality, but then I think of how another teacher is great in a different area. Every year when I move up to the next grade, I find another teacher that makes my school year great, so, in the end, there are way too many to choose from. That’s one of the good things about McDonogh teachers. What do you think distinguishes your school from the other independent schools? I think that the respect that McDonogh has for tradition as well as the school’s willingness to try new events and organizations to grow is really noticeable. There are days that we spend time honoring holidays with our traditions. A lot of time, there are clubs and discussions held to talk about current events so that we can become more aware as a community and move forward, too. These two things complement each other well.

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Fifth grader JAKE is passionate about robotics, engineering, and inventing new creations and has participated in after-school programs in chess, battle bots and robotics. He also enjoys cooking, volleyball, tennis, basketball, swimming, biking and ping-pong. As a first-generation American, he especially appreciates other cultures and their traditions and loves sharing his school spirit with his family and friends. Which two adjectives best describe your school? The two adjectives that best describe McDonogh are generous and unique. Our school community is generous in helping those in need. Hosting food drives and donating blankets to cancer patients come to mind, but there are many examples. I use the word unique because McDonogh offers a custom curriculum and a huge variety of afterschool programs. In fourth grade, the Passion Project allowed me to explore and better understand what I am truly passionate about. What makes you feel proud to be a student at your school? I am proud to be a student at McDonogh because my teachers help me identify, share, and reach my goals. McDonogh also gives me endless opportunities to express myself. What is the greatest lesson from your school you will take away with you? The greatest lesson I have learned from McDonogh that I will keep and remember for the rest of my life is “the golden rule” of treating others how you want to be treated. This simple lesson can help stop arguments before they happen and build new friendships. What do you think distinguishes your school from the other independent schools? I believe that the time and effort every teacher devotes to each individual child distinguishes McDonogh from other schools. When you are a student at McDonogh, teachers get to know the real you and your entire family. They guide you in the right direction without forcing you to make certain decisions. There is always freedom of choice with support and guidance. To me, McDonogh is a FAMILY and not just a school.

MERCY HIGH SCHOOL Mercy High School senior, LEANDRA, has been a school leader on and off the field. A soccer player, track runner, and cheerleader, Leandra has also served as class president during her sophomore and junior years. She shares her gratitude for her school. What makes you feel proud to be a student at your school? I know that this institution represents important values like compassion, hope and service–qualities known of all Mercy girls. I feel extremely proud when people say, “Oh, you are a Mercy girl!” because I know they immediately associate me as a person that lives and emulates the strong values of Mercy. What is the greatest lesson from your school you will take away with you? The greatest lesson from my school that I will take away is that you have to go out into the world and spread love. When you see that the world is full of poverty, sickness and disparity, you have to be that change you wish to see. Where is your favorite place on campus? My favorite place on campus is the lobby because I love to meet my friends in the morning there and it’s always going to be a special memory of my time at Mercy because of the bonding and memories I have made there. I have studied there, laughed there, talked there and experienced all the ups and downs right there. Although unusual, it is very sentimental to me.

SAM, a senior at Mercy High School, arrived on campus her sophomore year and made it a priority to seize every opportunity possible at her new school. She is a foursport athlete who has performed in Mercy’s Footlighters, served on Student Council and led her class as their field day captain. Which two adjectives best describe your school? Mercy is resilient and full of compassion. Who is your favorite teacher? Mr. Davis is definitely my favorite teacher at Mercy. He is extremely passionate about teaching and he cares about his students. I have not only been in his AP Language and Composition course but I have also worked with him on the Student Council Executive Board. Mr. Davis was a dependable, logical, upbeat moderator who was a keen listener and gave our team efficient feedback to help make our plans or ideas even better. I look up to Mr. Davis’s leadership and he inspires me to work hard and stay engaged in my learning and stay involved in our school community. What do you think distinguishes your school from the other independent schools? The Mercy staff and faculty distinguish themselves from other independent schools. They are excellent leaders and are extremely passionate about their roles in the school and all full of compassion and support for the student body. They communicate well among themselves and remain flexible with their students. The teachers at Mercy care deeply for students’ health and well-being. There are countless teachers at Mercy I personally could go to if I need advice or support. The teachers are resilient to challenges and understanding of their students’ needs. The faculty and the passionate leadership at Mercy make it unique from all other independent schools.

Guide to Baltimore Independent Schools

School Spirit

The St. Paul’s Schools Senior AIDAN believes he has “truly taken advantage of everything St. Paul’s has to offer” in his nine years at the school. As a theatre student, a member of the varsity golf team, the head of the SP photo and video club, a pianist, travel enthusiast, and aspiring filmmaker, he feels St. Paul’s has helped cultivate and support his many talents and interests. Which two adjectives best describe your school? Diverse and inclusive. We have so many different groups of people who are in our community, and yet every group is compatible with one another. Half of the kids in choir are on the varsity lacrosse team. The dance company Inertia has several boys in it. Many students taking high level classes are also heavily involved in extracurriculars. One quote that I will never forget from the middle school is this, “You are part of something bigger than yourself.” This togetherness, this sense of brother and sisterhood, is what makes me excited and happy to be a part of St. Paul’s. What makes you feel proud to be a student at your school? More than anything, I am proud of our fantastic community. The environment at St. Paul’s is truly unique. I remember coming in as a nervous freshman and being immediately welcomed by numerous upper classmen. They were inclusive, accepting of mistakes, and supportive. Now as a senior, I strive to give that same experience to the under classmen and continue to keep our community connected. What do you think distinguishes your schools from the other independent schools? I think that the St. Paul’s arts department is unlike any other. We have an unmatched co-ed dance program that performs at a professional level. The SP choir practices vocal technique that distinguishes us from any other high school choir, also performing at a professional level. Our visual arts department showcases students work throughout the Ward Center and features their artistic skills onstage in set designs. The theatre department is deeply rooted in many different theories of acting and pushes students to do more than just memorize lines. All of these elements, on top of our many fantastic facilities, are truly unique to The St. Paul’s Schools.

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ALISON, a sixth grader at St. Paul’s School for Girls, has served on the student council and is an athlete, competing in soccer and lacrosse. What adjective best describes your school? I would describe my school as warm. I was welcomed to the school and felt right at home by teachers and students. I would also say that St. Paul’s is a very tight-knit community. You know almost everyone in the school so much that you are constantly waving in the hallway. Having smaller classes lets you get to know people better and smaller classes make learning a bit easier. What is the greatest lesson from your school you will take away with you? I will forever take with me the lesson of building a sisterhood through friendship and learning. Where is your favorite place on campus? My favorite place on campus is the big hill with picnic tables and Adirondack chairs. I love going to this spot with my friends to eat lunch. It has a beautiful view of the campus, and it makes me happy and calm. Who is your favorite teacher? I don’t really have just one favorite teacher because each teacher I’ve had has left a different impression on me. They’ve all given me great advice and insight. What do you think distinguishes your schools from the other independent schools? I think what distinguishes us from other schools is how big our campus is yet how small my class and the whole community feels, as well as how close the relationships are for a school that teaches K-12 and boys and girls.

WALDORF SCHOOL OF BALTIMORE HESHY, a fourth grader at the Waldorf School, is always willing to lend a helping hand around campus. He especially enjoys caring for the community chickens and exploring the outdoors surrounding his school. Which two adjectives best describe your school? Fun and exciting. Waldorf is fun because we do a lot of different activities and not just sit behind a desk. There are also a lot of different fun classes and electives like library, woodworking and nature studies. It's exciting to have festivals and special events both in class and together with the whole school. What is the greatest lesson from your school you will take away with you? Always try and put in your best effort. Who is your favorite teacher and why? Mrs. Wolf-Smith has been my teacher for two years already and I'm so happy that she will still be my teacher until sixth grade. I like her because she makes learning fun by having interesting activities. She also works with me and helps me in areas that are hard. If you could change one rule at your school, what would it be? I would like to spend more time in the woods and explore further. What do you think makes your school the best place for you to learn? The school gives everyone ways to do what they are good at. There's a little bit of everything every day and my teacher makes learning fun and interesting. There are also a lot of great specialty classes that I really like. The teachers are very nice and are willing to help you if you need extra help or have a problem. Waldorf is a really great school.

Waldorf seventh grader ZOE has been part of her school community for her entire educational journey. She is a skilled bass player and a standout athlete. What makes you feel proud to be a student at your school? Watching myself grow up at the Waldorf School since the Children's Garden and seeing all the things that I have learned how to do. Going to assemblies and events, I see younger students and I can say I did those same things. What is the greatest lesson from your school you will take away with you? Always be kind to others. Where is your favorite place on campus? Willow tunnel. The tunnel is sacred and safe. You can take a deep breath and smell nature. What is your favorite class (or school-related activity)? Art, because you can express yourself on paper, on wood and in other ways What do you think makes your school the best place for you to learn? You learn that everyone is different. You can learn how to be talented in different things and not be embarrassed. You can try different things. There are group projects and individual projects. The best gift you could give your kids is sending them to the Waldorf School!

Guide to Baltimore Independent Schools

With Safety a Top Priority, Independent Schools Enter Uncharted Territory By Karen Nitkin

maller class sizes. A mix of in-person and remote learning. New air filtration systems and sanitation stations. Masks for students and staff. A rethinking of sports, school plays and other activities. These are just some of the ways independent schools in the Baltimore region have prepared for the 2020/2021 school year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Leaders of several local independent schools spent the spring transitioning to online instruction, and then planning for the new school year. While they found ways to make online learning engaging and age-appropriate, all said they prefer that students learn in classrooms, at least part of the time. We interviewed school leadership about the unprecedented challenges they face as they balance their responsibilities to educate students, build community, and keep students and staff safe. They acknowledged that circumstances are changing rapidly, requiring continued flexibility and creativity. “Our primary responsibility is for the health and safety of our children,” said Zipora Schorr, director of the Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School, echoing the concerns of others. “That’s the conundrum. How do we provide enough in-person experience, balanced with a keen responsibility and concern for safety?” Interviewed over the summer, here’s what they had to say:

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C hristopher Post

Headmaster, Boys’ Latin School of Maryland Boys’ Latin is adopting a phased-in approach to bringing students back to campus for in-person learning. Lower school students will have staggered schedules through the middle of September while students in grades six through 12 will rotate between on-campus instruction and distance learning, as conditions allow. The school recognizes that the situation is ever-changing and is prepared to quickly adjust its learning plan should guidelines require and to remain vigilant against spread of the virus. That also means anyone with even a sniffle will be required to stay home. “Extra precautions will be taken, including the wearing of masks, classrooms arranged to allow for physical distancing, increased cleaning and sanitizing protocols just to name a few,” said Post, headmaster of the K-12 school for roughly 630 boys. Over the summer, school officials added hand sanitation stations, upgraded the HVAC systems, and conducted an analysis of the school’s physical space. “We have more than 70 acres of campus here and we’re looking to use every square inch,” said Post.

The school is also adding technology to classrooms that will allow students to tune into classroom discussions and lessons from remote locations. This digital technology will remain in use beyond the pandemic. The Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) voted to postpone all fall athletic competitions and championships. “We know how important physical education and being active is for boys,” Post said, “so whether we are learning virtually, in a blended model or fully on-campus, we will offer physical education for all grades, as well as provide athletic experiences for our fall teams.” During the remote spring semester, a top priority at Boys’ Latin was “connecting to every child every day in some shape or form, even beyond virtual classes,” he said. Lower school students, for example, logged on to Zoom for circle time and various activities while middle school students might have lunch with their advisory. “I could not be more proud of our faculty, staff and administration for the way they worked around the clock. And the resilience of our boys and families has been extraordinary.”

P riscilla Morales

Associate Head of School, The Park School of Baltimore The Park School, founded in 1912, educates more than 800 students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. “Our return to classrooms in the fall prioritizes three things,” said Morales. “Connection, safety, and academic continuity. While masks and smaller group gatherings will certainly be different for us, the joy of learning and teaching will remain the same.” If conditions allow, Park’s lower school students will be on campus five days a week, with middle school and upper school students in classrooms at least two days per week. When students are not on campus, they will participate in virtual classes, projects, and extracurricular activities such as clubs and ensembles. There will also be time for online interactions with school counselors and with friends. All students will be divided into cohorts to minimize interactions with others and allow for six feet of physical distance in all classroom spaces. Students and staff will

be screened for illness whenever they come to school, and will be required to wear cloth face coverings. Large gatherings and interscholastic sports competitions are not anticipated, at least for the fall semester. The school has also added sanitation stations, and is encouraging teachers to use outdoor spaces for learning when possible. When Park moved to distance learning in March, it remained focused on its mission to "cultivate children’s innate curiosity by nurturing their interests and engaging them as active participants in their own education,” said Morales. Extracurricular activities like student publications continued remotely, and new clubs were even added, such as a “meet my pet” group. “This was an important component of connectivity for our students and faculty alike, who really missed being on campus together.”

