The Bement School
K I N D E R G A R T E N
T H R O U G H
G R A D E
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D a y
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B oarding
S c hoo l
Welcome
S T U D E N T V O I C E S M AT T E R AT B E M E N T , so it should be no surprise that my inspiration
for this welcome began when two ninth graders were recently asked what makes Bement unique. One student who came from a large, urban school said, “I’ve never met kids or teachers who are so kind, so thoughtful, or who work so hard. I call them Bement People.” His classmate responded with, “We’re a ‘we’ school. We use that pronoun so much more than ‘I.’” The day after hearing these comments, a busy alumnus and trustee drove from Boston to Deerfield for an unexpected visit. When I registered my surprise, he explained, “This is where I come to feel loved.” There’s a theme that binds these three comments, and the more you know Bement, the more you’ll see that connection. At Bement, creating relationships is the underpinning of all we do. Our friendships build trust, trust gives way to confidence, and confidence inspires competence. “I can’t” are words rarely spoken here. We believe that all children can and will, and we provide a rich academic, artistic, and athletic program to launch students who are certain they will make a difference in their next school community and beyond. The affection we have for one another is evident in many ways. Older students are constant role models for younger ones, and a variety of cross-grade activities fosters friendships throughout the school. We celebrate student, faculty, and staff birthdays at our weekly all-school meeting. Morning meetings are also times when we recognize accomplishments big and small: a student qualifies for the Junior Olympics; another was seen volunteering in the kitchen. We’re proud of both. No matter where I go or whom I meet, if people mention Bement, they inevitably use the word “family” to describe us. Nothing makes me prouder. My own family is at the heart of every personal decision I make, and the care of the children and adults here is at the heart of every Bement decision I make. We appreciate your interest in our school, and we will welcome your visit to campus. We look forward to helping you see why “we” is such an important pronoun. Warmly,
Shelley Borror Jackson Head of School
MI S S ION The Bement School provides an education based on time-honored school traditions and values for children in kindergarten through ninth grade, day and boarding. From the classrooms to the dorms, we live and learn as a family, while encouraging responsibility for our own work and actions. Bement actively seeks an academically diverse, international, and multi-cultural student body. Students and adults at Bement work together to create a climate of acceptance, kindness, and challenge which nurtures each child intellectually, creatively, physically, and emotionally.
The Bement Community Community is at the center of all relationships we build at Bement, whether it is with one another or the world beyond. Every day at Bement begins with a morning meeting. During our weekly all-school meetings, grades kindergarten through 9 come together for performances and presentations. At our family-style lunches, faculty and students from different grades join one another at tables with assigned seating that rotate every three weeks. Our boarders come from an average of 16 different states and countries, bringing a multiplicity of perspectives and traditions. In the lower school, our Reading Buddies program is an opportunity for older students to share stories with their younger peers. The upper school’s community service activities begin in sixth grade and culminate with an international service-learning trip in ninth grade. Community is an integral part of life at Bement. Kindness, respect, and belonging are words we live by, and Bement’s community is truly an example of faculty and students living and learning together.
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MINI-TERM
Bement’s mini-term is a three-week period between Thanksgiving and Winter Break during which the whole school studies one theme. This opportunity for focused study includes innovative projects and electives, guest speakers, and performers. Since the entire community embraces the same theme, mini-term is an occasion for increased connection between the upper and lower schools. Mini-term also serves as a fun break from routine. Past themes include diversity, the ocean, medieval times, and environmental sustainability.
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The Heart of Bement — Talented and Dedicated Faculty A 1968 graduate of Bement described his educators this way: “My teachers saw the good in every child.” Over 40 years later, this teaching ethos continues to thrive. With an average class size of 12 in the lower school and 15 in the upper school, Bement teachers know the student body well. Bement teachers are enthusiastic about their students and their jobs; they truly look forward to coming to work. In this environment, students are inspired and empowered by the embrace of devoted adults who know them in multiple contexts. Our teachers, coaches, and dorm parents are invested in knowing and nurturing the whole child. Our faculty attend weekly meetings in which they discuss our students and strategize how best to serve them. Dorm parents attend an additional weekly meeting on Monday mornings to review the weekend’s activities, from day trips to dorm chores. The faculty extends respect to the students, and it is our expectation that students will contribute to the community atmosphere we strive to maintain: a community of diversity, kindness, diligence, honesty, friendship, and laughter.
