Kent Place School Viewbook

Kent Place School 1

BRAVE ADVICE FOR

BRILLIANT GIRLS

AND

School is the moment when:

Inclination becomes action.

Action becomes expected.

Reluctance becomes voice.

Confusion becomes questions.

Curiosity becomes knowledge.

Creativity becomes solutions.

Newton becomes an ally.

Austen becomes a confidante.

Friends become family.

Doubt becomes resolve.

Opportunity becomes achievement.

Futures become written.

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S6 K E N T P L A C E S C H O O L AT A G L A N C E

1 2 T H E C A M P U S

1 8 T H E P R I M A R Y S C H O O L

2 6 T H E M I D D L E S C H O O L

3 4 T H E U P P E R S C H O O L

4 2 T H E F U T U R E

4 4 T H E G R A D U AT E S

4 6 T H E V I S I T

4 8 T H E A P P L I C AT I O N P R O C E S S

THIS MOMENT BELONGS TO

KENT PLACEWE ARE THE SCHOOL THAT MOVES GIRLS

—AND THE WO RLD—BOLDLY FO RWARD.

WE EDUCATE THEM, EMPOWER THEM, LET

THEM BE THEMSELVES.

THIS BOOK CELEBRATES

BRAVEAND

BRILLIANT GIRLS

AND PROVIDES ADVICE TO TURN THEIR POTENTIAL

INTO IMPACT.

4 Advice for Brave and Brilliant Girls

Kent Place School 5

B R AV E ADVICE FO R

B R I LL I A N T G I RLS

AND

“GET READY FOR RIGOROUS WORK.”

And multiple extracurricular activities. Busy days, and a few late nights. But through it all, don’t lose your sense of fun.

ALESSANDRA, Junior


“CELEBRATE YOUR BRAINY SIDE.”Here at Kent Place there’s nothing uncool about wanting to learn. Listen, I’ve been here for 12 years and I still hop up and down with excitement when it’s time to start a new unit.

CAROL GORDON, Upper School Dean of Students and English Teacher

Kent Place School 7

We participate in coed sporting events. We have a mock trial team that competes with both boys and girls. We do school plays with boys, and dances—and through all these activities become really good friends.

CORINNE, Sophomore

“DON’T WORRY THAT YOU’LL NEVER BE AROUND BOYS.”

8 About Kent Place

S T U D E N T B O D Y Each year Kent Place welcomes more than 600 students, 36 percent of whom are students of color, from 80 different communities. The breakdown by school (all numbers are approximate):

Primary School 175Middle School 150Upper School 290

F A C U L T Y Kent Place’s 170 faculty and staff members personify our commitment to professional development, multiple perspectives, equity and inclusion. Providing academic rigor in a supportive and nurturing environment, our teachers—75 percent of whom hold advanced degrees—value and reward independent thinking, creativity and grit. Our student to faculty ratio is 7:1, giving teachers the opportunity to carefully, thoughtfully guide each girl’s academic, personal and social growth. Twenty percent are faculty and staff of color.

KENT PLACE SCHOOL AT A GLANCEKent Place is an independent, nonsectarian, college-preparatory day

school, which for over 100 years has provided a superior education for

young women who demonstrate strong scholastic and creative ability.

Our mission is to offer students of diverse backgrounds, in Preschool

through Grade 12, an academically rigorous curriculum in a caring

atmosphere; to encourage them to contribute to and find success in

this challenging program; to inspire young women to leadership; and to

strengthen moral awareness. Committed to a liberal arts education that

combines tradition and innovation, Kent Place provides the stimulus

for each student to achieve her full academic, physical and creative

potential; to love learning; to gain confidence; to live responsibly; to

develop respect for herself and others in the global community.

T R A D I T I O N S From Opening Convocation’s candle-lighting ceremony to Graduation’s Daisy Chain, from Global Perspectives Day to Prairie Day, Spirit Week, Primary School Field Day, the Science Expo and more, long-held and deeply valued traditions keep our Kent Place community—many call us a Sisterhood—close and connected.

HONOR CODE The Kent Place Honor Code, with its

guiding principles of respect, ethical

behavior and good judgment, lies at the

core of student life. Upon completing

any project, assignment or test, students

write and sign the Kent Place Honor

Pledge: This is my own work.

Kent Place School 9

T E C H N O L O G Y We infuse technology throughout the learning environment, beginning in our Preschool and throughout the Primary, Middle and Upper School years, to emphasize technology as an essential interdisciplinary academic tool for learning and building community. Every Middle School and Upper School student is equipped with a laptop. Interactive whiteboards, 3-D printers and a comprehensive computer science program—including word processing, programming and robotics—prepare our students to be nimble, adaptable digital citizens.

G L O B A L E D U C A T I O N Our multipronged Global Program emphasizing multicultural competency, language skills and global service truly sets Kent Place apart from our peers. A rigorous Global Education curriculum—including world geography and cultures, multiple foreign languages, Hispanic and Francophone literature and a Cultural Leadership Seminar—is joined by travel, global partnerships and community service to give our students hands-on, real-time experience living, learning and leading in an increasingly interconnected world.

E T H I C S The Ethics Institute at Kent Place School, a first-of-its kind program at the primary and secondary school levels, cultivates in every girl a strong sense of integrity and a commitment to ethical decision-making. Specific areas of study include Bioethics, Ethical Leadership in Business, and Ethics in Action. We offer workshops, seminars and lectures; we host an annual Bioethics Symposium and participate in national conferences. Our students compete in national Ethics Bowls and avail themselves of the Institute’s vast resources to explore, analyze and attempt to solve the world’s urgent problems.

