Download - Spring Education
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7/28/2019 Spring Education
1/12
by KARA MORGANSpecial to The Hour
Ridgeeld Academy, an independent day school
located in Ridgeeld, Conn., empowers every child to
realize his or her unique potential by bringing together
academic excellence, innovative programming, and a
diverse, supportive community.
Small Classes Make the Difference.Teachers and
administrators believe the key to future success is
empowering each and every student. The program,
which educates children from preschool (two-year-olds)
to eighth grade, provides students with daily
RIDGEFIELD ACADEMY:Empoweringeverystudent
RIDGEFIELD ACADEMY:
The Hour Pubishing Compan Thursda, Apri 11, 2013 1
RIDGEFIELD,contd. p.7
A special advertising supplement to The Hour, The Stamford Times and The Wilton Villager
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7/28/2019 Spring Education
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by DEBBIE RUCCISpecial to The Hour
Pear Tree Point School (PTPS) is committed to helpingchildren develop a strong vocabulary, an essential skill
for thinking, understanding, and communicating. Researchshows that having a breadth of vocabulary is a key to
uture success in school and enhances relationships,reativity, careers, and more. Here are four ways PTPS
orks on this important life skill:
1. Children learn most of their vocabulary through
reading and listening, while expressing what they knowthrough writing and speaking. These language-basedskills are cornerstones of the PTPS curriculum.
2. Literature and non-ction reading allows childreno hear words more advanced than they can read andosters vocabulary development through enriching units
of study. Discussing these topics in class promotes un-derstanding and invites use of the new words. Vocabulary
is further acquired by teachers and parents working to-
gether to do read-alouds at school and at home.3. Children at Pear Tree Point School are exposed to
advanced language through the Core Knowledge cur-
riculum. The spiral and integrated design of the CoreKnowledge curriculum ensures that key words are reviewedand topics are coordinated in social studies, science, the
arts, and languages (Spanish and Mandarin) so that vo-cabulary is revisited and mastered.
4. Word choice is a hallmark of the writing programat PTPS. Student authors are encouraged, both byteachers and peer editors, to nd interesting, novel, and
well chosen words to make their writing vivid and en-gaging.
Pear Tree Point School monitors vocabulary devel-opment through classroom experiences as well as
informal and formal assessments with excellent results.Learn more about the PTPS programs at Open Housesin April and May information is listed at their website,
www.ptpschool.org. n
2 Thursda, Apri 11, 2013 The Hour Pubishing Compan
PEAR TREE POINT SCHOOL: Learningforthefuturethroughvocabularydevelopment
Contributed photo.
Pear Tree Point School monitors vocabulary development
through classroom experiences as well as informal and for-
mal assessments with excellent results.
PEAR TREE POINT SCHOOL:
Next Open House:May 11, 9:30am -11:00am
www.musicattess.com
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by JOSEPH MUSANTESpecial to The Hour
NEW HAVENThe Southern Connecticut State Uni-
versity Computer Science Department has restructured
its Master of Science degree program in an effort to
better meet the needs of students and the demands of
the changing Connecticut workforce.
The department has replaced the two previous trackswith those having more relevance in todays ever-
evolving technological landscape network and in-
formation security (cybersecurity) and software devel-
opment.
Previously, the M.S. program was designed primarily
for students who had earned a bachelors degree in
computer science, said Lisa Lancor, graduate coordinator
for the SCSU Computer Science Department. But we
had been getting increased interest from individuals
who had bachelors degrees in other disciplines and
wanted to move into the computer eld. We have
students who majored in music, political science, and
other disciplines not closely related to computer science.
So, we revamped the program to make it more exible.
Among the changes enacted is the establishment of
a single prerequisite course, instead of three such courses.
The new prerequisite is a four-credit course on computerprogramming and data structures. Students then take
12 core credits, as well as 18 credits in either of the two
tracks. Students are then required to pass a capstone,
typically a six-credit thesis.
Among the new courses offered for those engaged
in the cybersecurity track is Ethical Hacking and Pene-
tration Testing. In this course, students learn how to
test whether networks are secure and how to enhance
that security.
There is a huge need for individuals who have an
expertise in this area, Lancor says. The number of com-
panies and organizations whose websites are hacked is
growing all the time. These companies want to hire in-
dividuals who can detect and x these security issues,
but there really is a shortage of such people.
