Brimmer Upper School Viewbook

1880

BRIMM R

INSPIRED TO LEARN • ENCOURAGED TO EXPLORE • EMPOWERED TO LEAD

From the North, West, or South of Boston

Take Route 128 to Exit 20-Route 9 East. Follow Route 9 for 3.6 miles. Turn left onto Hammond Street. At the first stop sign, turn right onto Middlesex Road. Drive down Middlesex Road to the first stoplight. Brimmer and May is located on both sides of the street.

From Downtown Boston by Car

Follow Route 9 West through Brookline to the intersection of Route 9 and Hammond Street.

(Route 9 is also called Huntington Avenue in Boston and Boylston Street in Brookline.) Turn right onto Hammond Street. At the first stop sign, turn right again onto Middlesex Road. Drive down Middlesex Road to the first stoplight. Brimmer and May is located on both sides of the street.

Parking

Admissions parking spaces are available in our main parking lot on the left preceding all School buildings and along the side of the Admissions Building at 73 Middlesex Road. On-street parking is also available.

69 MIDDLESEX ROAD | CHESTNUT HILL, MA 02467 | 617-738-8695 | www.brimmer.org

upper school

Our Guiding Principles Inspired to Learn

We foster active learning and challenge students to think and work independently and collaboratively to become confident problem solvers and critical thinkers.

Brimmer and May is a Pre-K to grade 12 coeducational day school that upholds high academic standards while implementing innovative ideas. We develop lifelong learners who are informed, engaged, and ethical citizens and leaders in our diverse world.

Encouraged to Explore

We encourage students to engage their curiosity, expand creativity, explore interests, develop voice, and strive for personal best in an inclusive environment.

Empowered to Lead

We empower learners to embrace opportunities in our studentcentered environment. We believe developing intellect with character prepares our students to succeed in our global community.

Our Core Values Respect, Responsibility, Honesty, Kindness

combining

tradition & innovation for a 21st-century education A Model and Leader Brimmer and May has a proud history of more than 135 years of academic rigor and community involvement. Brimmer is also a school on the cutting edge. Emerging

These include: •

Academically Demanding

•

Project-based Learning

•

Classrooms that Extend Beyond School Walls

•

Digital Technologies and a Global Perspective that Infuse the Program

technologies, interdisciplinary learning, and experiential and applied learning define the Brimmer experience. No other school in New England has been designated a “Model School” by the National Association

•

Vibrant Arts Programs

•

Learning Communities

•

A Culture of Engagement and Support

•

Transformational Leadership

of Independent Schools (NAIS). The recognition

The future of education is already

is based on what NAIS considers to be

here at Brimmer.

“Essential Capacities for the 21st Century.”

empowering

thinkers & doers for a global society Why Choose Brimmer’s Upper School?

Come for What’s Here.

Brimmer offers each student an education that’s broad and deep. A variety of options and resources—including Signature Diploma Programs, advanced courses, a Writing Center, and a STEAM Laboratory—enables students to follow their passions and develop areas of strength. Our community fosters great relationships with peers and faculty members, lifelong friendships, and opportunities for service and leadership. Brimmer is a place where every individual can find his or her voice and make an impact.

It’s your potential. What are you waiting for?

Come for What’s Out There.

Our multicultural global society is fascinating, rapidly changing, and full of challenges and opportunities. At Brimmer, you will engage the world intellectually, personally, and physically. In addition to gaining global historical and cultural knowledge, students experience the real world through such opportunities as Winterim, internships, community service, and independent projects.

It’s your world. What will you do with it?

chardon brooks

“ Brimmer encourages and educates its students to excel and pursue a number of different areas—even areas outside of their comfort zones. My greatest passion is and always has been sports. But I found the courage to pursue things I never would have imagined myself doing and to establish lifelong connections that wouldn’t have been possible to forge in a larger school. Academically, I found the most inspiration in the humanities courses.

Brimmer has helped me realize my love and passion for reading and writing.

Brimmer helped me find my voice.”

senior

“ At Brimmer we ask thoughtful, open-ended questions and give students time to wrestle with their answers. When a student poses an equally thoughtful question back to a teacher, we know that he or she has internalized the material and formed a cogent response to it. This is true rigor at Brimmer.