V I S U A L A N D P E R F O R M I N G A R T S The arts, which reinforce, reinvigorate and even reinvent themes taught in the classroom, are central to a Kent Place education and emphasized in all grades. In our first-class facilities, which include a theater, dance studio, music wing, art gallery and recording studio, Kent Place offers visual arts, dance, theater and music instruction. Our proximity to New York City certainly doesn’t hurt—when we’re not hosting visiting professional artists and performers, we’re traveling with students to Broadway theaters, world-class museums, Chelsea galleries—bringing the arts to life in dazzling, Technicolor close-up, for every girl.

A T H L E T I C S Kent Place places a high value on athletics, giv-ing every girl a chance to challenge herself physically while developing leadership and teamwork skills. Our Middle School’s popular interscholastic teams prepare our athletes for a competitive yet inclusive Upper School program—our “no cut policy” for Junior Varsity teams encourages girls to try whatever sports interest them. Our elite Varsity teams—a great source of pride for the school—enjoy winning seasons, triumph at county and state championships, and send numer-ous athletes on to successfully compete at the college level.

MIDDLE SCHOOL INTERSCHOLASTIC SPO RTS:

BasketballField HockeyLacrosseSoccerSoftballSwimmingTennisTrack and FieldVolleyball

VARSITY ATHLETICS:

BasketballCross CountryFencing (coed)Field HockeyGolfIce HockeyLacrosseSoccerSoftballSquash Swimming Tennis Spring Track and FieldVolleyballWinter Track

Kent Place constantly strives to

integrate subject areas and connect

disciplines to help our students navigate

the increasingly dynamic challenges

of 21st-century citizenship. These

extraordinary offerings include

Health & Wellness for Young Women,

Economic and Financial Literacy,

Green Campus Initiative, the Girls’

Leadership Institute, STEM (Science,

Technology, Engineering, Math)

and more.

SIGNATURE PROGRAMS

KENT PLACE SCHOOL AT A GLANCE


Our Health and Wellness teacher tells us that a healthy body leads to a healthy mind and spirit. So I try to eat a balanced lunch—lots of vegetables, fruit—to give me energy for the rest of my day.

LIZZIE, Third Grade

“MAKE SURE YOU’VE GOT LOTS OF COLORS ON YOUR PLATE.”

Kent Place School 11

“SOMETIMES MATH IS MESSY.”Believe it or not, I love when a student’s math homework is a bit messy. Mess means you’re thinking about the work. You’ll never get to the truth if you’re afraid to make a mess.

CHRISTY GILLESPIE, Upper School Math Teacher

“OWN YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE.”It’s one of the “conversation norms” we have at Kent Place, and it’s always resonated with me. Everyone has a different and equally valid perspective to bring to the table—so put yourself out there.

MARY, Senior



B R AV E ADVICE FO R

B R I LL I A N T G I RLS

AND

“MAKE SURE YOU’VE GOT OPTIONS.”

When I grow up, I want to run for president. And if I don’t end up

being president, I’ll be a singer or a champion swimmer.

RIYA , Second Grade

14 The Campus

THE CAMPUSHistory: In 1894 a group of forward-thinking fathers and businessmen

decided their daughters deserved a school every bit as exceptional as

the ones available to boys. Built on what was once the summer estate

of New York State Chancellor James Kent (1763–1847), Kent Place

quickly and steadily built a reputation for academic rigor, growing

exponentially and sending graduates to the country’s premier colleges

and universities. After more than a century, Kent Place enjoys a

national reputation for leadership and excellence in the classroom, on

the athletic fields, in college admissions offices and out in the world.


Campus: Like much of Kent Place, our 26-acre campus is a studied

blend of the modern and traditional, featuring both historic Tudor

buildings and the modern, LEED-certified facilities that make Kent

Place one of the country’s top “green power purchasing schools.” Four

developmentally appropriate playgrounds, an art gallery, state-of-the-

art science laboratories and a black box theater are just a few of our

striking places and spaces.


“CHASE LEAVES.”We work hard during the school day—and one day I looked outside during snack break and saw a bunch of girls chasing leaves. I wasn’t sure why, but then I tried it. It was pretty fun.

GRACE, Sixth Grade

“DON’T THINK YOU’RE GOING TO GET A LABEL.”There are no jocks here at Kent Place, no science geeks, no theater nerds. Last month a varsity athlete went to sing at the Vatican. Everyone here has some unique quality—and they’re amazing at what they do.

CLAIRE, Senior


In theater, you have to be brave. You have to be daring, and willing to fall. Because falling is how you emerge, and how you move forward.

BOB PRIDHAM , Theater Department Chair

“BE WILLING TO FALL.”


That’s what we tell our girls, every day. If we see a girl who’s a bit tentative, we give her extra leadership opportunities. We use our academic work to affirm each girl’s talents. We say, “You’re a mathematician,” “You’re a scientist,” “You’re an artist.” We remind them that the harder the work is, the more their brains are growing.

LAURA ALBOWICZ and SUZANNE KAPLAN, Kindergarten Teachers

“REMEMBER, YOU’RE A CAN-DO KID.”


I used to go to a coed school, and there’s a difference in how classmates treat each other. “Share the air” really means something here—it’s how the teachers run their classrooms and how the students around you learn. When I started at Kent Place, I was comfortable from the first day, because I was surrounded by people who respected my opinions. I gained confidence, I tried new things. Now, in Middle School, I’m still looking for challenges, like running for class president. And it’s all thanks to that listening, that respect I got from day one.

ADYA, Eighth Grade

“SHARE THE AIR.”

