9th Grade Experience

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ARIANAPOLIS

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The 9th Grade Experience

Habits of Mind

The Habits of Mind are a repertoire of behaviors that help students successfully navigate the challenges they encounter in their classes. They are performed in response to questions and problems, particularly when the answers are not immediately apparent.

Cultivating these patterns of intellectual behaviors in our students leads to a set of valued dispositions that students develop so they are more capable of successfully working at a higher level. We have developed a way to teach, enhance, observe, and assess performance indicators of academic success and have grouped them under six general Habits of Mind.

The Six Habits of Mind PREPARATION

Before I get to class, I am ready and prepared to engage in learning.

PARTICIPATION

In class I'm involved, respectful, and attentive.

CURIOSITY

I'm curious about what we're learning and open to learning new things.

ORGANIZATION

I manage my time and resources and I plan for my work.

SELF-ADVOCACY

I speak up for myself, I advocate for my needs, and take personal responsibility.

PERSEVERANCE

I'm resilient and persistent: I don't give up.

With the Habits of Mind as the framework of methodology, the Casimir Seminar is one of two innovative and unique programs that are part of the 9th grade experience at Marianapolis.

The Casimir Seminar is a semester-long course that is designed to provide a foundation of essential skills and insights that will benefit first year students and enhance their ability to achieve success in their academic and extracurricular careers while at Marianapolis.

The Casimir Seminar Communication Articulation Skills Innovation Methodology Information Research Four Focus Areas: Communication in Society Information Fluency Human Dynamics Science and Innovation

Humanities

Essential Questions What are the driving influential forces in our world, community, and lives?

Where do our values come from?

How do our values shape our identity, perspective, and actions?

Is it possible to change one’s value system?

How do these questions relate to historical events, literature, religious formation and perspectives, and art themes?

Curriculum & Skills Three Instructors Analytical Thinking, Interpretation, and Communication Application of Content Collaboration & Teamwork

The Humanities curriculum is the second new programming piece of the 9th grade experience at Marianapolis. This year long interdisciplinary and cross-curricular course will blend history, art, and English themes and also applications of critical thinking. The Humanities class is taught and moderated by three teachers in the disciplines of English, history, and theology.

Additional Freshman Programming L.E.A.P. Week/EL Program

Advising

With a curricular focus on experiential education, the school empowers its students to make the world their classroom. Through cultural experiences and project based learning, students are exposed to school-sponsored regional travel as early as freshman year.

The primary goal of the advising system is to make caring and knowledgeable adults accessible to Marianapolis students, helping them to understand and to live the School’s mission.

Peer Leadership

Centers of Excellence

Senior leaders mentor freshmen through peer leadership by reducing the fears and disconnectedness many new freshmen feel when they enter a new environment.

Each senior Peer Leader has a small group of freshmen they meet with weekly and help transition to life at Marianapolis.

Earn a specialized certificate in a focus area by completing the Centers of Excellence seminar, participating in a supervised internship, taking part in a topic specific L.E.A.P Week course, and completing a captsone project.

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