Stuart Country Day School Admissions Viewbook 2023-2024

YOUR JOURNEY

STARTS HERE.

ST UA RT CO U N T RY DAY S C H O O L o f t h e S AC R E D H E A RT

INDEPENDENT ALL-GIRLS SCHOOL K-12 | CO-ED PRE-K | PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY

AT STUART, WE PREPARE GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN FOR LIVES OF EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE.

As a Stuart girl, with your first steps onto campus you begin a transformational journey that will prepare you for a life of exceptional leadership and service. On your path — from Lower Schooler to graduation — you will discover who you are, where your passions lie, and what you want to accomplish in the world, guided by a supportive environment designed intentionally for girls. Through challenging academics, the arts, athletics, and a spiritual and social awareness, you are among the bright, balanced, and fearless leaders the world needs now more than ever before.

Stuart’s commitment to developing the leaders of tomorrow is grounded in our 200-plus-year tradition of Sacred Heart education and the inspiration of the women who believed that in times of uncertainty and change, the education of young people is vital to improving our world.

Today, Stuart embraces students of all faiths and backgrounds as an independent Catholic school rooted in an international community of more than 150 Sacred Heart schools worldwide. Through our Sacred Heart philosophy and commitment to social justice, our students and graduates are connected to more than 50,000 alumnae in some 30 countries, providing opportunities for collaboration around the globe.

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This shared commitment to the goals and criteria of the Sacred Heart helps us prepare girls to develop into accomplished women whose confidence, perspective, and passion for justice will transform the world in which they live.

Together, we educate to:

GOAL

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A Personal and Active Faith in God

GOAL

A Deep Respect for Intellectual Values

GOAL

A Social Awareness Which Impels to Action

GOAL

The Building of Community as a Christian Value

GOAL

Personal Growth in an Atmosphere of Wise Freedom

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STUART GIRLS ARE CONFIDENT AND COMPASSIONATE.

AT STUART, IT’S ALL ABOUT THE GIRLS. WE CHALLENGE AND PREPARE YOU IN AN ENVIRONMENT DESIGNED WITH YOUR NEEDS, DEVELOPMENT, AND GROWTH IN MIND.

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LARGE GYMS PLUS THE FITNESS CENTER

OF STUDENTS PLAY VARSITY SPORTS

SPORTS, ONE TEAM

STATE-OF-THE-ART THEATER SPACES

COUNTRIES REPRESENTED AT OUR ANNUAL FLAG CEREMONY

STUDENT: FACULTY RATIO

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OF FACULTY HOLD ADVANCED DEGREES

STUART GIRLS ARE UNSTOPPABLE.

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WHY SACRED HEART? Thanks to the research of Dr. Lisa Miller, of Columbia University, and other leading scholars, science is confirming what Sacred Heart education has known for more than 200 years — that spirituality is an extremely supportive factor in the healthy development of young people, and girls in particular.

Central to the goals and criteria of the Sacred Heart is the power of faith and service to leading a life of purpose. Stuart fosters an environment in which faith and spirituality are celebrated, and our community is enriched and empowered by a tapestry of beliefs.

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EARLY CHILDHOOD, co-ed and LOWER SCHOOL, grades JK - 4 When you join the Stuart family, you enter a nurturing and collaborative community. In this all-girl environment, you are encouraged — and expected — to try new things, use your voice, work together, and be a leader. You live up to our high expectations by becoming as responsible as you are independent. Guided by exceptional faculty, relevant and challenging academics, and the Sacred Heart goals, you will gain self-confidence and selfawareness. You will go beyond acquiring knowledge and skills for your future and develop a thirst for more.

WOMEN WE ADMIRE DAY

It is important that girls have outstanding role models. Women We Admire Day is a signature experience in the Lower School. Celebrated annually during Women's History Month, as a primary student you prepare by researching a woman either from history or the present day, and your hard work culminates when you share your findings in a “Talking Museum".

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STUART GIRLS SEE THE WORLD AS THEIR CLASSROOM.

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ACADEMIC CHALLENGE AND SUPPORT Stuart faculty know girls and know each girl well. With experts in social and emotional learning, STEM, Spanish, art, drama, music, theology, and physical education, Stuart specialist faculty partner with classroom teachers to:

Provide small-group work and instruction and individualizing instruction to be challenging and supported, as each student, with guidance, sets her goals.

Together with homeroom teachers, provide a smaller student/ teacher ratio.

Expose our teachers to research-based lessons, best practices, and innovative approaches to learning.

Provide supplemental materials for the classroom and at home Stay on top of best practices and research-based, proven. methods for each particular developmental age — and each girl.

LEAD LIKE A FOURTH GRADER

Stuart fourth-grade girls are prepared to lead and change the world.

Their Lower School experiences of finding their voice, presenting in all different types of settings, problem-solving real-world issues, and serving their communities culminate in the #Lead Like a 4th-Grader curriculum and programming.