20 The Primary School

THE PRIMARY SCHOOLKent Place’s entire Primary School curriculum is driven by our firm

belief that a girl’s first school experience should be her best school

experience—and using these early years to establish building blocks

for rigorous study and to encourage self-advocacy and build self-

esteem is critical to long-term academic success. Our highly integrated

curriculum, taught by experienced faculty who know how girls think,

feel and learn, provides an unrivaled foundation for excellence in all

fields of study. Daily leadership opportunities—along with Morning

Meeting, classroom presentations, class trips, computer skills, world

languages and more—give our girls the tools and self-confidence they’ll

need to successfully navigate the Middle and Upper School years.


CURIOSITY BECOMES

KNOWLEDGE “How fast does a zucchini grow?”

“What’s inside a computer?”

“Where is Machu Picchu?”

“Quelle heure est-il?” Primary

School is all about questions—

and at Kent Place we’re not just

interested in the answers, but in

the challenge, enrichment and

self-awareness that come with

learning whom to ask, what and

when. Our students learn to code

computer games, write poetry,

harvest their Three Sisters garden

to investigate how different plants

work together, and design and

build an entire Native American

village. Whether they’re

performing Puccini, crafting

persuasive essays or breeding

trout to release into the Passaic

River, our girls freely, fully

investigate the world around

them while discovering the

mathematicians, scientists, artists

and leaders within.

AT A GLANCE: The Primary SchoolK – 5 E N R O L L M E N T : Approximately 175 students

S T U D E N T T O F A C U L T Y R A T I O : Approximately 7:1

A C A D E M I C H I G H L I G H T S : Our rigorous, dynamic Primary School program exposes our students—from Kindergarten—to an amazing variety of subjects and perspectives. Mathematics, language arts, science, social studies, arts, physical education and technology are complemented by dance, drama, library, choral and instrumental music, health and wellness, and world language. All academic subjects are overseen by the Director of Studies to ensure scope and sequence across all grade levels. Our LeaDS (Leadership, Diversity and Study Skills) course helps prepare fifth graders for the transition to Middle School.

S P A C E S : Our world-class facilities range from the expected—dynamic classrooms, library, computer and science laboratories, art studio, music room, indoor/outdoor play spaces—to the otherworldly—log cabin, Imagination Playground, archeological dig site, butterfly garden! Our multidivisional campus also offers our Primary School girls access to the Middle and Upper School’s first-class science, arts and athletic facilities.

T E C H N O L O G Y : Students in Kindergarten through Grade 2 have access to classroom iPads, while students in Grades 3–5 utilize classroom laptops. Additional state-of-the-art technologies in our classrooms, computer lab and library—interactive whiteboards, wireless connectivity and more—expose students to myriad platforms, equipment and software.

D I N I N G H A L L : Tasty, nutritious food—with nut-free, gluten-free and vegetarian options—served in a warm, communal, allergy-aware setting.

C L U B S , A C T I V I T I E S A N D C O M M U N I T Y S E R V I C E : Kent Place offers numerous opportunities for students to extend their learning and personal growth beyond the school day, including school-wide community service initiatives, clubs like Chorus, Tap Ensemble and Kaleidoscopes, Mileage Club and more.

A F T E R - S C H O O L E N R I C H M E N T : From Chinese language to musical theater, our outstanding after-school enrichment programs—taught by Kent Place faculty—extend personal and intellectual development long beyond the closing bell. Other optional activities include arts and crafts, chess, math lab, music lessons, sports clinics and more.

E X T E N D E D C A R E : Kent Place Kids gives busy families a hand, offering supervised free play, special activities and homework help from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. on school days.

D R E S S C O D E : Our “Uniform with Choice” policy for the Primary and Middle Schools establishes consistency in dress, while allowing students to express creativity and individuality.


W E K N O W G I R L S Our dedicated teachers, staff and specialists engage our students both one-on-one and in groups, helping them discover and become their best, most brilliant selves both inside the classroom and out in the world. And at Kent Place we’re as passionate about personal growth for our teachers as for our students, encouraging and supporting ongoing professional development for all staff members.

I F I T I S T O B E , I T M U S T B E G I N W I T H M E This maxim is posted widely around the Primary School, and our girls will tell you it daily inspires them to become leaders both inside and outside the classroom. This foundation is steadily, purposefully built beginning in Kindergarten, where students are given classroom tasks—such as keeping the calendar, guiding their classmates to various activities. Next thing you know, they’re joining the Primary School Chorus, they’re competing at the state math competition, they’re presenting at Morning Meeting, they’re performing a Shakespeare play in front of the entire Primary School. Our students are encouraged to chart their own course to academic success and personal fulfillment, and they do—often in amazing and unexpected ways.

M A K I N G F R I E N D S F O R L I F E While our Primary School students prioritize learning and leadership, they also find time to have fun. Whether they’re cartwheeling across Graduation Lawn or swinging from rings in the Challenge Playground, poring over magazines in the library or buying matching pencils at the school store, they’re forging friendships that will last a lifetime. And our Kent Place family includes your family—we welcome participation and involvement, both through “open class” visits and all-school celebrations like Join Your Daughter for Lunch Day and Grandparents and Special Friends Day.


WORK HARD PLAY FAIR

AND BE KIND

IT ’S THE THEME OF OUR

PRIMARY SCHOOL, AND

BEHAVIO RS WE ASK

OUR GIRLS TO MODEL

INSIDE THE CLASSROOM

AND OUT.



S W I T C H E D O N Purposeful integration of the newest technologies into every facet of our Primary School curriculum enhances opportunities for creativity and critical thinking while encouraging collaboration and ethical digital citizenship. Using our state-of the-art computer lab or school-supplied shared iPads and MacBooks, our students play critical thinking games, explore artistic genres like pointillism and create their own masterpieces, track the life cycle of a butterfly, even create their own avatars. They develop word processing, multimedia and basic programming skills. They build games and set them to music, they construct and operate robotic birds—and by fifth grade, they gain an official school e-mail account and learn how to compose e-mail messages, deal with cyberbullying, avoid plagiarism and stay safe online.