Guide to Baltimore Independent Schools

J ohn Polasko

President, Gerstell Academy Gerstell Academy, founded in 2002 with just seven students, has grown to become a learning center with 415 students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. The goal for the 2020/21 school year, said Polasko, is to have elementary school children on the Finksburg campus full-time, with older students learning through a mix of online and in-person classes. “We have the spaces and ratios figured out,” he said. “But we need to be able to pivot as things change. Our teachers know that.” One idea, he said, is to have labs two days in a row, so that students can have opportunities to both participate in person and through a simulcast. “If you’re dissecting a frog, it’s tough to do over a computer screen,” he said. The students will also stay together in advisory groups of eight to 10, he said. “The advisors do a lot of mentoring and coaching of our students. We want them to stay together on campus, and to meet virtually as a group when they’re off campus.”

P at Whitehead

Executive Director, Waldorf School of Baltimore The Waldorf School, which goes from toddler parent-and-child classes to middle school, is working to create “the safest possible environment for children to return to the school,” said Whitehead. “In preparation for any scenario, our teachers are working over the summer to prepare lessons for both in-person and distance learning. We have a faculty task force implementing health and safety guidelines into our day-to-day operations. We are planning for physical distancing, programming adjustments, and hygienic practices, which will change the way school classes are organized. For example, teachers will come to the students' homeroom class rather than students moving around the school to different subject classrooms.” In March, when the school transitioned to remote learning, field trips and annual events became virtual. “Eighth grade students presented their culminating projects in a live, virtual meeting and celebrated an online graduation as well.” The amount of live instruction increased based on age with the most online interaction happening in the middle school. For younger children, screen time was often limited to circle time or a puppet show. Teachers also were available to support and respond to parents. “Waldorf education values human interaction and hands-on, experiential learning,” she said. “During distance learning we worked hard to continue working with these principles”

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Z ipora Schorr

Director of Education, Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School Beth Tfiloh, a Jewish day school for 975 students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, was already working to incorporate more technology into education when the pandemic struck. “Our teachers were ready,” said Schorr. “For children who learn differently, we had our learning lab teachers work with children who did need additional attention,” she said. Preschool teachers used Zoom to meet individually with students, and many even drove by their homes with signs saying “We miss you” and “We love you.” For middle school and high school students, “we didn’t change the curriculum, but we changed the pace, so students were not spending hours a day on Zoom,” she said. This fall, she believes the school has several advantages for coping with COVID-19, including additional training over the summer in virtual pedagogy, and space to practice physical distancing.

“We have three gyms, and sufficient rooms so that students can be spread out in small groups and can readily practice social distancing.” To keep class sizes small, high school students might toggle between in-person and online learning, she said. Technology will allow students to participate in classroom discussions and learn from another room, or from home. Other changes include no hot lunches in the cafeteria, hand sanitizer in every classroom, upgraded filtration for the HVAC system, and additional staff to keep classroom furniture and equipment clean. Masks will be required for all teachers and students. The school invested in clear masks that will let students see their teachers' faces. “We tried very hard to think of every possible detail,” she said. “Hand-washing, masks, social distancing, and grouping students in ‘cohorts’ with a minimum of crossgroup movement, are all core elements of the protocols that have been proven successful.”

P eter Kwiterovich

Assistant Head of School, Gilman School Gilman School, with about 1,000 students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, is preparing for all contingencies. The preference is to provide education on campus as much as possible in the 2020/21 school year, with virtual learning options for families who may not feel comfortable sending their son to school in person. The school plans to have lower school students in school five days a week, middle school students in school at least four days per week and upper school students in school at least three days per week. Safety protocols include daily screenings for safety and exposures; face masks requirements for all students and employees; sanitizing stations; touchless faucets; upgraded HVAC air filters; and boxed lunches served in classrooms.

“Our faculty has been engaged in professional development throughout the summer focused on strengthening their online teaching techniques and lesson plans. This includes striking an appropriate balance between asynchronous and synchronous lessons. We’re adding smart conference cameras in every classroom that will enable students from home to participate in their classes in real time. Whether in-person or virtually, our teachers will be ready to engage their students in transformative learning. “It’s an exciting time in some ways. It’s an opportunity to be visionary about the possibilities in education.”

Guide to Baltimore Independent Schools

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CONNECTED! Now accepting applications for the

2021-2022 AcAdemic YeAr!

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A co-ed Catholic Parish School serving grades K – 8

Program Spotlight

Independent schools are constantly evolving to address an everchanging world. In and out of the classroom, this means new initiatives in the area of technology, partnerships in the community, career exploration and opportunities to explore the outdoors. Learn more about these exciting programs.

Guide to Baltimore Independent Schools

Program Spotlight Temple X Augmented Reality Ashburton Community Tour

Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School

Children from Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School and Baltimore’s Ashburton community are building relationships while making history through the Temple X program. A collaboration between Beth Tfiloh, Liberty Grace Church of God, Towson University, Project Wave, and other organizations, Temple X is developing an engaging augmented reality historic walking tour of the Ashburton/Forest Park neighborhoods. The tour will tell the story of growing up through the eyes of a white Jewish child and an African American Christian child in the 1950s.

The children worked remotely to develop an app for the interactive walking tour. Throughout this process, children are learning more about the neighborhood’s interracial dynamic – both then and now – by interviewing Baltimore natives such as the Rev. Dr. Alvin Hathaway, pastor at the historic Union Baptist Church, and Beth Tfiloh Congregation Executive Director Eve Kresin Steinberg. The children are learning about one another’s cultures while getting a better understanding of technology. “It’s been an amazing experience,” said Beth Tfiloh’s Dr. Susan Holzman. “To watch the kids and hear the questions they ask shows that they really get it. They weren’t afraid to ask the hard questions, and to see that kind of openness among the children was such a joy.”

Biomedical Program

The Catholic High School of Baltimore

The Catholic High School of Baltimore’s Biomedical Program is a strategic addition to the school’s already robust academic curriculum. This four-year program is designed to allow students to explore medical sciences based on their interests and abilities. This is accomplished with a variety of coursework that is not available in most high schools, courses that include, epidemiology, biotechnology, and bioethics. Learning also takes place outside the classroom, as students often participate in programs such as the National Institute of Health Summer Internship Program, Floating Doctors international trip to Panama, and live surgery opportunities.

Taking learning to the next level, Catholic High combines biomedical scientific literacy with a hands-on/minds-on approach. Peg Prentice, Biomedical Program Team Leader, shares, “I’ve never seen another high school that offers students such a real-world, immersive experience like our Biomedical Program. Most students don’t have opportunities like this until they are in nursing or medical school. Our students are uniquely prepared for almost any biomedical college coursework and beyond. It really is a game changer.” This fall, the school will open its exciting, new clinical simulation lab to provide hands-on learning experiences for students to develop real-world clinical skills using advanced health care technology.

Outdoor Learning

Located on 110-acres, Garrison Forest School has long used its tree-lined campus as a learning lab, incorporating outdoor education across multiple subjects as an intentional part of its curriculum. The campus includes an outdoor classroom, outdoor space for small group learning, a pond, a small pollinator garden and even a “hammock garden” for relaxing. From science experiments to outdoor art displays to play and relaxation time, teachers are regularly using these outdoor assets to enhance classroom lessons and bring learning to life.

Garrison Forest School

Research shows that exposing students to authentic and meaningful outdoor experiences throughout their school years can help reduce stress, while also building stronger critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Gail Hutton, Head of the Lower Division, notes, “When we create opportunities for children to learn outdoors, we are also providing pathways for them to create, explore, problem-solve and negotiate. We heighten and enhance their sensory skills, help them to discover patterns, learn about animals, and create a keen awareness and concern for the environment.” Moving forward, the unique campus at Garrison Forest will allow the school greater flexibility in following health and safety guidelines as schools prepare to re-open to students.

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Capstone Integrative Creative Research Project

With a world of educational possibilities in front of them, students in the upper school at Glenelg Country School seize the opportunity for exploration through the Capstone Integrative Creative Research Project. Open to all seniors, students have the unique opportunity to “choose their own adventure,” pursuing their passion in a research project of their own design. Pulling together multiple disciplines, students work throughout the year to complete this project. While their work is guided by feedback, students are in charge, defining their goals and working independently to complete the project. Rather than focus on a perfect outcome, Glenelg Country School students are urged to focus on the process, building project and time management skills. Final projects are then shared in one-night performances, in presentations to small groups of students, or with the upper school student body. The final step has the seniors present and defend their work to a group of teachers in an oral defense for feedback and grading. Past projects include an original musical about a student’s experience living with Tourette’s Syndrome, and modern pop songs composed of Romantic era poetry and music. While the work can be challenging and demanding, having such creative ownership in a Capstone project is wonderfully rewarding for students.

Upper School Prep (USP) Program

Jemicy’s Upper School Prep (USP) program is a comprehensive, pre-high school curriculum designed to serve students who need further development of foundational academic skills to transition successfully to a college-preparatory upper school program. The program serves bright and talented students, ages 13-15, who are in their last year or two of middle school and have been diagnosed with dyslexia or a related language-based learning difference. Academic strategies and executive function skills are explicitly taught, consistently integrated, and reinforced daily in every class. These skills include organization and planning, active Jemicy School listening, note-taking, effective communication, time-management, study and test-taking strategies, reading strategies, and self-advocacy. Head of School Ben Shifrin shares, “Too often, teachers assume students possess the innate skills needed to organize, study, and take notes on material presented in class. At Jemicy, we make no such assumption. We understand that even bright students who have weaknesses in these areas may struggle in school.” The Upper School Prep (USP) program improves academic success by fostering the self-awareness, confidence, competence, and independence needed to tackle the rigors of a college-preparatory high school curriculum. Students may matriculate to Jemicy’s upper school or to other area high schools.

Medical Studies Program

Medical Studies is part of Notre Dame Preparatory School’s Science-Technology-EngineeringArt-Math (STEAM) Program. Laying the groundwork for students interested in pursuing the medical field, Medical Studies is supported by a plethora of classes, a new Innovation Wing, NDP’s Women In…(WIN) Experiential Learning Program and the Women in Medicine club.

Notre Dame Preparatory School

The basic sciences ground the medical program, with additional medical-focused classes, from infectious disease to biology of cancer, elevating it. The newly opened Innovation Wing, which houses NDP’s Medical Suite, allows students to complete advanced laboratory experiments. In this new space, students can explore the human body with a touch of the finger thanks to the full-size Anatomage Table.

The Women In…(WIN) program places students in settings to engage in hands-on, realworld opportunities. Students have shadowed physicians and nurses, observed surgeries, and more. The Women in Medicine club focuses on bringing women who are involved in the field in to discuss their careers and career pathways with the students. “The hallmark of NDP’s Medical Studies program is that it lays a foundation for students interested in pursuing college majors and careers in medicine, public health, or medical research,” says Mary Agnes Sheridan, Director of STEAM at NDP. “Coursework, internship opportunities, and club activities combine to create this holistic experience.”

Guide to Baltimore Independent Schools

Program Spotlight Day Student Program

The opportunity to learn and grow extends far beyond the classroom at Oldfields School. Offering beautiful surroundings, genuine friendships, and boundless futures, the Day Student Program offers the best of both worlds. Making up 20-25 percent of enrollment, day students experience all the benefits that boarding school offers while staying close to home. They are fully integrated, whether enjoying breakfast, attending study hall or participating in weekend gatherings. With 18 percent international enrollment, students gain a global perspective, allowing them to see the world in new ways. Additionally, over half of the faculty live on campus, making guidOldfields School ance from trusted teachers readily available. This 24/7 aspect allows students to truly know teachers and classmates, leading them to knowing themselves better. Moments like these are magical, and happen frequently at Oldfields. The result is education with a deeper level of personal connection that opens doors (and minds) to opportunities for discovery. The family-like sense of warmth and welcoming that encompasses the Oldfields experience is unmatched. The school not only becomes a home for all students, but the people become family. Add to that their intentionally small size, personalized learning, tuition assistance programs, and flexibility with on-campus and remote learning options (unique to present times), the school is a great choice.

