St. Peter’s School is dedicated to the nourishment of mind, body, and spirit. Mastery of academic principles, appreciation of the arts, knowledge of self, service to others, and strength of character mark a St. Peter’s student; a warm, respectful environment that honors the richness of childhood defines the School. At St. Peter’s, students establish the foundation for a fruitful, principled life.
CURRICULUM The St. Peter’s curriculum provides the strongest of academic foundations.
From the Early Childhood classes to the Upper School, mastery of fundamentals is reinforced by the rewards of intellectual challenge and discovery. The curriculum’s foundation begins in the Early Childhood classrooms, which combine child-directed activities, teacher-directed activities, independent projects and play. Learning, and appreciation for it, begins in these early years. “The feeling was immediate as we entered. Was it the sense of purpose as the older
This is a vital community of students, faculty, and parents working together for the good of all.
students moved through the halls, or was it the joy on the faces of the younger children as they passed us on the stairs? The feelings of warmth and mutual respect were palpable. This was a vital community of students, faculty and parents working together for the good of all. My husband turned to me and said, “This is where I want our daughter to go to school.” Susan Moore, preschool teacher and parent of Kate ’96 and Terry, ’00 In the Lower School, First through Fourth Graders have a homeroom teacher for reading and language skills, mathematics, science, and social studies, thereby allowing the teacher to work closely with each student in the traditional academic spectrum. Classes in French, art, music, physical education, and computer skills round out the curriculum, and are taught by specialized faculty.
5 CURRICULUM
“A St. Peter’s teacher is passionate about teaching, learning and the welfare of children. A teacher affirms and models, by his or her behavior, the dignity of each individual and actively teaches equity and justice, recognizing that our individual differences contribute to a greater whole. A teacher sees each child as an individual and observes and listens to each child carefully.” from the Faculty Culture Statement In the Upper School, Fifth through Eighth Grades, students accept greater responsibility for their studies and complete their academic foundation. The disciplines are departmentalized and include English, mathematics, science, history, French, physical education, art, music, and technology. Study and organizational skills are integrated into an increasingly demanding course of study that calls for mastery of the fundamentals, exploration, sophisticated thinking and self expression. The graduating St. Peter’s student is a confident,
The graduating St. Peter’s student is a confident, resourceful learner who brings a balanced array of skills and strengths to secondary school and beyond.
resourceful learner who brings this balanced array of skills and strengths to secondary school and beyond. “A St. Peter’s teacher embraces the fact that teaching is not merely a job, but a way of life that often goes beyond literal job descriptions. Teachers support the school and its mission and traditions. They communicate candidly but sensitively and are comfortable with a high degree of involvement between teachers and families.” from the Faculty Culture Statement
13 OUR ATHLETICS
ARTS The corridors and stairwells of St. Peter’s School are galleries of art, showcasing an ever-changing exhibition of signed works by students: pastels and block prints, coil pots and papier mâché,
charcoal sketches and wire sculpture, collages and weavings with bright feathers, fabric and yarns. The depth and breadth of the art curriculum encourages the children to develop technical and perceptual abilities, and to understand color and composition while working in a variety of media. Process is stressed over product, and students refine technique and visual acuity; but the joy of creativity is the greatest lesson of all.
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Music
Theater Arts and Drama
Children love to make music. From the youngest preschoolers’ singing games
The development of stage presence and the ability to speak before an audience are two invaluable skills honed at
to the skill and precision of the Eighth Grade’s hand bell performance at
St. Peter’s School. There is no formal “drama” curriculum, but beginning with “show and tell” and the presentation
Graduation, the music curriculum at St. Peter’s nurtures the enthusiasm and
of class projects, young students learn the bond between speaker and audience. Declamation and class plays
natural talents of the students to create music. Instruction in musical literacy
further develop confidence. Supported by the technical skill of the Sixth and Seventh Grade classes in properties,
and composition, study of classical, jazz, opera, folk and multicultural music,
scenery, lights, musical accompaniment, the Eighth Grade play, an original work presented in the spring,
and choral performances provide a music education rare among children.
is a worthy showcase of the talent and presence of these senior members of the student body.
Throughout the year, at Declamation, Harvest Festival, Celebration of Light, and arts festivals, St. Peter’s students have the opportunity to perform publicly, instilling in them confidence
Children love to make music..
in their accomplishments. All await May Day, when the whole school participates in traditional music and folk dancing, swirling colors and the joy of spring.
The ability to speak confidently before an audience is an invaluable skill honed at St. Peter’s School.