This is what the ’real world’ needs: community members who will think for themselves and use their critical lenses to make informed, considered decisions.”

paul murray

dean of students and english teacher

simon acevedo

junior

“ At a young age, I realized that numbers interested me, and math is an interest that drives me today.

Throughout my time at Brimmer, I have had challenging math teachers who really pushed my thinking to another level. The Winterim program has been the most important experiential learning opportunity for me. In my freshman year, I traveled to New Orleans to work with an organization that specializes in rebuilding after natural disasters.

It is important for people to know that Brimmer focuses on the individual and how every student can reach his or her best. Brimmer helps students develop as learners and young leaders who aim to make a difference in their community.”

“ Brimmer has helped me pursue my passion for the performing arts through the Creative Arts Diploma Program by creating an environment where the arts are strongly supported.

Brimmer helps students blossom into their own personalities, rather than producing students who are all trying to be the same person. Instilling core values is really important here, and that, in turn, creates a very welcoming community. Brimmer has taught me more than just academic knowledge.

I’ve learned how to interact effectively with people and how to be a positive contributor in my society.”

genevieve lefevre

senior

a

distinctive curriculum Explore a broad range of academic disciplines. Dig deeply into areas of interest. Demonstrate excellence through advanced work. Immerse yourself in the world of ideas and take meaningful action in the world around you. Inspired and challenged by innovative teachers, you can do all of this at Brimmer.

an

individualized educational

experience

With skill-building foundational courses, three Signature Diploma Programs, 16 AP classes, honors designations, and the opportunity to pursue independent study, Brimmer offers a program of study that is crafted to the individual—and is as ambitious as you want it to be.

Core Disciplines: Math and Science In the sciences, students are required to take Biology, Physics, and one other course of their choosing. From Evolution, Ecology, Chemistry, and the Environment to AP Physics 2 and Oceanography, juniors and seniors have about a dozen different options in science.

The mathematics curriculum ranges from Algebra I to AP Calculus BC. With various electives and three levels of calculus, all students can both succeed and be challenged in math. STEAM courses expand interdisciplinary learning opportunities and include Introduction to Engineering and Computer Aided Design.

Core Disciplines: Arts and Humanities The Humanities Department offers foundational courses in English, history, political science, and government, as well as electives and interdisciplinary options. Examples include The Rise of the City: Urbanization and Social Change; World Geography; Government and Civics; and Introduction to International Relations. Brimmer has a three-year world languages requirement and offers programs of study in French, Mandarin, and Spanish.

Our educational approach follows the demanding European Curriculum Framework. Students are also required to take four semesters of the creative arts, with wide-ranging opportunities to explore the visual arts, theater arts, and music.

High Academic Standards: Honors Program and Scholar’s Society In addition to numerous AP courses, Brimmer has an

Honors Program that offers additional academic challenge and enrichment to students who qualify. Students enrolled in the program receive an honors designation for a particular course by completing both independent projects and additional material beyond the requirements of the class. High standards for scholarship, as well as meaningful community involvement, are among the criteria of the Scholar’s Society. Students who maintain a required grade point average (GPA), make a commitment to giving back to the community, and model the precepts of the Code of Ethics may be accepted by application into the society.

challenging

Creative Arts Program Brimmer’s Creative Arts Program (CAP) is for students with a strong interest and demonstrated ability in

signature diploma programs

visual arts, music, dance, theater, video, or creative writing. Program participants must dedicate 7 to 10 hours per week on independent work as they build a portfolio that is suitable for application to specialized colleges and arts programs. CAP students develop skills in teaching and mentoring by providing arts activities each week to underserved youth at a local city school. They also take part

An application process, GPA requirement, and the commitment to a significant investment of out-of-class time are among the requirements for each one of Brimmer’s Signature Diploma Programs. The pursuit of a passion, the opportunity to complete exciting independent work, and a transcript that sets you apart from other college applicants are among the rewards.

Global Studies Program

in numerous master classes and field trips each year, share their work with the community through

The program was designed to create informed, involved, ethical

the CAP Senior Exhibition, “The CAParet Show,”

citizens capable of leading in a global society. Students gain a

and other events, and must keep a reflective journal

broad foundation in the interdisciplinary field and choose one of

that documents the progress and development

four concentrations: economics; political science/cultural studies;

of their work.

science; or world languages. Experiential learning and ethical action complement coursework and might involve working for social justice in the local community, participating in Brimmer’s Model UN, volunteering for a non-governmental organization (NGO), or going on a service trip to a developing country.