New STEM Curriculum

St. John’s Parish Day School, a co-ed Episcopal school for students ages three through grade five, is launching a new STEM (science, technology, engineering & math) curriculum to enhance their interdisciplinary, project-based, and student-centered approach to learning. Promoting the development and application of what has been taught and learned in new and different ways, this interdisciplinary curriculum approach encourages all involved to develop meaningful links in ways that intrigue and motivate students as well as help them make connections within their studies and the world.

St. John’s Parish Day School

The new curriculum will include faculty training throughout the summer, transforming the lower school science lab into a STEM lab, and the early childhood science lab into a Maker Space lab for enhanced project-based learning.

For the 2020-21 school year, SJPDS will be providing in-person, online or blended learning options. The school understands that the social-emotional growth of students is just as important as the academic. Through in-person, online or blended learning options, SJPDS will abound with reading, writing, cultural explorations, STEM advancements, newly designed approaches to visual and performing arts, chapel in classrooms and independent projects, all of which provide continuous learning in a warm, caring and supportive environment.

Outdoor Learning

With the belief that a part of whole-child education should include assisting students to develop and nurture a healthy relationship with the environment, the Waldorf School of Baltimore has maintained a strong focus on immersing children in the outdoors.

The Waldorf School of Baltimore

Firmly planted in Baltimore City, the campus offers an eco-friendly oasis complete with nature trails, outdoor learning spaces and a certified wildlife habitat. Lower school students are encouraged to take a deep dive into the outdoors through the nature studies program. In the middle school, students expand their understanding of sustainability and ecoliteracy, with the goal of empowering students with the knowledge, confidence, and ethical foundation to meet the challenges they will face in modern society with depth, imagination, and purpose.

“We’ve been an official Maryland Green School since 2010,” said Outreach and Marketing Director Lindsay Machak. “And each year we are discovering additional ways to inspire our students through nature while helping them recognize their social responsibility to the larger community.” The Waldorf School of Baltimore strives to use both indoor and outdoor spaces to transform education into an art that educates the whole child through their head, heart and hands.

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Dahan Community School EMPOWERING BRIGHT STUDENTS WHO LEARN DIFFERENTLY JEMICYSCHOOL.ORG • 410.653.2700 • OWINGS MILLS, MD

Baltimore’s only co-ed PreSchool-Grade 12 college preparatory Jewish day school

Be a part of this

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Visit us online at thecatholichighschool.org or call us at 410.732.6200. Guide to Baltimore Independent Schools

Oldfields schOOl An independent boarding and day school for girls grades 8-12, located in Northern Baltimore County

Our intentionally small school creates BIG opportunities!

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St. Timothy’s 145-acre campus is perfectly suited to accommodate social distancing amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. Outdoor learning spaces and small class sizes lend themselves well to a thoughtfully managed environment. Despite global challenges, our community is working to ensure the best possible educational experience. For more information, contact our Admissions team at 410 486 7401 or admis@stt.org. STT.ORG

EXPLORE LOYOLA As the region’s premier school for boys in grades 6–12, we provide an unrivaled educational experience that forms the whole person.

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Now, more than ever, the administrators at local schools are tasked with shaping new initiatives and strengthening community

Influencers

ties. From the heads of schools to the

directors of diversity, technology and student health, meet the key figures in charge.

Guide to Baltimore Independent Schools

Influencers intern during his final year of undergraduate studies. Having worked in boys' schools for more than 25 years, Chris believes that “the education of boys – and the formation of young men – has never been more important than it is today." He augments his role by serving as Secretary of the Board for the International Boys’ School Coalition (IBSC), the global leader for boys and boys’ education, and on the Board of Trustees for both the Association of Independent Maryland Schools and Baltimore Education Scholarship Trust (BEST). What drew you to education?

I was fortunate to attend a boys’ school where teachers, advisors and coaches had a huge impact on my life. I had opportunities I never could have imagined. I am drawn to this work because I hope that I can make a difference in the lives of others as my teachers made in my own life.

What do you like about your current school?

Chris Post

Headmaster | Boys’ Latin School of Maryland

Chris Post is in his 13th year as headmaster of the Boys'

Latin School of Maryland. A career educator, he began his professional journey at Boys' Latin, where he served as an

Boys’ Latin is a place for and about boys. Our faculty knows how to inspire each student to be his best. They create an environment where boys can dream and succeed in a way that’s different from a traditional, co-ed setting. Our boys are empowered to create a vision for themselves in which they realize their fullest potential and then given guidance and tools to pursue it. Our boys work incredibly hard. I am impressed by their humility and the way that they care for one another, each and every day. It creates a shared sense of brotherhood that our boys hold dear, as central to their experience.

(Cont’d on p. 35)

Sarah Meteyer, Friends School of Baltimore’s newly

appointed Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), is no stranger to the school. As a 2008 alum, Sarah has worn many hats on campus since graduating. She has worked closely with the Director of Diversity and the Admissions Office, as well as served as a leader with the National Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity (SEED) Project and as a Curriculum Committee Member and Affinity Group Captain for the National Association of Independent Schools’ Student Diversity Leadership Conference. These experiences make her uniquely qualified for and passionate about her new role. What drew you to education?

I was drawn to education because I am passionate about working with young people who want to be changemakers in their communities. I have always been passionate about and deeply tied to diversity and equity work in schools.

What do you like about your current school?

Friends School helps students discover and become the person they are meant to be. Many Friends students are actively engaged in social justice initiatives and aren’t afraid to challenge and confront what they believe is injust (even within our own campus).

Sarah Meteyer

Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | Friends School of Baltimore

28 baltimorefishbowl.com

What do you hope to achieve in your role?

I am working on drafting the School’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Strategic Working Plan. It is the first DEI Strategic Plan Friends has launched that will be community-informed. I am excited about this community-informed approach and hope to work with parents, students, employees, and alumni to inform what the future of DEI work will look like at Friends.

Sheena Jordan, the Diversity Coordinator at Glenelg

Country School, brings a strong personal background in other cultures to her role. After receiving her BA from James Madison University in Spanish with a minor in African-American studies, Jordan earned her Master of Arts at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in Intercultural Communication. In 2019, she completed her post-baccalaureate certification in educational leadership and school administration at McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. What drew you to education?

As a child, we moved around quite a bit because my father was in the Navy. As a result of this experience, I learned to appreciate the diversity that is all around us. I was actually born in Hawaii, and have always been fascinated by other languages and cultures. As a part of our formal education growing up in Pearl City, we learned so much about the Hawaiian language and culture. When we moved to the “mainland” (the continental United States), I found myself as a little mini-ambassador for Hawaiian culture and I loved the feeling of teaching others about the beauty of the “Aloha spirit” (as they call it in Hawaii). It seems natural that I would continue to spread this love, passion, appreciation and respect for other cultures in the work that I eventually chose to pursue as an adult.

What do you like about your current school?

Sheena Jordan

Diversity Coordinator | Glenelg Country School

Glenelg is a community full of many diverse voices, all of which are encouraged to ask questions and be heard.

What do you hope to achieve in your role?

My position as a diversity coordinator allows me to spread my appreciation and passion for other cultures on a daily basis by facilitating discussions and fostering a welcoming environment within our institution.

What drew you to education?

I wanted to be a teacher my whole life. I taught Sunday school with my mom when I was in high school and loved it. Early childhood education has been in my heart for as long as I can remember. I began teaching first grade in the Dominican Republic right out of college, and four years later, I found myself teaching at Gilman.

Tami James

Director | Grace Preschool

Tami James

assumes the role of Grace Preschool's Director, following in the footsteps of her predecessor of 32 years. Tami brings a wealth of experience as a first grade teacher since 2007 and, most recently, Gilman School's Director of Early Childhood of Education. This, in addition to raising four elementary school-aged children, makes her uniquely qualified for her new role.

I have been a teacher for 17 years, the last 13 were at Gilman School. Most of my teaching career was spent in a first grade classroom, and it is really true what they say, I learned much more from my students than they learned from me. My students taught me how to be empathetic, flexible, and creative, all necessary traits to be the director of a preschool. As the director of early childhood at Gilman, I worked on creating the budget, worked with architects to design spaces for little ones, purchased curriculum, and did extensive research on developmentally appropriate practices. Those experiences prepared me for my new role, but they also lit a fire inside me and unleashed a passion for working with the youngest students and their families.

What do you like about your current school?

I am most excited about taking over a program that has strong roots, with developmentally appropriate teaching, loving teachers, and a welcoming community. Grace's tight-knit community is one of the things that most attracted me to the school. When the pandemic hit, I was still teaching, and I knew firsthand how challenging it was to teach little children virtually. Grace's previous director, Barbara Blair, kept me in the loop

(Cont’d on p. 35)

Guide to Baltimore Independent Schools

Influencers What drew you to education?

I came from a family of women educators and education was an important familial value. I knew I didn’t want to be a teacher but always imagined myself in the field of education. As a young black girl attending predominantly white schools, I experienced first-hand the liberating and simultaneously oppressive conditions in which educational institutions shape minds. Because of my childhood experiences in school, I knew that I wanted to use the education I attained to help institutions become places where BIPOC and other marginalized students could truly be educated in ways that affirmed their identity.

What do you like about your current school?

Dr. Lana Bates

Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | McDonogh School

Dr. Lana Bates,

Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at McDonogh School, is an experienced diversity practitioner, consultant, and advocate with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry, as well as with local, and state public and private educational institutions. She has 15+ years experience in education as a school psychologist, researcher, faculty and staff trainer, and adjunct professor. She has a Doctorate in School Psychology with a specialty focus in diversity in education and special education from the University of Virginia and is a co-founding member of The Wells Collective, LLC, a full-service diversity consulting company.

McDonogh School is committed to the intense “heart-work” that is needed to fully embrace and engage in equity, inclusion, and social justice, which is invaluable to me, personally and professionally. I am grateful to be part of a community that has the willingness and intent to move toward a just and equitable world. This is no easy feat, and it requires an institution with courage and determination. I believe my school has these traits. Additionally, I appreciate that our administration and faculty have a deep and resonating passion to change lives through education and, as such, have thoroughly transformed many students' lives.

What do you hope to achieve in your role?

This is a big question for a person in my position. I would like to experience a world where every person's humanity is valued and educational institutions are a microcosm of the larger world. My desire would be that my work could move our institution even closer to realizing this vision, where BIPOC and marginalized students receive an education in which their identity is affirmed and they are empowered to change the status quo, and where all students see themselves as agents of change in creating a world that truly is inclusive of all of humanity.

This school year, Mercy High School welcomes Abigail

Schindler, a graduate of Wellesley College, as its Academic Dean and Director of Continuous Learning. What drew you to education?

I have always had a passion for learning. As an undergraduate, I worked with students in a variety of ways and found that I wanted to continue this as a career. Every day as an educator is fresh, different, and exciting. I have thrived in a profession that is always changing and requires constant focus on personal and professional growth.

What do you like about your current school?

Abigail Schindler

Academic Dean and Director of Continuous Learning | Mercy High School

30 baltimorefishbowl.com

Mercy High School’s inspiring mission is what drew me to the school. A focus on justice, academic rigor, inclusivity, and relationships is incorporated in all that we do. We care deeply for one another and this sense of community is important to me. Mercy is always pursuing innovative teaching approaches and looking to give our girls the very best education. Innovative and progressive approaches to teaching and learning coupled with a strong sense of mission and tradition have made Mercy a perfect place for me to grow as an educator.

What do you hope to achieve in your role?

Our dynamic educational environment requires new and innovative teaching and learning strategies, particularly around the use of technology and digital resources. I especially look forward to collaborating with Mercy’s leadership team on initiatives that will further distinguish Mercy as a leader among area independent schools.

Acting Assistant Principal Kathryn Burke Adelsberger joins the administration of Mercy High School, bringing with her a commitment to girls’ education. What drew you to education?

I've always loved learning and I wanted to foster that same kind of inquiry and curiosity in others. I see education as my way to make the world a better place because I teach our future leaders and innovators. I always felt like teaching was where I belonged, and I knew that I wanted a career that was different every day.

What do you like about your current school?

The girls! I love their energy and spirit. I also love our mission especially this line - Mercy creates an environment where young women form habits of lifelong inquiry, critical thinking and courageous action in a global society.

