We Will Find A Way. Or We Will Make One.

WE WILL FIND A WAY

OR WE WILL MAKE ONE

MISSION WHY WE EXIST To nurture a diverse community in the Episcopal tradition, fostering spiritual growth, moral responsibility, academic excellence, and artistic and athletic pursuits, while preparing for a life of service to our community and the world.

VISION WHERE OUR JOURNEY IS HEADED In 2021 St. Andrew’s Episcopal School is a beacon of educational innovation, inclusivity, and wellness, empowering generations of Saints to impact the world.

EPISCOPAL TRADITION St. Andrew’s Episcopal School is an educational community that strives to love God and our neighbors as ourselves. We express our faith and tradition through our chapel services, our community life, and our focus on both spiritual growth and religious formation. St. Andrew’s began within the walls of St. Andrew’s Cathedral, a parish in the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi, and we are thankful to have a continuing relationship with the Cathedral.

EARLY CHILDHOOD REIMAGINED PAGE 2 Students in Pre-K and Kindergarten learn through hands-on activities that engage and interest them now.

i2: INSPIRE AND INNOVATE PAGE 8 Where collaboration inspires innovation and prepares students to solve real-world problems.

SIGNATURE PROGRAMS LEARN FROM ANYWHERE PAGE 12 Through partnerships with Malone Schools Online Network, Global Online Academy, and more, students can explore over 135 classes that go beyond that which is offered within the St. Andrew’s curriculum from wherever they are.

GLOBAL STUDIES PAGE 9 The only program of its kind in Mississippi, the Global Studies program brings the world to St. Andrew’s and offers St. Andrew’s students the world.

FINDING A WAY

IN EARLY CHILDHOOD Pre-K3 – Kindergarten

No one wants to “wait until you’re older” to do something meaningful. Students in Pre-K and Kindergarten learn through hands-on activities that engage and interest them now.

EARLY CHILDHOOD AT ST. ANDREW’S is a magical time to make best friends, develop new skills, and discover a lifelong joy of learning.

THE CURRICULUM IS BUILT AROUND intentional play that makes learning a part of the fun.

Three-year-olds master the alphabet by forming letters out of flowers, seeds, and other materials gathered on the playground. Learning to count is fun when that means counting 10 Applejacks — and realizing that eating three leaves seven. Four-year-olds may not be able to spell “sustainability” just yet, but they can plant and harvest vegetables in the school garden.

Kindergartners expand their reading and writing skills as well as other essential skills throughout their day, such as initiative and responsibility by loading the classroom dishwasher after snack.

THE RESPONSIVE CLASSROOM APPROACH to teaching is comprised of a set of well-designed practices intended to create safe, joyful, and engaging classrooms and school communities. The emphasis is on helping students develop their academic, social, and emotional skills in a learning environment that is developmentally responsive to their strengths and needs.

FINDING A WAY

IN LOWER SCHOOL Grades 1 – 4

Learning is exciting, engaging, and contagious. St. Andrew’s Lower School is a happy, stimulating place where students engage in an innovative curriculum and project-based collaboration.

STUDENTS BUILD critical thinking skills, writing opinion essays on topics their age group finds intriguing. Science, art, music, and Spanish are part of the Lower School learning adventure.

ST. ANDREW’S FOCUSES on skill sets students will use as part of tomorrow’s workforce. Students gain a strong foundation in the basics, but mastering grammar or learning multiplication tables are no longer end goals. Instead, those skills become the tools for more complex problem-solving. The result is students who see the value in what they’re doing and are more engaged in their work.

LOWER SCHOOL TEACHERS FIND the best way to encourage each child. Their professional credentials are impressive, but it’s these teachers’ genuine love for children that makes St. Andrew’s students look forward to coming to school every day.

THE DISCOVERY CENTER – The Lower School’s focus on integrated learning and the connection between different school subjects continues in the Discovery Center. Designed for hands-on learning, the center features a science lab, maker space, technology suite, and library. Research, technology, and science are applied to projects that seem less like a class and more like the real world.

FINDING A WAY

IN MIDDLE SCHOOL Grades 5 – 8

The Middle School helps students explore their individual strengths while grounding them in academics, arts, and athletics.

THROUGH ENGAGING ASSIGNMENTS, projects, and activities, Middle School provides a rigorous but age-appropriate curriculum. Students choose from a number of electives and are encouraged to pursue their own interests and develop their unique talents.

MIDDLE SCHOOL CAN BE A socially challenging time when students are forming their own identities.