Lancor said that many companies actually hire indi-viduals to try to break into their network system (without
causing any damage). The idea is that if they can hack
into it, the system needs to be upgraded and xed. If it
cant be hacked, it indicates the system is probably
secure, at least at that time.
For further information about the new program,
please contact Lisa Lancor at (203) 392-5890.n
SCSU: ComputersciencedepartmentrevampsMSprogramtoreflectlatest
technologicaltrends
The Hour Pubishing Compan Thursda, Apri 11, 2013 3
SCSU:
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by MAXENE MULFORDSpecial to The Hour
Five all-new essay questions are coming to the 201314
Common Application used by 527 colleges, and, though
he new application itself will not be available online
until August 1st, the questions, which all carry a 650-
ord limit, are now available:
n Some students have a background or story that is
so central to their identity that they believe their appli-
ation would be incomplete without it. If this soundslike you, then please share your story.
n Recount an incident or time when you experienced
failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did youlearn?
n Reect on a time when you challenged a belief or
idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the
same decision again?
n Describe a place or environment where you are
perfectly content. What do you do or experience there,
and why is it meaningful to you?
n Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or in-
formal, that marked your transition from childhood to
adulthood within your culture, community, or family.While many educational consultants are in a state of
shock because of the elimi-
nation of everyones former
favorite, Topic of your
choice, Maxene Fabe Mul-
ford ofUniquely U. College
Essay Consultants is not
one of them.For more than 15 years, says Mulford, Ive always
told students to ignore the exact wording of the questions
when theyre rst starting out. Zeroing in on one too
soon shuts down the creative process. Instead, I ask,
Whats in your room and whats the story behind each
treasure?
As you can readily see, any one of those objects
could easily lead someone to naturally select Topic of
your choice as a subject for the resulting essay. But the
prompt is really only the beginning of our exploration.That is because, if we keep digging, we invariably hit
upon a previous situation that often took place back in
middle school, when the student was able to nd unex-
pected strength in a unique aspect of him/herself. Its
that self-dening moment when, for the rst time, you
are able to say, This is who I
am. Take it or leave it.
CollegeessaychangescominginAugust?
Uniquely U. says,Getstartednow!Uniquely U.
4 Thursda, Apri 11, 2013 The Hour Pubishing Compan
UNIQUE, contd. p.9
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WHY MATHNASIUM WORKS . . . The time-proven Mathnasiumconcept, which teaches students from elementary school through high school, focuses
on understanding how numbers work. The instructors know that children learn
differently and, after an assessment of their math skills, provide a tailored program to
help them fill in the gaps in their learning, and even help them get ahead in math. Forgetthe math textbooks you had when you were in school. Mathnasium uses recognized
proprietary materials to help kids understand and master math. There are more than
10,000 pages of lessons that are updated and customized for each student. There is no
grilling or drilling, and it is not overwhelming for the kids. Students get new material only
once they understand the earlier concepts. They are not retaught what they already
know, so they dont get bored. Students and their parents can see visual progress after
each lesson. Students are taught to use mental, verbal, visual, tactical, and written
(MVVTW) approaches to understanding math. Tests before and after each section help
refine what kids are learning and prevents gaps in understanding.
With the Common Core State Standards Initiative set to kick in during the 20142015
school year, it is imperative that students master math as well as other disciplines. The
goal of the state-led initiative is to improve student achievement throughout the country
with standardized learning and to help students become university and career ready.
The future is in technology and innovation, and the foundation for that is math.
by GRETCHEN SCHWARZBAUERSpecial to The Hour
Children at Landmark Preschool enjoy a variety of
activities each day. This year, teachers are nding that
the children really look forward to their yoga time. Yoga
for children is not like yoga for adults, explained Westport
director Siobhan Powers. The approach is playful, but
the children really benet from learning about how
their bodies move, and how they can breathe in different
ways.
Teachers at Landmark Preschools are so interested in
using yoga to help their students that the school had a
professional development day focused specically on
yoga for young children. We love the yoga stories, says
Redding director Ann Hirsch. Young children need to
move to learn, and telling stories with our bodies is a
great way to build our language skills as well as our
motor skills. Children in Kerrie Cortigianos Fours class
were eager to demonstrate: They love yoga, said Corti-
giano. We have a yoga alphabet, and learn a new pose
each week. It is a great way for them to calm themselves
when they get upset too. We do some deep breaths.
Powers agrees: Learning a technique to manage stress
when you are still in preschool is a very empowering life
skill.