What do you hope to achieve in your role?

I'm really committed to the International Baccalaureate program because of its inquiry-based approach to teaching and learning and I hope to see that grow and continue to develop at Mercy.

Kathryn Burke Adelsberger

Acting Assistant Principal | Mercy High School for Student Affairs at Archbishop Spalding High School and, for three years, as the Director of Admissions at the Institute of Notre Dame. Angela earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from Southern Illinois University and her Master’s in Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Loyola College, now Loyola University. She is the mother to three boys, a college freshman, a high school sophomore, and a middle schooler. What drew you to education?

Angela Simmons

Upper Level Dean of Students | Notre Dame Preparatory School

Angela Simmons began her new role as Upper Level

Dean of Students Notre Dame Preparatory School on July 1, 2020. Having worked at both the secondary and university levels for over 20 years, she brings a wealth of knowledge in education. Prior to NDP, she served as the Director for the Operation TEACH program at Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU). She has also been the Assistant Principal

I have always had an innate desire to work in education. As a child, I spent hours playing school with my stuffed animals, dolls and friends. My mother worked at a Catholic high school which exposed me to the administrative side of education. For me, working in education just feels right.

What do you like about your current school?

I chose to work at NDP because of the school’s rich history in Catholic education. It is a privilege to work in a school that provides a solid and evolving curriculum that equips girls with the tools needed to succeed in a world that is rapidly changing.

What do you hope to achieve in your role?

As the Dean of Students, I hope to ensure each student grows academically, socially, and spiritually. I want every NDP girl to graduate knowing that she was respected and cared for, and if I achieve that then I have done my job.

Guide to Baltimore Independent Schools

Influencers What drew you to education?

It is inspiring to me to help develop problem-solvers who can think critically and develop innovative solutions for our future. Whenever I see challenges in the world, I have found that education can be the catalyst towards solutions. I am in awe of how our young people can innovate so creatively, and it is deeply gratifying to work with them and learn from them.

What do you like about your current school?

When I came to The St. Paul’s Schools community, I was immediately taken by the culture that encourages trying new things and pursuing lifelong learning. I appreciate the enthusiasm my colleagues and leadership share for innovative, pedagogically-driven approaches to support student learning. I also love the individual moments of learning—seeing those “lightbulb” moments when a student develops a business plan in my Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship class.

Dr. Emily Ziegler

Director of Instructional Technology | The St. Paul’s Schools

What do you hope to achieve in your role?

For seven years, Dr. Emily Ziegler, Director of Instructional Technology and Innovation, has served The St. Paul’s Schools in developing and implementing educational technology strategy. She prepares faculty and oversees the expansion of programs that teach innovation and 21st century skills as well as curriculum focused on digital citizenship, computational thinking, and innovative problem-solving through technology.

My aim is to foster a supportive environment where faculty and students feel confident and encouraged not only to use technologies and innovations for their educational endeavors, but to use technology to create pioneering solutions to today and tomorrow’s challenges. I am committed to ensuring community has the tools, training, and opportunities to use technology and cutting-edge innovations to empower their learning. My goal is that by advancing the technology-inspired, innovative learning of our students, our schools prepare our graduates to be the change they wish to see in the world.

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Weaving Wellness into the School Day

By Elizabeth Heubeck

onday mornings can be tough on high school students. After enjoying a brief respite from school's stressors, a new round of academic assignments and extracurricular activities looms ahead. That's why last year, rising Gilman senior Nigel Parker would make a concerted effort to get to school by 7:30 a.m. each Monday and head straight to the school library. There, he'd get a head start on the school week—without opening a single book. Nigel would take a seat in a circle with classmates and faculty members and, for the next 30 minutes, engage in a guided meditation session led either by Gilman's Director of College Counseling Sarah Ross or Veronica Parker (Nigel's mother and a trained yoga and wellness instructor). "The days I had meditation, I felt better in class, refreshed. I was more confident and more willing to speak up," said Nigel.

Gilman's Monday meditation sessions represent one of the countless ways that area independent schools are weaving wellness into students' everyday experiences. While they may seem like an excessive luxury, experts agree that wellness-related initiatives allow students the best shot at reaching their fullest potential in the classroom and beyond.

Independent schools' increasing emphasis on wellness coincides with a rise in mental health issues during childhood. Between 2003 and 2012, the percentage of children aged 6 to 17 diagnosed with anxiety or depression rose from 5.4 percent to 8.4 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly one in three adolescents will experience an anxiety disorder, reports the National Institutes of Health. Experts blame the rise on several factors, including academic pressure, global threats, and social media. Just as there's no one reason for this uptick in mental health issues among children, nor is there one response. Schools use new strategies to nurture their students' mental health along with their intellect.

Guide to Baltimore Independent Schools

Re-evaluating school from a wellness perspective At McDonogh, Head of School Dave Farace describes a growing emphasis on student wellness. "We've always been focused on it. But in recent years it's been top of mind for me, particularly because we're seeing these national trends: increases in students' stress and anxiety and mental health issues, and even suicide," he says. To address the need, McDonogh's associate head of school, Kate Mueller, is heading up a cross-divisional committee that will explore how McDonogh can enhance students' wellness schoolwide. "We'll celebrate and recognize what we're doing well, and consider how we can enhance programming—whether through school, advisory programs, and/or parent association programs," Mueller says. McDonogh evaluates every aspect of the school with an eye towards wellness, explains Mueller, curriculum included. For instance, the school currently teaches Advanced Placement (AP) in the upper school. Despite the proliferation of AP courses nationwide, Mueller suggests that their test-driven nature contributes to academic pressure and is, perhaps, in conflict with skills that McDonogh believes students need to be successful post-graduation. "We are exploring replacing it [AP] with our own LifeReady curriculum, which would be more authentic and genuine," Mueller says.

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Wellness starts early

Faculty wellness first

Even the youngest of students can learn behaviors to guide their mental health development. So points out Vicki Hervitz, the preschool guidance counselor at Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School in Pikesville. While its students' mental health has long been a priority at Beth Tfiloh, two years ago, Director of Education Zipora Schorr took an additional step. She added a guidance counselor to the preschool; a decision Hervitz calls "a very progressive, and necessary, move."

The same can be said for school faculty members, whose high-stress jobs can impact mental health. At Loyola Blakefield, school nurse Kelly Klug heads up Loyola's wellness committee, which has received accolades from employee benefits provider Educator Benefits Services. Klug says that, to date, Loyola has focused its EBS Wellbeing Program primarily on faculty needs. A faculty flu shot clinic, biometric screening, exercise classes, a faculty-only gym area, a wellness/meditation room, and periodic chair massages comprise some of the wellness initiatives Klug has spearheaded for Loyola's faculty members.

Hervitz describes some ways the preschool exposes young students to healthy ways of managing emotions. In one old-fashioned "center" (think dress-ups and blocks), placement-like objects containing a blank face await children's finishing touches. Using simple manipulatives, students create a face that expresses how they're feeling. There's also a tent in the class with room for one. "The small cozy space helps you relax and contain your emotions," says Hervitz, who emphasizes it's not intended to be disciplinary. The students also learn direct methods for calming themselves, including diaphragmatic breathing, which, Hervitz explains, combats that fight, flight, or freeze brain response. "We can teach our youngest students more than their ABCs. We can teach them how to cope," Hervitz says.

Moving forward, the committee plans to widen the wellness focus to include students. It's likely to begin with a student-centered health and wellness club, with students steering the agenda. "As the school nurse, I see and talk to kids all the time. They're interested in ways to make their daily lives more healthy," Klug says. So, too, are Baltimore's independent schools.

Preschool-12th Grade College Preparatory with a Christian Worldview Visit our website at www.chapelgateacademy.org or contact Admissions at 410-442-5888 ext. 122

L HOO C S LLER SMA

R E S G ITI E G I N U B O RT P P O Influencers, Cont’d

(Chris Post, from p. 28)

When I was a senior at Johns Hopkins University, I worked as an intern in Boys’ Latin’s middle school. My entire professional experience has been framed against what I saw here during my internship. Nearly 15 years ago, I was given the opportunity to return to Boys’ Latin as headmaster. In many ways, it was a homecoming for me. The strong and consistent leadership we have at Boys’ Latin has created a community where our boys can truly thrive.

What do you hope to achieve in your role?

The experience of our boys both in the classroom and in our co-curricular activities is second to none. Our intentionally small community gives boys the chance to pursue their passions or try something new. Here at BL, there’s space for many leaders, rather than just a few. We don’t take it for granted that, at our school, our students are remarkably happy. All of us work hard to create an environment where students feel at home, safe to pursue their academic curiosities and develop their unique talents. Our boys are stewards of this culture, and our faculty help share in that responsibility, ensuring that each one of our students is known, not only for who he is today, but all that be can be tomorrow.

Our work as a school – and my own work as head of school – is to help change lives. We are a place where boys are known, cared for and valued. We seek to empower boys, to help each strive for academic and personal excellence, to inspire a young man to act courageously, with compassion and with integrity.

(Tami James, from p. 29) about what the teachers were doing. I was astounded by what they were able to accomplish with their young students! The teachers at Grace went above and beyond. They gathered materials, provided pickup times for parents, and most often, they hand-delivered materials to their student's doorsteps. The teachers were concerned about losing the connection with their students and parents, so face-to-face distanced deliveries helped solidify that strong relationship. My favorite images from distance learning at Grace have everything to do with relationships. Teachers delivering Easter baskets to students, parents giving teacher appreciation gifts, and a kindergarten graduation parade highlight how Grace handled distance learning during the pandemic.

What do you hope to achieve in your role?

social distancing, and pandemic were not a part of my everyday vernacular. My goals for Grace had nothing to do with a global pandemic! My goals had everything to do with taking over a school, embracing the teachers, families, and students, and providing a traditional pre-school program with extended hours in hopes that teachers of Baltimore would have a preschool to send their children that had teacher-friendly hours so they could do what they do best - love and teach their students during the day, and as soon as possible love and care for their children each evening. I still have plans to accomplish the aforementioned goals, but for now, my main hope is to provide a safe environment for children to learn in the midst of a global pandemic. The teachers and I have been working hard to prepare several different scenarios for when we open in the fall. There will be new policies and procedures in place this year to ensure the health and safety of our students. Additionally, we formed a task force, and it is meeting throughout the summer to plan for the fall. Its goals include mapping out the curriculum for each age level and incorporating new methods of teaching into each unit should we move to distance learning again. When our doors open in September, our primary goal will be to cultivate relationships and trust with everyone in the Grace community.

Ironically, when I accepted position of Director at Grace Preschool, COVID-19,

Guide to Baltimore Independent Schools

School Directory 2020-2021 Independent School Guide Directory Only advertisers are included in the print directory Archdiocese of Baltimore Catholic Schools

Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School

ADDRESS: 320 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, MD 21201 WEBSITE: archbalt.org/schools PHONE NUMBER: 410-547-5369 TUITION & FEES: $1,340-$21,900 TOTAL ENROLLMENT: Almost 25,000 students* *2019-2020 School Year APPLICATION DEADLINE: Application deadlines vary by school. Please contact your Catholic school(s) of choice for application and admissions information. OPEN HOUSE DATES: Open Houses, shadow days, and tours will not be held in the same fashion this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Please contact your Catholic school(s) of choice for admissions event information. SCHOOL TYPE: Co-ed and single-sex Catholic school educational options available GRADE LEVELS: Preschool, kindergarten, elementary, middle and high schools YEAR FOUNDED: Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton laid the foundation for the Catholic school system in the United States by opening her school for girls in Baltimore in 1810. RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Catholic OVERVIEW: Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore provide a Christ-centered education that is academically excellent and empowers students to reach their full potential – spiritually, intellectually, physically, socially, and morally. Catholic Schools offer a balanced curriculum, integrating music and arts, foreign language, and Catholic faith, while challenging students in the areas of science, math and technology. Catholic schools emphasize critical thinking and encourage students to collaborate, communicate, problem-solve, and ask questions. Teachers in Catholic schools do more than teach. They get to know their students and figure out how they learn best. The personal attention allows students’ best selves to come forth, creating a lifetime love of learning. Almost 25,000 students attend a Catholic school in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, which includes 45 elementary and middle schools and 19 high schools located in Baltimore City, Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Harford, Howard and Washington Counties.