A R T F U L T H I N K I N G The arts are an integral part of the Primary School curriculum, deepening each girl’s understanding of the world while fostering confidence and self-expression. Students study master artists while using a wide range of media for their own creations. We offer numerous music, dance and drama classes—with the option for private and group music lessons—and our Primary School chorus and Instrumental Ensemble provide singers and musicians in Grades 3–5 with an opportunity to learn and perform challenging pieces.

G O O D S P O R T S The physical education program in our Primary School aims to build and strengthen the motor skills and confidence necessary for athletic competition and healthy, active living. Encouraged at each part of the day to be “movers,” our younger students join in games and dances, our older students in Health and Wellness discussions—all while learning the importance of teamwork, personal safety, sportsmanship and self-respect. Our P.E. program and Mini Dragon clinics—along with school-sponsored activities like Mileage Club and Field Day—provide an introduction to numerous team and individual sports and a solid foundation for Middle School athletics.

M A K I N G T H E L E A P We want every fifth grader to have a smooth, successful transition to Middle School. Our singular LeaDS (Leadership, Diversity and Study Skills) program—which encourages goal-oriented, ethical leadership by strengthening critical thinking and reasoning skills, consensus building, cultural responsiveness and more—helps our students prepare for this critical next chapter of their academic lives. From increasingly complex math and science concepts to debates and school-sponsored overnight trips, we use every tool within our reach—science and multimedia projects, world language study, time management and test-taking skills—to provide a solid foundation for our rigorous Middle School curriculum.


They’ll help you with whatever you’re working on. We’re writing myths right now, and then we get to make a Native American pop-up book. Last year we learned persuasive writing, and I wrote a letter to the President about how we shouldn’t hunt animals.

ABBY, Third Grade

“TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR WRITER’S WORKSHOP.”


“SPEAK YOUR MIND.”Every girl here learns from an early age how to speak up and speak to adults. You never feel silly raising your hand, and you’re given lots of opportunities to speak publicly. I’m never shy about saying what’s on my mind.

VITTORIA, Fourth Grade

28 The Middle School

THE MIDDLE SCHOOL Society sometimes mistakenly tells us that middle school is a place to

endure, a place to tread water until high school starts. We couldn’t

disagree more: Our Middle School is not a stopping point between here

and there—nor a place where girls need to walk softly and try their best

to disappear. It’s a stimulating, supportive space where young girls step

to the front of the room, dance to center stage, run furiously to the goal

line, and stand out in any crowd—uniquely happy just being themselves.


SMART IS COOLSitting around the lunch table

on any given day, you could

turn and chat with a girl who

just made a short documentary

film about disappearing animal

habitats, another who helped

build a playground in Costa

Rica, designed and tested a model

suspension bridge, or wrote

and performed a song based

on Moby Dick. In addition to

required coursework, our Middle

School offers electives like 3-D

design, engineering and Science

Olympiad. “It’s cool to be smart”

isn’t just something we tell

ourselves—it’s our solemn truth.

AT A GLANCE: The Middle School6 – 8 E N R O L L M E N T : Approximately 150 students

S T U D E N T T O F A C U L T Y R A T I O : 7:1

A C A D E M I C H I G H L I G H T S : Our thoughtfully planned curriculum, which includes extensive offerings in English, history, mathematics, science, technology, visual and performing arts, health and wellness, and world language, cultivates both academic skills and independent study habits. Eclectic electives include Shakespeare’s Stage, public speaking, ethics, robotics. All academic subjects are overseen by the Director of Studies to ensure scope and sequence across all grade levels.

S P A C E S : State-of-the-art classrooms and university-level science and computer labs. Music Wing, with vocal, instrumental and practice rooms. Atwood Hall for academic and social gatherings. Arts Center with theater, gallery, dance studio. Outdoor spaces for alternative classroom learning.

T E C H N O L O G Y : Our 1:1 laptop program integrates the latest digital technologies into every class, discussion, project and activity while teaching critical online safety and 21st-century communication skills.

P H Y S I C A L E D U C A T I O N A N D A T H L E T I C S : Comprehensive physical education program for Grades 6–8. Nine inter-scholastic teams for Grades 7 and 8. Facilities include two multipurpose synthetic turf fields, a field house, weight room and tennis courts.

D I N I N G H A L L : Delicious, nutritious soups, sandwiches, salads and more—served in an environmentally conscious, allergy-aware dining hall.

C L U B S , A C T I V I T I E S A N D C O M M U N I T Y S E R V I C E : Students participate in a variety of clubs, publications and—of course—government, building self-esteem and interpersonal and leadership skills. Seventh and eighth graders are invited to coed dances each school year and to social events at our peer schools. Myriad community service opportunities encourage students to think early, deeply and often about giving their time and talents to helping others.

A F T E R - S C H O O L P R O G R A M : Our optional 3:30 Club meets on school days from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m. for study time, computer time, arts and crafts, library time, and enrichment programs like photography, theater and “Battle of the Books.”

D R E S S C O D E : Our “Uniform with Choice” policy for the Primary and Middle Schools establishes consistency in dress, while allowing students to express creativity and individuality.


F I N D I N G Y O U R C E N T E R Our inspiring faculty love teaching, love teaching middle school and love teaching girls. They publish their work, headline national conferences, win grants to develop groundbreaking new curricula—all while mentoring our students through an undeniably critical, life-defining period. Faculty collaborate in grade-level teams to provide a cohesive, individualized student experience. They join students in dressing up for Spirit Week, spearhead service trips and projects, mentor budding artists and musicians and generally bring our demanding curriculum to life.

