The Lovett School Viewbook

In 1926, Mrs. Lovett founded a progressive school devoted to educating the “whole child.�

What would she think of her school today?

We think she would love it.

Lovett

The Lovett School seeks students from all backgrounds who can benefit from a challenging academic program and make positive contributions to The school community.

“ I don’t think it’s a coincidence that there’s ‘love’ in Lovett.”

BENNY “B.J.” CRANE, CLASS OF 1993 MIDDLE SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHER FOOTBALL COACH

overview

Progressive education for the whole child

“Our focus is nurturing the character of each student.”

Bill Dunkel Upper School principal

It’s true. While Lovett may be known for its unique programs – our research station in Ecuador, single-gender classrooms, interdisciplinary studies – insiders know its heart. This is a school that’s good for, and good to, its students.

“Our priority is the happiness and well-being of the individual students,” says Headmaster Billy Peebles. “Everything else –prestige, test scores, reputation – comes second.”

Make no mistake, though. “The academics are rigorous here, yet there is real joy in learning,” says Debbie Lange, Director of Admission. “It’s evident in the labs and classrooms. You can also feel it at soccer practice, hear it during band rehearsals, and see it in the organic garden.”

“With the number of academic activities and electives available to students, Lovett’s environment is just as stimulating as a college,” says Academic Dean Randy Murphy. “That’s why I love it.”

HISTORY Eva Edwards Lovett was an innovative educator who believed in educating the whole child. In 1926, she established in her home a small school for boys and girls. Today, her school has grown to serve more than 1,500 children (Grades K–12) on a beautiful 100-acre campus in northwest Atlanta overlooking the Chattahoochee River.

Lower School

“ We love the idea of educating the whole child.”

Roxanne Johnson-Jenifer Lovett Parent

“From day one, we teach respect, responsibility, and honesty,” explains first grade teacher Amy Murphy. “We want students actively involved, whether they’re singing a song in Spanish or working on a science project.”

Outside the core curriculum, students are engaged in service learning, performing and visual arts, and intramurals. In other words, students have many avenues to explore all their talents and become their very best – and very happy– selves.

“We introduce students to a wide range of experiences in the Lower and Middle Schools,” says Director of Admission Debbie Lange. “So when they enter Upper School, they’ll be poised to focus on their true interests.”

THE LOWER SCHOOL Grades K–5. Lower School students have their own library, gymnasium, and art and science rooms tailored to match and build age-appropriate skills and interests.

1:1 LAPTOP PROGRAM All fourth and fifth graders are issued laptop computers connecting them to Lovett’s SMART classroom technology. The outcome: improved critical thinking and research skills, and more collaborative and studentcentered learning.

WRITING WORKSHOP In our acclaimed Writing Workshop, students develop fluency by writing every day.

They learn to develop and communicate their thoughts and ideas for a variety of purposes and audiences.

www.lovett.org/academics/lower-school

Caring | Nurturing

Lovett builds a firm academic foundation starting with a strong kindergarten curriculum. Lower School subjects include reading, writing, math, science, social studies, fine arts, French and Spanish, Bible/religion, and physical education.

But that’s only the beginning.

Middle School

“ There’s no substitute for the power of face-to-face conversation.”

Rigor | Transition

MARIA CROLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL SPANISH TEACHER

Middle School is a time of transition and a time when students learn to be more responsible for their own education. “They have access to all kinds of information,” says science teacher Tyler Bromley. “So, rather than just supplying facts in the traditional lecture style, we focus on teaching students how to collect, analyze, and verify facts to create something new.”

The Middle School emphasizes learning communities, with each grade divided into two teams that share core courses and teachers. The result: students benefit from a team of teachers looking out for them, and the faculty benefit from having more opportunities to collaborate.

Most Middle School subjects are taught in single-gender classrooms to accommodate different learning styles. “I love taking math with all girls,” says eighth grader Katherine Drake. “I think I learn more.”

www.lovett.org/academics/middle-school

The Portman Family Middle School Grades 6–8. Our new Middle School is both a state-of-the-art learning environment and a teaching tool. This 75,000-squarefoot building includes light-filled classrooms, science labs, expansive art and drama facilities, and green roof garden classrooms. Lovett is also seeking LEED certification for the building, reflecting construction with strong sustainability standards.