11 ARTS
ATHLETICS St. Peter’s School values participation in athletic activities. The School’s carefully structured program teaches
sportsmanship and team-building skills and encourages a positive attitude towards fitness and health that will last a lifetime. Sports classes are mandatory for all students, and athletics are woven into the daily curriculum. Children in Kindergarten through Fifth Grade participate in sports or physical education classes at least three times a week. The interscholastic program begins in Sixth Grade, with a commensurate increase in time committed to athletics. St. Peter’s competitive teams support individual and group development while ensuring that all children have playing time on the field.
Friendly Rivalries Media-Providence Friends School Moorestown (NJ) Friends School The Philadelphia School Ashland Friends School Friends Select School Germantown Friends School Greene Street Friends School
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EVENTS & CELEBRATIONS The School calendar is full of celebrations,large and small, strengthening the
connections between students and creating indelible memories. Families and friends are always welcome at these events. A few of these are:
Color Day
Intramural sports at St. Peter’s pits the Garnets against the Greys. First Graders and new students are cheered as they receive their team color in a ceremony attended by the entire school. When younger siblings are old enough to compete as a Garnet or Grey, they are awarded their color by their older sibling.
ECD Holiday Celebration & Celebration of Light
Students in Preschool, Prekindergarten and Kindergarten celebrate the holidays with a special mid-December musical performance. St. Peter’s Church is the setting for the Celebration of Light, held the evening of the last school day before winter vacation. Students from First through Eighth Grades celebrate the holiday season with traditional songs and readings.
Branches of May
The School welcomes the beginning of spring with the Branches of May Celebration.
On the first school day of May, the School welcomes the beginning of spring. Children hold hands and process through the School to the West Lawn singing the “May Day Carol.” The Seventh Graders present the faculty with lilac branches for their classrooms. 15 EVENTS & CELEBRATIONS
May Day
In the afternoon of the first Friday of May, all St. Peter’s students, the boys in white and the girls in colorful spring dresses, perform traditional folk dances for an audience of families, friends and alumni. Following the dance around the Maypole, all gather for a School-wide picnic.
Field Day
This is the final sporting event of the school year. Children in First through Eighth Grades participate in a spirited competition of tug-of-war, carry-the-colors, sprints and relays. Individual and team scores are tallied to determine whether the Garnets or the Greys will be awarded the coveted silver bowl at Graduation. In the following week’s sports classes, students receive individual event awards.
Graduation
All children in Lower and Upper Schools attend Graduation, as the ceremony not only marks the Eighth Graders progression onto secondary schools, but also celebrates the First through Seventh Graders as they move to their next year.
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Q:
A:
Q&A
What are the advantages of a Preschool through Eighth Grade school? Preschool through Eighth Grade schools are small communities dedicated to the growth and development of children and young people. Without the pressure to behave like adolescents or adults, St. Peter’s students have
Q: Does the School offer financial aid?
A: Yes. St. Peter’s School offers limited, need-based tuition assistance for deserving students.
Q: Why wear uniforms?
A: Uniforms serve to unify visually the student body. In addition to the advantages of easy mornings and a lessexpensive school wardrobe, uniforms give students a level playing field without pressure to define themselves through their choice of clothing.
the freedom to develop mind, body and spirit throughout childhood. Older students are leaders of the student body, acting as mentors, tutors and role-models.
Q: Where/what do children eat if there is no cafeteria?
A: Children bring lunch from home and eat in small groups in the classroom. Thanks is given, and students enjoy a meal and the
Q:
Is St. Peter’s School religiously affiliated?
companionship of their classmates and teacher. Good manners are
A:
St. Peter’s School is multi-denominational and independent from any
emphasized. Because students are not permitted to share food except
religious institution. The School retains its name from its beginnings
on special occasions, their eating habits and nutrition are in the
in 1834 as the mission school of neighboring St. Peter’s Church. As
hands of their parents.
part of the curriculum, students learn about many of the world’s religions and belief systems; however, there is no formal religious instruction. Although unaffiliated with any religion or belief, St. Peter’s School believes there is room for the contemplative in the life of every child.
Q: Is it difficult for my child to transition into the St. Peter’s curriculum as an older student (e.g., as an entering Third Grader)?
A: Transitioning into a new school can be challenging for the older student. Academic assessment before admission will ensure that
Q:
What secondary schools do St. Peter’s graduates attend?
A:
Graduated Eighth Graders attend a variety of independent and public secondary schools. These students are in high demand among secondary schools because of St. Peter’s reputation for producing thoughtful, accomplished and academically disciplined students. In recent years, The Shipley School and William Penn Charter School have enrolled the highest numbers of St. Peter’s students. A complete list of the schools
the student is prepared for his or her new grade level and curriculum. Social adjustments are eased by the School’s small class sizes and the natural friendliness of the students. All children at St. Peter’s are part of a strong structure of traditions which gives them a sense of familiarity and place.
attended by graduates hangs in the first floor parlor. 19 Q&A
Q:
What is Declamation?