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A school can have the newest technology or the greatest buildings,but it’s the people who make the school what it is. ALUM
Bement is a school in which students are nurtured, teachers are respected, individuality is supported, and arts and music are treasured. PARENT
From day one, we teach them to try new things, take a chance, and support them in all they do. Wonderful things happen. FACULTY
I work in a community of teachers who are looking for the good in children, and who are actively seeking the best from children in order to celebrate who they are and who they can become. FACULTY
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I REMEMBER
a fall afternoon in third grade. We were learning
to write reports, and each of us had picked a state to study. As we turned through the encyclopedias, sun streamed through the French doors in our classroom and lit the bricks in the fireplace. During P.E., as we played Capture the Flag, we could hear the upper school band practicing in the Barn. Each of us looked forward to stopping by the dining hall at the end of the day to take an apple from a deep wooden bowl.
ALUM
Lower School
GRADES K – 5
It is a common sight to see Bement lower schoolers skipping down the path each morning to join their teachers and friends for another day. Warmth and smiles greet each person. The family atmosphere pours from every corner of the lower school. Classrooms are found in small houses full of unique character. Our days begin with morning meetings where loving teachers read aloud, lead the group in song, or present on relevant topics.
What makes Bement special is the joy with which each member of the community arrives
The structure of the lower school day is optimally designed for young children. The curriculum includes daily fine arts and physical education; world language (Chinese, French, and Spanish); and academics that are both enriching and challenging. In addition to a rigorous curriculum, we also value outdoor play. An array of play structures and an outdoor ice skating area in winter delight children on our playground, as does an enchanting cedar grove where children play “store,” make mud pies, and build fairy houses among the thick roots. Our lunch tables, each headed by an adult, seat a mix of all grades in the lower school. Our family-style meals provide an opportunity to develop healthy eating habits, appropriate table manners, and conversation skills.
each day. The students are all excited to come to school every morning, to see their friends and teachers, and to learn from one another. The teachers have smiles just as big as their students’ on their faces when the students enter the room. FACULTY
In the lower school, each grade typically has one or two classrooms. Lower school students become accustomed to transitioning from their homeroom to different teachers for art, drama, world language, music, and physical education. Experiencing coursework and expectations from two daily academic teachers—one for math and science, and another for language arts and social studies— prepares fifth grade students for the upper school. At the core of Bement’s curriculum is the kind treatment of others. Classroom teachers begin the year by developing a student-generated list of expectations on which kindness and respect are always featured.
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Lower School GRADES K – 5
LANGUAGE
ARTS
M AT H E M AT I C S
SCIENCE
SOCIAL
A D V E N T U R E
My daughter started Bement in kindergarten and graduated at the end of ninth grade. Her experiences were plentiful: learning how to swim, skate, ski, and climb mountains; exploring new languages, world history, math, and
I N
Beginning in kindergarten, students develop pre-reading skills through a variety of methods, including guided reading and whole groups. Students in grades 3–5 participate in a balanced literacy program that is literature based. This program includes shared reading, independent reading, guided reading, assessment, and literature circles. Bement students learn to read in grades K–2 and read to learn in grades 3–5.
science; and acquiring a love of reading and writing. Most importantly, Bement lets children grow up at their own pace. PARENT
The Zaner-Bloser Handwriting program is part of our grades K–2 curricula. The Benbow cursive handwriting technique is introduced in grade 3. Our early literacy and numeracy curricula offer a firm foundation for the years ahead. Bement approaches the teaching of mathematics by tasks that (1) draw upon students’ backgrounds and experiences; (2) call for problem formulation, solution, and sound reasoning; (3) stimulate students to make connections in order to develop a coherent frame-
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STUDIES
WORLD
LANGUAGES
L E A R N I N G work for mathematical reasoning; and (4) promote mathematical communication. Involvement of all students is the goal, emphasizing problem solving, mathematical reasoning, integration of mathematical topics, and real-world applications. Students are asked to clarify and justify their ideas orally and in writing. The five themes of geography—namely location, place, human-environmental interactions, movement, and region— create a foundation for our social studies instruction. We introduce science to our students in the younger grades in ways that encourage learning through a sense of wonder. Students in grades 3–5 are exposed to the scientific method via observation and classification, collection and recording of data, measurement, questioning and prediction, experimentation, and arrival at conclusions. Groundwork for more formal science experience is necessary to the courses the students will encounter in the upper school.