ADDRESS: 3300 Old Court Road, Baltimore, MD 21208 WEBSITE: bethtfiloh.com/school PHONE NUMBER: 410-413-2323 TUITION & FEES: $2,700-$22,100 TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 950 APPLICATION DEADLINE: Rolling admission; families are encouraged to submit applications by mid-January. OPEN HOUSE DATES: Lower School Virtual Open House: November 5, 2020, 7 p.m.; Middle School Virtual Open House: December 2, 2020, 7 p.m.; High School Virtual Open House: November 18, 2020, 7 p.m. View complete details at www. bethtfiloh.com/fishbowl SCHOOL TYPE: Co-ed GRADE LEVELS: K-12, preschool included YEAR FOUNDED: 1941 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Jewish OVERVIEW: As Baltimore’s premier Jewish private school, serving preschool through grade 12, Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School provides a learning environment where students become self-reliant scholars and discover their unique potential. Beth Tfiloh students learn how to advocate for themselves, ask difficult questions, and pursue their aspirations. Beth Tfiloh combines rigorous academics with character development in a warm, caring and supportive atmosphere. Small class sizes allow Beth Tfiloh’s outstanding educators to provide their students personalized attention and to champion each child’s needs. Teachers are focused on developing minds, celebrating the joy of Judaism, instilling values, and fostering curiosity to prepare their students for future success and create positive change in the world. Beth Tfiloh’s unparalleled, individualized college guidance program ensures that 100% of BT seniors who apply to a four-year university get accepted to the one that is right for them.

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The Boys’ Latin School of Maryland ADDRESS: 822 West Lake Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21210 WEBSITE: boyslatinmd.com PHONE NUMBER: 410-377-5192 TUITION & FEES: $21,960-$31,600 TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 625 APPLICATION DEADLINE: December 15, 2020 OPEN HOUSE DATES: Open House and admission events dates coming soon. Please refer to boyslatinmd.com/virtualadmissions. SCHOOL TYPE: Single-sex, boys GRADE LEVELS: K-12 YEAR FOUNDED: 1844 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: None OVERVIEW: Founded in 1844, The Boys’ Latin School of Maryland is an all-boys independent school serving boys in grades k-12. At BL, each and every student is known – for who he is today, and all he will be tomorrow. The purposefully-small environment allows teachers to get to know each boy, learning what brings him joy and what drives him, while setting ever-higher standards so every boy can learn, and earn, the rewards of hard work. Boys’ Latin has been teaching boys for nearly two centuries, and they know that a close community builds a foundation of confidence. Of compassion. Of curiosity. This is how boys succeed in school, and in life. As leaders. As friends. As their best, authentic selves. Confident in who they are, and ready to make their mark on the world.

The Bryn Mawr School ADDRESS: 109 West Melrose Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21210 WEBSITE: brynmawrschool. org PHONE NUMBER: 410-323-8800 TUITION & FEES: $18,900-$34,770 TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 697 APPLICATION DEADLINE: December 15, 2020, rolling admission thereafter OPEN HOUSE DATES: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bryn Mawr’s campus is closed to the public during school hours. Virtual visit days on Thursday, October 1, 2020 at 12 p.m. and Wednesday, October 21, 2020 at 5 p.m. Check brynmawrschool. org/visit for individual family tours and additional visiting opportunities. SCHOOL TYPE: Single-sex, girls pre-k through grade 12; co-ed infant and preschool GRADE LEVELS: Pre-k through grade 12 YEAR FOUNDED: 1885 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: None OVERVIEW: The Bryn Mawr School is an independent all-girls pre-kindergarten through 12th grade school with a co-ed preschool and infant care. Bryn Mawr is known for its inquisitive girls, excellent teaching, strong student-teacher relationships and spirited sisterhood. At Bryn Mawr, girls lead, question, achieve, succeed, and are passionate about lifelong learning. In the classroom, on the fields and playground, across the stage and in the studio, Bryn Mawr raises the bar for girls and supports them as they achieve more than they ever thought possible.

Cambridge School ADDRESS: 6200 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21212 WEBSITE: cambridgeschool.org PHONE NUMBER: 410-486-3686 TUITION & FEES: $9,064-$12,684 TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 125 APPLICATION DEADLINE: December 18, 2020, rolling admission thereafter OPEN HOUSE DATES: Please refer to cambridgeschool.org/ admissions for Open House dates or to request a tour. SCHOOL TYPE: Co-ed GRADE LEVELS: K-8 YEAR FOUNDED: 1998 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Christian, non-denominational OVERVIEW: Cambridge School is classical, Christ-centered, and integral. They believe k-8 children are born with a sense of wonder and awe about the world around them that is meant to be unfolded, not “filled.” Children learn best when they see for themselves the inter-connectedness between subject matters and their world, not through isolated bits of information. At Cambridge, students understand how everything they learn is a part of the bigger picture, and they have a greater appreciation for each subject. It’s the difference between eating a delicious slice of cake as opposed to eating each ingredient separately. At Cambridge, there is space to absorb and ponder. Students relive historical events and identify with the characters of a book. Through a sense of wonder students learn and make connections. They inspire children’s imaginations by immersing them in time-tested, rich literature, history, art, and music within an environment where students are encouraged to question and explore. As genuine questions emerge and students examine truth that transcends history, they are transformed from passive participants into engaged and interested life-long learners.

Guide to Baltimore Independent Schools

School Directory The Catholic High School of Baltimore ADDRESS: 2800 Edison Highway, Baltimore, MD 21213 WEBSITE: thecatholichighschool.org PHONE NUMBER: 410-732-6200 TUITION & FEES: $15,300; $1,100 for fees TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 320 APPLICATION DEADLINE: December 18, 2020 OPEN HOUSE DATES: October 17, 2020, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. SCHOOL TYPE: Single-sex, girls GRADE LEVELS: 9- 12 YEAR FOUNDED: 1939 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Roman Catholic, rooted in the Franciscan tradition (founded by the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia) OVERVIEW: Empowered by the Gospel values and rooted in the spirit and tradition of Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi, The Catholic High School of Baltimore, a sponsored institution of the Sisters of Saint Francis of Philadelphia, is dedicated to the education of young women in an environment that fosters Christian attitudes of dignity and respect for the human person and all of creation. Through this mission, Catholic High recognizes that through education, the empowerment of women can affect the transformation of society. Catholic High offers the following academic programs: Honors, College Preparatory, STEM Program, Biomedical Program, McCafferty Visual and Performing Arts Program, Law and Leadership in the Franciscan Tradition, and the Archangel Program (learning support program). Students have the opportunity to enroll in courses offered through Notre Dame of Maryland University and Anne Arundel Community College to receive college credit.

Chapelgate Christian Academy ADDRESS: 2600 Marriottsville Road, Marriottsville, MD 21104 WEBSITE: chapelgateacademy.org PHONE NUMBER: 410-442-5888 TUITION & FEES: $9,450-$14,900 TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 300 APPLICATION DEADLINE: December 31, 2020 for early decision, rolling admission thereafter OPEN HOUSE DATES: Please refer to chapelgateacademy.org/ admissions for Open House and Welcome Wednesday dates and times. SCHOOL TYPE: Co-ed GRADE LEVELS: K-12, includes preschool YEAR FOUNDED: 1991 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Presbyterian OVERVIEW: Chapelgate Christian Academy is a dynamic, diverse, “can-do” community of families, faculty, and staff. During the COVID crisis, CCA never missed a day of school and has worked diligently to reopen for in-class learning on time. The level of commitment to academic, social, emotional, and spiritual growth is inspiring. CCA is an exciting place to be with numerous opportunities in STEM, fine arts, and athletics as well as a college-prep curriculum. Please call to schedule a tour of CCA!

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Friends School of Baltimore ADDRESS: 5114 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21210 WEBSITE: friendsbalt.org PHONE NUMBER: 410-649-3211 TUITION & FEES: $21,050-$32,875 TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 850 APPLICATION DEADLINE: December 15, 2020 OPEN HOUSE DATES: Please visit friendsbalt.org/firstlook for a complete list of our Virtual First Look events. SCHOOL TYPE: Co-ed GRADE LEVELS: Pre-k through grade 12 YEAR FOUNDED: 1784 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Quaker OVERVIEW: Friends School of Baltimore is a Quaker school that is deeply committed to helping young people discover and become the person each of them is meant to be. As Baltimore’s oldest school, Friends has pioneered innovative teaching and learning in, of, and for Baltimore since 1784. Friends is guided by the Quaker testimonies of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship, and a core belief that there is that of God in each person. A Friends School education equips young people with the knowledge and confidence they need to become courageous changemakers wherever their paths lead.

Garrison Forest School ADDRESS: 300 Garrison Forest Road, Owings Mills, MD 21117 WEBSITE: gfs.org PHONE NUMBER: 410-363-1500 TUITION & FEES: $2,500-$32,575 (preschool to grade 12, day); $62,015 (k-12, boarding) TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 500 APPLICATION DEADLINE: January 15, 2021 (day), February 5, 2021 (boarding) OPEN HOUSE DATES: Please visit gfs.org/openhouse for upcoming dates and times. SCHOOL TYPE: Co-ed preschool; single sex, girls; boarding program, grades 8-12 GRADE LEVELS: K-12, includes preschool YEAR FOUNDED: 1910 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: None OVERVIEW: Brave, compassionate, curious, spirited. Girls thrive at Garrison Forest School (GFS) where they can be their authentic selves as they create with purpose, pursue their passions and lead with confidence. Dedicated, highly engaged faculty members know each student and what’s important to her. Part of a comprehensive curriculum, STEM learning is fully integrated—from lower school programs focused on programming, technology and research, to a partnership with Johns Hopkins University that gives upper school girls an opportunity to work in research labs alongside Hopkins mentors. The 110-acre GFS campus gives girls the space to explore, featuring an outdoor classroom for younger students, state-ofthe-art athletic fields and an equestrian center that is home to nationally recognized riding and polo programs. National and international boarding students in grades 8-12 find a welcoming home base where they are supported by on-campus faculty residents and join a vibrant community.

Gerstell Academy

Glenelg Country School

ADDRESS: 2500 Old Westminster Pike, Finksburg, MD 21048 WEBSITE: gerstell.org PHONE NUMBER: 410-861-3300 TUITION & FEES: $11,100-$24,413 TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 400 APPLICATION DEADLINE: January 30, 2021. After January 30, Gerstell accepts applications on a rolling basis, and admission is based on classroom availability. OPEN HOUSE DATES: Please visit gerstell.org to view Open House dates and events. SCHOOL TYPE: Co-ed GRADE LEVELS: Pre-k through grade 12 YEAR FOUNDED: 1996 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: None OVERVIEW: Gerstell Academy is a co-educational, non-sectarian private school for students entering pre-kindergarten through grade 12, dedicated to the mission and motto: Leadership, Honor, Courage. The school’s unique values-based approach to education is based on four pillars: leadership, rigorous academics, physical training/athletics, and modern language proficiency. With a beautiful 250-acre campus located in Carroll County, Maryland, Gerstell Academy has the reputation as one of the top academic schools in the region. Gerstell Academy’s unparalleled resources provide students with an excellent faculty, state-of the-art facilities and a unique approach to learning and leadership. Competitive athletics allow students the opportunity to showcase their talents and sportsmanship in a variety of team sports. A diverse student body contributes to a strong sense of community where each student’s potential to learn, to grow morally, to be physically fit and to compete is maximized as Gerstell Academy’s young leaders prepare to make a positive contribution to society.

ADDRESS: 12793 Folly Quarter Road, Ellicott City, MD 21042 WEBSITE: glenelg.org PHONE NUMBER: 410-531-8600 TUITION & FEES: $11,395-$31,330 TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 750 APPLICATION DEADLINE: January 15, rolling admission thereafter OPEN HOUSE DATES: Please refer to glenelg.org/discover for Open House dates and times. SCHOOL TYPE: Co-ed GRADE LEVELS: K- 12, includes preschool YEAR FOUNDED: 1954 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: None OVERVIEW: Glenelg Country School is a non-sectarian, co-educational independent day school serving students from age 2 through grade 12 on a 90-acre campus in Howard County. For over 65 years, GCS has been an educational community offering exceptional academics in a caring, family-oriented environment. The school values each individual in a supportive community, providing opportunities and balance for all. Integrity, mutual respect, responsibility, and service underscore community-held values, while critical inquiry, creative exploration, and independent thinking define its educational focus. GCS sets high standards, strong expectations, and provides personal support along the way. GCS is about options and opportunities. The arts, physical activity, and athletics are valued and encouraged. GCS is a dynamic community where 2-year-olds and 18-year-olds share the same campus and values. An outstanding faculty and beautiful campus with excellent facilities add to the overall quality of the GCS experience.

