Montgomery School Viewbook

Montgomery School

More to Explore An independent, co-ed day school serving PreK through grade eight

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n small moments, big endeavors, and everything in between, the Montgomery School experience provides more. More freedom for students to push their own boundaries and

pursue possibilities on our 60-acre campus. A more engaging and dynamic curriculum. More opportunities to build confidence and develop leadership skills. And more chances to spark curiosity and discover a joy in learning that will last a lifetime. From our challenging academic program, to athletics, to the arts, to service projects, there is always a chance to do more, be more, and explore more at Montgomery School.

“ Every day I see something new in my child. She comes home so excited to share her day with me.” — MIDDLE SCHOOL PARENT

Building confident learners and leaders M

ontgomery School students learn how to lead at the earliest of ages, whether it’s serving as a classroom ambassador, collaborating to solve a problem, or serving meals and cleaning

up with fellow students during family-style lunch. Throughout their Montgomery School journey each student develops their own leadership style, which is a reflection of their strengths, values, and dedication to achieving their goals.

ASK QUESTIONS AND CHALLENGE IDEAS Montgomery School students eagerly explore the world around them and inquisitively seek answers and ask clear, concise questions to deepen their understanding. Through individual projects, creative writing, and interactive experiments, they are energized by new learning and insights. They approach unfamiliar situations and uncertainty with curiosity, confidence, and forethought. They are

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YEARS

AVERAGE EXPERIENCE OF OUR TEACHERS

not afraid to explore new roles, ideas, and strategies.

ACTIVE TEACHING FOR ACTIVE LEARNING Our teachers create a learning environment that actively engages students and challenges them to step outside their comfort zone.

The curriculum is built around strong academic principles infused with creativity to spark students’ curiosity. Our teachers know each student in a profound way and have the ability to be flexible in their lessons, whether it’s teaching about a current event or addressing a student’s passions and interests in real-time. Above all, our teachers develop experiences that ignite intellectual curiosity, promote personal growth, encourage critical thinking, and instill a lifelong love of learning.

“ We are allowed to ask why, allowed to explore all aspects of a topic, and have the freedom to spend time on self-reflection.”

— MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT

ACADEMIC HIGHLIGHTS Student-Centered Approaches

“Six Traits of Writing” instructional

to Education

and assessment model

Individual goal-setting at every

“Fundations” program for PreK

grade level

through second grade provides a

Lower School Morning Meetings and

strong, evidence-based foundation

Middle School Advisory Program

in reading and spelling skills

Harkness Tables in Middle School

Technology

humanities classrooms foster open

1 :1 Chromebooks starting

discussion, collaboration, debate,

in second grade

and independent thinking

Utilization of our Augmented

A diverse selection of Middle School

Reality Sandbox (interactive

electives designed to provide deeper

topographic map) increases

learning experiences and enrich the

awareness and stewardship

application of academic knowledge

of freshwater ecosystems

Lower School classrooms and Middle

Fully-equipped science labs

School advisories craft mission

support hands-on learning,

statements around character and

exploration, and inquiry

support to create a sense of belonging

Academic Programs

Outdoor Learning Students spend a minimum

Public speaking starting in PreK

of 30 minutes outside every day

Foreign language, science, library,

Natural learning spaces enhance

physical education, art, and music

the academic curriculum and

classes, starting in PreK

inspire imagination, curiosity,

Design, engineering, and robotics

and discovery

courses starting in kindergarten and

Sustainable watershed

3D printing starting in fourth grade

conservation and stewardship

Singapore Math taught by highly-

program

skilled faculty with more than 400 hours of training

6:1

STUDENT-TEACHER RATIO

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ENRICHING AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS Our after school program was voted

“ I like that we interact with all grade levels and have friends in many different grades. Everyone knows each other here and is kind to each other.”

— LOWER SCHOOL STUDENT

“Best of the Main Line and Western Suburbs” by Main Line Today

GETTING TO KNOW YOU Montgomery School teachers bring out the best in each child.

Teachers and students form strong bonds that encourage students to realize their full potential and challenge them to discover hidden

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

talents. Our teachers care about every child’s well-being and make lifelong connections with our students. These meaningful interactions build a foundation for relationship skills that carry

3D printing

students through high school, college, and beyond. No matter where

Chess

a student’s future may lead, the relationship and leadership skills

Computer design

taught at Montgomery School will have a lasting impact.

Cooking and baking Drama: comedy and fairy tale theater Engineering and robotics Manners and etiquette Pottery and crafts Programming Science Explorers Video game design Yoga and mindfulness

CREATING CONNECTIONS A dvisory program (Middle School) A thletic association representatives B uddy program Daily morning meetings (Lower School) F amily-style lunch S tudent government T wice-weekly non-sectarian chapels* delivered by students, faculty, and staff * Chapel is a non-sectarian, character-based school gathering for students twice a week.

