Lower and Middle School Preview Book 2016-2017

A Preview of the

LOWER MIDDLE SCHOOLS

www.stoneridgeschool.org

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Life at Stone Ridge

GOAL I: A personal and active faith in God.

THE 5 GOALS

of Sacred Heart Education

GOAL V: Personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom.

GOAL II: A deep respect for

intellectual values.

GOAL III: A social awareness which impels to action.

GOAL IV: The building of community as a Christian value.

Historic Hamilton House, the heart of Stone Ridge since 1947. www.stoneridgeschool.org

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Life at Stone Ridge

Welcome to Stone Ridge... where innovation meets mission.

Stone Ridge is the only school in the greater Washington area that brings together the Goals of Sacred Heart, all-girls education, and innovative teaching and learning.

Stone Ridge is proud of its Catholic identity and Sacred Heart family. The five Goals of Sacred Heart education provide the foundation for the School’s mission—to inspire young women to lead and serve, through lives of purpose that integrate faith, intellect, community, social awareness, and personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom. Our all-girls setting allows even our youngest girls in Grade 1 to grow as purposeful, self-directed learners intent on developing their unique gifts.

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Life at Stone Ridge

Our Catholic Identity and Sacred Heart Family Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart is part of an international family, rooted in a 200-year tradition. The Goals & Criteria of Sacred Heart education unite the 24 member schools of the Network in the United States, yet the schools also proudly benefit from an even wider affiliation with the people, schools, and institutions associated with the Society of the Sacred Heart in 30 countries around the globe.

Our students, as part of this international family, share in experiencing an education characterized by seriousness of purpose, love of learning, creativity, beauty, and loving relationships. This truly international character of Sacred Heart education helps to foster an important global awareness in our students as they strive to build a more just world.

“Stone Ridge is an extra special place because we are a Sacred Heart school.”

— Molly, Grade 4

BC

AB

SK

WA

ND

MT

OR

ID

WY

NV

NE

UT

CO

K

CA

NM AZ Forrest Ridge School Bellevue, WA Schools of the Sacred Heart San Fransisco, CA Sacred Heart Schools Atherton, CA Duchesne Academy Houston, TX The Regis School Houston, TX

“The diverse faculty and student body at Stone Ridge creates a lovely tapestry of community woven into the Goals of Sacred Heart and its traditions.”

Middle School parent Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, or any other class protected by law in the administration of its educational policies, employment practices, admission policies, scholarship loan or financial aid programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

Network of Sacred Heart Schools in the United States and Canada

The Sacred Heart School of Montreal Sacred Heart School of Halifax

MB

NB ON

MN

D

WI

SD IA

MI IL

OH

TX

VA

NC

TN

AR LA

WV KY

MO

OK

PA

SC MS AL

GA

NS

Newton Country Day School Newton, MA

ME

NY

IN

KS

QC

Academy of the Sacred Heart Bloomfield Hills, MI

CT

Convent of the Sacred Heart Greenwich, CT

NH VT MA RI

NJ DE MD

Sprout Creek Farm Poughkeepsie, NY Convent of the Sacred Heart New York City, NY Stuart Country Day School Princeton, NJ Princeton Academy Princeton, NJ

Country Day School of the Sacred Heart Bryn Mawr, PA Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart Bethesda, MD Josephinum Academy Chicago, IL Sacred Heart Schools Chicago, IL Woodlands Academy Lake Forest, IL Carrolton School of the Sacred Heart Miami, FL

FL Academy of the Sacred Heart St. Charles, MO Villa Duchesne/Oak Hill School St. Louis, MO

Network Schools Provisional Member Associated with the Network

Academy of the Sacred Heart New Orleans, LA Academy of the Sacred Heart Grand Coteau, LA Duchesne Academy Omaha, NE

“Coming to a Sacred Heart school, you have entered into a family and have come to a home...You come as you are and are cared for with great love.” — An excerpt from Life at the Sacred Heart

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Lower School Grades 1-4 at a Glance 8

Life at Stone Ridge

158 students

(including Little Hearts)

Educational Technology iPad library: Pre-K–Grade 1

Average Class Sizes: 13–17

French language instruction, beginning in Preschool

1-to-1 iPad program: Grades 2–3 1-to-1 Chromebook program: Grade 4 iMac Computer Lab

General Facts

Interactive whiteboards in classrooms Applied Creativity Center with 3-D printers

Mascot:

Faculty: 30

Faculty with advanced degrees: 20 Average teaching experience per Lower School faculty member:

Colors: Blue

Gold

12 years

Amount of financial assistance and scholarships granted to Stone Ridge students in 2015-2016:

Student/Faculty Ratio: 5:1

2.7 million

Sample Lower School Daily Schedule 7:50 AM 8:15–9:45 AM 9:45–10:00 AM 10:00–11:30 AM 11:30–12:30 PM 12:30–1:15 PM 1:15–2:00 PM 2:00–3:00 PM 3:00 PM 3:00–6:30 PM