For more information, visit www.landmarkpre
school.org. n
Landmark Academy: YogagoestopreschoolLandmark Academy:
The Hour Pubishing Compan Thursda, Apri 11, 2013 5
Contributed photo.
This year, Landmark Preschools have brought yoga into the
classroom to teach children to move, breathe, and learn to
calm themselves when they get upset as well.
Darien 203.655.MATH (6284) www.mathnasium.com/darien
Fairfield 203.259.MATH (6284) www.mathnasium.com/fairfield
Stamford 203.881.MATH (6284) www.mathnasium.com/stamford
6 h d i 20 3 h bi hi C
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by NANCY TROEGERSpecial to The Hour
I have no special talents.
I am only passionately curi-
ous.Albert Einstein
Curious things happen at
St. Lukes School. Eighthgraders attempt to drop eggs
off great heights withoutbreaking them. Twenty-fourteams of middle schoolers
design, build, and launch air-craft of all shapes and sizes
off a 30-foot high ramp.Artists create bright, beautiful,and functional ceramic bird-
houses. Another young teamtakes apart a remote control
car and uses the parts, a mi-
croprocessor, and traditionalcode to build a robot.
In another curious case,a young girl invents a broth-
er-proof door that buzzesat sibling intruders. Then we
have the senior who usesmodeling software and theschools MakerBot 3-D printer
to design and produce fullyfunctional objects, including
a two-sided peanut butterjar (one side for jelly we pre-sume). Close by, a fth grade
class works in pairs to design,build, redesign, and rebuild
simple machines out of Le-gos.
Why all the tinkering? Wewant to encourage criticalthinking and curiosity across
the curriculum and through-out our culture, says Head
of School Mark Davis. Wevestarted our own Maker Move-
ment right here on the Hill-top, and its ourishing. Wesee teamwork, leadership,
and communication skills in
action. Its also and this is
key fun. This kind of learn-ing is relevant to our kids,and you cant nd it in a
book.In an era when technolo-
gy has created a hands-off,button-pushing, screen-star-ing society St. Lukes en-
courages kids to be hands-on. We want them to make,
break, and x things. We wantthem to wonder and dare
them to try. As Science chairMichael Mitchell says: A cul-
ture of inquiry, regardless ofthe academic subject, saysits good to be curious, its
good to try, and its okay tomess up so long as you learn
from it.St. Lukes is a place to bring
your curiosity the more
you have, the better. Fromarts programs to the rapidly
growing STEM Scholars pro-
gram, students enjoy thefreedom to explore ideas and
determine how things work.Teachers report amazement
at what students will create,given the chance, using their
knowledge and imagination.This spring, St. Lukes hosts
its second annual Rube Gold-
berg Challenge. The RubeGoldberg Challenge requiresteams of four (any mix of
students, teachers, parents,grandparents, alumni) to
build an intentionally evencomically complex con-traption to perform a simple
task. This years teams mustll a glass of water. According
to Jim Foley, director of St.Lukes Center for Leadership:
This is experiential learningat its best. We take lessons
out of the classroom and intothe real world. Its a fantasticway to ignite our students
imaginations. The challengewill kick off St. Lukes April
26th SpringFest weekend, anevent celebrating academic,athletics, arts, and invention!
Curiosity is the enginethat drives a lifetime of learn-
ing, says Head of School
Davis. At St. Lukes, the curi-ous minds of our students
and faculty are the Schoolsmost precious resources.
For more informationabout St. Lukes School, visit
www.stlukesct.org.n
St. LukesMakerMovement
St. Lukes
Contributed photo.
St. Lukes Rube Goldberg Challenge requires teams of four
(any mix of students, teachers, parents, grandparents,
alumni) to build an intentionally even comically com-
plex contraption to perform a simple task.
The Ho r P bishing Compan Th rsda Apri 11 2013 7
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opportunities to build condence, use their creativity,
work collaboratively, and learn how to problem solve.
Through small classes and individualized teaching
instruction, children develop the skills to be critical
thinkers, public speakers, and self-advocates.
A Cmprehensive and Innvative Curriculum
RAs curriculum combines the traditional core subject
areas of language arts, mathematics, science, history,
world language, and social studies with a rich program
of music, art, and drama designed to inspire students
and spark their creativity. Thanks to talented teachers
and small class sizes, Ridgeeld Academy can take teach-
ing out of the textbooks and bring lessons to life with
memorable experiences. When children learn by doing,
they care more, remember more, and are empowered
to achieve more.
