LCDS Middle School Advantages

MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM

In their words.

The Advantages of

Lancaster Country Day School

From the Head of Middle School

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Having taught in public schools for 33 years prior to coming to LCDS, it’s pretty easy for me to talk about how we serve families differently. But I prefer the microphone to be placed in front of our community. My greatest hope is that from this booklet, you feel inspired to speak with our parents and ask them directly whatever you want.

While I asked our community to speak to just three aspects of our Middle School that distinguish us from regional options, there are many from which to choose, and it will be your own conversations that validate what these pages hope to share. – Rudy Sharpe

Shared Voices on tHree Middle School Advantages 1 CHARACTER EDUCATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 2 2 ADVISORY: A THREE-WAY PARTNERSHIP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 4 3 CURRICULUM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 5 1

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Character Education

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Every Middle School aspires to cultivate character. Visiting families walking among our students notice a different feel here

We wanted a school whose culture would reinforce our son’s moral and academic compass. In a few short months, LCDS has exceeded our expectations. Our son’s confidence has soared, he

right away.

Why?

is excited about learning, and he

A vital investment in a low student to faculty ratio, which reduces

He is encouraged and challenged.

the frequency of discipline in every division, makes good

Country Day’s community will

behavior “normal” here.

allow him to grow naturally

has made great friends already.

from a great kid into a fine Character development practices in our Lower School help students arrive at the Middle School happy to trust adults and ready to enjoy learning. Our students’ outlook allows us to more

young man.

Sheri Pettoni, Parent

easily integrate good and challenging principles into advisory and into the curriculum.

We wanted a school where our values would be supported by our children’s peers. At Country Day, we can trust that what we care about at home is strengthened, not weakened, by experiences at school.

Christina Starzyk, Parent 2

My daughter joined the Middle School as an 8th grader, which can be very challenging anywhere. At LCDS, she was genuinely and readily welcomed.

To her, it quickly became clear that the students here truly want to learn, and are very willing to help each other do their best.

Respect, honesty and integrity are indeed embedded in the culture. The net result is that our students have a nice level of maturity and self-confidence, and also have a broader appreciation of what the environment offers.

Susan Rohr, Current Parent

There is a cyclical quality at work here as well. The culture of the school is attractive and helps our national searches for faculty yield especially strong leaders. A positive momentum occurs as these stronger teachers further improve students’

Middle School was extremely

drive and respect.

important for my academic growth overall. I developed a good

The emphasis on character education at LCDS works. At my old Middle

work ethic, I sharpened my time

School, teachers had too many students and had to be more abrupt to keep

management skills and I found

discipline. Wrong answers were reprimanded firmly, which is typical, but

the most effective ways to study

unnecessary here. Students are freely willing to speak up here, unafraid

for tests. Without the Middle

of being mocked by teachers or peers. That classroom environment affects

School experience, I wouldn’t

our lives around school, too. At LCDS, the feel is lighter. There is always

work as diligently or be as

a smiling person walking down the halls, or someone helping someone out.

successful as I am today.

That’s normal at LCDS.

Jodi Saunders, Student 3

Elizabeth Hirshberg, Student

2

My advisor in 7th and 8th grade

Advisory: A Three-Way Partnership

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became both a mentor and a family friend. She is still a person I go to when I need advice

Many schools have advisory programs. What makes Country Day’s advisory program different? LCDS provides parents a proactive,

on anything, silly to extremely

comprehensive window of information at a time when children

serious, that comes up. My

can become less communicative. Our national searches help

Upper School friends and I

ensure that we have able leaders. Advisory groups are right-sized – typically 8 students per adult. Structured meetings, conducted

visit many of our old advisors regularly, just to check in and

every morning, provide real support. Influenced by their experiences in our own Lower School, our Middle School students

talk. My advisor got me through

are naturally receptive to advice, which boosts the program’s

all of the highs and lows of

effectiveness. Every child can feel valued and free to thrive.

middle school.

