IDS Viewbook

Why IDS? 1

Joyful childhood, engaged community, empowering education

At the independent day school, we believe that a great education extends beyond

its first and most obvious objective: to teach students excellent analytical, critical and creative skills that prepare them to tackle academic challenges with ease and confidence—in high school and beyond.

Just as a young student is far more than a recipient of facts, figures and study techniques, elementary and middle school education requires so much more than teaching academic skills.

A great education—the kind of experience we offer at IDS—develops in each child a joyful enthusiasm for learning, a strong sense of confidence and a deeply felt concern for others.

Excellent academic skills are just a beginning.

At IDS, we focus on three guiding principles. We believe these are key to the healthy, happy growth of the whole child. Our graduates’ stunning successes over nearly 50 years—both as students and as citizens in the world—bear this out:

Human scale.

Our class sizes are intentionally small, ensuring that each student

is known and engaged by a team of caring teachers. Whether a child is three or thirteen, the personal scale of IDS permits our entire community to know each other as we learn and grow together.

Don’t rush childhood!

At IDS, we celebrate the innocence, open-mindedness,

curiosity and playfulness of children. We strive to nurture and extend that spirit in our students’ lives. Because they are not distracted by the choices and behavior facing older students, our middle schoolers are free to lead our student community.

Experience activates learning.

Scientific research has shown that children

learn best when they construct their own learning through trial and error. That’s why our curriculum features a broad and ever-growing array of experiences and opportunities—from exploring science on our own nature trails to team building through sports competition and writing and performing plays in our state-of-the-art theater. Thoughtful teachers coach student experience every day.

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The youngest children benefit from watching the older children model responsible behavior; older students assume responsibility for their role as leaders in the school.

First grade teacher

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Early Childhood Age 3 through Grade 1

Where the learning journey begins At IDS, we recognize what parents have always known窶馬amely, that the ideal space for

Our son is thrilled to go to school every day.

a young child to learn is a safe, stimulating and creative one. Our low student-to-teacher

He is constantly challenged to think beyond

ratio ensures individualized attention for each student and offers kid-sized challenges.

the ordinary. He has learned so much already

In our Early Childhood classrooms, we invite children to participate in the hands-on

and he is always interested in learning more

adventure of learning. It is the beginning of an experience, a journey and an ongoing

at home.

encounter with the world.

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Early Childhood parent

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Our developmentally appropriate program fosters a love of learning.

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The Responsive Classroom approach emphasizes social, emotional and academic growth.

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A balanced language arts curriculum promotes original creative writing.

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Spanish, physical education, music and library instruction begin in preschool.

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Annual plays, science lab and art studio start in kindergarten.

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Lower School Grades 2–5

Collaboration and technology: essential skills for the 21st century Fourth and fifth grade students combine science, physics and computer skills for their robotics project. Working with a partner, students consider problems and engineer solutions in order to build prototypes to represent their best idea. Success requires collaboration and compromise. Their written and video project reports document their efforts and results.

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IDS is a safe place for children to take risks and learn from their mistakes. With excellent academics a given, I feel that one of the greatest gifts many students take from IDS is the gift of self-confidence.

Lower school head

A bridge to independent learning The IDS Lower School provides a bridge between early childhood and adolescence.

As students traverse this bridge, we guide them in everything from their times tables to their understanding of an expanding world. We steer them gently toward greater independence and foster a sense of responsibility for their academics, their decisions and their relationships with classmates and the community. Who each child becomes is as important as what he or she learns, so we place equal emphasis on strengthening character, affirming emotional responses and developing positive relationships with peers.

Athletics and performing arts do more than round out each student’s experience at IDS. They fuel the collaboration and team development skills that are increasingly important preparation for future success.

At IDS we do a lot of projects to make the world a better place. And we are always learning at the same time!

second grader 9

Middle School Grades 6–8

Culmination of a treasured journey, start of a new adventure Middle School is a period of rapid change and discovery. Sixth, seventh and eighth graders are exploring who they are, who they want to be and how they relate to their peer group and the world around them. Every decision—from the choice of a sport or instrument to the selection of a topic for a class project to the evaluation of secondary school options—feels critically important to middle schoolers. At IDS we are experts at addressing the specific needs and wants of these students academically, socially and emotionally. Our diverse curriculum and dedicated faculty ensure that our middle schoolers develop outstanding study and communication skills, empathy for one another and a passion for learning. IDS graduates don’t just succeed—they flourish in high school, college and beyond.