B E Y O U R S E L F To the reams of research showing that middle-school girls risk losing the confidence gained in primary school we say, “not at Kent Place.” We look for ways to build our students’ confidence; we ask them to serve as team captains, run for Student Council, lead Morning Meeting. Our Middle School Advisory program builds community, and offers mentorship and individualized focus. And every summer we organize the nationally recognized Girls’ Leadership Institute, a two-week program designed to equip and empower girls for leadership opportunities throughout the year.


C R I T I C A L T H I N K I N G , P U R P O S E F U L D O I N G With an astonishing variety of course offerings, increased exposure to technology, and new clubs and activities to join, Middle School girls are challenged every day to think critically and creatively, to understand multilayered concepts and examine diverse viewpoints. By stressing the Honor Code and drawing upon the vast resources of our Ethics Institute at Kent Place School, we emphasize moral awareness and ethical reasoning, both inside and outside the classroom—from examining ethical judgment in the context of historical events to developing good sportsmanship in physical education and athletics.

P O W E R I N G U P Charged with helping our students become nimble, ethical digital citizens, Kent Place gives technology a central role in the Middle School curriculum. Guided by highly trained teachers, students use laptops to solve complex calculations, explore and analyze digital music, and execute engineering plans to build architectural models. ONE SPEAKER AT A TIME

SHARE THE AIR; SAY WHAT’S CO RE

USE “I” STATEMENTS

YOU ARE THE OWNER OF YOUR OWN

EXPERIENCE AND THE EXPERT OF YOU

PRACTICE PURITY OF MOTIVE

“OUCH!,” THEN EDUCATE

TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FO R WHAT

YOU SAY AND HOW YOU SAY IT

BE REAL, TAKE OFF THE MASK

MAINTAIN CONFIDENTIALITY

LEAN INTO DISCOMFO RT;

TAKE POSITIVE RISKS

Adapted from the Lead for Diversity program norms

CONVERSATION NORMS

FO R GRADES 6–12

Our Conversation Norms provide guidelines and help create a safe space for faculty and students alike to discuss issues in a way that is authentic, honors multiple viewpoints, and

makes every speaker feel validated.


E X P R E S S Y O U R S E L F This is every girl’s time to shine—and we encourage it, celebrate it, applaud it, providing our Middle School students with numerous visual and performing arts options. Whomever a student’s personal icon—Maria Callas, Sofia Coppola, Georgia O’Keefe or Judith Jamison—she’ll have myriad opportunities in classes, clubs, concerts, recitals, exhibits and more to explore the arts and find her passion.

T R Y E V E R Y T H I N G — T H A T ’ S O U R M O T T O Challenging physical education classes have our sixth graders climbing rock walls, playing tennis and other games —testing and improving their strength in preparation for our athletics program, which be-gins in seventh grade. Our open Middle School teams, which include basketball, fencing, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, roller hockey, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, and volleyball, encourage girls to try a new sport—or three!

B R I L L I A N C E W I T H O U T B O R D E R S Preparation for Upper School and college isn’t limited to books, projects and tests. We encourage our Middle School girls to look beyond the classroom for leadership and problem-solving skills, with a broad selection of clubs, activities and service opportunities. Girls can run for Student Government, work on the literary magazine, become a peer mediator, volunteer at a local soup kitchen. Prominent authors, scientists, artists and activists come to Kent Place to share their experiences—and every fall, the entire Middle School joins in an off-campus retreat of bonding, deep thinking, soul searching and fun.


O N W A R D A N D F O R W A R D If a glance over the girls gathered for the Grade 8 Celebration captures a perfect mashup of pride, joy, some nostalgia and a whole lot of breathless anticipation, we know we’ve done our jobs. We’ve challenged each eighth grader to push herself academically, step outside her comfort zone, make a difference in her class and community. We’ve provided a rigorous learning environment, caring and trusted advisors, school trips and service projects, multicultural perspectives and ethical guidance—in other words, wonderfully hands-on, holistic preparation for success in the Upper School and beyond.


“TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR ETHICS PROGRAM.”I have friends in both public and independent schools, and I don’t know anyone else doing work like we do in Ethics. There’s a Bioethics symposium and an Ethics Bowl, and it really helps me make decisions at school and even just on the weekends, in life.

LAURA , Eighth Grade

“PER ANGUSTA AD AUGUSTA!”Through difficulties to great things! I decided to take Latin this year—which felt a little intimidating, and it was definitely challenging. But now, being able to communicate in Latin feels pretty cool.

SOFIA, Sixth Grade


“SOLVING PROBLEMS IS A JOURNEY. ENJOY THE RIDE!”In the Middle School we do a Science Expo—either two or four people work on a science project for a couple of months and then present it to the entire class. We go into some in-depth projects and it’s incredible what we learn along the way, and how willing our teachers are to help us through the tough parts. My friend Michelle and I studied the brain’s signaling system—we called our project “Mixed Signals.”

TONI ANN , Eighth Grade

36 The Upper School

THE UPPER SCHOOLThe Upper School experience we strive to provide for every Kent

Place girl is guided by one word: limitless. Our dynamic curriculum,

inspiring faculty and one-on-one advising challenge every student to

become the best, most brilliant scholar, artist, leader and world citizen

she can be. At the end of four years at Kent Place, our graduates see an

incredible beginning—and having studied, played, danced, sung and

wondered harder than they’d ever thought possible, they’re ready to

take on the world.


AT A GLANCE: The Upper School 9 – 1 2 E N R O L L M E N T : Approximately 290 young leaders and scholars from 58 communities

S T U D E N T T O F A C U L T Y R A T I O : Still 7:1

A C A D E M I C H I G H L I G H T S : One hundred percent of the Class of 2014 matriculated at schools on Forbes magazine’s “America’s Best Colleges” list—and that didn’t happen by accident. Twenty-two Advanced Placement courses, independent study opportunities, top-flight arts electives, expectations-busting seminars, global service projects, one-on-one mentoring—that’s how it happened.