At St. Andrew’s, their peers represent diverse backgrounds, cultures, and interests, making students more likely to feel comfortable being themselves.

MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHERS KNOW how to strike the right balance between guidance and independence. Students are gradually given more responsibility and freedom, along with the support they need. Middle School students grow not only academically, but also socially and emotionally.

A classic liberal arts education

FINDING A WAY

IN UPPER SCHOOL Grades 9 – 12

features rigorous courses, including 18 AP classes, as well as a variety of electives and advanced courses offered at no other secondary school in Mississippi.

ST. ANDREW’S UPPER SCHOOL inspires and supports students in a way that not only prepares them for college, but also encourages them to become lifelong learners, creative problem solvers, and engaged citizens of multiple communities. Students grow in awareness, empathy, and the capacity to selfadvocate.

AS STUDENTS PROGRESS through Upper School, they enjoy more academic choices and varying levels of classes that best meet the individual needs of each student, as well as an array of athletic, artistic, and service-learning opportunities that round out their educational experiences.

FINDING A WAY

IN THE ARTS

A well-rounded academic program emphasizes not only intellect, but also creativity.

ST. ANDREW’S fine and performing arts programs provide direction for artistically gifted students and enhance every student’s appreciation and enjoyment of the arts.

FROM PRE-K THROUGH 12TH GRADE students have opportunities to participate in the performing arts as musicians, vocalists, and actors. Students play in the band, sing in the choir, participate in speech and debate, or perform in musicals and plays at every grade level. Visual art courses include painting, sculpting, ceramics, photography, digital media, and graphic design.

ST. ANDREW’S UNDERSTANDS that the brain has a right side and a left side, and that the smart choice is to nurture both.

“I’VE ALWAYS LOVED ART, but it wasn’t until my art classes in the St. Andrew’s Lower School that, with the help of my teachers, I began to see art as my true talent. In Middle School, my art teacher encouraged me to keep a steady sketchbook like a professional artist, and by Upper School I was considering art as a career. My experiences in the art classes at St. Andrew’s were more than just educational. The teachers I loved were fundamental in sparking my creative abilities, furthering my talent, and helping me get into my dream school.”

— SARAH GERRETS ‘18, student at the Savannah College of Art and Design

FINDING A WAY

IN ATHLETICS THE ST. ANDREW’S ATHLETIC PROGRAM has been named Mississippi’s Best All-Around Sports Program in its class almost every year for the past quarter-century. On average, 80 percent of St. Andrew’s students in grades 7 to 12 participate on at least one of the school’s 25 teams. St. Andrew’s consistently wins state championships in multiple sports.

ST. ANDREW’S stands apart from most area private and independent schools by competing in the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA), an organiztion comprised primarily of public schools. Membership in the MHSAA ensures that St. Andrew’s athletes compete at the highest levels of Mississippi high school sports.

25

THE NUMBER OF YEARS ST. ANDREW’S HAS RECEIVED THE ALL-SPORTS AWARD FOR MISSISSIPPI’S BEST SPORTS PROGRAM

FINDING A WAY

IN INNOVATION Where collaboration inspires innovation and prepares students to solve real world challenges.

i2 TEAM – WHAT WE DO St. Andrew’s faculty are committed to developing measurable strategies that maximize learning by offering everything from tech-centered ideas to pedagogical best practices learned from years in the classroom. We support the individual goals of professional teachers, not pushing any particular teaching method over another but by documenting and curating the innovative work they are already doing to further inspire our students. i2 CLASSROOMS – WHERE WE INNOVATE Ten remodeled i2 classrooms serve to support a range of innovative, research-based technologies that bolster teaching and learning. These new classrooms are living and breathing research sites that support teachers and students by measuring impact and improving practices. i2 LABS – WHERE WE FIND INSPIRATION i2 labs are brainstorming hubs where teachers go for professional support, additional resources, and fine-tuning of ideas. The labs feature both “drop in” hours when teachers can imagine new possibilities as well as a schedule to arrange meetings with particular i2 team members.

FINDING A WAY

IN GLOBAL STUDIES

The only program of its kind in Mississippi, the Global Studies program brings the world to St. Andrew’s and offers St. Andrew’s students the world.

GLOBAL STUDIES IS INFUSED throughout all aspects of the student experience, touching every grade level. The program includes courses in world languages and cultures, history and geography, arts and humanities, and science and math, all from a global perspective. Through courses, co-curricular activities, international travel opportunities, and relationships with partner schools, students develop a global awareness and appreciation, helping them become knowledgeable, caring citizens of the world.