Morning Meeting or Morning Assembly Language Arts Goûter (morning snack) Mathematics Lunch and Recreation French or Physical Education Visual or Performing Arts Science, Social Studies, or Religion Dismissal Extended Day/Afterschool Campus Options

Please visit our website to learn more about the many exciting opportunities available for your child in our Lower and Middle Schools:

www.stoneridgeschool.org

Middle School Grades 5-8 at a Glance

197 students

Faculty: 35

Faculty with advanced degrees: 15

Average Class Sizes:

Average teaching experience per Middle School faculty member: 26 years

13–18

about SR 35 acres 3 Gyms Aquatic Center Chapel 3 Libraries Turf Field

Educational Technology Grades 5–8: 1-to-1 Lenovo ThinkPad program Interactive whiteboards in classrooms Applied Creativity Center with 3-D printers

Students receiving financial assistance:

Technology and Innovation Class

30 Student/Faculty Ratio: 8:1

A typical day at Stone Ridge

opens with a morning Assembly, a c h e r i s h e d t i m e o f t h e d ay w h e n s t u d e nt s g at h e r a s a school community to lead prayer, share reflections, and celebrate accomplishments. www.stoneridgeschool.org

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Life at Stone Ridge

The Strength of an

All-Girls Environment Through the focus on the five Goals of Sacred Heart education, our students are encouraged to stretch and challenge themselves every day. Stone Ridge offers an educational program designed to nurture and inspire girls to find themselves, develop their gifts, and gain confidence in the knowledge that their lives have meaning and purpose.

In our all-girls setting, the students collaborate, lead, mentor, and learn from each other. Stone Ridge girls are provided a wealth of avenues for selfexploration. The girls take pride in their own accomplishments and those of their peers, and together they form strong, lifelong friendships.

“As a college professor, I could identify students from girls’ schools with a 90 percent accuracy rate on the first day of class. They were the young women whose hands shot up in the air, who were not afraid to defend their positions, and who assumed that I would be interested in their perspectives.”

Robin Robertson, Ph.D. (National Coalition of Girls Schools)

Joyful Growth in the Lower School Stone Ridge celebrates a balanced offering of academics, fine arts, and athletics, rooted in a tradition of excellence, faith, social awareness, and personal growth.

Our Lower School program for Grades 1–4 provides a well-suited environment for girls’ academic growth, with careful attention to a curriculum incorporating varied instructional approaches and opportunities for hands-on learning.

I am an eager learner.

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Life at Stone Ridge

I am an emerging leader.

As our students grow and mature, moving from Lower School to Middle School, additional leadership training and opportunities are made available to them. In the Middle School, students help develop themes for our daily Assembly and share prayers and personal reflections related to those themes. Students may choose to run for a variety of elected offices, including Student Council, Blue/Gold Team Captains, and Social Action and Advisory Representatives. Additionally, they may serve as Student Ambassadors for prospective students and families. All of these leadership opportunities allow girls to discover and develop new interests and self-confidence.

Service leadership is also core to the mission of Sacred Heart education. Our students research and identify particular areas of social justice for which they wish to advocate and then develop meaningful ways to support specific organizations. Our girls leave Stone Ridge with a commitment to service and advocacy.

Let us respect childhood; let us honor the soul of that small creature of God who can already make choices of the best if we take the time to awaken her reason and make her use her judgment.

St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, Foundress of the Society of the Sacred Heart

I am a faithful friend.

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Life at Stone Ridge

I am an adventurous artist.

Arts Program Grades 1-3: General Music Literacy, Standards-based

Grades 4:

General Music Literacy and Instrumental Exploration

Grades 5-8: Studio Art Grades 5-8: Music—Choice of Chorus, Orchestra, or Band

Grades 7 8: Choice Dance or Drama Extracurricular Offerings: • Theater Productions (fall and spring) • Private or Small Group instrument and voice lessons

GATOR STRONG

Athletics Programs Grades 1-4: Physical Education and Daily Recreation

Grade 5:

Physical Education

Grades 6-8: Choice of Fall, Winter, or Spring Sports or Physical Education

Grades 5 6: Soccer and Lacrosse teams Club Teams: Ice Hockey, Equestrian and Golf Grades 6-8: participate in Positive Coaching AllianceÂŽ Triple-Impact Competitor: A Leadership Workshop for Athletes

I am a team player.

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Life at Stone Ridge

Stone Ridge Celebrates a

Long History of Traditions

Blue/Gold Team Induction: At the beginning of each school year, Blue and Gold team captains announce each new student one-by-one at a special and spirited assembly, and welcome her to either the Blue or Gold team—a team she stays on for life.

Congé: Congé, a tradition shared among all Sacred Heart schools, comes from the French “to take leave,” and refers to a surprise day for the students when classes are cancelled, and the School focuses on building community through games and play.

