Academic Philosophy Portrait of a Learner &

Every school has a mission statement or academic philosophy, a brief, sometimes not so brief, 'summary' of its purpose. Nancy Barkan, assistant head of school for academics, said Cardinal Gibbons' new academic philosophy goes beyond just a simple statement.

"Through the strategic planning process, it was necessary to articulate better who we are and what we believe academically," she said.

Gibbons has taken the idea of positing lofty ideals for the 'purpose' of their school and doing something more revolutionary; they have created a Portrait of a Learner derived from their Academic Philosophy. How is that different?

Director of Studies, Treve Lumsden, said the Portrait of a Learner grew out of the discussion around how you could convey who and what a Gibbons student is to incoming students and families.

"We asked ourselves, 'If you worked in the area and encountered a Gibbons grad or a Gibbons student, and the student wasn't in uniform, would you know this kid went to Cardinal Gibbons?'" Lumsden said.

The process included:

• Discussions with seniors during their exit interviews.

• Feedback from more than 50 educators.

• A focus on the goals outlined in the school's strategic plan.

"Rather than having 'grad' as a focus, we wanted 'Learner’ in there because it encompasses not just our kids, but our teachers too," Head of School Jeff Bell said.

"If we say that Gibbons students learn with purpose, you could also flip it around to say that Cardinal Gibbons educators teach with purpose," Barkan said.

Both students and educators are learning how to creatively incorporate the traits outlined in the Portrait of a Learner into their daily lessons and interactions.

"How do you teach compassion in AP Statistics?" Lumsden said. "You could use math to look at various societal problems. There is always a way to find the link, especially if you are inquisitive."

Lumsden said giving everyone the same language to use makes the school stronger academically.

"We have a sense of purpose in what we are doing and a sense of purpose in what we give the kids," he said.

The academics team has tied the Portrait of a Learner to growth plans and professional development.

"Teachers are often purposeful and compassionate; now, they are focusing on being better at inquiry and creating a classroom where the teacher is asking questions," Barkan said. "The students are facilitating meaningful discussion or exploration through inquiry."

Bell believes the most exciting tenet is 'Inquisitive.'

"It represents what we are trying to do as we move the academic program forward from a traditional teacher-centered environment to a more student-centered, discussionbased format,” Bell said, "We want to craft an environment where there's a greater sense of purpose that transcends just a transcript and speaks to the higher points of our mission."

-Mike Watson