As a fourth-grader, you will participate in a three-day workshop that helps to instills leadership skills and offers hands-on learning and application. On day one, you will take part in a comprehensive workshop during which you will determine what leadership means and explore the leadership qualities within you. You will spend time learning essential public-speaking skills and putting them into action. The day culminates with a keynote speaker who exemplifies a successful woman leader and role model.

Building on your understanding of your unique gifts and talents, on day two you will engage in trust-building activities, role playing, mediation, journaling, and reflection.

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The culminating experience of the workshop model is a “shadowing” exercise: you will be paired with a person in a leadership role here at Stuart. You will be asked to observe and take notes throughout your visit with your role model, then reflect on what you saw, make connections to the leadership skills you have acquired, think about what kind of strengths your role model demonstrates as a leader, and imagine what kind of leader you will become.

ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS

Enrichment programs at Stuart support the girls — and their families — through fun, educational activities that further foster academic, social, and creative growth. Among our enrichment programs are athletics, service opportunities, tutoring, and after-care.

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STUART GIRLS ARE JOYFUL, PASSIONATE LEARNERS.

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BLESSING BUDDIES AT STUART CONNECT students outside grade levels to develop lasting relationships. Older students have an opportunity to be mentors, and younger students experience the bonds of sisterhood with the older girls.

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MIDDLE SCHOOL, grades 5 - 8 The Middle School years are when Stuart girls discover who they are, what they want to become, and how they want to make a difference in the world. As you develop your own voice and begin to feel empowered, we challenge and support you through this process as you mature spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, and physically.

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STUART GIRLS LIFT EACH OTHER UP.

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TECHNOLOGY

At Stuart, we embrace the responsibility of educating our students to become discerning users of technology.

We encourage them to harness its power to enhance their access to knowledge and cultivate their creativity. Our bring-your-own-device initiative grants students access to their iPads for digital textbooks, Google Classroom, and enriching group and project-based learning experiences. Additionally, we emphasize the importance of uninterrupted interpersonal connections by maintaining a cell-phone-free policy during school hours.

SACRED HEART EXCHANGE

In eighth grade, the world gets a little bigger. Through the Sacred Heart Exchange Program, you will have the opportunity to participate in an academic exchange program with a student from one of the 25 schools in the Sacred Heart Network of Schools in North America.

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PROJECT-BASED LEARNING

With project-based learning (PBL), Stuart teachers really bring learning to life. Each grade takes a weeklong break from the traditional class schedule to investigate all aspects of a real-world problem.

Faculty work together to make the PBL unit cross-curricular, meaning many subject areas are integrated —for example, math, history, social justice, and English. Projects are student-paced, and you’ll be free to go where your research takes you: you may follow different avenues and veer into tangents. Every PBL culminates in a public presentation that has a purpose, and you and your classmates will demonstrate your understanding, skills, and confidence by presenting your thoughts and ideas to an audience of your peers and the greater Stuart community.

Students develop solutions to problems such as: How might we help solve water problems around the world?

How might we reduce waste at Stuart?

How might a community live "off the grid?"

How do you design a Sacred Heart school for the future?

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STUART GIRLS HAVE LIMITLESS POTENTIAL.

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LEARNING TO LEAD

Beginning in Grade 5, all students take leadership courses designed to foster reflection, active listening, and agency. As a Stuart fifth-grader, you will develop foundational skills such as confidence in public speaking and ethical decision-making.

EIGHTH GRADE DEBATES

All eighth-grade students participate in an annual debate, discussing topics important to girls and women, such as: Universal healthcare Food and housing insecurity Elimination of grades Women in the draft - 23 -

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UPPER SCHOOL, grades 9 - 12 A Stuart girl graduates confident in her abilities and her beliefs, ready to take on life's challenges and make a difference in the world. The Upper School mirrors a college undergraduate education by way of robust, personalized academics, superb teaching, and an atmosphere that fosters leadership as you develop expertise and discover new interests. That foundation, along with a variety of clubs, athletics, and service opportunities, encourages you to push boundaries and discover both your potential and your passions.

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STUART GIRLS ARE DRIVEN TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

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STUART GIRLS COMPLETE AN AVERAGE OF 67 HOURS of service per

year at Stuart, in our region, country and globally.

OVER 1,000 LUNCHES AND 800 HYGIENE KITS ARE PREPARED FOR Loaves and Fishes, the Annual school-wide day of service.

OVER 1/3 OF STUART GRADUATES

pursue degrees in STEM, driven by the desire to leverage innovation for good.

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SHAEP:

Sacred Heart Academic Exchange Program Every Upper School student at Stuart has the opportunity to study abroad at one of our 150 sister Sacred Heart schools around the globe. Our young women spend at least two weeks living with students and attending classes in cities such as Lima, Peru; Sydney, Australia; and Paris, France; as well as closer to home in San Francisco, New Orleans, Montreal and many more. Our students reciprocate by hosting their “SHAEP sisters” at Stuart, enriching the entire Stuart community and fostering international connections that can last for life. Exchange opportunities begin in eighth grade at Stuart and include several local, national and international options for travel, study and exchange.