Each lower school day is filled with opportunities to learn, to create, and to be challenged.
FOR DETAILED C U RR ICU LU M GU IDE
bement.org/academics
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Lower School GRADES K – 5
A R T S
&
P H Y S I C A L
From the first day of kindergarten to the final weeks of ninth grade, arts and physical education are an integral part of daily life at Bement. We encourage each child to develop creativity, confidence, poise, skill, and maturity.
was the single most influential learning opportunity of my daugh-
MUSIC
We believe that stage performance builds confidence and public-speaking skills. Just as importantly, we know how much fun it is.
Our music program provides daily opportunities to sing and to learn a musical instrument. Our kindergarten and first grade curricula incorporate music into the daily fine arts class. Students in grades 2–5 each have a term of vocal music, and they learn to play the recorder in third grade. In fourth and fifth grades, students study a concert band instrument and learn to read music.
VISUAL ART
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Typically, lower school visual art assignments contain a thematic element that corresponds with academic coursework. Our art studios encourage an innovative, self-expressive process, and students in each grade create a yearly portfolio containing a self-portrait. We proudly exhibit student artwork throughout the buildings on campus.
Our athletics program is designed to instill a life-long respect for physical fitness, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and sportsmanship. While we utilize our fields, we also enjoy the use of many of Deerfield Academy’s athletic facilities, including the swimming pool, track, and basketball, squash, and tennis courts.
DRAMA
I believe that Bement
E D U C A T I O N
ter’s life…Bement came at such a formative and important time in her growth as a person that it remains the platform most responsible for her confidence as an intelligent and loving human being. PARENT
PLAY We believe in the importance
of play and its role in a healthy, happy childhood. In K–5, the day begins with an outdoor recess, and students enjoy other recess time during the school day. This unstructured time allows students to use their imagination as they choose which games to play or create.
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Glimpses of our school day — a supportive environment for exploration and discovery
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Lower School GRADES K – 5
C R E A T I V E
C U R R I C U L U M
The lower school curriculum is enhanced with projects, presentations, and hands-on learning that allow the students to stretch themselves academically and socially. Having participated in daily fine arts since kindergarten and performing on stage at least once a year, our students build confidence that permeates everything they pursue. Our KINDERGARTEN program is an opportunity to explore our natural environment. We learn about the world around us, from pumpkins and apples to the sugaring process. Fairy houses, created and cared for by our youngest community members, become treasured places on campus.
Our son came home from school yesterday, excited about the fishing trip he had taken with his class. He also commented about what a fun year he had as a third grader and how much he was looking for-
FIRST GRADERS are
introduced to the concept of research, learning to find information from a variety of sources. From watching the life cycle of a butterfly to the in-depth study of an animal in winter, first graders present their projects to their classmates and members of the other lower school grades.
SECOND GRADERS continue
to celebrate their individuality in many ways. An author study of Tomie DePaola’s memoir style helps each student to create a life memoir which is presented to parents and schoolmates at an Authors Tea. Research writing is combined with a science study of insects and culminates in an Insect Fair presented to the Bement community in the spring.
ward to fourth grade. He said, “You know, Mom, it just keeps getting better and better. Each grade is more fun than the last one.” Proof positive that you are all doing things right! PARENT
Each year our lower school looks forward to the THIRD GRADERS’ biography study. This unit culminates with a much-loved Bement tradition: the Biography Fair, where luminaries such as Amelia Earhart, Stephen Hawking, Clara Barton, Sacagawea, Rosa Parks, Marco Polo, Jackie Robinson, Maria Tallchief, Abraham Lincoln, Jane Goodall, and Albert Einstein transport us to their life and times. FOURTH GRADERS take
advantage of our beautiful Historic Deerfield setting as they study colonial America. Students choose one of the historic homes on Main Street to research. This unit ends with a Colonial Ball at the Hall Tavern where the children wear period dress, learn period social dances, and enjoy a luncheon of early American recipes.