S P A C E S : University-level science labs, a state-of-the-art music wing equipped with instructional orchestra seating, a sound studio and practice rooms, a black box theater, dance studio and art gallery. Newly renovated, award-winning, sustainable buildings using wind energy to offset nearly 100 percent of Upper School electrical usage.

T E C H N O L O G Y : Our 1:1 laptop program allows every Upper School student to take notes from every classroom’s interactive whiteboard, log on to the campus-wide wireless network, create, communicate and collaborate in a supremely global, dynamic, interconnected environment.

A T H L E T I C S : Fifteen varsity sports and a 78 percent participation rate. Beautiful multipurpose turf fields, five tennis courts, a field house, weight room and on-site trainer.

C L U B S , A C T I V I T I E S A N D C O M M U N I T Y S E R V I C E : We like joiners as much as we like leaders. Our students lead and participate in 30 distinct governing bodies, clubs, affinity groups, societies, forums, publications, global and ethical initiatives. The Senate, composed of 11 students and 11 teachers, serves as the Upper School’s governing body, while a Judiciary made up of elected school and class representatives and three faculty members handles disciplinary issues. Busy committees plan open mic nights, Spirit Week and dances. And more than 90 percent of our students voluntarily participate in community service.

D I N I N G H A L L : Healthy living starts with healthy choices. Our bright, lively McDermott-Wight Dining Hall serves hot entrees, soothing soups, salad and sandwich bars, vegetarian, gluten-free and nut-free options, and nutritious snacks.

D R E S S C O D E : Our Upper School students are not required to wear a uniform; they are instead encouraged to make clothing choices that allow for comfort and individuality while representing Kent Place School and its mission at all times.

RIGOR BECOMES JOY

A extraordinarily rich array of

college-prep course offerings—

Conscience and Consequence!

Identity and Graphic Novels!

AP Biology! Etymologies! All

yours for the choosing—join

student-designed practical

research projects, independent

study, and seminars on ethics and

leadership to comprise an intense,

inspiring four years. Students are

thoroughly prepared for the SAT,

the ACT, the SAT subject tests,

and a wide range of Advanced

Placement examinations. We

measure academic success not by

grades alone, but also by integrity,

audacity, competence and

intellectual curiosity.

38 The Upper School

“DIVE RIGHT INTO THAT CLASS YOU’RE DREADING THE MOST.”AP Macroeconomics was that class for me. I thought it was going to be awful. The test is whether you can get through the first month—it’s taught like a college-level course. You see right away you’re not going to get the grades you’re accustomed to. But once I figured out I could do the work, I realized I have a real passion for the subject. Now I’m planning to be an econ major in college.

BELA, Senior

“BE PREPARED TO CONSUME 2,000 BAGELS DURING YOUR FOUR YEARS HERE.”“Advisory” is when you meet with your group of fellow advisees—you meet once a week with the same girls for your entire time at Kent Place. You become like a little family, a family that expects everything bagels at every meal—or else!

MARY, Senior


There’s a real commitment to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) work here. In Algebra 2, everyone has to do a disease project to see how logarithms affect epidemiology and how fast a disease spreads. In physics class we didn’t just learn about energy, we actually built a roller coaster. We learn how applications of what we’re doing apply to everyday life, which makes the work that much richer.

IVANA, Senior

“DO THE HANDS-ON WORK, THEN STEP BACK AND WATCH THINGS COME TO LIFE.”

40 The Upper School

T H E H U M A N F A C T O R Our incredibly accomplished yet completely accessible faculty guide Upper School girls in becoming problem-solvers, intellectual risk-takers and self-advocates. They foster discussions on diversity, advise student groups, author new textbooks, and win prestigious national awards. They’re both pioneering scholars and impressive individuals.

T H E K E N T P L A C E D I F F E R E N C E At Kent Place, the strongest athlete, keenest mathematician, star performer and class president are all girls. There’s no being afraid to raise your hand, no being nervous about trying a new sport or club, just freedom—to explore, to try, to fall, to fly. Strong mentors and female role models embolden Kent Place students to push themselves, pursue their passions. And it’s hard to argue with the research: 93 percent of girls’ school graduates say they were offered greater leadership opportunities than their coed peers, and 80 percent have held leadership positions since graduating from high school.1

1http://www.ncgs.org/GirlsSchoolAdvantage.aspx

A W O R L D O F D I F F E R E N C E We care deeply about helping our students feel connected to the world. Our “Global Perspectives Day” explores multiculturalism and interconnectedness through presentations, performances and workshops. Visiting speakers—artists, astronauts, activists, Pulitzer Prize–winning journalists—share wit and wisdom. Trips to inspiring locations near and far—from the Guggenheim Museum to Guatemala—offer not only opportunities to bond and have fun beyond school grounds, but a global perspective on the human experience that will serve our girls throughout their lifetimes.

‘ N E T R E S U L T S Technology in the Upper School is fully, seamlessly integrated into both daily classroom life and individual study. Thanks to our 1:1 laptop program, every student can craft insightful posts for the Class Blog, check the S&P 500 index before economics, input water sampling data from her Passaic River project, Skype a language pal in Buenos Aires to practice Español…you get the picture.


U N D E R S T A N D I N G Y O U R V A L U E S Ethics is required coursework in the Upper School, and ethical decision-making is supported by the division’s Judiciary Committee. Our pathbreaking Ethics Institute at Kent Place School seeks to inspire ethical decision-making, preparing our students to be better citizens and leaders. The Bioethics Project—a collaboration between the Ethics Institute at Kent Place School and The Hastings Center, an independent, nonpartisan bioethical research institute that offers an internship and annual Symposium opportunity—allows students to conduct in-depth research on biomedical ethical issues and present them to the community. Another partnership between the Ethics Institute at Kent Place School and Overlook Hospital in Summit provides real-world experience in bioethical practice.