Gilman School ADDRESS: 5407 Roland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21210 WEBSITE: gilman.edu PHONE NUMBER: 410-323-3800 TUITION & FEES: $17,750-$32,385 TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 1,020 APPLICATION DEADLINE: December 15, 2020 OPEN HOUSE DATES: Please refer to gilman.edu/admissions for virtual tours and visiting dates and times. SCHOOL TYPE: Single-sex, boys GRADE LEVELS: Pre-k through grade 12 YEAR FOUNDED: 1897 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: None OVERVIEW: Gilman School is a diverse community dedicated to educating boys in mind, body, and spirit through particular emphasis upon academic excellence, athletic participation, and aesthetic appreciation. Gilman seeks to produce men of character and integrity who have the skills and ability to make a positive contribution to the communities in which they live and work. At Gilman, there are three school divisions dedicated to educating pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students. The programs and curriculum are specifically designed to be developmentally appropriate for boys and follow a logical sequential progression leading from one grade to the next. Gilman's upper school also offers a coordinate program that combines Gilman's resources with those of two excellent girls' schools, which are connected to this campus by a system of bridges.

Immaculate Conception School ADDRESS: 112 Ware Avenue, Towson, MD 21204 WEBSITE: theimmaculate.org or theics.org PHONE NUMBER: 410-427-4801 TUITION & FEES: $9,350-$10,590 (plus fees) TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 507 APPLICATION DEADLINE: December 18, 2020, rolling admission thereafter OPEN HOUSE DATES: ICS 1st Look Virtual Visits are Tuesdays and Thursdays from September 22, 2020 through December 10, 2020. Register early at theics.org, as space per session is limited. SCHOOL TYPE: Co-ed GRADE LEVELS: Pre-k3 through grade 8 YEAR FOUNDED: 1887 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Catholic OVERVIEW: Located in the heart of Towson, Immaculate Conception School is “not just a school, but a family” focused on academics, community and faith. ICS is a National Blue Ribbon, Catholic parish school offering a foundation for academic excellence in a safe and nurturing environment. The STREAM-infused curriculum engages students in science, technology, religion, engineering, the arts and math, developing problem-solving and critical thinking skills students will utilize as they remain immersed in all academic areas. ICS students share their Catholic values through service to the church, school, family, and society. The ICS pre-k program is certified by the Maryland State Department of Education as a MD Excels Level 5 Star provider, solidifying a commitment to high-quality childcare and early education. The Level 5 Star rating is the highest rating available. Immaculate Conception School offers an Extended Day Program, as well as a variety of athletics, clubs, and activities.

Guide to Baltimore Independent Schools

School Directory Jemicy School

The John Carroll School

ADDRESS: 11 Celadon Road, Owings Mills, MD 21117 WEBSITE: jemicyschool.org PHONE NUMBER: 410-653-2700 TUITION & FEES: $35,200-$36,850 TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 425 APPLICATION DEADLINE: January 8, 2021 OPEN HOUSE DATES: Please contact the Admission Office to schedule a tour of the school, which may include either a meeting with the admission staff to discuss your child’s learning profile or participation in an information session. SCHOOL TYPE: Co-ed GRADE LEVELS: 1-12 YEAR FOUNDED: 1973 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: None OVERVIEW: Jemicy School, accredited by AIMS and the International Dyslexia Association, is a co-educational, independent school that provides a highly individualized, flexible, and challenging program for talented and bright, college-bound students with dyslexia or other related language-based learning differences. The school addresses students’ intellectual strengths and their learning needs by utilizing creative, multisensory, research-based programs and techniques to develop reading, writing, spelling, math, and organization skills; promote a love of learning; and prepare students for the intellectual and social challenges of college and life. Jemicy is an internationally recognized and preeminent leader in its field and provides a 21st century education for students between the ages of 6 and 18 on its two Owings Mills, Maryland campuses. The school maintains a student-faculty ratio of 4:1, and class size ranges from 4-12 students. Academic and recreational summer programs are also offered.

ADDRESS: 703 East Churchville Road, Bel Air, MD 21014 WEBSITE: johncarroll.org PHONE NUMBER: 410-838-8333 TUITION & FEES: $17,950 TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 720 APPLICATION DEADLINE: December 18, 2020 OPEN HOUSE DATE: November 7, 2020 Virtual Open House please visit johncarroll.org/admissions for more information. SCHOOL TYPE: Co-ed GRADE LEVELS: 9-12 YEAR FOUNDED: 1964 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Catholic OVERVIEW: The John Carroll School offers a Catholic, co-educational, challenging college preparatory program that stimulates critical thinking, independent exploration and global perspective. Rigorous academics, integrated with real-life experiences, prepare students to transition to college-level courses with confidence, while highly qualified and engaging faculty nurture and motivate students to reach their full potential every day. Signature programs include the Archbishop John Carroll Scholar Program/AP Capstone Distinction; STEAM Academy; Computing Academy; College Preparatory Dance Program; St. Joseph Program for students with learning differences; and an international student program. New courses for 2020-21 include Artificial Intelligence with Data Analytics, AP Research and Exploration of Human Rights, Genocide, and the Pursuit of Justice. At John Carroll, “Every Patriot Has a Story” thanks to transformative experiences that not only provide students with a lifetime of memories but prepare them to make a tremendous impact on their communities and the world.

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The Krieger Schechter Day School

Maryvale Preparatory School

ADDRESS: 8100 Stevenson Road, Baltimore, MD 21208 WEBSITE: ksds.edu PHONE NUMBER: 410-486-8640 TUITION & FEES: $18,700-$21,400 TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 300 APPLICATION DEADLINE: December 18, 2020, rolling admission thereafter OPEN HOUSE DATES: Please refer to ksds.edu/admissions/ important-dates/ for Virtual Parlor Sessions dates and times. SCHOOL TYPE: Co-ed GRADE LEVELS: K-8 YEAR FOUNDED: 1981 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Jewish OVERVIEW: Krieger Schechter Day School is a co-educational, K–8 independent day school with high academic standards and a foundation of Jewish values. The school is committed to shaping intellectually engaged young people of strong character with a deep commitment to their Jewish identity.

ADDRESS: 11300 Falls Road, Lutherville, MD 21093 WEBSITE: maryvale.com PHONE NUMBER: 410-252-3366 TUITION & FEES: Tuition: $21,200; Fees: Security - $350, Technology - $350, Activity - $450 TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 440 APPLICATION DEADLINE: December 19, 2020 OPEN HOUSE DATES: Upper School Dates: October 6, 2020 & November 5, 2020; Middle School Dates: October 22, 2020 & December 3, 2020. SCHOOL TYPE: Single-sex, girls GRADE LEVELS: 6-12 YEAR FOUNDED: 1945 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Catholic OVERVIEW: Maryvale is a Catholic, independent school for girls in grades 6 through 12. Affiliated with the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Maryvale combines tradition with the latest trends in technology and education to offer an invaluable, customized learning experience for each student. Situated on a beautiful, college-like campus in Green Spring Valley, Maryvale gives each girl the skills and confidence to learn and succeed throughout the school day and throughout life. With its manageable size, innovative teaching methods and flexible curriculum, Maryvale provides the individualized approach that each student needs to excel in all aspects of her education – academic, spiritual, and social. Opportunity is a word you hear a lot at Maryvale because this incredible school – with its perfect size, joyful environment, excellent teachers and innovative programs, such as the Leadership Institute – offers each girl something other schools cannot. Students have the opportunity to ace a test, lead a club, volunteer with a service organization, try something new, all the while fitting in. From AP classes and social justice programs to athletics and arts, students have immense opportunities to develop lifelong talents and friendships.

Loyola Blakefield ADDRESS: 500 Chestnut Avenue, Towson, MD 21204 WEBSITE: loyolablakefield.org PHONE NUMBER: 410-823-0601 TUITION & FEES: $21,100 + Fees: $725 TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 950 APPLICATION DEADLINE: December 15, 2020 OPEN HOUSE DATES: Virtual opportunities throughout the fall – please refer to loyolablakefield.org/virtualvisit for dates and times. SCHOOL TYPE: Single-sex, boys GRADE LEVELS: 6-12 YEAR FOUNDED: 1852 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Roman Catholic – Society of Jesus OVERVIEW: Loyola is Maryland’s premier school for boys in grades 6-12. Guided by Ignatian values, Loyola forms the “whole person” and nurtures a spirt of service to others and justice for all. The academic program prepares young men for a life of inquiry, decision making, and learning. Students explore diverse course offerings and come to read more closely, write more clearly, and think more carefully. Whether your son completes the four or seven-year program, he is the product of a unique formation, which prepares him for college and beyond. Loyola inspires and challenges students in ways that go beyond most college preparatory environments. Students develop knowledge for sure. But they also develop values, spiritual growth, responsibility for others and a lifelong love for learning - the core that really prepares them to transform into active members of the global community. In the words of St. Ignatius to St. Xavier they “Go forth and set the world on fire.”

Guide to Baltimore Independent Schools

School Directory McDonogh School

Mercy High School

ADDRESS: 8600 McDonogh Road, Owings Mills, MD 21117 WEBSITE: mcdonogh.org PHONE NUMBER: 443-544-7020 TUITION & FEES: $18,700- $33,100 TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 1,430 APPLICATION DEADLINE: December 4, 2020 OPEN HOUSE DATES: Visit mcdonogh.org/admissions/ways-tovisit for Open House dates and times. SCHOOL TYPE: Co-ed GRADE LEVELS: Pre-K through grade 12 YEAR FOUNDED: 1873 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: None OVERVIEW: McDonogh is a welcoming community where students become LifeReady under the guidance of talented and caring teachers. Opportunities abound for deep thinking, innovating, discovering passions, and becoming strong leaders who stand for justice. In all endeavors, the McDonogh community is guided by the virtues of the School’s Character Compass: respect, responsibility, honesty, kindness, and service. Learning is enhanced with top-notch facilities, including an innovation center, STEM building, two theatres, a riding hall, an Olympicsized pool, and numerous playing fields. The 800-acre campus also includes a 10-acre farm where students experience hands-on learning and harvest produce for area food pantries. McDonogh operates a fleet of 27 buses with stops in Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, and Howard Counties. Five-day boarding is an option for Upper School students. The School remains true to its founding mission of providing needbased scholarships through the generosity of loyal supporters.

ADDRESS: 1300 East Northern Parkway, Baltimore, MD 21239 WEBSITE: mercyhighschool. com PHONE NUMBER: 410-433-8880 TUITION & FEES: $16,275 TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 425 APPLICATION DEADLINE: December 18, 2020 OPEN HOUSE DATES: Please refer to mercyhighschool.com for virtual Open House dates and times. SCHOOL TYPE: Single-sex, girls GRADE LEVELS: 9-12 YEAR FOUNDED: 1960 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Catholic OVERVIEW: At Mercy High School, girls become lifelong learners, critical thinkers, and principled leaders for a global society in a welcoming, inclusive, and creative community. An International Baccalaureate World School, Mercy offers a rich, rigorous, college preparatory experience distinguished by the prestigious IB Middle Years Programme, honors and AP courses, four unique STEM programs, fine arts offerings, and leadership and service opportunities. A global community of more than 100 Mercy-sponsored schools and universities is powered by the values of the Sisters of Mercy: excellence, hospitality, service, justice and compassion. Mercy High School's vision for educating girls is bold. Whether at the 26-acre location in North Baltimore or through the virtual campus, Mercy High School’s exceptional faculty has a special gift for—and deep experience in—challenging and guiding students to their fullest potential. Helping girls learn, lead, and thrive, the “Mercy Way" is distinguished by superb teaching, personal attention, and global perspective.