The STEAM Program True innovation can be found at the intersection of the STEAM disciplines—science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics—and in Brimmer’s demanding STEAM Program. In addition to coursework in the different disciplines, students must complete an online college-level course and use their creative and mechanical skills in Brimmer’s STEAM Lab, where they might develop a “smart” thermostat that can be controlled by text message, or an autonomous robotic rover that navigates using sonic range finders. Each student must also undertake an internship in a STEAM-related field, such as urban architecture or big data management.

stimulating

Experiential Learning: Winterim It’s a big world. On their way to becoming global citizens, Brimmer students engage with

teaching and learning The demands on students at Brimmer are varied.

To meet the challenges you’ll need versatility, critical and creative thinking skills, a willingness to engage yourself fully, and an appreciation for innovation. At Brimmer, you can expect a dynamic classroom environment, experiential learning, and rewarding culminating experiences.

the world through Winterim, an experiential, cultural, and service learning program. Through the biennial program, students choose from among several international or domestic trips, such as traveling to Iceland to learn about that country’s Viking history, geography, and geothermal energy system for sustainable living; connecting with and learning from students in China; working with

Emerging Technologies

an NGO in the Dominican Republic to teach and mentor students there; or experiencing London and

Creativity, open-mindedness, leadership: These are qualities we

Paris in an exploration of social justice in the Victorian

expect from our students and what we expect from ourselves as an

age and today. Each trip starts with research and

institution that embraces emerging technologies for teaching and

preparation and ends with a presentation to the

learning. Our one-to-one iPad program is an example. Thanks to our

School community.

innovative teachers, the program continues to revolutionize how our students learn, communicate with faculty members, collaborate with peers, and demonstrate knowledge. Across the disciplines at Brimmer, students will use tablets to conduct web research, to learn from interactive apps that present information in ways that textbooks can’t, and to create unique multimedia presentations to convey their understanding of a topic.

Culminating Experiences: Senior Thesis & Senior Project All seniors write an extensive Senior Thesis, a culminating academic project that draws together research and critical thinking and writing. Some examples of diverse topics include an author study on Jane Austen, an exploration of African American cinema, and a discussion of the history of Soviet ballet. Each student must defend his or her work before a panel of four adults and two students. The Senior Project is an experiential endeavor lasting two to four weeks during the month of May. The project may come in a variety of forms. Examples include an internship at a biomedical lab, the construction of a wooden boat, and training as a sushi chef.

a

vibrant community Say good-bye to cliques and categories, limits and labels.

At Brimmer “athletes” get parts in the play and “artists” make plays on interscholastic teams. Everybody contributes to the community and shares core values. With so many opportunities to experience success, make friends, and become a better you, you’ll want to do it all.

spirited

athletics

Why do we have a sports requirement? Because it’s good for you in 10 different ways! Why will you want to fulfill the requirement? Because it’s fun! Brimmer offers a range of interscholastic teams and recreational options so that every student can reap the rewards of teamwork, sportsmanship, selfimprovement, fitness, and friendship.

Interscholastic Sports Baseball, basketball, cross country, curling, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, and tennis make up the core of our interscholastic teams. Our teams compete in the Massachusetts Bay Independent League (MBIL), the Independent Girls’ Conference (IGC), and the New England Prep School Athletic Conference (NEPSAC), in addition to invitational matches. At the sub-varsity level, we emphasize fundamentals, participation, work ethic, and of course team play and sportsmanship. At the varsity level, we value competitiveness, teamwork, and a positive attitude. The championship banners in our gym are proof of our spirit—as is the biggest banner of all, which celebrates sportsmanship.

Recreational Sports and Activities At Brimmer, sports are for everybody.