Leadership opportunities abound for our FIFTH GRADERS. They pair with kindergarteners as Reading Buddies and in the lunchroom they are responsible for heading tables and overseeing our composting program. They end their year at Nature’s Classroom, an overnight experience in ecological, conservation, and outdoor education.
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The Kittredge Building was designed to complement our upper school curriculum. The large, open space at the center of the building provides the setting for our daily morning meetings. Our classrooms are bright and spacious, and each student has an individual space for storing books and outdoor gear. These “cubbies” and students’ sports lockers, which have neither doors nor locks, reflect Bement’s commitment to maintaining a respectful and trustworthy community.
Upper School
GRADES 6–9
At its core, Bement’s upper school encourages our students to realize their potential. Our faculty is eager to inspire this growth and development. We seek to do the following: •
provide a well-rounded education while emphasizing academic preparation
•
build close, meaningful student-teacher relationships
allowed us to make
•
develop a strong sense of community
and mentor younger
•
encourage personal excellence inside and outside the classroom
students. Sharing lunch
celebrate and inspire lifelong learning
grades really allowed me
•
We guide our sixth graders through the transition to upper school with an Information Literacy course which includes study skills and internet safety components. Our sixth and seventh graders begin to exercise more independence: they are expected to manage their homework, binders, note taking, and questions. In the eighth grade year as students mature, coursework becomes increasingly challenging. By the end of the year, students tend to practice good study skills on their own, rather than having them imposed by teachers and advisors. The ninth grade year prepares our students for secondary school, promoting self-discovery, leadership, and strong community spirit. The culminating event of the ninth grade year is a service-learning trip, typically to the Dominican Republic.
The small community friends in other grades
and sports with students from all upper school to form friendships with people I might not know otherwise. ALUM
The school day begins with upper school morning meeting, advisory time, and then includes academic classes, recess, family-style seated lunch, a study hall for extra help or a start on homework; and ends with sports practices. The social development of each student is balanced with the rigor of academic classes, providing students with opportunities to grow and develop their minds and spirits equally.
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UpperUpper SchoolSchool G R A D EGSR 6 A -D9E S
A C A D E M I C
6–9
P R O G R A M
With an average class size of 15, our upper school students are expected to be active participants in every class, enriching discussions with their ideas. As they accrue skills and develop independence across the curriculum, older students set an example for their younger peers. Leaders in the community, they embody The Bement School motto: Fly on your own wings. When students graduate from Bement, they are prepared for both the academic and social landscape of secondary school.
UPPER SCHOOL COURSE OF STUDY ENGLISH WORLD LANGUAGES
Grade 6: Introduction to Latin Grades 7, 8, and 9: Choice of Chinese, French, Latin, or Spanish SCIENCE
Grades 6, 7, and 8: Integrated Science studying earth, physical, and life sciences Grade 9: Physics
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MATHEMATICS
Our son had been at Bement
Grade 6: Math 6
since kindergarten, and as the
Grade 7: Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1
eighth grade drew to a close, he
Grade 8: Pre-Algebra, Intermediate Algebra 1, Algebra 1, Algebra 2
felt the pull of the larger world
Grade 9: Algebra 1, Geometry
to stick around for the ninth
and wasn’t sure he wanted grade. We hoped he’d stay but
SOCIAL STUDIES
left the decision up to him. At
World Geography, American History, Western Civilization
almost literally the last minute,
HEALTH
sions of his life. PARENT
he decided: Bement! It turned out to be one of the best deci-
FO R DETAILED C U R R ICU LU M G U IDE
bement.org/academics
SOCIAL STUDIES
WORLD LANGUAGE
Students examine a wide range of cultures through our geography, history, and social studies curricula. This discovery process includes hands-on projects, group collaboration, research, and experiential learning opportunities.
All sixth grade students take introductory Latin. This background helps them develop grammar and vocabulary skills that assist their study of English and any of the Romance languages. In seventh grade, students commit to Latin, Chinese, French, or Spanish.