Public Speaking
An important part of becoming a condent learner is
learning the tools to effectively communicate your ideas.
Seven years ago Ridgeeld Academy implemented a
public speaking program. The school recognized that ifchildren are taught the tools for effective communication
and given ample opportunity to practice, they could
effectively learn written and verbal communication at a
young age. RA students learn the strategies for successful
written and oral communication and through practice,
develop into condent writers and public speakers.
Service Learning and Character Develpment
The RA school community is a caring community built
on a foundation of shared values. In all areas of school
life, students model and reinforce the principles of
respect, responsibility, fairness, and service to others.Service learning is incorporated into the curriculum to
engage children in meaningful activities that reinforce
the importance of service to others.
Innvative Media Arts Curriculum
RAs 5,800 square foot state-of-the-art media arts center
and sound room allows students to use the latest tech-
nology to develop their writing skills, learn the current
methods of research, and explore the digital arts through
classes such as animation, digital storytelling, lm, andsound editing.
New Preschl Wing
In September the Academy opened a renovated preschool
wing designed specically for students aged two to
ve. The facility will feature
areas for cooking, technol-
ogy, and a small amphithe-
ater for performances. The
Academys preschool pro-gram offers children pur-
poseful learning experi-
ences to support social,
emotional, cognitive, and
physiological development
through science, art, math,
foreign language, pre-reading exercises, and movement
activities.
The Right Secndary Placement
Ridgeeld Academy dedicates itself to helping each stu-dent nd the right secondary school for the next step of
his or her educational journey.
As students enter grade six, the Head of School and
the Head of Upper School lead each student through a
sequence of steps designed to help prepare, plan, in-
vestigate, and consider a wide range of high school op-
tions. Throughout the process, students and families
are guided and supported.
The RA DifferenceMany families have discovered what a difference the
Ridgeeld Academy experience can make for their child.
For more information about Ridgeeld Academy, visit
www.ridgeeldacademy.org, and/or call Julie Crane at
(203) 894-1800 x112. n
The Hour Pubishing Compan Thursda, Apri 11, 2013 7
Our Lady of Fatima School (OLF) is a Roman Catholic
o-educational school offering full-day pre-school and
kindergarten programs, Lower School (grades one
hrough ve), and Middle School (grades six through
ight). Recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School,
ur Lady of Fatima is proudly celebrating its 50th year of
atholic education and academic excellence.
For the 20132014 academic year, Our Lady of Fatima
ill offer a ve-day, full-day pre-school program for chil-
ren ages three and four. Parents have been requesting
ve-day program and we are thrilled to be able toffer this option, said principal Dina Monti. In addition
o the new ve-day program, OLF will also continue to
ffer other half-day or full-day pre-school options for
children ages three and four.
In preparation for the ve-day program launch, the
OLF pre-school facilities will undergo a major exterior
and interior renovation prior to the 20132014 academic
year.
Parents choose an OLF education because of the
nurturing environment. OLF students ourish in an at-
mosphere that emphasizes strong moral values and re-
spect.
Exceptional academics are delivered by an experienced
and highly qualied teaching staff. Classroom instructionbenets from computing and technology tools, including
iPads and smart boards.
In addition to traditional curriculum, students weekly
schedules from pre-K through Middle School include
enrichment classes in art and music. Lower and Middle
School students also receive classes in technology/key-
boarding and either Spanish or French.
A myriad of after-school activities are offered including
award-winning sports programs, after-school clubs, and
community service projects. And to meet the needs of
working parents, a supportive after-school program op-
erates daily until 6:00 p.m.
For admission information, please contact Dina Monti,principal at (203) 762-8100 or visit www.olfcatholic.org.
Our Lady of Fatima School is located at 225 Danbury
Road, Wilton, Conn. n
WiltonsOur Lady of Fatima announcesfive-day,fulldaypreschoolprogram
Our Lady of Fatima
RIDGEFIELD, from p.1
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HOLY SPIRIT SCHOOL is a PreK3 to gradefive elementary school committed to providing
a Catholic foundation upon which academicexcellence and Christian values are nurtured.
Our mission is to instill a lifelong desire forlearning, and a genuine love of God and
God's people, inspiring our students to become
faith-filled Christians serving in their com-munity.
Our goals at Holy Spirit School are to:EDUCATE each of our students on every
level mind, body, spirit, and heart.