Web 2.0 Faculty and students create learning networks online, allowing them to apply new tools and concepts in the classroom, from digital stories to interactive maps.

Course Collaboration Middle School teachers sharpen students’ powers of observation in science and spark their passion for creative writing through an innovative unit on forensics.

Investigative teams scour a “crime scene” for clues and then incorporate their detective skills into a story, Sherlock Holmes style!

The solid foundation students build during Lower and Middle School pays off in Upper School, where students have opportunities to choose from a wide array of challenging electives and AP courses.

www.lovett.org/academics/upper-school

Upper School

“ Each year you have more freedom and more responsibility.”

Beth Lebow CLASS OF 2010

Eleventh graders explore the connection between American history, literature, art, and music in our innovative American Studies program. “Interdisciplinary learning is challenging for students,” says American Studies teacher Bill Nichols. “But it prepares them for the way they’ll need to think in college.”

“You have to have a good work ethic,” says Drew Stockton ’10. “It will help you in school and in your career. But the single best thing about Lovett is the faculty. The relationships students have with teachers here is pretty cool.”

Advisor Groups Throughout Upper School, Grades 9–12, students meet each day with their advisor groups. Groups are made up of 10 students and a faculty member who serves as their advisor for the whole four years.

Advisor groups become like family units, providing consistent support for students – and parents.

Lovett’s advisory program is often used as a model for other schools.

Outstanding Science It’s rare for a high school science program to be so advanced. In our Honors Organic and Biochemistry, students cover collegelevel material and use the same research techniques as biochemists. Science electives, all of which are lab-based, also include marine biology, anatomy and physiology, environmental science, genetics, and botany.

College Counseling: A four-year snapshot Lovett works with students and parents to navigate the college process from search to application and through enrollment.

Throughout Upper School, students and parents have access to a wide variety of programs that introduce them to various dimensions of the college application process. In ninth and tenth grades, students focus on

curriculum planning, standardized test preparation, and establishing a solid foundation in academics and extracurriculars. In eleventh and twelfth grades, students and families meet individually with their counselor to work through the search, application, and selection process, which is focused on helping students identify their best college matches.

college prep | liberal arts

In Upper School, preparation for college comes fully into focus. It’s all about expanding skills and opportunities through a broad liberal arts curriculum. ”I felt I was better prepared for college than other students,” says alumnus Will Lovell ’97. “With the range and depth of subjects I took, my transition from Lovett to Vanderbilt was easy.”

living | learning

Experiential EDUCATION

“ Even rain can’t dampen their spirits.”

Billy Peebles Headmaster

That’s what our headmaster said after spending five days with juniors in the Pisgah National Forest. It’s actually true for all our students.

You see, at Lovett, learning isn’t limited to the classroom. Experiential education is integrated into our curriculum. Taking students out of the classroom makes them interact with their teachers, each other, and the world around them in completely different ways.

Starting with fifth-grade overnight trips that revolve around ecological studies and team building, Lovett students of all ages learn through experience about leadership, courage, and environmental stewardship.

“Before the Junior Outdoor Experience, my daughter worried for weeks,” says Lovett parent Scottie Schoen. “But after the trip, she said, ‘It made me get out of my box.’ She loved it, loved it, loved it!”

www.lovett.org/academics/experiential-education

SING (Service Initiation for Ninth Graders) Ninth grade starts with a two-day series of service projects planned and carried out by students in their advisor groups.

RAFT (River Awareness for Tenth Graders) Students begin the day, alongside their teachers, cleaning up the banks of our neighboring Chattahoochee River. In the afternoon, they launch rafts and float down the river.

JOE (Junior Outdoor Experience) Of all our experiential programs, this is the one students dread – and love – the most. It’s five days of hiking, camping, climbing, and exploring in North Carolina’s Pisgah National Forest.

Senior Projects Seniors have the option of using their last six weeks of Upper School to pursue a passion. Projects have included medical research in Ethiopia, internships in NYC, and composing and recording a CD of music to raise funds for charity.

Being on the Chattahoochee River gives Lovett students unique opportunities to learn firsthand about water management, river ecosystems, and environmental responsibility.