MATHEMATICS
ENGLISH
Two or more sections of math are offered for each upper school grade. By ninth grade, students tend to take either Algebra I or Geometry, depending on which pace is appropriate for their individual learning styles.
Reading comprehension and the writing process are emphasized throughout the English curriculum. Highlights of our English program include a poetry portfolio, a writing workshop, and extensive essay writing. Frequent opportunities are sought to nurture a love and respect for reading.
SCIENCE
Three major goals inspire the science curriculum: awareness and appreciation of the natural world, skill in the scientific method, and problem solving. The science program uses an array of traditional and creative assessment methods ranging from tests, labs, and papers to projects, special challenges, and field work outside the classroom.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING (ELL)
The ELL program provides language instruction, academic and cultural support, and guidance as students for whom English is not their first language acquire the language competency necessary to be successful in the broader academic program.
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Upper School G R A D E S
ACADEMIC SUPPORT
6–9
MINI-TERM
FIELD STUDY
S U P P O R T
At Bement, the small classes and the opportunity to get to know
EXCHANGE PROGRAM
F O R
LEARNING SPECIALIST
As students learn to trust their beliefs and instincts, make and maintain friendships, and set boundaries for themselves and others, advisory groups become a part of the daily upper school routine. In addition to performing community service activities together, advisory groups provide a forum for student-driven discussion about successes and challenges within the Bement community.
Bement is a school with high academic expectations, but we understand that young learners reach their potential in a wide variety of ways. Our learning specialist works directly with identified students and consults with teachers to optimize the learning experience.
are important to me.
TRI-WEEKLY REPORTS
As a language teacher,
Every three weeks, parents receive academic tri-weekly indicator reports, which include grades, effort marks, and written comments from faculty. At Bement, effort marks receive the same emphasis as achievement. Frequent communication keeps students informed about their progress and enables parents to support and encourage their children’s learning.
my passion of my subject with students by taking them to the country where they can see their knowledge come alive. FACULTY
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L E A R N I N G
ADVISORY
the students very well
I love being able to share
TECHNOLOGY
STUDY HALL
Study hall at the end of each class day provides an opportunity for students to seek extra help from teachers, to begin some of their assignments, or to organize the tasks to complete in the evening. ELECTIVES
On select Friday afternoons in the fall and spring, students participate in electives. These non-graded courses allow students to learn a new skill or to explore an area of knowledge in depth and with small groups of peers that share their same interests. Past electives have included Jazz/ Rock band, cycling, crafts, photography, video production, dance, culinary arts, and a variety of other offerings.
We learn through exploration and discovery, inspiring respect for all cultures and developing a sense of adventure.
DOMESTIC FIELD STUDY
We appreciate our proximity to academic, artistic, and natural resources. From local farms to museums at the Pioneer Valley’s five colleges to Historic Deerfield and Gettysburg, our students are given a range of opportunities to enrich what they learn in the classroom by traveling off-campus. INTERNATIONAL STUDY
Our students have the opportunity either to host or become exchange students through our relationships with Ermitage in France and Beijing Xu Beihong Academy in China. In addition, our ninth graders participate in a weeklong service-learning experience.
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Upper School G R A D E S
6–9
MUSIC Concert Band String Ensemble Lady Phoenix Concert Choir Music History VISUAL ARTS Studio Arts Art History DRAMA Improvisation Stage Performance Play Production Drama History
T H E
A R T S
Our art program allows students to learn techniques, to try new pursuits, and to celebrate individuality. The Arts Wing of our Barn resonates with the sound of our choir, concert band, and string ensemble. The hallways are vibrant with the rich colors of art projects by students from every grade. On stage, students develop performance skills under the guidance of our warm, imaginative faculty. At Bement, creative expression in the arts is an essential part of our focus on the whole child.
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FALL Cross Country Running Field Hockey Boys’ Soccer Girls’ Soccer Recreational Tennis WINTER Boys’ Basketball Girls’ Basketball Dance Squash Alpine Ski Racing Swimming/Diving SPRING Baseball Ultimate Frisbee Golf Boys’ Lacrosse Girls’ Lacrosse Outdoor Skills/Karate Softball Track and Field
A T H L E T I C S Our athletic program is designed to make healthy physical activity a part of life. Each season, students typically have five options, which include both team and individual, competitive and noncompetitive sports, as well as outdoor skills and dance. On Winter Friday afternoons, the upper school skis or snowboards recreationally at nearby Berkshire East. Our neighbor Deerfield Academy generously shares their state-of-the-art sports facilities with our students. With a full schedule and travel to other schools, our students are well prepared to play on high school sports teams. In addition, we emphasize teamwork, sportsmanship, and fair play, instilling the belief that physical fitness should be pursued for a lifetime, not just a season.