ENGAGE our students in ways that helpthem reach new heights in learning.
ENCOURAGE our students and families tobuild a rewarding relationship with God and
our community.
Holy Spirit School has an advanced pre-Kand kindergarten program that challenges ourearly learners with social interaction, reading
readiness, mathematics skills, and a clearand focused foundation of the basic skills
that develop in each child an enthusiasm forknowledge. In grades one through five, our
students achieve a high academic standard
with continued emphasis on the core curriculum
of reading, mathematics, religion, art, science,
social studies, music, physical education,
computers, library skills, and a high priority
for STEM-focused projects and programs.
Our school provides each student with access
to a diverse set of academic, athletic, and ex-
tracurricular resources including a fully-
equipped gym to support in-school and af-
ter-school programs.
Holy Spirit School has a strong belief in
family. Together, we are dedicated to involving
our students, family, and friends in ways that
enhance our school, parish, and community.
We empower our students to define initiatives
that make a difference and together we celebrate
their success. We also value the wisdom andcontributions of alumni and family generations
and wrap them into fun-filled activities through-
out the year. Holy Spirit School continues to
excel and innovate as a result of the strong
fabric of our families and a dedicated faculty.
Explore Holy Spirit School on our website
www/holyspiritschool.info.
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by NATASA POPOVICSpecial to The Hour
Unique Learning at Villa MariaAn observer walking through the hallways of our 40
year-old school can be lured by the smell of pancakes
into a classroom using a non-traditional, creative and
hands-on instructional approach. Students are making
pancakes while rewriting a pancake recipe using word
sequence/time-order. Lower grade students are practicing
handwriting by moving their ngers through shaving
cream. Classrooms with no more than 4 students per
teacher buzz with a noise of a roller coaster made out of
toilet-paper rolls to demonstrate motion and velocity.Other classrooms radiate with peacefulness while working
on a reading activity. Villas passionate teachers are in-
troducing learning through iPad Minis. And there is
also a quiet but very visible lesson being taught: con-
dence. It is the admirable condence installed by the
nurturing and supportive environment of the school
that leaves an observer speechless.
There is a learning opportunity around every cornerat Villa Maria School. Students at Villa Maria are encouraged
to think outside the box while teachers present lesson
plans individualized according to each students academic
goals.
Villa Maria School is a private day school (K-9) serving
students with learning differences. The main focus of
Villa Maria School is to allow a child to learn in a way
that brings out his or her best. The teachers and staffwork together with parents and professionals in order
to meet each childs academic goal.
To learn more about the school visit www.villamari-
aedu.org or call the Admissions Director at (203) 322-
5886.n
The Hour Pubishing Compan Thursda, Apri 11, 2013 9
UniquelearningatVilla MariaVilla Maria
Identifying this moment is incredibly
empowering to the student. More im-
portantly, its something he/she has un-
covered for and by him/herself, not to
please an admissions officer.
Now, when they go to look at the ac-
tual Common App prompts, they nd
that whats really been at stake for the
student naturally constitutes a risk, a
challenge, or a turning point. As a result,
none of my students has ever selected
topic of your choice, even though thats
the unspoken premise with which we be-
gan.
In addition, because Uniquely U.s writ-
ing process is completely inner directed,
there is no need for families to wait until
August to begin. As always, whether its
June, July, or August, summertime is still
the right time to write your college es-
say!
To reach Maxene Mulford: call toll-free:1.866.UUESSAY uuessay.com unique-
UNIQUE, from p.4
Where children and grown-ups learnand play together
FOR 8 MONTHS TO 3 1/2 YEARS
Call Us At (800) 404-2204Visit our website @ www.justweetwo.com
Register Now forn Spring Programsn
at ourNorth Stamford andGreenwich Locations
nARTS & CRAFTS nMUSICnSTORIESn PLAYTIME n CREATIVE MOVEMENT
nNARROW AGE SPANSn1 1/2 HOUR CLASSESnMAXIMUM 10 CHILDREN PER CLASS
n PROFESSIONAL STAFF
A Fun Time with Your Child
Classes in Music, Art & DramaMommy & Me, Partial Separationand Separation Classes Available
ABC Enrichment Classfor 3-5 years
(Separation Class)
10 Thursda, Apri 11, 2013 The Hour Pubishing Compan
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by Beth Skudder
SPECIAL TO THE HOUR
For more than 300 years,
Friends schools have been
recognized for excellent
academics as well as a
whole-child approach to
intellectual and moral de-
velopment.