A: Every month, beginning in First Grade, St. Peter’s students choose and memorize a poem. All recite for their class, and some are selected to recite before an audience including students, teachers and parents. This is the cherished tradition of Declamation. In Lower School Declamation, the students receive approbation and guidance from the teachers after their presentations. Upper School Declamation introduces a competitive aspect, as one student each month is named “most mentioned.” An award is given at Graduation to the most outstanding declaimer. Declamation cultivates a love and understanding of poetry and trains children in the art of memorization, but its particular gift is the development of poise, confidence and the ability to speak comfortably before an audience.
Q:
What are your sports facilities?
A:
St. Peter’s owns the West Lawn adjacent to the School building and has full use of the gymnasium at Old Pine Community Center, just across 4th Street from the school buildings. The School uses the West Lawn, as well as the fields at Shot Tower and Starr Garden, for athletic activities. Swimming classes for Upper School students are held at a local indoor pool.
Q: Do you have an after-school program?
A: The After School Enrichment Program provides students with the opportunity to develop new skills and interests in a relaxed, non-academic environment. Each trimester, a selection of reasonably-priced courses is offered to students of all age levels. Sports courses have included tennis, fencing, indoor soccer and lacrosse. For creative spirits, knitting, arts and crafts, jewelry making and cooking classes are perennial favorites. Enrichment classes in Spanish and Italian, as well as individual lessons on piano and guitar, also are available. Child care is available until 6:00 p.m. every day that school is in session, as well as on parent/teacher conference days and teacher in-service days. The After School staff supervises the children at play on the playground, doing homework, using the computer lab or playing board games in the theater. Snacks are provided.
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HISTORY In 1834, responding to the needs of the local community, St. Peter’s Day School opened as a mission school
of the neighboring St. Peter’s Church. “Girls and small boys” were educated in spelling, reading, writing, arithmetic, geography and sewing for a tuition set at twelve and a half cents per week. The School grew and expanded in the 19th century, eventually filling four row houses along the 300 block of
Lombard Street, a thriving hub of school life in the Society Hill and Queen Village neighborhoods, even then, as now. In 1903, the Day School was renamed the St. Peter’s Choir School for Boys. This change in direction from the original mission school was reinforced in 1915 when Dr. Harold Gilbert, an eminent organist and choirmaster, was named to head the school. Until his retirement in 1960, Dr. Gilbert guided the Boys Choir to prominence as one of the most highly regarded choirs in the United States. Today, many St. Peter’s School students continue this tradition of musical excellence by their participation in the St. Peter’s Church Boys’ and Girls’ choirs.
23 HISTORY
The mid-1960’s was a time of tremendous change for the School, with three of those changes shaping the modern St. Peter’s School: the return to coeducation, the establishment of the school as an independent institution seperate from St. Peter’s Church, and the arrival of Caroline E. Seamans as Head of School. Miss Seamans, together with her director of Upper School, Eleanor Poe Barlow, and their philosophies on the education of children, curriculum, and community, and the importance of the interconnections between them, continue to inform
Setting St. Peter’s School is located in
the School’s core beliefs.
Philadelphia’s Society Hill, an historic
Under Miss Seaman’s careful leadership, St. Peter’s expanded its space to
of original 18th century houses of any
neighborhood with the largest number
accommodate the growing needs of a larger student body. The four 18th century townhouses gave way to the modern addition to the west side of the original School building. St. Peter’s families joined the Friends of Old Pine Presbyterian Church to raise funds for the Old Pine Community Center, where our students play in the gymnasium and where administrative offices are located. The Robert B. Blum Library, an expanded technology lab, a new playground, the renovated Alumni Theater, and a new science lab mark the constant evolution of the School’s physical space.
American city. Within a few blocks of the School, Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, the National Constitution Center and countless other sites of historic and cultural importance provide a resource for teachers and students that is without peer. Go further into the city, and world-class performance venues, architectural marvels, the
Over the years the School’s physical
beauty of natural wilderness, and
campus has changed to meet the
cultural and ethnic diversity make
needs of the current day; but the
the city the classroom.
School’s fundamental purpose of protecting and enlightening the precious years of childhood has not, nor has its philosophy that hard work is expected and rewarded and that respect for others is fundamental to
St. Peter’s history of education and service has its foundation in the surrounding neighborhood.
self-respect and a balanced life.
25 HISTORY
St. Peter’s School 319 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, Pa 19147 • 215 925 3963 • for more information visit St-Peters-School.org
St. Peter’s School is a multi-denominational school educating boys and girls from Preschool to Eighth Grade