DURING FAMILY-STYLE LUNCH, STUDENTS SIT WITH A MIX OF GRADE LEVELS AND FACULTY. OUR MONTHLY ROTATION PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO FORGE NEW FRIENDSHIPS AND LEARN LEADERSHIP SKILLS BY SERVING AND CLEARING MEALS.

Pushing boundaries and pursuing possibilities W

e believe that when students are encouraged to push beyond their own boundaries, the possibilities of what they will discover and who they will become are endless. Whether they’re

conducting field observations on a creek walk or gaining the confidence to play soccer for the first time, Montgomery School students are eager to stretch their limits and take on new challenges.

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ACRE CAMPUS, WHERE LEARNING HAPPENS EVERYWHERE

“ I had always seen myself as an athlete but participating in the musical has been one of the best experiences I’ve had at Montgomery School.”

— MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT

TEST THE WATERS Boots are required at Montgomery School! Nature walks through Pickering Creek, scavenger hunts, and raising trout to be released back into the wild are part of the experiential learning that makes Montgomery School unique. By spending time in nature, students learn the value of curiosity, exploration, and teamwork while

CAMPUS AND CLASSROOM FEATURES

discovering the interconnectedness of the world around them.

Art studios

SPEAK UP AND STAND OUT

Athletic fields

Montgomery School students have unlimited opportunities to speak

Dining room

up and stand out. As early as PreK, our students develop presentation

Gymnasium

skills, participate in school-wide events such as musicals, and have

Library and technology center

opportunities to take on leadership roles including serving as Student

Music rooms

Ambassadors for prospective families or joining student government.

Performance stage

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NATURAL HABITATS, INCLUDING PICKERING CREEK

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ATHLETIC FIELDS

ATHLETIC OPTIONS

ATHLETICS AT MONTGOMERY SCHOOL BUILD STRONG

Baseball

BODIES AND CREATIVE MINDS.

Basketball (girls and boys)

EVERY CHILD LEARNS ABOUT

Cross-country

TEAMWORK, SPORTSMANSHIP,

Field hockey

AND COMMITMENT THROUGH

Lacrosse (girls and boys)

PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND

Soccer (girls and boys)

TEAM SPORTS.

Softball

ALL MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN OUR AFTERNOON ATHLETIC PROGRAM FOR AT LEAST ONE OF OUR THREE SPORTS SEASONS (FALL, WINTER , AND SPRING).

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SPECIALTY SUBJECTS

“ I’ve been thinking about my Eighth Grade Chapel since I first started at Montgomery School. I am looking forward to it, and am even more excited to support my friends as they present their Chapels this year.”

— MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT

including art, music, foreign language, physical education, technology, and library

EIGHTH GRADE CHAPEL Eighth Grade Chapel is a pivotal moment for every Montgomery School student. Delivered with confidence and eloquence, students choose to speak about a range of topics that have a personal significance—from the meaning of their years at Montgomery School, to people who have had a profound influence on their lives, to their individual passions and interests.

THE ART OF THE MATTER The visual and performing arts are interwoven into our academics, and connections with art are made in places both anticipated and unexpected. Our students use their imaginations, ask questions, and fearlessly try new experiences such as auditioning for a lead role in a musical or trying their hand at sculpting for the first time.

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ART STUDIOS featuring drafting tables, kilns, and other mixed media

LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES A thletics team captains C lass presentations and group projects E ighth grade leadership retreat F ifth grade flag raisers F ifth grade table heads Lower School classroom jobs Middle School Musical S afeties (fifth grade) S tudent Ambassadors

MUSIC AND PERFORMING ARTS

VISUAL ARTS

Fifth Grade Play

Ceramics

Lower School chorus

Digital art

Middle School choir

Drawing

Middle School Musical

Fiber art

Student performances

Painting

at Chapel

Printmaking Sculpture

A joyful community T

eachers enthusiastically share new research and techniques.

Students bond over field trip adventures and community service.

Parents play an active role by offering insights to new families,

volunteering their time and talents, and partnering with their child’s teacher.

This warmth and camaraderie translates into a strong community of faculty, students, parents, and alumni who are bound together in a joyful commitment to character building and lifelong learning.

“ We take our students where they want to go on their educational journey.”

—TEACHER

STEP OUTSIDE THE BOX We believe that experiences beyond the classroom—from field trips to community service—are just as important as academic challenges inside the classroom. By stepping off campus and outside their comfort zone, our students develop perspective and character

COMMUNITY EVENTS Fall Fun Day Family picnic Grandfriends’ Day Holiday chapels Sweetheart dance/ mother-son outing Teacher Appreciation Week Trick or Trunk

through new experiences.