Connecticut Friends
School (CFS) is the rst and
only Quaker elementary/
middle school in Connecti-
cut. Having approximately
70 students in ve multi-
age classrooms allows for
a remarkable student
teacher ratio.
Emphasis n ValuesCFS combines outstanding
academics, arts, and out-
door leadership programs
with the Quaker values ofsimplicity, peaceful prob-
lem-solving, and mutual
respect. School-wide ac-
tivities foster collaboration
and respect. The curriculum
promotes teaching every
subject in a way that en-
hances student under-
standing of justice and ba-sic human and civil rights.
Intellectual & PersnalGrwth
Connecticut Friends School
believes that education is
preparation for life, includ-
ing the lively development
of intellectual, physical, and
social-emotional capacities
as well as those of the spirit.
Teachers at CFS are facili-
tators of the learning
process, using dialogue, in-
quiry, and reection as
tools for learning.
The school is accredited
by both the Connecticut
Association of Independent
Schools, and Friends Coun-
cil on Education. At CFS,
students engage in serious
work in a joyous atmos-
phere, and hail from Wilton,
Westport, New Canaan,Ridgeeld, Redding, West-
on, Darien, and Norwalk,
among others.
Attend an Admissions
Open House, at 1:00 p.m.
on November 9, 2012, Feb-
ruary 1, 2013 (snowdate:
February 8) and April 5,
2013.
Connecticut Friends
School and Connecticut
Friends Nursery School are
located in Wilton, Conn.
Contact Beth Skudder at
CFS for more information
is needed BethSkud-
or call (203) 762-9860. Visit
www.CTFriendsSchool.org.
n
10 Thursda, Apri 11, 2013 The Hour Pubishing Compan
Connecticut Friends School &
Friends Nursery School Master teachers lead small groups within multi-age classesthrough a rigorous, engaging program of hands-on, experientialand thematic studies Inclusive Quaker values of simplicity, peace, integrity, community,
equality and stewardship of the earth Rich, varied arts classes including theater, drumming, music,art, storytelling, fiber arts, and dance Outdoor education and leadership programs for grades fivethrough eight every other week Field trips, enhancing the curriculum, as a regular part of theprogram Service learning as an introduction to changing the worldthrough organized action Main campus on five wooded acres; a second, 15-acre campusused as a living classroom for nature studies and activities
Contributed photos.
Students at Connecticut Friends School enjoy a low student to
teacher ratio and learn the Quaker values of simplicity, peace, in-
tegirty, equality, stewardship of the earth, and community
Connecticut Friends School & NurserySchool: AQuakereducationteachesacademics
alongwithfosteringintegrity&mutualrespect
Connecticut Friends School & NurserySchool:
www.thehour.com www.thestamfordtimes.com
www.wiltonvillager.com
Friends Nursery School Campfor ages 3 - 5
Summer Campfor ages 5 - 10
Adventure campfor ages 10 - 13
More information at www.CTFriendsSchool.org
203 762 9860 [email protected]
CONNECTICUT FRIENDS SCHOOL317 New Canaan Road, Wilton
(0n Route 106 in Silvermine)
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g p p
by JOANNE M.COSTELLO
Special to The Hour
All the worlds a stage.
These familiar words come
from As You Like It, The
Mead Schools seventh and
eighth grade biannual
Shakespearian production
performed for our commu-
nity in 2009. The Shake-
speare production has
been a long-standing tra-dition at The Mead School,
and other plays that have
been produced include The
Tempest, Macbeth, The Tam-
ing of the Shrew, and Romeo
and Juliet. This year, the
students tackledA Midsum-
mer Nights Dream with
great success, laughter, and
standing ovations.The quote from As You
Like Itcarries a certain truth
for Mead students. If we
want to prepare our eldest
students for the world out
there, and, if the world is,
in fact, a stage, we do not
want our students to be
merely players, as Shake-
speare calls them. We want
our students to be at the
forefront of their learning.
To accomplish this level of
independence and self-suf-
ciency, our teens must
practice being at the fore-
front of certain experiencesin order to become skilled
at being autonomous
learners.
Middle schoolers begin
to acquire a wonderful, new
brain at this age; its their
higher order thinking brain,
the executive function
brain, also called neo-cor-
tical thinking. It is new to
them, however, and it
needs some test runs.