We have a very active and personalized advisor system. Channels of

Maddy Pontz, Student

feedback come from a remarkably broad range of sources – gym, art, dance, etc… and that informs advisory and strengthens relationships each day.

Advisors can identify issues and trouble-shoot problems before they grow.

Rudy Sharpe, Head of Middle School

My daughter had a challenging medical issue in seventh grade.

The range, depth and substance of faculty, administrative and advisory support for our child was absolutely extraordinary.

Shira Manley, Parent 4

I came to Country Day from a highly-regarded public school in a neighboring county. I was often bored in class. The activities and

3

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Curriculum Recent research from Stanford University affirms that what distinguishes higher performing middle schools is a shared

lessons didn’t interest me and

culture of high expectations and rigor for all.* In modeling these

a lot of it was taught below my

key attributes, and by employing a few other vital traditions,

ability level. This was a huge

LCDS’s curriculum enjoys greater efficiency of instruction and

contrast to my experience at

better outcomes.

LCDS. Here my eighth grade science teacher noticed that our class really understood the material and started teaching the material more quickly to cover the entire week before Friday.

On Fridays, he would find an activity that reinforced what we had absorbed in a meaningful way. One week, we measured out a scale model of the solar system on the street in front of the school using students as the planets. At my old school, a smart class like mine would have been “rewarded” with enrichment work (otherwise known as extra homework). Here, teachers are willing to adjust the curriculum in a constructive and fun way.

Jessica Sacks, Student 5

My 8th grade daughter is in a history class that has a Harkness table.

This allows the students to face each other and encourages open discussions.

She has always enjoyed history. But this year there is a new excitement in her voice and so many more discussions about class at home. I truly think the setting in the classroom provides a safe environment for expressing ideas and opinions. She comes home and wants to have the same discussions.

Sandi Abraham, Current Parent * EdSource, “Gaining Ground in the Middle Grades: Why Some School Do Better,” February 2010, http://www.edsource.org/middle-gradessummary.html

Our curriculum provides multifaceted growth. With offerings in basic photography, computer graphics, animation art,

My parents were told by friends

chorus, band, string ensemble, dance and theater ensemble, LCDS students receive instruction from working artists who encourage exploration.

that Country Day’s size would hinder me in athletics. But

At Country Day, our physical education requirements and our students’ ability to participate and compete on a broad range

we looked anyway. I wanted to play in each season -- and

of interscholastic teams are every bit as important a part of curriculum design as the arts or humanities.

not just in my best sport.

Country Day’s size allowed me

Our commitment to thoughtful classroom design and our investment in small class sizes help our curriculum promote

to thrive in three sports, and

the ideal of a well-rounded, well-grounded and motivated

the program set me up to play

young adolescent. varsity basketball and golf in

Country Day’s curriculum has depth. Our son is learning his subjects thoroughly, but he is also learning better. LCDS asks my child to do collaborative work, and to complete projects with other ambitious students

college. The lower and middle school programs’ depth helps

who demand excellence.

Andrea Gerace, Parent

Before LCDS, I kept good grades, but stopped caring about my classes.

Here I found classes suited to each teacher’s skill set (and they were all very

our upper school teams compete regularly in the division and state playoffs. I gained a lot of

skilled). They challenged me more and definitely sparked my interest. I fell back into enjoying my education. Teachers labor over the curriculum, catering to students’ specific needs differently each year, honing the most important skills (writing in particular) early on, and tailoring their courses to maximize their own enthusiasm. My peers help make the curriculum fly too. Everywhere at LCDS, I feel surrounded by considerate, academically gifted students. All that changed the feel of school.

Haley Velletri, Student

experience here as an athlete, and in some cases, in team leadership. That is exactly what I wanted in a school.

Alex Blickle, Student 6

725 Hamilton Road • Lancaster, PA 17603 • (717) 392-2916 • www.lancastercountryday.org