GIVING BACK Through service projects, our students play an active role in the greater community. They learn the importance of helping others, whether it’s raising funds to advance literacy for children in Africa, collecting food drive donations, or publishing and donating books to Child Life at Nemours DuPont Children’s Hospital in Delaware. In eighth grade, each student participates in our Design for a Difference Project, a year-long, capstone project that teaches students to empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test an innovation designed to make a positive impact on the world.

“ Real-life experiences, such as a visit to Shofuso Japanese House and Garden, allow students to make a lasting association to what we are learning in the classroom. The students loved the Japanese storytelling so much we decided to make a Kamishibai theatre and write our own folktales.”

— THIRD GRADE TEACHER

FIELD TRIPS In addition to many Lower School field trips that include the Academy of Natural Sciences, Hawk Mountain, and Shofuso Japanese House and Garden, each Middle School class has its own overnight field trip tradition:

Sixth Grade: Historic Washington, DC, and Colonial Williamsburg Students experience our nation’s capital, Shenandoah National Park, and Colonial Williamsburg to gain a better understanding of their place in national and world history.

Seventh Grade: Florida This trip aligns with the seventh grade physical science program while building upon environmental sustainability lessons taught in sixth grade. The goal is to inspire students to become stewards of

REAL-LIFE LESSONS

our natural resources while emphasizing physical science through

PROVIDE A DEEPER

dynamic physics activities.

Eighth Grade: Quebec City and Montreal, Canada

LEARNING EXPERIENCE AND HELP STUDENTS

An unforgettable experience for our eighth grade students, rich

DISCOVER THEIR PLACE

in cultural significance and a culminating adventure with friends

IN THE LARGER WORLD.

before they graduate.

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SCHOOL DISTRICTS PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION Coatesville, Downingtown, Great Valley, Methacton, Owen J. Roberts, Phoenixville, Spring-Ford, Tredyffrin-Easttown, West Chester

ONE COMMUNITY, MANY WAYS TO BELONG When a new family joins Montgomery School, invitations follow to attend the next Montgomery School Community Association (MSCA) meeting, volunteer at Fall Fun Day, or meet up for a cup of coffee after Chapel. We believe that everyone is a valuable and equal member of our school community and provide opportunities all year long for parent involvement.

FRIENDS FOR LIFE Friendships at Montgomery School are forged every day: from Lower School students building imaginary worlds together during recess to Middle School students sharing in the experience of solving problems and competing together on a sports team. These daily interactions blend seamlessly with our many events and traditions—such as Greek and Roman Games, Moving Up Day, and eighth grade Creek Jump—to build bonds and create meaningful memories that last a lifetime.

“ There is such a strong sense of community; everyone is family here.”

— BOARD MEMBER

GREEK AND ROMAN GAMES Greek and Roman Games are a special annual and traditional event.

During their first year at Montgomery School, students are assigned to be a Greek or Roman. Siblings are assigned to the same team, and, legacy students are assigned to the team that alumni family competed on during their time at Montgomery School. They keep these identities the entire time they are students here (and long after graduation). Each year, students, parents, faculty, staff, and alumni get into the spirit as they engage in friendly competitions including relays, the crescendo, tug of war, and the infamous chariot race.

TRADITIONS Eighth graders escort kindergarten students into the first chapel of the year to signify the current and future

“ As a new parent, it means so much to me that everyone knows my name and my child’s name when I come to campus. I couldn’t imagine a more welcoming, open place for our family.”

— NEW PARENT

leaders of the school.

Classroom chapels in Lower School Eighth grade chapel presentations Eighth grade lettering chapel Buddy activities Eighth grade leadership retreat Greek and Roman Games Math Bowl Middle School Adventure Day Pep rally and Friday Night Lights basketball games Visiting artist week

“ We set expectations early that there is nothing a student can’t try, building and fostering leadership and confidence.” — TEACHER

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ontgomery School students are filled with curiosity, confidence, and a true sense of community because every day they experience more. More opportunities to challenge

their minds with our interactive, experiential, and personal approach to academics. More chances for creative exploration and hands-on learning on our expansive campus. More friendship and leadership opportunities through cross-grade interactions. The result is a future filled with more confidence, more insight, and more growth.

Learn how Montgomery School can offer your family more. For additional information or to schedule a tour, contact admissions@montgomeryschool.org or 610.601.4338.

MONTGOMERY SCHOOL IGNITES EACH CHILD’S LOVE OF LEARNING AND FOSTERS THEIR INDIVIDUAL TALENTS DURING THE MOST FORMATIVE YEARS IN ORDER TO PREPARE THEM FOR FUTURE SUCCESS.

1141 Kimberton Road Chester Springs Pennsylvania 19425 610.827.7222 Â MontgomerySchool.org