Nearly 100 percent of our students

Fulfill Your Potential

relish the opportunity to represent the School in uniform on at least one

Recognizing that the realm of athletics is a great place to develop

interscholastic team. However, we

personal skills and character, Brimmer has a weekly Captains Meeting,

offer non-competitive activities as well.

when team captains work with an advisor to discuss leadership

At Brimmer students have the chance

styles and to strengthen communication, problem solving, and

to try the kind of recreational sports

leadership skills. Brimmer seeks to support athletes as students and

that keep them fit and healthy for life.

as well-rounded people with various goals, which may include playing

We regularly offer such options as

sports in college. Our alumni can be found in Division I, II, and III

dance, fitness, yoga, golf, skiing,

programs and in a variety of competitive leagues and conferences.

and tennis.

fulfilling

experiences in

the arts

The arts are a part of every student’s experience at Brimmer.

Through coursework, performances, field trips, guest artists, and extracurricular opportunities, our students engage in creative problem solving, develop their artistic vision, find their voice, share their work, and collaborate artistically.

Arts for Everybody Studio Art. Video Production. Music Tech. Improvisation. Writing for Stage and Screen. Students are required to take four creative arts courses, but with so many great electives, it’s no wonder that many take more. At Brimmer, students can dabble in multiple disciplines or pursue advanced work in an area of interest, particularly through the Creative Arts Program, a tremendous opportunity for artists who wish to apply to arts schools or college programs.

The Programs In the visual arts, students work in a range of media and may

Highlights in the Arts Our artists perform and show their work multiple times each year. In the spring we hold an “Academy Awards”

choose from electives in drawing and painting, printmaking,

event to honor arts

sculpture, ceramics, and photography. The music program offers

all-stars. Outside of

both academic classes and performing ensembles. Voice

School, our students

ensembles include the Chamber Choir and Greenline, a chorus that

have received awards

sings a wide range of styles. Instrumental ensembles include jazz,

for drawing, painting,

classical, blues, and rock groups. We also have an After-School

and photography in

Music Program and a partnership with the Berklee College of

the Boston Globe Scholastic Arts Awards and the

Music, through which students can take online courses. The major

Small Independent School Art League competition,

drama productions each year include a fall play, a winter musical,

and they have been featured in The Marble

and student-directed plays in the spring. Examples of recent

Collection (the Massachusetts High School Magazine

major productions include Hairspray, Treasure Island, and

of the Arts). Our music groups have participated

Beauty and the Beast.

in auditioned music events, such as the Heritage Festival in New York City. Each year we send a School competition winner to the English-Speaking Union’s Shakespeare Competition.

Activities and Leadership Opportunities

engaging

Clubs and activities are ways that Brimmer students

community Respect, responsibility, kindness, and honesty are our Core Values.

Friendliness, positive relationships with faculty and peers, and an upbeat spirit characterize our community. Getting involved is easy, and the rewards include friendship, fun, the pursuit of interests, and opportunities for leadership.

pursue interests, try new things, and contribute to the School community. Examples of clubs include: Amnesty International, Diversity Club, Chess Club, Gay Straight Alliance, Model UN, Robotics Club,

life

Rock Band, Stock Market Club, Quiz Bowl and the Young Entrepreneurs’ Club. Being a club officer is just one avenue for formal leadership at Brimmer.

Students from each class are elected to the Senate, a group that meets weekly to discuss School issues,

Traditions That Enhance Community

to plan School events, and to represent student/

The Upper School starts each academic year with a three-day

faculty concerns and ideas. Students from each

camping trip on Cape Cod that helps students get acquainted with

grade are also elected to the Brimmer and May

one another, sets the tone for the year, and strengthens our sense

Athletic Association, which advises and provides

of community. It’s just one of Brimmer’s fun and rewarding traditions.

support to the School’s Athletic Department,

Others include Harvestfest, Homecoming, Community Diversity

teams, and programs.

Night events, Spirit Day, Semi-formal and Prom, and the Ring Ceremony, when seniors acknowledge each junior individually as an important rising leader in the community.

Service in the Community Young people come to view themselves as leaders when they see how their actions can make or have a positive impact. That’s why community service is an important part of the Brimmer experience. Each Upper School student must fulfill 40 hours of individual community service as a graduation requirement.

As a school, we undertake a number of service activities, too. The Community Service Club takes the lead on service initiatives in the Upper School. In addition, individual students devote numerous hours of service to the School itself—as tour guides, student panelists at admissions open houses, and volunteers at a variety of events. In addition, students, parents, and faculty initiate and engage in School-wide community service and fundraising efforts to benefit local and global organizations.

accomplished graduates Brimmer and May’s graduates are informed critical thinkers and creative problem-solvers who are well prepared for the rigors of college work and eager to pursue their passions.