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When I think
of my decision to send my daughter to
Bement for her ninth grade year, the same thought always comes to mind: I made the right choice. I watched the growth of her confidence and character, and her teachers and dorm parents served as warm, caring mentors. My child was well prepared for the next stage of her high school journey, and I am deeply grateful to Bement for being a part of her history.
Parent
Upper School G R A D E S
N I N T H
6–9
G R A D E
A T
B E M E N T
Ninth grade at Bement is a special year filled with much-loved and anticipated school traditions, student leadership opportunities, and one-of-a-kind experiences. Parents and students appreciate the many advantages of being the oldest students in the school. We believe that our close-knit, K–9 community extends childhood; at the same time, our ninth graders grow into confident, mature community members who help lead our school. They are well prepared for the academic demands and social challenges found in secondary school. LEADERSHIP
In a given year, ninth graders typically serve the Bement community in the following leadership capacities: • mentoring younger students • facilitating reading discussion groups during mini-term • designing and presenting on community standards at school meetings • planning student activities and proposing policies that affect student life • serving as ambassadors and guides for campus visitors • presenting at trustee meetings GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES
Our ninth graders participate in a week of global community service. In recent years, they have lived and worked in a boys’ orphanage in the Dominican Republic. Through this experience, students develop lasting relationships as “brothers” and “sisters” to the children of the orphanage, extending the family-like culture we enjoy on our campus every day. SECONDARY SCHOOL CONSULTATION
Each year, we welcome 30 to 40 secondary school admission representatives who hold information and group-interview sessions. We support the admission process for our students and families with multiple consultations, guiding them through each step of school research, application, and placement.
FO R DETAILED 9TH G R AD E PRO G R AM
bement.org/9thgrade
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C O M M U N I T Y
S E R V I C E
Community service is integral to the Bement curriculum. We believe that community service takes a variety of forms. Caring for our campus environment, volunteering at a nursing home or food bank, or collecting toothbrushes and canned food for families in need are the kinds of experiences to which our students grow accustomed. While many of our efforts are locally based, our community responds to national and international crises such as Hurricane Katrina, the Southeast Asian tsunami, and the earthquakes in Haiti, Japan, and China. LOWER SCHOOL
Our lower schoolers eagerly participate in community initiatives throughout the year. For example, the Supper for Six program encourages students to bring in a bag of groceries to feed a family of six. Soles for Souls shoe collection, pet food drive for the local animal shelter, and Can Tabs for Shriners Hospital are yearly causes. On campus, our students clear their own lunch tables, rake leaves, and plant flowers, instilling a sense of shared responsibility. UPPER SCHOOL
Upper schoolers use part of their advisory time each week to perform community service on campus and beyond. Sixth, seventh, and eighth grade groups volunteer together at local food banks, nursing homes, and the United Way. Upper school students can choose to perform community service as an optional activity on Winter Fridays. All students look forward to the capstone project of the ninth grade year: a week-long service-learning experience.
BEMENT CARES Local organizations and charities that Bement faculty and students are consistently involved with: The United Way Western Massachusetts Food Bank Buckley Healthcare Center Parent Child Development Center Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society
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I am doing well at secondary school, and I hope all is well at Bement. I have been thinking a lot about La Suiza Orphanage and wanting to help the boys there. Even more than a year later I still feel a deep connection to the orphanage...some members of my Bement class have expressed interest in returning to the Dominican Republic. I know that none of us will ever forget that trip and what it taught us. ALUM The trip to the DR opened my eyes to the world around me. The bond I formed with the boys in the orphanage and with my class will be with me forever. ALUM
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All dorm parents create a warm, safe, nurturing atmosphere for our boarders, and together they develop meaningful and lasting relationships.
