The Masters Middle School

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the MIDDLE school

ABOUT MA STERS The Masters School is a coed day and boarding school that engages fifth through twelfth grade students in a rigorous college preparatory curriculum. Founded in 1877, Masters is located on a majestic 96-acre campus in historic Dobbs Ferry, New York, just 35 minutes S T UD E NT S N AP S H OT :

from New York City.

cater to their individual learning styles. Also, because girls and boys feel equally valued, their confidence grows. The children will tell you that because they get to spend informal times together—recess, lunch, and all-school activities—they get the best of both worlds.

E XP ERI ENTI A L EDU C ATION The Masters curriculum capitalizes upon every stage

Approximate number of students in grades 5 through 8: 170 Average class size: 14

NO W IS THE T I ME The middle school years are crucial in a child’s educational journey. It’s a time of big changes and great opportunity. This is when we can successfully

Ratio of boys to girls: 1:1

harness students’ natural energy and intensity

Number of cities and towns represented: over 50

academic pursuits can be.

Number of countries represented: over 20

and demonstrate to them just how gratifying their

of middle schoolers’ development. Each year is framed by a scholastic theme, and within that theme, the curriculum is customized for the ages and stages of the children in the class. We enrich the learning with relevant real-world experiences; and to this end, we frequently take advantage of our proximity to New York and our location in the Hudson River Valley.

Every engaging, hands-on lesson builds on the ones

BENEFITING BO YS AND G I R LS At The Masters School, fifth-graders learn in a homeroom environment in small groups, while students in grades six through eight are separated by gender. Single-gender learning has many benefits. Not only can lessons be customized to appeal specifically

before it; each topic is connected to others. The result is an education that is rich, intertwined, and pertinent and students who are thoroughly absorbed by their learning.

F ifth gr ad e: t he a n ci en t w o r l d

to boys or girls, but since students are less likely to put

What could be more captivating than the great dramas

on a “public face,” teachers can better understand and

of ancient gods and mortals? And what could be more important than learning how ancient civilizations have influenced our own?

Sixth gr ad e: t he H uds o n R i v er Located right in the School’s backyard, this waterway has impacted art, literature, transportation, ecology, and history; and it presents boundless educational opportunities.

QUI C K CA MPUS FACT S : 96 acres, 5 academic buildings, 6 dormitories, health center, library, Mac and PC computer labs, student activity center, science building, music hall, 15 grand pianos, digital sound studio, digital media lab, language lab, B&W photo lab, 500-seat theatre, two-story art studio, dance studio, 7 playing fields, 8 Har-tru tennis courts, track, turf, field, gymnasium, fitness center, and Estherwood Mansion.

FAC ULT Y FACT S : Number of Middle School teachers: 25

MEET THE TEA C HER S

H OW WI NNI NG:

Beyond being well trained and talented, the

Number of athletic fields, including the new turf field: 5

instructors at our Middle School have chosen their careers deliberately: they genuinely love to teach

Number who live on campus: 8

children during that unique stretch of time we call adolescence. These teachers earn the admiration and trust of their pupils, who feel comfortable

Percentage of Masters faculty who have earned advanced degrees: 65

sharing what’s on their mind and asking for advice.

All of the faculty work in partnership with parents and one another to continually monitor students’

Percentage who pursue professional development opportunities and bring their learning back to the classroom: 100

progress and keep them on the best trajectory. Each student is matched with a faculty advisor—just one of the many ways the School lets each child know that, though our expectations are high, we’re here to help and want to see you succeed.

Approximate number of grants awarded to Masters teachers yearly to further their education: 140 Likelihood that students will remember these teachers for the rest of their lives: excellent

AROUND THE F IE L D Athletics play an important part of the Masters Middle School experience. We believe that the

S eventh gr ad e : d i v e r s i t y Reflecting on their own lives and society as well as the various people and attitudes in the world, students study literature, the arts, and history through this powerful lens.

Ei ghth g r ad e : t he Am e r i c a n i d e n t i t y Looking at the evolution of this country, the students consider all the implications of liberty. They scrutinize the Constitution, even performing a reenactment of the Constitutional Convention.

benefits of physical education are incalculable, and many of them last a lifetime. Certainly, middle school children need an outlet for their abundant energy. But a strong sports program also teaches teamwork, strategy, self-control, and good sportsmanship. Students get better at the game of life—and have fun along the way.

Number of interscholastic sports seventh and eighth graders can play: 10 Percentage of Middle School students who learn to fence: 100

forms at all ability levels—painting, drawing, ceramics, dance, photography, music, and theater.

And they learn techniques and skills along the way: how to read and notate music, how to use a potter’s wheel, how to work with watercolors, and much more.

Perhaps more importantly, students learn context.

The arts don’t exist in a vacuum, of course; so The Masters School teaches the arts in conjunction with other disciplines. At Masters, as in the world outside, the arts are woven into the fabric of life.

GET READY, GET S ET CARING AND SHAR I NG

M A K I NG & TA K I N G I N AR T Periods per week spent studying the arts: 4 Number of Middle and Upper School musical, theatrical, and dance performances per year: 40

in the Middle School are ultimately a springboard

When you visit The Masters School, you’ll see the

for the next four - and even the years beyond. So

acronym “MISH” in many places. It stands for

we ensure that by the conclusion of eighth grade,

“Masters Interested in Sharing and Helping,” and

students have acquired the skills and knowledge

it’s this school’s ethos of service put into action.

necessary to continue their educational expedition

Middle School students engage actively in philanthropic efforts. They intensively research charitable causes and give presentations to their classmates. They gather and distribute necessities for the needy. They augment the money earned with “Jeans Days” by holding bake sales and other fundraisers. As individual classes and as one

Miles from Masters to the Metropolitan Museum of Art: 19.7

As rewarding as they are, the next four years spent

community, the children decide on charities they’d like to help and how to best benefit them.

ARTS ALL AROUND The arts are alive and well at The Masters School, enhancing the educational experience in myriad ways. Students participate in a multitude of artistic

and thrive in the Upper School.

The Masters School: A coed day and boarding college preparatory school for grades 5 –12, located in historic Dobbs Ferry, New York, 35 minutes from New York City.

O ffice of A dmission The Masters School 49 Clinton Avenue Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 admission@mastersny.org Tel: +1-914-479-6420 Fax: +1-914-693-7295 www.mastersny.org

the masters school | 49 Clinton Avenue, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 | mastersny.org p: 914.479.6420 | F: 914.693.7295 | admission@mastersny.org