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Advisories Every Middle School student works with an advisor who provides primary support for academic, social and emotional growth. They meet three times per week, in both group and one-on-one settings. Advisors also work with teachers and parents to establish and assess academic and personal goals for the three rapid and critical years of growth in Middle School.

In this seminar, I am learning a lot about myself: how I fit into a group and what my role is. I am learning history, but more importantly, I am learning how I learn.

eighth grader 11

Middle School continued Learning beyond the classroom The eighth grade History Seminar exemplifies the IDS hands-on, collaborative and interdisciplinary approach to learning. Led by a team of two teachers, the class explores topics in American history through the local history of the city of Middletown. Students travel together to libraries and to the Middlesex Historical Society. Small teams work together to create board games based on their onsite research; they then use the games to teach the history they’ve learned to younger students. Through this project, students learn from peers, teachers and community members to do real research, to do meaningful work and to create lasting educational experiences.

I love IDS! The school has such great traditions. The kids here are super nice.

Our middle schoolers take up real leadership and responsibility for our community.

They model citizenship and scholarship, but they don’t have to stop being 11 and 12 years old. The magic is that they can practice being young adults without having to stifle who they are as children.

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Middle School teacher

The teachers are fantastic.

What’s not to love? eighth Grader

Life after IDS Where do we go from here? The possibilities are exciting, but selecting the right

In addition to public schools, IDS graduates have recently enrolled at the following schools:

secondary school can be stressful without guidance. Our comprehensive secondary

Avon Old Farms School

school placement program helps families navigate the process, providing students with

Chase Collegiate School

valuable experience in decision-making and offering parents access to experts in the

Choate Rosemary Hall

admissions field. Here are some of the highlights:

Hopkins School Hotchkiss School

One-to-one guidance.

The IDS Placement Advisor meets with each eighth-

grade family to help prepare for the choices ahead.

Secondary School Fair.

Kingswood-Oxford School Loomis Chaffee School Mercy High School Miss Porter’s School

IDS hosts one of the largest secondary school fairs in

the region, featuring more than 60 schools.

Northfield Mount Hermon School Walnut Hill School

Workshop Series.

A series of workshops for students and families in seventh

and eighth grades includes visits from admission representatives from secondary schools, coaching in strategies for successful SSAT exams, a detailed explanation of the application process and timeline, and numerous chances to ask questions.

Watkinson School Westover School Williams School Xavier High School

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Fast Facts

Middlesex Academy for the Performing Arts offers after school and summer programs to our students and the larger community here on

IDS at-a-glance

the IDS campus.

Total enrollment

180

Student-to-teacher ratio


7:1

50%

Over of faculty hold advanced degrees

19%

of our students are Over children of color

30%

of our Approximately students receive financial aid

Morning and after school care are available. IDS is open from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm.

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Our 30 acre campus has woods, gardens, a pond, nature trail, playgrounds and sports fields; buildings include science and computer labs, library, performing arts center, art studio and gymnasium.

Students build skills and

CLUBS: Student Newspaper,

teamwork through their

Yearbook, Spanish, Sustainability,

Lower School PE program,

Technical Theater, World Culture

and experience competitive

RECENT SERVICE PROJECTS:

soccer, basketball, cross

Read to Grow, Warm the Children,

country and lacrosse in the

Empty Bowls to Feed the Hungry,

Middle School.

Valentines for Troops, UNICEF

Come visit!

115 Laurel Brook Road Middlefield, CT 06455 860-347-7235 independentdayschool.org 15

115 Laurel Brook Road Middlefield, CT 06455 860-347-7235

Admission is open to all students regardless of race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, nationality or ethnic origin.

independentdayschool.org

CREATIVE: CHENEY & COMPANY PHOTOGRAPHY: ROB LISAK