STUART HAS APPROXIMATELY 25 HONORS AND AP COURSES.

Nearly every Upper School student takes AP exams, and roughly two thirds score a 4 or 5.

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TAKE YOUR PASSION TO NEW HEIGHTS WITH A LEADERSHIP ENDORSEMENT. Upper School students are given the opportunity to leverage their unique passions and interests through experiential learning and academic inquiry in the National Center for Girls' Leadership at Stuart endorsements in STEM, Arts and Humanities, Business and Entrepreneurship, and Social Justice.

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INVISIBLE ISSUES

As senior year ends, Stuart’s soon-to-be graduates don’t suffer from “senioritis.” They take action. As part of the Invisible Issues project, teams of girls identify problems the public is largely unaware of – many concerning women and children. The groups create awareness campaigns, develop budgets, write grand proposals, present to a “foundation committee” from the local community, and share their causes with the entire school in the Global Awareness Fair. Ultimately, seniors are awarded real funds to support organizations working on the social justice issues they spotlighted – learning and doing something about real-world problems with their real-world skills and initiatives.

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11 SPORTS. 1 TEAM. At Stuart, athletics is about more than winning the game, it is about teamwork, leadership and developing critical self-care skills that will stay with a young woman through the rest of her life.

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APPALACHIA SERVICE PROJECT

For over 40 years, students have spent the first few weeks of their summer break making homes "warmer, safer, and drier" with the Appalachia Service Project. Students, faculty, and alumnae depart for two weeks of service work helping families in need by restoring and building homes.

“ASP is a life-changing trip. It improved my teamwork skills and heightened my compassion for others. I witnessed firsthand the love these people have for one another and their land. It was humbling and gratifying being able to help the way we did in such a short period of time. At the end of the week, we were all being thanked for the work we had completed, when all I wanted to do was thank them for providing me with this remarkable experience.”

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THE LEARNING CENTER

Every child learns differently. Some need opportunities to stretch themselves, while others need a little extra support. The Stuart Learning Center is an integral part of our commitment to educating the whole child in a supportive environment where each girl is encouraged to reach her personal best. This convenient, on-campus center features: A central meeting room housing a library of resources for parents and teachers On-site assistance with student and teacher research needs Individual workrooms where Learning Center specialists assist students Carrels available to students and teachers for quiet work The goal of the Learning Center is to assist students one-to-one or in small groups, providing academic support and instruction in math, reading, writing and study skills. In this way, we can meet enrichment or supplementary needs that can't be met in the classroom.

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PORTRAIT OF A STUART GRADUATE

A Stuart graduate has a personal, reflective, and active faith in God. Her faith serves as the foundation upon which she develops a loving heart. Her dialogue with others of diverse beliefs helps our graduates to further understand and respect the religions of the world.

A Stuart graduate possesses intellectual curiosity and resourcefulness, and actively engages in the process of learning, both individually and collaboratively.

She applies the knowledge and skills of all disciplines in the pursuit of critical understanding. She sees the most formidable challenges as opportunities for growth.

A Stuart graduate embraces her gifts and uniqueness. She has a strong feeling of self-worth and selfrespect. Possessing a “can-do” spirit, she sets goals and is committed to achieving them.

A Stuart graduate is confident and is able to effect change. She takes risks and expresses herself through public speaking, athletics, and the arts. She is a forward-thinking leader.

A Stuart graduate goes into the world with true compassion for others and an understanding of the value of service and participation. She embraces community, locally and globally. A Stuart graduate is actively committed to justice and peace.

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STUART GIRLS ARE PREPARED TO LEAD.

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STUART GIRLS ARE FEARLESS AND TENACIOUS.

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ABOUT STUART

As the only all-girls school in Princeton, New Jersey, Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart is uniquely positioned to provide an environment in which girls put academics first, are willing and able to take risks, and explore every opportunity for learning, service, and leadership. The school — celebrating its 60th anniversary — is nestled on 55 wooded acres, and our challenging curriculum takes advantage of the way girls learn in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics)as well as the arts, the humanities, and athletics. Stuart enrolls girls in K–12 and has a co-ed Early Childhood Program.

Stuart is part of an international community of 150 Sacred Heart schools and is an independent Catholic school that embraces students of all faiths and backgrounds. Our graduates go on to be confident, intelligent, and articulate leaders for positive change in the world.

Stuart is accredited by the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools, the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools, the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools, the Secondary School Admission Board, the College Board, the Education Records Bureau, the Association of Supervision and Curriculum, and the Online School for Girls.

CONTACT INFORMATION

For more information about Stuart Country Day and how you can prepare your daughter for a life of leadership and service, please visit

stuartschool.org/admissions

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1200 Stuart Road, Princeton, New Jersey 08540 609.921. 2330 | www.stuartschool.org

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