Working Artists Lovett’s nationally recognized fine arts program operates well above the high school level. That’s largely due to our faculty, made up of 42 remarkably gifted working artists teaching 55 courses in a full range of visual and performing arts.

Students also have the opportunity to take private lessons from these professionals. “These are some of the most exceptional artists I’ve seen teaching at any level,” says Fine Arts Director Jay Freer.

Friends of the arts This energetic group of Lovett parents actively supports the fine arts program through awareness, student and faculty recognition, and fundraising.

Facilities Lovett offers unparalleled opportunities for faculty and students to teach and learn in professionallevel facilities, which include a theater, a black box theater, photography labs, a ceramics studio, a painting studio, and an outdoor amphitheater.

Ellington Jazz Band The Upper School Ellington Jazz Band has won “Best in Class” in Atlanta’s Music in the Parks Festival. Recently, they were one of only 12 bands in the nation (and the only one from Georgia) to advance to the finals at the Savannah Music Festival. And they have been invited to compete several times at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington Jazz Festival and Competition in New York City.

www.lovett.org/fine-arts

Eva Edwards Lovett

Mrs. Lovett believed that the arts were the link between simply knowing facts and being able to apply those facts creatively.

Visual and performing arts are incorporated throughout the curriculum in Lower and Middle School. In Upper School, students must take at least one year of art instruction. Most continue beyond the requirement, simply because they love it. Whether they have professional artistic goals or not, “the arts teach students about integrity and courage,” says theater arts teacher David Silverman.

“Without the arts, you are unable to have the context for why things happen,” adds Fine Arts Director Jay Freer. “Participating in the arts requires you to be disciplined and to look deeply at yourself and the world around you. Being involved in all three areas – academics , athletics, and the arts – is what I’ve seen transform students here at Lovett.”

Artwork by a Lovett seventh grader

creative expression | cultivating vision

“ The fine arts are the magic sesames that open doors to a rich adult life.”

Fine arts

Global Campus

www.lovett.org/academics/travel-programs

“ You can read about Ecuador, but it’s different when you’ve been there.” citizens of the world

Jim Crowley UPPER SCHOOL science teacher

Not many schools own a tract of land in the Ecuadoran cloudforest.

Welcome to Siempre Verde (which translates as Forever Green), the southernmost part of Lovett’s campus.

India Brantley ’10 went to Lovett’s 825-acre nature preserve and science center for a three-week Spanish immersion trip. She learned Spanish – and a lot more. “I saw how mining affects Ecuador’s environment and its people,” she says. “Seeing this firsthand opens your eyes about the world and makes you think, ‘what can I do to help?’”

“Being in a different environment allows students to grow in new ways,” says Lovett teacher Karey Walter, who coordinates intensive summer arts courses in Italy and France. “The experience of being on a college campus or in a foreign city gives them an entirely new context for how they see the world.”

Lovett offers students a number of domestic and international study programs, including those listed below.

Forever Green In 1991, Lovett purchased the first 300 acres of Siempre Verde with funds largely raised by pizza sales. Since 1993, Lovett students and faculty have been visiting our research station to study tropical conservation and to conduct service projects with the local elementary school.

outside the walls Seventh grade geography students recently used internet video conferencing to collaborate with Chinese students at the Shanghai American School. This is just one example of the innovative ways Lovett is preparing future graduates for success in a world where they’ll need to live and work as global citizens.

an expanding campus Domestic: > CityTerm > Coastal Studies for Girls > The Island School > Maine Coast Semester > Mountain School > Outdoor Academy > Oxbow School > Rocky Mountain Semester > School for Ethics & Global Leadership

International: > Swiss Semester > School Year Abroad China England France India Italy Spain

Lovett students experience life beyond campus through travel and technology.

There are many faiths represented at Lovett, and multiple traditions are celebrated throughout the year.

www.lovett.org/who-we-are/spiritual-life www.lovett.org/who-we-are/service-learning

Faith and Service

“ We want our students to respect others and to love and accept themselves.”

Gayle Greenwood Counselor

After participating in a service trip to the Dominican Republic, student Beth Lebow ’10 would agree. “It was the first time in my life I felt like I was making a difference.”