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B O A R D I N G
A T
In winter 2013, we completed the construction of two spacious, warm and bright girls’ dorms, to compliment the two boys’ dorms. Our new residences are beautiful and environmentally “green,” but what we are most proud of is the familial atmosphere created in these homes-away-from-home. Being boarders at Bement has opened doors for a lifetime of connections throughout the world. My two sons have had opportunities to live in homes across the world and experience life beyond our borders. They are enriched because they know how to live side by side with our neighbors. PARENT
With 40 boarders each year, our residential community is small enough to feel like one large family, ideal for younger students living away from their own families. We enjoy numerous traditions, such as Monday night candlelit dinners and fancy birthday cakes baked for each boarder by our devoted chef, and activities, including frequent visits to the head’s home for hot cocoa after skiing, cookouts, swimming in the pool, sledding, and football. Each student becomes a member of his or
B E M E N T
her dorm parent’s family; a recent graduate shared “the faculty are so much a part of our lives.” After dinner, our boarders develop strong study skills and positive work habits during a 90-minute study hall. Faculty members take turns supervising this study hall, providing opportunities for our boarders to ask questions or seek extra help. On weekends, our boarders often enjoy overnight visits with day student families, and day students sometimes spend time with their friends in the dorm. One might find our boarders enjoying a movie together; playing in the snow; baking cookies; or simply relaxing in the common room, playing card games or working on a puzzle.
WEEKEND ACTIVITIES Our weekends provide enough time for rest and work, as well as plentiful opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities and local cultural offerings. The nearby towns of Greenfield, Amherst, and Northampton are renowned for international cuisine, and the Pioneer Valley’s five colleges offer museums, theatrical performances, and sports events that our students enjoy. Other destinations include Boston, the Berkshires, and state parks, as well as ski trips to nearby mountains and a Broadway show in New York City.
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B E Y O N D SECONDARY SCHOOL MATRICULATIONS: The Academy at Charlemont Avon Old Farms School Berkshire School Blair Academy Choate Rosemary Hall Concord Academy Deerfield Academy Groton School The Hotchkiss School Kent School The Lawrenceville School Loomis Chaffee School Mercersburg Academy Middlesex School Milton Academy Miss Porter’s School Northfield Mount Hermon School Phillips Academy Phillips Exeter Academy Portsmouth Abbey School Proctor Academy St. George’s School St. Mark’s School St. Paul’s School Suffield Academy Tabor Academy Taft School The Webb Schools The Williston Northampton School Vermont Academy Westminster School Wilbraham and Monson Academy
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B E M E N T
“With the year complete, and having just received our daughter’s final grades and comments, we want to take the opportunity to formally thank all Bement faculty and staff for nurturing our daughter over the past two years. She thoroughly enjoyed her time at Bement and made great friends and memories along the way. We feel that she is well prepared for secondary school and we are extremely grateful. You should be proud of the education you offer this community.” PARENT Our students graduate from Bement prepared to succeed at a range of excellent secondary schools. Bement’s tradition of sending care packages to recent graduates is a reminder that we continue to be proud of every student we have had the privilege to know. Frequently, we hear that our graduates choose to take on leadership roles in secondary school, serving as the captain of an athletic team, for example, or acting as a mentor in a dorm. Our alumni tell us that Bement helped to cultivate their leadership skills and their commitment to caring for their communities. Administrators at secondary schools will often tell us, “I can spot a student from Bement immediately. They trust teachers and the learning process, and they are willing to take intellectual risks.”
I feel very prepared and ready for tenth grade at my new school — Bement helped me find exactly the right school for me. ALUM
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V I S I T I N G
B E M E N T
We welcome the opportunity to show prospective families our school, and we encourage them to visit our campus during school hours, meeting students and teachers and observing our community at work and play. We welcome questions about any aspect of Bement, from our kindergarten program, to boarding life, to the advantages of the ninth grade year. Enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and a good conversation with our Admission Office. To schedule a visit, please call the Admission Office at (413) 774-4209. We look forward to seeing you.