They continue their educational journeys at big research universities, small liberal arts colleges, arts programs and specialized schools in all parts of the country and in various countries in the world. Choosing the perfect college is a thoughtful, time-consuming, and deeply meaningful process. Our College Counseling Office expertly guides students through the experience.

christian ernest ’14 “ Participating on the soccer team and in the musicals gave me the knowledge and understanding as to what it meant to be part of a team. Both the arts performances and soccer team taught me what it meant to struggle and practice in order to achieve something great.”

then: varsity soccer, basketball, and lacrosse player; Diversity Club and Quiz Bowl member; frequent actor in Brimmer plays and musicals

now: Skidmore College business and sociology double major, aspires to be an entrepreneur

hallie black ’14

“ My close relationships with my teachers are indicative of a sophisticated and unique learning culture at Brimmer and May. Without becoming close with my art teacher or history teacher, I would have not been able to form close bonds and make strong relationships with the faculty in my university’s program.

The energetic and dynamic teachers at Brimmer have fostered a productive learning environment that has truly helped me articulate my thoughts and opinions from World History and English to Art and Architecture.”

then: varsity tennis captain and field hockey player; peer tutoring leader; senior class president; theater program poster designer

now: Cornell University five-year professional degree

stan barlow ’13

student, aspiring architect

“ Physics, chemistry, and math at Brimmer definitely put me on the path towards engineering. I liked an eighth grade project that we did—building a bridge out of pasta and glue—and the dissections we did in biology class. I thought those projects were excellent ways to get hands-on experience with the subjects we were learning. In 10th grade, I wrote a 20-page paper on the Dutch East India Trading Company. I was particularly proud of that paper

taylor lee ’13 “ When I first came to Brimmer, I was a shy and timid student who had just arrived in the States from South Korea. I hesitated to speak in public, or even in my group of friends. With the tremendous help of the friendly and family-like community, I was able to become a completely different person. I was friends

as I never felt writing was my strong suit. I loved

with everyone in the Upper School and Middle

how Brimmer’s size meant I had plenty of personal

School and was actively involved in the community.

attention and help. I feel like I grew a lot as a

In my senior year, I was fortunate to be elected as

musician and a writer in particular due to the

the Upper School president. Four years at Brimmer

help I received from those respective teachers.”

has definitely contributed greatly in shaping who

then: soccer, basketball, and baseball player, and baseball captain for two years; cast member of two theater productions; bass guitar player for musical ensemble

now: studying mechanical engineering at Tufts University, considering aerospace engineering as a potential career field

I am now.”

then: writer, director, videographer, and editor of videos/news as a leader of the Brimmer Gator; varsity lacrosse player; ensemble member in the musical Anything Goes; Upper School president

now: Boston University student majoring in

economics and mathematics, career options wide open

a message from

the head of school What makes a school special is both who its people are and what they effect change and that one person can make a difference. They believe in themselves because their teachers and peers believe in them—and are personally invested in them. With the support of exceptional people, there is no limit to what our students can achieve.

At Brimmer, you will find students working with teachers who model what it means to be lifelong learners. You’ll find students working well in teams, thinking creatively and analytically about complex topics, speaking publicly, and demonstrating their knowledge.

Among our greatest strengths as a school are three key characteristics.

The first is a decidedly global focus. Every day our students learn about other cultures, languages, and people while developing critical skills for our increasingly interconnected global society. The second is a penchant for innovation with a pedagogical approach that includes teachers working alongside our students and coaching them to succeed. Our many interdisciplinary initiatives, including STEAM programs that bring out extraordinary examples of inspired thinking and problem solving, are evidence of this. The third is our value-centered culture, which helps our students to become honest, kind, respectful, responsible citizens— the type of people who enhance their own communities.

Thank you for getting acquainted with us. I invite you to visit in person to sense the energy, high standards, and dynamic spirit of this remarkable school.

Judy Guild Head of School

© Design & Primary Photography: Peapod Design, New Canaan, CT / Copywriting: Leslie Virostek / Additional Photography: Oxygen Group

believe. At Brimmer, our students believe that they have the power to