Considering all the service work that Lovett students do, you might be surprised to learn that it isn’t a requirement. “You can’t require volunteerism,” says parent and Lovett’s Director of Service Learning Angela Morris-Long. “You have to teach children and touch their hearts. Then they want to volunteer.”

This ethical awareness is reinforced by Lovett’s chapel services and course offerings. “There are people from so many different backgrounds at Lovett,” says Callie Wamsley ’10. “So rather than focus on a particular religion, Rev talks about morals that help you live your everyday life better.”

Spiritual Life Lovett holds regular chapel services as a way for the school to come together as a community. Rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition, the services help our students relate faith to life.

Service opportunities and Organizations > Confronting Atlanta’s Poverty > Habitat for Humanity Chapter > Read to Feed > Pennies for Peace > Breakthrough Atlanta

> Fellowship of Christian Athletes > Vestry > Student Service Board > SING (Service Initiation for Ninth Graders)

giving back

Lovett’s philosophy states that education is about both the individual and the community. It’s a tenet that was shaped by Mrs. Lovett herself, who felt that “education should integrate the child as a contributing member of society.”

leadership | sportsmanship

athletics

“ Playing sports shows you how to be part of something bigger than yourself.”

Mike Muschamp Varsity Football Coach

Athletics are integral to Mrs. Lovett’s philosophy of educating the whole child. “Being on a team helps you learn how to interact with your peers both on and off the field,” says Kaki Pope ’11. “And there are many opportunities to develop leadership skills that help you, no matter what you do in life.”

Participation is a critical part of Lovett’s athletics program. All of our students have the opportunity, and are encouraged, to play a sport. The majority do just that. Equally important is our commitment to excellence.

Lovett varsity teams have won close to 100 state championships.

“We really enjoy the program’s tremendous success,” says Jon Rue, parent and former LionBackers co-president. “But Lovett athletics are about more – there’s an emphasis on developing character, competing at the highest level, persevering during tough times, and always striving to do your best. These are lessons that will transfer to life beyond Lovett.”

www.lovett.org/athletics

Lions Athletics More than 80 percent of students in Grades 7–12 participate in interscholastic competiton. Lovett fields 65 teams in 16 sports. Since 1981, more than 30 Lovett athletes have been named high school All Americans in nine sports.

Come to a Lovett sports event on team Spirit Night and join us after the game for pizza, soft drinks, and DJ tunes. Check our website for the Spirit Night schedule.

Athletic Facilities Lovett’s facilities are among the best in the Southeast, and include a stadium, three gymnasiums, an indoor pool, baseball and softball fields, 10 tennis courts, a 400-meter track, four practice fields, and a wellness center.

Doing it All Lovett offers an enormous range of athletic, artistic, and academic opportunities.

That’s why our coaches and faculty keep a common calendar to reduce schedule conflicts and allow students to take advantage of multiple activities.

Sustainability Lovett’s Strategic Plan calls for us to practice environmental sustainability and stewardship. A highlight of the program is our LEED-certified Middle School, a visible symbol of the school’s commitment to sustainability.

“ There is no better, more energized environment for a motivated student.”

Marsha Little Upper School Dean of Academic Affairs

Environmental awareness > Lovett students learn about sustainability literally from the ground up, from making their own soil to planning, planting, and caring for an organic garden. > Our mini refinery converts used cooking oil from the Dining Hall to fuel maintenance vehicles. Electric utility vehicles are partially powered by a campus wind turbine. > The entire campus participates in numerous reducing, reusing, and recycling programs.

To learn more about how Lovett is reducing its impact on the environment and teaching students the value of taking care of the Earth, visit www.lovett.org/who-we-are/sustainability.

Multicultural Programs Lovett families come from all continents, many countries, and a wide variety of backgrounds. As a community, we actively cultivate an environment where diversity is welcomed and encouraged. Our Office of Multicultural Programs and Services coordinates classroom instruction, workshops, and campus events designed to promote deeper awareness and understanding of cultural, religious, and ethnic diversity.

Honor Code Lovett has a long-standing tradition of developing a culture of integrity that includes an Honor Code: A Lovett student will not lie.

A Lovett student will not steal.

A Lovett student will not cheat.

A Lovett student will not plagiarize.

Awareness

expanding and enriching opportunities

Senior Internships Lovett offers unique opportunities for career experience.