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HISTORIC DEERFIELD Historic Deerfield offers a museum of history, art, and architecture along a mile-long street laid out in 1671 and still lined with 18th- and 19th-century houses on their original sites. Inside these buildings, visitors find one of the best public collections of art and antiques in America, while exploring the lifestyle of early New England. Our spacious green campus is surrounded by the quintessential New England village, working farms along the Deerfield River, and educational institutions: an ideal setting in which to learn and grow.
94 Old Main Street, Deerfield, MA 01342 From Springfield, Hartford, Connecticut, and points
VERMONT
south: Take Exit 24 off I-91 North. Turn right at the
NEW HAMPSHIRE 91
end of the exit ramp. Drive north approximately
Bement
5 miles and turn left at the Historic Deerfield sign
MASSACHUSETTS
onto Old Main Street. Bement is .6 of a mile on the right side of Old Main Street.
90
Logan Airport
Springfield Bradley Airport
84
Hartford
From Vermont, New Hampshire, and points north:
CONNECTICUT
Take Exit 25 off I-91 South. Turn left at the end of the exit ramp and left at the lights onto Routes 5 & 10. Drive north approximately 4 miles and turn left
Boston
95
RHODE ISLAND
New Haven
at the Historic Deerfield sign onto Old Main Street. Bement is .6 of a mile on the right side of Old Main
NEW YORK
Street. From Boston and Eastern Massachusetts: Take Mass Pike (I-90) West to Exit 4 and onto I-91 North. Then follow directions from Springfield
Approximate driving times:
above. Or take Route 2 West to the traffic light in-
Boston: 2 hours
tersection marked Turners Falls and Gill (3.2 miles
New York City: 3 hours, 15 minutes
after the French King Bridge). Turn left at the Routes
Springfield: 35 minutes
5 & 10 sign marked Deerfield and Northampton.
Bradley International Airport: 1 hour
Drive 1.2 miles and turn right at the Historic Deer-
Amherst: 25 minutes
field sign onto Old Main Street. Bement is .3 of a
Northampton: 20 minutes
mile on the left side of Old Main Street.
Brattleboro: 30 minutes
31
CAMPUS MAP A. Barton House: Admission Office, Business Office, Health Center
A
BARTON HOUSE
B
B. Bement House: Dining Hall C. Drake Building: 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Classrooms D. Keith Schoolhouse: Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd Grade Classrooms E. The Barn: Performing Arts, Fine Arts, Assembly Hall
C
D
DRAKE BUILDING
KEITH SCHOOLHOUSE THE BARN
E KITTREDGE BUILDING
PLAYGROUND
F. Kittredge Building: Upper School G. Polk Building: Clagett McLennan Library, Computer Labs, Dance Studio
HEAD OF SCHOOL’S RESIDENCE AND PLAYING FIELDS
BEMENT HOUSE
F PLAYING FIELDS HAAS HOUSE
I
K
H. Snively House: Alumni/Development Office I. Haas House J. Blydenburgh and Jiayi Houses: Boys’ Dormitories
POLK BUILDING
G
SNIVELY
J
H HOUSE
CLAGETT MCLENNAN LIBRARY
BLYDENBURGH AND JIAYI HOUSES
K. Girls’ Dormitories
In an effort to conserve natural resources, we have eliminated several pages of our view book. Annual information such as faculty and staff listing, school year calendar, and the curriculum guide can be found on our web site bement.org. All application forms and
Design
Michalak Zyskowski Design, designmz.com Copy
Jackie Thomas-Kennedy ’97 Printing
Mansir Printing Photos
Tim Young ’61; Ben Bensen P’86, ’92, ’98, ’01, ’02; Ross Feitlinger; David Michalak P’14, p. 26 (bottom right); Julianna Waggoner/MicaBlue Creative p.26 (main photo and bottom left and center); Paul Franz, p. 24, middle photo.
materials may be found there as well. The Bement School admits students of any race, color, sexual orientation, ancestry, religious affiliation, national and ethnic origin, to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities made available to its students. The school does not discriminate in the administration of its educational, admission, financial aid policies, and athletic or other school administered programs.
32
the Bement School Fly on your own wings
94 Old Main Street P.O. Box 8 Deerfield, MA 01342 USA
Main phone (413) 774-7061 Admission Office (413) 774-4209 Fax (413) 774-7863 E-mail admit@bement.org
bement.org