Global competency skills are emphasized in all divisions. Students learn to investigate and analyze world issues, communicate their ideas, value different perspectives, and take action to positively change the world.

FINDING A WAY

IN DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

The mission of St. Andrew’s is to nurture a diverse community in the Episcopal tradition, fostering spiritual growth, moral responsibility, academic excellence, and artistic and athletic pursuits, while preparing for a life of service to our community and the world.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION CELEBRATIONS ST. ANDREW’S IS a close-knit community of students, parents, and teachers of many faiths, cultures, races,

Hispanic Heritage Month Diwali

and economic backgrounds. Founded in the Episcopal

National Indigenous People’s Month

tradition, St. Andrew’s is inclusive and supportive of the

Unity Day

beliefs of others. Diversity is celebrated, and students

Chinese Lantern Festival

are accepting, and enjoy cultivating relationships with

Black History Month

people of all backgrounds.

Asian Pacific Islander Month

In support of the mission of St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, the Student Support Services Department works collaboratively using a holistic approach to help meet the varied academic, physical, social-emotional, and spiritual needs of our diverse student body.

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICE teams collaborate in each division with a common goal of meeting the diverse needs of learners from Pre-K3 through Senior year. These vital years are marked by significant neurodevelopment with implications for both learning and socialemotional needs. Our support includes all facets of our community and our approach is centered on wellness and enhanced by innovative tools and practices.

THROUGHOUT THE ST. ANDREW’S EXPERIENCE, caring, competent professionals support students and their families at every step of the educational journey. Professionals, such as full-time Learning Facilitators, Reading Specialist, School Counselors, Director of Physical Health, Director of Student Health, Director of Wellness, Director of Social Emotional Learning, Registered Nurses and Chaplains, all coordinate care on-site as well as providing referrals to community partners when needed. St. Andrew’s Episcopal School dedicates resources in every division to provide academic support and enrich the health and wellness of every student.

FINDING A WAY

IN STUDENT SUPPORT

Through partnerships with Malone Schools Online Network, Global Online Academy, and more, students can explore over 135 classes that go beyond that which is offered within the St. Andrew’s curriculum from wherever they are.

ST. ANDREW’S ACADEMICS evolve and expand to provide our students the very best opportunities to explore their curiosity. Thanks to a partnership with the prestigious Malone Schools Online Network, St. Andrew’s students are able to access challenging and specialized classes taught by instructors at independent schools around the country. Classes are presented in HD and include live, interactive components for virtual classroom real-time participation.

ST. ANDREW’S IS THE ONLY SCHOOL in Mississippi to have been granted membership in Global Online Academy, a consortium of leading independent schools from around the world that provides online courses which go beyond the confines of the traditional school curriculum. Over 45 course offerings for Upper School students including Bioethics, Neuropsychology, Game Theory, Medical Problem Solving, Computational Thinking, and Introduction to Investments are complimented by an extensive array of Middle School programming.

VIRTUAL SAINTS RE-IMAGINES teaching and learning to allow students the flexibility to participate from anywhere in the world and to complete the work within their own schedules. Combining both real-time meetings with at-your-own-pace activities and assignments, St. Andrew’s teachers will leverage the best pedagogical practices with new technology to design a unique and engaging experience for all.

FINDING A WAY

IN VIRTUAL LEARNING

We’d Love to

MEET YOU.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL, PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE OF ADMISSION We would welcome the opportunity to give you a personal tour of our school and introduce you to our best ambassadors, who are our current students and families.

PRESCHOOL AND LOWER SCHOOL South Campus | PK-3 to Grade 4 4120 Old Canton Road | Jackson, Mississippi 39216 Tel 601.987.9300 | Fax 601.987.9324

MIDDLE AND UPPER SCHOOL North Campus | Grades 5 to 12 370 Old Agency Road | Ridgeland, Mississippi 39157 Tel 601.853.6000 | Fax 601.853.6001

NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATORY POLICY REGARDING STUDENTS – St. Andrew’s Episcopal School admits qualified applicants of any race, color, ethinicity, national origin, religion, or sex (including gender and sexual orientation), to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate in violation of the law on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, or sex (including gender and sexual orientation), in administration of its educational and admissions policies, offers of scholarship and financial aid, and execution of athletic or any other school administered programs.

WWW.GOSAINTS.ORG