We are the only high school with an internship program at the Georgia Aquarium. Internship duties include research and animal care, responsibilities normally reserved for college students. Lovett is also the first and only school in Atlanta to have a formal internship program with the professional theater company, Georgia Shakespeare.

FACULTY ENRICHMENT Mrs. Lovett believed that teachers should be “specially trained people of vision.” Today, Lovett attracts and retains top educators with competitive benefits and ongoing professional development. The average teaching experience is 17 years.

The majority of our experienced professional staff have a minimum of a master’s degree.

Technology Lovett invests strategically in technology to support a rich and relevant learning environment. From laptops in Lower and Middle School to AP Computer Science, we’re integrating 21st century learning into our classrooms and curriculum.

www.lovett.org/who-we-are

inclusiveness | involvement

community

www.lovett.org/parents

“ I love that we’re intentional about making every family feel at home in this community.”

Lara Kauffman Assistant Athletic Director

Parents play a crucial role at Lovett. “The school wouldn’t be what it is without our parents,” says our Director of Community Relations Sandy Weidemann.

“They are a passionate group, and their support really impresses on the students the importance of school.”

In fact, a Lovett education depends on an active partnership of learning between parents and the school to help ensure our students’ success. Only by working together can we achieve our common goal of developing the whole child.

“When my children and I were new to Lovett, we were nervous – but the experience was wonderful,” says Ellice Hawkins, a Lovett parent and the school’s Director of Multicultural Programs. “The parent organizations were so welcoming. Lovett is lucky that so many families answer the call to volunteer.”

Community Culture Lovett is consciously creating an environment that is inclusive, safe, and supportive for every member of our community. Our students join us from 11 counties and 70 zip codes across the metropolitan Atlanta area.

Parent Organizations > Lovett Parent Association > Lovett International Alliance > Lovett LionBackers > Friends of the Arts > Grade Representatives > Parent Support Groups > Room Parents/Prime Time Parents

beyond Lovett | success stories

alumni

www.lovett.org/alumni

“ I am a scientist today because my teachers at Lovett went out of their way to help me.”

Brian Hare Class of 1994

Brian Hare ’94 was in second grade at Lovett when an Upper School teacher noticed his aptitude for science and invited him to an advanced science summer camp. “We got to see an electron scanning microscope and to dissect a shark,” he says. “I was totally hooked.”

“As a kid, you don’t really know your talents,” says Shane Kimbrough ’85.

“But Lovett’s program brings out your strengths. My drive to succeed started there – and that’s helped me all the way through grad school, the Army, and even NASA.” “Lovett helped set my trajectory,” says Susie Wootton ’89. “I wasn’t even considering Ivy League colleges. But my college counselor encouraged me to ‘go for it.’ That set the stage for my success.”

In short, Lovett prepares our students for college – and for life.

Graduates Lovett students attend outstanding colleges and universities regionally, nationally, and internationally. You’ll find a complete list of where our recent grads are enrolled on our website at www.lovett.org/academics/upper-school/college-counseling.

Lieutenant Colonel Shane Kimbrough ’85 is a United States astronaut.

The Lovett School admits students of any race, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and national or ethnic origin.

Read more about Lovett alumni at www.lovett.org/alumni/featured-alumni.

Brian Hare ’94 conducts research in the Congo and teaches biology and psychology at Duke University.

Dr. Susie Wootton ’89 focuses on pediatric and infectious diseases.

Come and Visit The best way to discover if you’ll love Lovett is to visit.

Opportunities are available to visit campus during the school day and at an annual Open House. Prospective families are also welcome to join us for a concert or ballgame to experience the Lovett community firsthand. Check our website for events.

How to apply Information on applying to Lovett, including an online application, is available on our website at www.lovett.org/ admission/applying-to-lovett.

We’re also happy to speak with you to answer any questions you might have.

For more information or to schedule a visit, contact the Admission Office at (404) 262-3032, ext. 1244, or e-mail admission@lovett.org.

Lovett The Lovett School 4075 Paces F erry Road, N.W. Atlanta, G eorgia 30327-3099 (404) 262-3032 www.lovett.org

This viewbook is printed on Eco Varsity paper, made from 30% post-consumer and 50% total recycled fiber.