Mount Saint Joseph High School ADDRESS: 4403 Frederick Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21229 WEBSITE: msjnet.edu PHONE NUMBER: 410-646-6218 TUITION & FEES: $17,150 TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 881 APPLICATION DEADLINE: December 18, 2020, rolling admission thereafter OPEN HOUSE DATES: Please refer to msjnet.edu/openhouse for more information. SCHOOL TYPE: Single-sex, boys GRADE LEVELS: 9-12 YEAR FOUNDED: 1876 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Catholic OVERVIEW: As a Xaverian Brothers sponsored school, Mount Saint Joseph offers young men a rigorous academic program steeped in the Xaverian values of humility, simplicity, compassion, trust, and zeal. Mount Saint Joseph students are expected to do more than the average student, getting involved and challenging themselves constantly. Parents can expect more out of Mount Saint Joseph too. With a focus on experiential and service learning, independent research, retreats, and community projects, a Mount Saint Joseph education extends far beyond the classroom walls. Mount Saint Joseph is more than a school. It’s a place to learn, to grow, to build lasting friendships; it’s a place to call home.

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Notre Dame Preparatory School

Oldfields School

ADDRESS: 815 Hampton Lane, Towson, MD 21286 WEBSITE: notredameprep.com PHONE NUMBER: 410-825-6202 TUITION & FEES: $20,560 TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 828 APPLICATION DEADLINE: December 19, 2020 OPEN HOUSE DATES: Refer to notredameprep.com/admissions/ opportunities-to-visit for opportunities to visit NDP. SCHOOL TYPE: Single-sex, girls GRADE LEVELS: 6-12 YEAR FOUNDED: 1873 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Catholic OVERVIEW: Notre Dame Preparatory School educates young women to transform the world. A Catholic, independent school for girls grades 6-12, NDP focuses on academic excellence, spiritual growth, and the practice of justice. The school offers a personalized, liberal arts-based education with signature programs in the middle and high schools, including the arts, STEAM, and Humanities, so girls can hone their interests. The Women In… (WIN) program provides career exploration in science, medicine, business, and law. More than 30 clubs, meaningful traditions, and championship-level teams in 15 sports complement an NDP education. New at the school: an Innovation Wing featuring a medical suite with a full-size Anatomage table; Fabrication Lab for design/build projects; art studios and galleries; architecture and design classrooms; cyber-computing room; and more!

ADDRESS: 1500 Glencoe Road, Sparks Glencoe, MD 21152-9321 WEBSITE: oldfieldschool.org PHONE NUMBER: 443-662-1050 TUITION & FEES: $33,800, day tuition; $60,900, boarding tuition TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 100 APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 1, 2021, rolling admission thereafter OPEN HOUSE DATES: Please refer to oldfieldsschool.org/ inquire-2/visit for visit options. SCHOOL TYPE: Single-sex, girls; day and boarding GRADE LEVELS: 8-12 YEAR FOUNDED: 1867 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: None OVERVIEW: Why Oldfields? Because a small school creates big opportunities. Oldfields believes that the best learning happens in a space where students are known, their voices are celebrated, and failure is embraced as part of success. As an intentionally small school, they are flexible, creating unique immersive opportunities for each girl to achieve her goals in mind, body, and spirit. The guidance of trusted teachers and mentors is not confined to four walls of a classroom. All students, including day students, benefit from living and learning in the boarding school environment. With students from across the country and around the world, each girl’s individuality is valued, but it is the deep-rooted sense of belonging that makes Oldfields’ community a family and the campus a home. The result is education with a deeper level of personal connection that opens doors (and minds) to bigger and broader opportunities for discovery.

The Odyssey School ADDRESS: 3257 Bridle Ridge Lane, Lutherville, MD 21093 WEBSITE: theodysseyschool.org PHONE NUMBER: 410-580-5551 TUITION & FEES: $33,600 TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 158 APPLICATION DEADLINE: January 15, 2021, rolling admission thereafter OPEN HOUSE DATES: Thursday, January 21, 2021, 6:45 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.; Snow Date Thursday, January 28, 2021, 6:45 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. SCHOOL TYPE: Co-ed GRADE LEVELS: K-8 YEAR FOUNDED: 1994 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: None OVERVIEW: Founded in 1994 by a group of dedicated parents, The Odyssey School is a unique, co-educational independent day school for students kindergarten to 8th grade with a 3:1 student/teacher ratio. Odyssey specializes in meeting the needs of bright students who have dyslexia or other related language learning differences. Widely recognized for academic excellence and evidence-based teaching techniques, Odyssey’s effectiveness is well-established. The program provides innovative multisensory teaching methods, small group instruction, and daily periods of reading tutoring. Odyssey’s 42 acres of campus include stream, meadow, woods, playground, and two athletic fields. The school building was designed to look like a home and includes a theater, gymnasium, computer lab, science labs, tutoring rooms, and lunchroom. Special programs include art, library, music, physical education, violin, journalism, community service, student clubs, and outdoor and environmental trips. Athletics after school include soccer, cross country, basketball, squash, lacrosse and track. What begins here changes everything!

Guide to Baltimore Independent Schools

School Directory The Park School of Baltimore

Roland Park Country School

ADDRESS: 2425 Old Court Road, Baltimore, MD 21208 WEBSITE: parkschool.net PHONE NUMBER: 410-339-7070 TUITION & FEES: $18,850-$34,080 TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 806 APPLICATION DEADLINE: Pre-K - Grade 5: December 1, 2020; Grades 6-12: January 1, 2021 OPEN HOUSE DATES: The Park School is hosting multiple opportunities for families to connect with Park. Some events introduce Park specifically to parents, some are geared towards children, and others are designed for the whole family. This fall, although the events will look different, we are looking forward to offering options that will continue to provide families with a good sense of our philosophy, curriculum, extra-curricular programming, and community. Please visit our website for the most up-to-date information on ways to experience Park this fall — whether online or on campus. SCHOOL TYPE: Gender-inclusive GRADE LEVELS: Pre-K through Grade 12 YEAR FOUNDED: 1912 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: None. Park is non-sectarian and, from the time of its founding, has welcomed religious diversity. OVERVIEW: The Park School of Baltimore is an independent, gender-inclusive, non-sectarian progressive Pre-K through 12 school located on a 100-acre wooded campus minutes from the city. To get to know Park, talk to a student, engage a faculty member, follow the paths of its alumni, and consider the school's mission statement: Devoted to intellectual inquiry, a collaborative spirit of learning, and an appreciation for the diversity of human experience, The Park School of Baltimore is a community founded on positive expectations of our students and respect for individual differences. We cultivate children’s innate curiosity by nurturing their interests and engaging them as active participants in their own education. We support young people in becoming confident questioners and responsible citizens of the world. Park graduates pursue further academic achievement, develop professional pursuits, and are prepared to continue the process of choosing for themselves from the wide range of possibilities life offers.

ADDRESS: 5204 Roland Park Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21210 WEBSITE: rpcs.org PHONE NUMBER: 410-323-5500 TUITION & FEES: $20,000-$32,930 TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 571 APPLICATION DEADLINE: December 16, 2020 OPEN HOUSE DATES: Please visit rpcs.org/visit for Open House dates and details. SCHOOL TYPE: Single-sex, girls, k-12; co-ed preschool GRADE LEVELS: K-12, includes preschool YEAR FOUNDED: 1894 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: None OVERVIEW: At Roland Park Country School, it is believed that young women who build each other up will thrive. As an independent school in Baltimore for girls in grades k-12, its all-girls culture is rooted in the notion that female empowerment begins with young women empowering each other. This enables RPCS students to build courage and confidence in an environment where female leadership across all areas of study is the norm, not the exception. The girls build a solid network here and constantly show up for each other and celebrate each other’s successes. Roland Park Country School’s Little Reds co-ed early childhood program for children ages six weeks up to five years old embraces the Reggio Emilia-inspired philosophy which emphasizes rich and deep learning through stimulating experiences.

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The School of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen ADDRESS: 111 Amberly Way, Baltimore, MD 21210 WEBSITE: schoolofthecathedral.org PHONE NUMBER: 410-464-4100 TUITION & FEES: $10,376-$12,065 TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 325 APPLICATION DEADLINE: December 1, 2020, rolling admissions thereafter OPEN HOUSE DATES: October 12, 2020; November 3, 2020; February 2, 2021 – please refer to schoolofthecathedral.org/ events/admissions for details. SCHOOL TYPE: Co-ed GRADE LEVELS: K-8 YEAR FOUNDED: 1871 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Catholic OVERVIEW: The School of the Cathedral, a co-ed, k-8 Catholic parish school, offers students a 21st century educational experience designed to challenge students academically and spiritually. The team of highly qualified teachers prepares students to be creative problem solvers and to collaborate and communicate effectively to meet the leadership needs of a quickly changing world. The students develop spiritually by learning about social justice issues and engaging in service projects in conjunction with the parish. Faith is woven into every student’s education in a way that ensures students will “act justly, love tenderly, and walk humbly with…God."

St. John’s Parish Day School

St. Paul’s Pre and Lower School

ADDRESS: 9130 Frederick Road, Ellicott City, MD 20142 WEBSITE: stjohnspds.org PHONE NUMBER: 410-465-7644 TUITION & FEES: $4,020-$15,535 TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 185 APPLICATION DEADLINE: January 31, 2021, rolling admission thereafter OPEN HOUSE DATES: Please visit stjohnspds.org for Open House dates and times. SCHOOL TYPE: Co-ed GRADE LEVELS: K-5, preschool included YEAR FOUNDED: 1965 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Episcopal OVERVIEW: St. John's Parish Day School (SJPDS) serves children ages 3 through grade 5 on a beautiful 14-acre campus. SJPDS incorporates the best of Episcopal education while maintaining the highest academic standards. Students benefit from small class sizes, differentiated instruction, thematic units, STEAM experiences, and sense of community. The personalized learning approach and stimulating curriculum give students strong foundational tools to discover their individual gifts and grow as independent thinkers of sound character. The programs include STEM, technology, art, Spanish, music, daily chapel, and physical education. Students learn beyond the classroom and gain authentic cultural experiences through project-based learning and real-world applications. SJPDS graduates go on to attend the best schools in the region but most importantly they are active stewards of the world. SJPDS offers in-person, online, and blended learning options for the 2020-21 school year. Choose what option works for your family without compromising on outstanding education.

ADDRESS: 11152 Falls Road, Brooklandville, MD 21022 WEBSITE: stpaulsmd.org/coed PHONE NUMBERS: PRESCHOOL: 410-823-0061 LOWER SCHOOL: 410-821-3060 TUITION & FEES: $10,150-$26,950 TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 323 APPLICATION DEADLINE: December 15, 2020 OPEN HOUSE DATES: Please contact the Admission Office at sppladmissions@stpaulsmd.org to learn more about virtual opportunities, to experience St. Paul’s and to hear from current faculty, staff, and students. SCHOOL TYPE: Co-ed GRADE LEVELS: 6 weeks through grade 4 YEAR FOUNDED: 1849 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Episcopal OVERVIEW: St. Paul's Pre and Lower School is a co-educational, independent day school serving children from 6 weeks through grade 4 in two buildings on one campus in Brooklandville, Maryland. As part of The St. Paul's Schools, St. Paul's Pre and Lower School is where the youngest learners begin their academic journey. St. Paul’s Pre and Lower School believes it is never too early for girls and boys to start adventuring every day. The expert faculty nurture children’s natural curiosity through an abundance of hands-on learning experiences and vary instruction to ensure that each child is consistently engaged and appropriately challenged. The foundation for this educational approach is a positive and nurturing setting where children feel safe to explore.

St. Joseph School, Cockeysville ADDRESS: 105 Church Lane, Cockeysville, MD 21030 WEBSITE: sjpray.org PHONE NUMBER: 410-6830600 x2200 TUITION & FEES: $8,500 TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 300 APPLICATION DEADLINE: Rolling admission policy OPEN HOUSE DATES: Please refer to sjpray.org/admissions for Open House dates and times. SCHOOL TYPE: Co-ed GRADE LEVELS: Pre-k through grade 8 YEAR FOUNDED: 1856 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Catholic OVERVIEW: Named a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education, St. Joseph School is a Catholic school serving children in pre-k to grade 8. Located in the heart of Cockeysville, St. Joseph School, an authentically Catholic community of diverse learners, prepares students to think critically, to work purposefully, and to live faithfully. The school curriculum utilizes innovative instructions as well as state-of-the art technology that keeps students engaged in learning. St. Joseph School offers a variety of extracurricular opportunities in the areas of academic, athletics, service and leadership. Founded in 1856, St. Joseph School welcomes families from all faiths and parishes. The Maryland PBIS organization and the Archdiocese of Baltimore have awarded St. Joseph School with Gold status recognition for Positive Behavioral Intervention & Supports (PBIS). St. Joseph School goes beyond the basics to nurture the best in each child.