Shakespeare is one of those
test runs.
Middle schoolers also
crave challenges that feel
risky, and we all worryabout those! Mounting a
production of their own in-
terpretation of a Shakes-
pearian play where each
student not only has an
acting role but is also re-
sponsible for a production
job meets the requirement
of both challenge and high
risk for them.
It is not the destination,
it is the journey. Guaran-
teed, this production jour-
ney will change our sev-
enth and eighth graders
forever. Somewhere in the
p r o c e s s ,
every single
one of themwill have to
accomplish
something
that they
n e v e r
t h o u g h t
they could
do. Each stu-
dent will
overcome at
least one
i m m e n s e
fear by the
end of this
experience.
And every
student will
have more
endurance, stamina, and
plain old guts because of
this journey.The root of this phe-
nomenon lies in placing
the productions ownership
and the responsibility for
the productions achieve-
ments on the students
themselves. This does not
mean sink or swim. It
means that the students
ideas, designs, interpreta-tion, and vision guide all
the decisions, and the fac-
ulty is in service to manifest
those ideas into a produc-
tion. Some of the executive
functions include a pro-
duction schedule with
deadlines for every aspect
of the experience. The stu-
dent production coordina-
tor, supported by faculty,creates this. Those dead-
lines have to be met or
they hold up the produc-
tion. Students must brain-
storm, deconstruct, organ-
ize, research, and build
whatever the production
demands. This, too, is all
part of executive function.
But the largest risk of
all is tackling Shakespeare,
live, on stage, which we
witnessed the students do
brilliantly in early March.
Quite an accomplishment
for 12-, 13-, and 14-year
olds! n
The Mead School: AlltheworldsastageThe Mead School:
Contributed photos.
The All the Worlds a Stage quote fromAs You Like Itcarries a certain truth for
Mead students. If we want to prepare our eldest students for the world out
there, and, if the world is, in fact, a stage, we do not want our students to be
merely players, as Shakespeare calls them.
Upcoming 2013 EDUCATIoN sectins
JUly | FALL EDUCATIoNOCTOBER | oPENING DooRS
To advertise in the upcoming sections, please contactyour media consultant or call 203.354.1012.
12 Thursda, Apri 11, 2013 The Hour Pubishing Compan
-
7/28/2019 Spring Education
12/12
by KATHLEEN OROURKESpecial to The Hour
Kings Summer Institute
2013 is open to all students
from any school. In years
past, students from more
than 20 different schools
attended Summer Institute.
Children from as far away
as Colorado and Italy par-
ticipated in either an aca-demic class or camp.
Academics, performing
arts, and sports are avail-
able for grades six through
12, while grades one
through ve can experi-
ence "Fun Camp." The Up-
per School and Middle
School programs allow stu-dents to take courses to
enrich their academic ex-
periences or to accelerate
their programs in the next
academic year.
The Institutes director,
Brian Coughlan, oversees
course selection, collabo-
rating with King divisionheads and department
chairs on the needs and
requests of students who
are enrolled in Summer In-
stitute. With dozens of
classes to choose from, the
Summer Institute offers
something to suit the in-dividual strengths and tal-
ents of each student. The
large variety of classes al-
lows students to make se-
lections that match their
interests instead of opting
for a one-size-ts-all pro-
gram, Coughlan said.Fun Camp introduces a
new summer specialty
each week and the Sports
Camps offer baseball,
lacrosse, soccer, volleyball,
eld hockey, basketball,
golf, and softball programs.
This year will also feature
a Performing Arts Camp,utilizing Kings spectacular
new Performing Arts Cen-
ter. Offerings include Act-
ing Improvisation, Begin-
ning Guitar, Beginning and
Intermediate Band Camp,
and Shakespeare Stage
Combat.
Members of Kings out-standing faculty teach the
majority of programs. Small
class size ensures that your
child will receive the kind
of personalized attention
King delivers year round.
Summer Institute 2013 at
King runs June 10th to Au-
gust 2nd and is located on
Kings 34-acre North Stam-
ford campus. The school is
easily accessible from both
the Merritt Parkway and I-
95.
The registration dead-line is June 1st. For further
information visit
www.klht.org/summerinsti-
tute or call (203) 322-3496,
Ext. 500. n
DiscoverSummerInstitute2013atKingKing
Make this summer a time fordiscovering new skills while
having loads of fun, by regis-
tering your son or daughter for
Summer Institute 2013 at King.