Eighth Grade Trip to NYC: After Memorial Day, the Eighth Grade travels to New York, where it spends two days and one night exploring the city and enjoying a Broadway show.

Feast of Mater Admirabilis: Feast of Mater Admirabilis is observed every October to celebrate the miraculous fresco of the Virgin Mary depicted by a young religious of the Sacred Heart in 1844.

Feast Wishes: Feast Wishes is an all-school gathering during Advent, where students present the gifts of song and cards to every member of the administration, faculty, and staff.

Field Day: Field Day is at the end of the school year when the Blue and Gold teams compete in a very spirited day. Activities include the tug-of-war, Father-Daughter races, a cookout lunch, music, and awards.

Goûter: From the French for “to taste,” goûter is a daily snack served in the Lower School, and a snack on special occasions, feast days, and holidays.

Grandparents Day: Lower and Middle School students welcome their grandparents with enjoyable activities and treats.

Parent/Daughter Liturgies: Special mother-daughter and father-daughter liturgies take place throughout the school year.

Primes: Primes is one of the oldest Sacred Heart traditions. Primes was originally a gathering of the entire student body on Sunday evening. Students who had been very good during the week received a small blue card, inscribed with the words Très Bien. Today, Primes is a weekly assembly held in the Lower School for Grades 1-4, with the Head of School presenting medals to students who are recognized by their teachers for living out the Goals of Sacred Heart education.

Prize Day: Prize Day is a formal assembly at the end of the school year for the distribution of certificates and awards recognizing special achievement.

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Life at Stone Ridge

Afterschool CampUs Offerings Extended Day offers time for play and a snack after dismissal, followed by quiet homework time supervised by a Lower School teacher.

Supervised Study allows Middle School students to have quiet time after dismissal to work on homework and prepare for projects, with snacks provided.

A sampling of afterschool activities and extracurricular offerings: Cartooning Creative Drama by Imagination Stage Dance Fab Lab Guitar Lessons Junior Chorus Middle School Musical and Play Piano Lessons Gourmet Chefs by Tiny Chefs Girls on the Run by GOTR Robotics Team Suzuki Violin Lessons Swimming Spanish Tae Kwon Do

Just as prospective Lower School and Middle School families are looking to place their daughters in an environment where they will thrive, experience success, and make a seamless transition, our College Counseling team will be there to assist when it is time to look for a new home after high school.

We congratulate the Class of 2016!

College Acceptances and Matriculations

Below is a sampling of college acceptances for the Class of 2016. Names in bold are schools attended by members of the Class of 2016.

American University Amherst College Auburn University Babson College Barnard College Beloit College Boston College Boston University Bowdoin College Brown University Bucknell University Butler University University of California, Los Angeles Case Western Reserve University Catholic University (2) Chapman University Colby College Colorado College Columbia University College of Charleston Christopher Newport University Clemson University Colgate University University of Colorado, Boulder Columbia University Connecticut College Cornell University Creighton University Dartmouth College Davidson College Denison University Dickinson College Drexel University Duke University University of Edinburgh Elon University Emerson College Emory University (2) Fairfield University Fordham University Franklin University, Switzerland George Washington University Georgetown University (5)

Georgia Institute of Technology University of Georgia Grinnell College Haverford College High Point University College of the Holy Cross James Madison University Johns Hopkins University Kenyon College King’s College London Lafayette College Lehigh University Loyola Marymount University Loyola Chicago University Loyola University Maryland Loyola University New Orleans Marquette University Maryland Institute College of Art University of Maryland, College Park (4) McGill University Miami University, Oxford University of Miami University of Michigan (3) University of Mississippi New York University University of North Carolina at Greensboro University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Northeastern University Northwestern University University of Notre Dame (5) Oberlin College Pennsylvania State University University of Pennsylvania University of Pittsburgh Pomona College Pratt Institute Providence College Purdue University Reed College Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Rice University Rochester Institute of Technology Saint Joseph's University Saint Louis University University of San Diego University of San Francisco Santa Clara University (2) Savannah College of Art and Design School of the Art Institute of Chicago Scripps College Seattle University Sewanee: The University of the South University of South Carolina University of Southern California Southern Methodist University Spelman College University of St. Andrews St. John's University—Queens (4) St. Mary's College of Maryland Stanford University Stetson University Stevens Institute of Technology Swarthmore College Syracuse University University of Texas, Austin University of Toronto Trinity College Dublin Tufts University Tulane University Union College Vanderbilt University University of Vermont (2) Villanova University Virginia Tech (2) University of Virginia (3) Wake Forest University Washington and Lee University Washington University in St. Louis Wellesley College College of William and Mary Williams College University of Wisconsin, Madison Yale University

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Life at Stone Ridge

Empowering leaders to serve with faith, intellect, and confidence.

9101 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20814

Part of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools

WWW.STONERIDGESCHOOL.ORG

Visit our website for more details, or call Admissions at 301.657.4322 x321.