PRE-K – 8TH GRADE

Why Choose SJS? Think Critically Work Purposefully Live Faithfully

Located in the heart of Cockeysville, St. Joseph School offers a vibrant Catholic community with a strong curriculum of academic excellence for Pre-K-8th.

Call today to schedule a tour! sjpray.org | 410-683-0600

Guide to Baltimore Independent Schools

School Directory St. Paul’s School for Boys

St. Timothy’s School

ADDRESS: 11152 Falls Road, Brooklandville, MD 21022 WEBSITE: stpaulsmd.org/boys PHONE NUMBER: 410-825-4400 TUITION & FEES: $30,320-$31,920 TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 557 APPLICATION DEADLINE: December 15, 2020 OPEN HOUSE DATES: Please contact the Admission Office at spadmissions@stpaulsmd.org to learn more about virtual opportunities, to experience St. Paul’s and to hear from current faculty, staff, and students. SCHOOL TYPE: Single-sex, boys GRADE LEVELS: 5-12 YEAR FOUNDED: 1849 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Episcopal OVERVIEW: St. Paul's School for Boys is a college-preparatory day school for boys in grades 5-12. At SP, boys thrive in an environment that provides a range of challenges and support and a world of opportunities, both in and out of the classroom. St. Paul’s offers the intensive International Baccalaureate (IB) program and immersive experiences for a wide range of levels. Boys develop strong bonds with peers and teachers and build a strong moral compass and the courage to positively impact their world. St. Paul’s School, St. Paul’s Pre and Lower School and St. Paul’s School for Girls share a 120-acre campus, an Episcopal affiliation, and a mission to develop the intellect and character of their students. The St. Paul’s Schools are conveniently located in Brooklandville, Maryland, on Falls Road off I-695.

ADDRESS: 8400 Greenspring Avenue, Stevenson, MD 21153 WEBSITE: www.stt.org PHONE NUMBER: 410-486-7401 TUITION & FEES: $34,900-$61,700 TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 175 APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 1, 2021, rolling admission thereafter OPEN HOUSE DATES: Please refer to stt.org for Open House dates and times. SCHOOL TYPE: Single-sex, girls GRADE LEVELS: 9-12, post-graduate year offered YEAR FOUNDED: 1832 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Episcopal OVERVIEW: St. Timothy’s School may be best understood by how its students are known: as self-possessed young women of intellectual curiosity, independent mindsets, expansive worldviews, and strong-but-empathetic voices. They’re comfortable with rigor, studying in the widely respected International Baccalaureate program. They are known and supported, surrounded by inspiring teachers who understand their individual talents and learning styles. Through a student life curriculum centered in health and wellness, girls come to understand the importance of making healthy choices. Shared experiences in athletics, in a vibrant performing and visual arts scene, in the dorms, and all around the 145-acre campus strengthen the bonds of sisterhood that form and last a lifetime. Having lived and learned in this culture of curiosity and self-discovery, St. Timothy’s girls are comfortable, confident and fearless in their pursuit of knowledge—independent-minded problem solvers who are highly valued by the nation’s finest and most interesting colleges and universities.

St. Paul’s School for Girls ADDRESS: 11232 Falls Road, Brooklandville, MD 21022 WEBSITE: stpaulsmd.org/girls PHONE NUMBER: 410-823-6323 TUITION & FEES: $30,320-$31,920 TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 445 APPLICATION DEADLINE: December 15, 2020 OPEN HOUSE DATES: Please contact the Admission Office at spsgadmissions@stpaulsmd.org to learn more about virtual opportunities, to experience St. Paul’s and to hear from current faculty, staff, and students. SCHOOL TYPE: Single-sex, girls GRADE LEVELS: 5-12 YEAR FOUNDED: 1959 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Episcopal OVERVIEW: St. Paul’s School for Girls (SPSG) is an independent, college-preparatory school serving girls in grades 5-12. Grounded in the Episcopal values of respect, integrity, and spiritual growth, SPSG cultivates a bold and courageous community of unique girls who will use their education and ethics to improve their world. Through its extensive connections and alumnae network, the school provides unparalleled learning through independent projects, professional internships, community service and nonprofit partnerships. As part of The St. Paul’s Schools, SPSG shares a campus with St. Paul’s Pre and Lower School and St. Paul’s School for Boys. As such, SPSG encourages and provides co-ed opportunities in and out of the classroom at just the right times. Students’ strengths are made stronger in an inclusive environment that feels like home, building not just lifelong skills, but lasting bonds.

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Trinity School ADDRESS: 4985 Ilchester Road, Ellicott City, MD 21043 WEBSITE: trinityschoolmd.org PHONE NUMBER: 410-744-1524 TUITION & FEES: $5,015-$14,700 TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 265 APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 5, 2021, rolling admission thereafter OPEN HOUSE DATES: Please refer to trinityschoolmd.org/admissions/visit_trinity for more information. SCHOOL TYPE: Co-ed GRADE LEVELS: K-8, includes preschool YEAR FOUNDED: 1941 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Catholic OVERVIEW: Trinity School is culturally diverse, rich in tradition, and offers a strong curriculum based on core subject areas. In fact, Trinity students’ test scores exceed the national average. Teaching for values permeates the curriculum. Technology is incorporated throughout the curriculum. Prayer, scripture, social justice and morality are essential components of the religion curriculum. Developing an attitude of self-discipline within each student is a priority in Trinity’s philosophy. At Trinity, the qualities of love and respect are fostered to create a caring Christian community.

The Waldorf School of Baltimore ADDRESS: 4801 Tamarind Road, Baltimore, MD 21209 WEBSITE: waldorfschoolofbaltimore.org PHONE NUMBER: 410-367-6808 TUITION & FEES: $16,450-$21,825 TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 125 APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 1, 2021 OPEN HOUSE DATES: Please refer to waldorfschoolofbaltimore. org/visit-our-school for tour dates and times. SCHOOL TYPE: Co-ed GRADE LEVELS: K-8, preschool included YEAR FOUNDED: 1971 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: None OVERVIEW: Founded in 1971, the Waldorf School of Baltimore (WSB) is a private, independent day school from nursery age through eighth grade. Its mission is to educate and inspire children to think, feel and act with depth, imagination and purpose. The school believes every child is an enthusiastic and engaged learner and places an emphasis on the role of creativity and the imagination in learning. The Waldorf method offers a renaissance in education, favoring hands-on, experiential academics over rote memorization and technological reliance. Students are immersed in a rigorous academic environment that fosters intellectual curiosity, emotional resiliency and a strong sense of self in relation to the rest of the world. As a Maryland Green School, Waldorf fosters a deep appreciation for the planet with outdoor parent and child classes, nature studies, forest aftercare, farm trips, school-wide composting and terracycling. Its beautiful campus is a certified wildlife habitat that boasts a thriving beehive, pollinator gardens and several chickens. WSB is conveniently located in scenic northwest Baltimore and attracts families from diverse communities in and around the greater Baltimore metropolitan area. The school is a full member of the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA), fully licensed by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) and accredited by the Association of Independent Maryland Schools (AIMS).

PRESCHOOLS Goldsmith Early Childhood Center ADDRESS: 8100 Stevenson Road, Pikesville, MD 21208 WEBSITE: chizukamuno.org/gecc PHONE NUMBER: 410-486-8642 TUITION & FEES: $4,050-$11,915 TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 105 APPLICATION DEADLINE: No deadline; based on class availability. OPEN HOUSE DATES: Please email Michelle Gold, Director, at mgold@chizukamuno.org for more information. SCHOOL TYPE: Co-ed GRADE LEVELS: Preschool; ages 2-5 YEAR FOUNDED: 1958 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Jewish OVERVIEW: For children 18 months through 5 years of age, Goldsmith Early Childhood Center uses active learning to promote cognitive, social, emotional, physical, creative and Jewish development. Children are given the opportunity to observe, explore, create and experience through a child-centered curriculum and nurturing environment. Goldsmith Early Childhood Center’s classrooms balance academic structure with creative social interaction.

Grace United Methodist Preschool ADDRESS: 5407 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21210 WEBSITE: gracepreschoolbaltimore.com PHONE NUMBER: 410-532-2235 TUITION & FEES: $2,500-$8,900 TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 60 APPLICATION DEADLINE: No deadline; based on class availability. OPEN HOUSE DATES: Tours are available upon request. Please email Tami James at tamijames.gracepreschool@gmail.com to set up a tour of Grace. SCHOOL TYPE: Co-ed GRADE LEVELS: Preschool and kindergarten; ages 2-6 YEAR FOUNDED: 1961 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: United Methodist OVERVIEW: Grace Preschool is located in the Homeland/Roland Park area of Baltimore. Grace is an outreach program of the Grace United Methodist Church offering an excellent educational program to the community. Grace offers a traditional preschool program with classes for children 2 years of age through kindergarten. Meeting the needs of working families is something Grace is passionate about! Children in the Fours and Kindergarten can attend school from 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. each day.

FOR MORE PRESCHOOLS, PLEASE SEE THE FOLLOWING LISTINGS: Archdiocese of Baltimore Catholic Schools The Bryn Mawr School Chapelgate Christian Academy Friends School of Baltimore Garrison Forest School Gerstell Academy Gilman School Glenelg Country School Immaculate Conception School McDonogh School The Park School of Baltimore Roland Park Country School St. John’s Parish Day School St. Joseph School, Cockeysville St. Paul’s Pre and Lower School Trinity School Waldorf School

Guide to Baltimore Independent Schools

Moving Forward in a Time of Uncertainty The Association of Independent Maryland Schools serves 120 schools in Maryland and the District of Columbia. AIMS Executive Director Peter F. Baily, who has led the organization for the past six years, has spent the summer putting his entire focus on school reopening plans. We asked him a few questions about what to expect from independent schools as they face the coming year. The pandemic has fast-tracked sweeping changes in independent school teaching practices. How do you foresee these changes affecting schools post-pandemic? Will virtual classes, zoom meetings, and online learning become parts of the independent schools for good? Independent schools are learning a lot from this new experience with virtual teaching and learning. We are learning that some subjects and pedagogical techniques lend themselves well to the virtual environment, and that some do not. We see that some learners adapt to virtual learning eagerly, and for other learners, it's not compatible with their learning style. In the future, we will see innovative new ways of using technology to support teaching and learning to advance the capabilities of both faculty and students, regardless of whether we are responding to a virus like Covid 19.

This summer, students of color shared how uncomfortable many still feel on independent school campuses. How can the schools do better? AIMS schools all have a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The process of creating truly just and inclusive school communities evolves over time, and a look back at each school's history shows steps forward in inclusion and justice, and also failures. The painful stories we are hearing from students and families of color are essential to the development of our schools, and they provide opportunities for our schools to listen, to learn, and, most important, to act. Systemic racism is an entrenched element of our society, and our independent schools must work to address it and to demonstrate leadership in so doing. Our AIMS schools are spending significant resources on professional development for faculty and administrators in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and significant resources on programming for students. We still have much more work to do to become places of authentic inclusion and equity, and this crucial work will continue into the future as we continue to learn together. Our schools will become stronger educational institutions and more powerful human communities because of this work.

What are independent schools doing to protect teachers and make it safe to return to the classroom? AIMS schools have spent enormous amounts of time doing research, seeking expert advice, and developing scenarios that will enable them to open safely, when the time comes. Schools have prepared for multiple possibilities and have remained flexible and nimble in the face of a virus that is constantly surprising us and requiring us to change course. Plans include creative strategies for the delivery of educational programming, new ways of moving and accommodating people on campus, use of outdoor spaces, cleaning and disinfecting protocols, changes in food service practices, phased and staggered scheduling and, of course, a variety of models for virtual learning. The safety of our students and employees is paramount. How have the schools helped families with tuition during these uncertain times? Schools have employed a number of different strategies in supporting families during these uncertain times, including emergency financial aid, tuition credits, and restructured tuition models. Just as families are stretched financially, so are schools. Campuses must be maintained, even when students are absent, and employees must be supported financially. The operations and expenses of schools continue, even in a virtual environment. Teachers and administrators take on new and challenging tasks in a virtual environment, just as students and families do. And, we all want "school" to be there when we can return to in-person learning. So, supporting families and school operations is a complex balancing act.

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Baltimore Fishbowl Guide to Baltimore Independent Schools

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Weaving Wellness into the School Day

Moving Forward in a Time of Uncertainty