42 The Upper School

C H A R T I N G Y O U R C O U R S E Our advisory program is so central to the Kent Place mission that it’s built into the school schedule. Every incoming girl meets with the Upper School deans to map out a four-year academic plan tailored to her interests. She is also assigned a faculty advisor, with whom she meets in an advisory group and individually to discuss both plans and concerns within a framework that reflects school values. Senior Sister and Peer Educator programs complement faculty mentoring to ensure that every student is supported to succeed.

W O R D S O F H O N O R By the time a girl reaches the Upper School it is increasingly evident that individual actions affect all students. Our Honor Code—beginning with our Academic Pledge: This is my own work—thus permeates every facet of school life. Honor offenses are handled by the student-led Honor Committee.

C E N T E R S T A G E Our students balance a life of the mind with tireless development of the soul. Pioneering visual arts, music, dance and drama courses are joined by art history and theory, creative thinking and interdisciplinary work—not to mention visits by dozens of prominent artists and performers. Full-scale theatrical productions—often staged with the participation of boys from local schools—offer full performance and backstage opportunities for all grade levels. Each student takes at least six trimesters of art electives and many participate in our exceptional arts extracurriculars; our students have been chosen for national choirs, written and directed their own plays, and exhibited their work in professional galleries.

T A K I N G — A N D L E A D I N G — T H E F I E L D Our highly competitive varsity and junior varsity sports teams have a proud history of winning conference, county, state and sectional championships, and our scholar-athletes have won places on all-conference, all-county, all-state and all-star teams, as well as being recruited at top DI and DII schools. Varsity sports offerings include: basketball, cross-country, coed fencing, field hockey, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, squash, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball and winter track.


THE

FOUR PILLARS OF

L E A D E R S H I PDrafted by a group of student and faculty leaders, the Four Pillars are intended to shape the educational

environment in the Upper School—and encourage proactive 21st-century

scholarship and leadership.

T H E G R O W T H T H A T C O M E S W I T H G I V I N G B A C K More than 90 percent of our Upper School students spend 7,000+ hours serving the community. They volunteer at local food banks, travel to Tanzania and Guatemala to build school facilities, and form impactful student groups like GEMS (Girls Eliminating Math Stereotypes). In other words, they become every inch the courageous, conscientious leaders we challenge them to be.

R O O M S O F Y O U R O W N Class lounges offer each grade a space to gather during free periods to chat, continue classroom conversations about everything from Dostoevsky to Dylan or just relax with friends. The Middle and Upper School library contains quiet spaces for study, reading and reflection, while an endearingly old-school message board conveys important updates about course work and meetings.

PURSUE PASSION

MODEL INTEGRITY

THINK COMMUNITY

LIVE RESPECT

THE FUTURE: R E M A R K A B L E O U T C O M E S

Forget the dog-eared guides, the online surveys and algorithms. Our

approach to the college selection process is really quite simple: finding

the right match for every student. Our students are confident we’ll

help them find the place in which they’ll flourish academically,

socially and professionally because we know them—really, really

well. We feel equally comfortable sending them out into the world,

because we know our students will be the ones pursuing cutting-

edge research opportunities, seeking out leadership roles, and getting

deeply, meaningfully involved in campus life. And it’s a formula

that works: Our graduates report—from more than 225 colleges and

universities in 32 states, the District of Columbia, Canada and the

United Kingdom—that Kent Place has uniquely prepared them for

life’s marvelous array of challenges and opportunities.

44

O U R R E P U T A T I O N P R E C E D E S U S There’s a reason college admissions officers from the world’s premier institutions actively seek out Kent Place students: 99.6 percent of our graduates have taken at least one AP course, and our students are regularly named National Merit Scholars, National Achievement Scholars and Advanced Placement Scholars. Our long and illustrious list of college acceptances can be found on our website.

T H E T E A M

“Parents can rest assured, Kent Place isn’t just a terrific place for their girls academically. Every day we highlight leadership opportunities—so by the time they’re interviewing for college, every girl can hold her own in a conversation with any adult. College recruiters want Kent Place students because they know our girls know themselves, really well.”

JEN SIMPSON, Director of College Advising

“We’re a full-service, soup-to-nuts office. We help with the Common Application, with essays, we hold interview workshops, we offer preparation for the SAT and ACT tests, we help make sure they have a balanced college list—and we advocate for each student authentically and individually, because we really know every girl.”

ANNE MARIE FERRIERE, Associate Director of College Advising


THE GRADUATESKent Place educates and empowers our graduates to take on and change

the world—and they do, every day, and in truly astonishing ways. They

become artists and astrophysicists, educators and entrepreneurs. They

treasure their bonds with Kent Place and each other, reuniting joyfully

at campus and regional events. And they pay it forward: Along with

an ongoing mentoring program, our alumnae host career planning and

networking sessions to share guidance and practical advice with our

seniors and recent graduates.

46


“ P O S I T I V E R I S K S C A N R E A L LY P A Y O F F. ”I traveled to Kenya and Tanzania while at Kent Place with a large group that included Middle School students. It was amazing to see these younger girls take positive risks, and the way those risks paid off—meeting new people, learning from their lives and experiences. That is probably the biggest takeaway from Kent Place for me—taking a chance. That’s how—despite thinking I would major in mechanical engineering—I ended up in the Urban Planning program at Stanford. The faculty at Kent Place always inspired me to feel confident trying new things.

CAITLIN WRAITH ’10, Senior at Stanford University

“ P A S T C A N T R U LY B E P R O L O G U E — I N H I S T O R Y A N D I N Y O U R O W N L I F E . ”Contemporary History was a game-changer for me. It was unlike any class I’d taken before or have taken since. We studied the Vietnam War, then the Iran–Iraq War, then we had to choose a conflict, research it, then present it to the class. My partner and I chose the conflict in Chechnya. I learned how to brief, write memos, present findings—all skills that are directly applicable to my work now.”

CARA MANKET ’05, Analyst, Department of Defense

“ T U R N I N G P A S S I O N I N T O P E R S O N A L C O N N E C T I O N W I L L E N R I C H Y O U R K E N T P L A C E E X P E R I E N C E I N E V E R Y W A Y. ”From the moment KPS introduced me to French in Primary School, I was enthralled. When I got to the Upper School, I wanted to create a community of other young women who felt as passionately as I did about French language and culture—so with the support of my faculty mentors I founded the French Club. We had Parisian pen pals, cooked French food and discussed politics and culture in France and French-speaking countries. The experience taught me to ask questions, push boundaries, and own my own learning—as a senior, I created a French language and culture independent study and studied immigration in France. Then I minored in French at Princeton, and I write this e-mail from a trip to Paris—where everything just comes together in a natural, incredible way.

ALEXANDRA KRUPP ’06, Manager, Strategic Initiatives, Teach for America

“ B I T E O F F A S M A N Y A W E S O M E E X T R A C U R R I C U L A R S A S Y O U C A N C H E W — Y O U ’ L L D E V E L O P S K I L L S A N D T A L E N T S T H A T J U S T M I G H T C O M E I N H A N D Y D O W N T H E R O A D ! ”At Kent Place I was deeply involved with JSA—Junior State of America. I was the president of our local club and the editor-in-chief for the national paper, called The Junior Statement. We debated so many amazing topics against other schools nationwide—and I learned to argue and look at topics with a different eye. Public speaking, and how to master the art of verbal persuasion—those skills have been invaluable in my career as a chef and TV host.

JUDY JOO ’93, Iron Chef UK, Judge on the Food Network shows The Next Iron Chef and Iron Chef America

“ I F Y O U L E A R N T O T A K E G O O D C A R E O F Y O U R S E L F, Y O U C A N T A K E C A R E O F 2 9 9 O T H E R P E O P L E . ”As an officer in the Navy, I’ve often been charged with the safety of 300 sailors and a billion-dollar warship, all at the age of 22. I’m positive that my transition from Upper School to Harvard to the Navy wouldn’t have been as smooth without the foundation in leadership and time management—like setting aside time for my physical health and well-being—I learned as a student athlete at Kent Place School.

KATHERINE O’DONNELL ’06, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, U.S. Navy

48

THE VISITCome visit Kent Place and you’ll quickly see that every corner of our

campus rings with history, glows with possibility. Look in any direction

and you’ll find circles and clusters of brave and brilliant girls. We’re

building a lemonade stand, we’re planning a Kenyan service trip,

we’re cheering the softball team. We’re debating Moises Kaufman,

we’re planning the Halloween Parade, we’re sharing our traditional

family foods, we’re changing for Tap Ensemble. We’re sprawled on the

lawn, huddled in our class lounges—asking tough questions, confiding

big dreams, making serious plans. And then suddenly you’re swept

up, you’re a part of it all—lighting your candle, receiving your daisy,

knowing this is the moment your life truly begins.

G E T T I N G H E R EMany Middle and Upper School students use public transpor-tation to come to school, including the New Jersey Transit trains. Kent Place provides a shuttle from the Summit station to campus.

A Primary School

B Annex

C Tennis Courts

D Log Cabin

E Middle/Upper School Library

F Music Center

G Upper School

H Middle School

I Field House

J Arts Center

K Mabie House

L Dining Hall

M School Store

N Pat Conley Upper Athletic Field

O Lower Athletic Field


50

S E I Z I N G Y O U R M O M E N T : T H E A P P L I C A T I O N P R O C E S SWe’re looking for brave and brilliant girls from every kind of family, neighborhood and background who are excited to learn, ready to lead, determined to change the conversation. If any of these apply to you, please take a closer look at Kent Place. Take advantage of one of our regular open houses, parent tours and information sessions—in other words, come see for yourself what makes our school so extraordinary.

A F F O R D I N G K E N T P L A C E If you’re a girl who’s ready to change the world, we believe money shouldn’t stand in your way. Thanks to a generous Kent Place community of parents, alumnae, foundations and friends, we’re able to offer financial aid to qualified students demonstrating need on a yearly basis. We use recommendations from the tuition management experts at TADS to determine financial aid and ensure a fair and equitable distribution of our numerous endowed funds.

We understand that private school is a major investment— so we offer a tuition payment plan that enables families to make tuition payments in monthly installments throughout the school year. For more information about this plan or the financial aid process, contact the Admission Office anytime at (908) 273-0900, extension 254 or e-mail us at: [email protected].

J O I N T H E C O N V E R S A T I O NWe’re everywhere you are and always eager to talk. “Like” uson Facebook, watch us on YouTube, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @kentplaceschool, and check out our blog at: blogs.kentplace.org.

THE APPLICATIONPROCESS

This publication was produced in partnership with Generation (generation.is).Photography by Flynn Larsen, Vinny Carchietta, Gene Parciascepe, Jr. and Alex Cena.


“YOU BELONG HERE.” My advice? It’s probably the simplest of all: If you’re a brave and brilliant girl, you belong at Kent Place School. Period.

SUSAN C. BOSLAND, Head of School

52 Kent Place School

O F F I C E O F A D M I S S I O N42 NORWOOD AVENUESUMMIT, NJ 07902-0308

(908) [email protected]

www.kentplace.org

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