gordon school
ACADEMIC RACIALLY DIVERSE CHILD CENTERED child by child
The Gordon School is a racially diverse nursery through eighth grade coeducational independent school in East Providence, Rhode Island. Child by child, the Gordon School community cultivates successful students by inspiring joyful learning, encouraging intellectual leadership, fostering an empathic spirit, and stimulating a drive for positive societal impact.
www.gordonschool.org
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a place of discovery over one hundreD years of child-centered learning
The Gordon School was founded in 1910 by pediatrician Dr. Helen West Cooke for her son Gordon. Gordon was the first coeducational private school in Rhode Island. The academic program was filled with discovery and challenge, supported collaboration and hands-on learning, and encouraged individual expression and imagination. Windows were left open for students to have fresh air year round and foster good health and clear thinking. Today, students benefit from an outstanding curriculum that educates both the heart and mind with equal care, as the plaque outside the front door of the school states.
www.gordonschool.org/history
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innovation & challenge Developing 21st Century Learners
A Gordon education requires children to use their natural curiosity and imagination while supporting their optimistic thinking, their eagerness to learn, and their willingness to be challenged in all areas of study. The academic curriculum is rooted in multicultural practice that allows students to master critical thinking skills, problem-solving strategies, and intellectual leadership. Students learn to apply skills to everyday life, to understand the societal and community impact of their choices, and to function within and across similar and different ethnic and economic groups. The inclusive community supports anti-bias education as students are asked to solve math and science problems, write from a unique perspective, conduct research on issues with varying opinions, analyze data, debate an issue, or report a finding. Across all grade levels students demonstrate their mastery of math, science, English, history, and modern language skills, through lessons that instill thinking strategies and social competencies ensuring high academic performance and long term success in life.
www.gordonschool.org/academics
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developing academic skills
Intelligent, Inquisitive Learners Academic classes are small, allowing for teachers to carefully guide, question, challenge, and push a student to think beyond their own experiences and begin to construct new knowledge. Organizational skills, study habits, prioritizing work, and understanding how to plan ahead are key elements for students to master. At all grade levels students are exposed to a variety of subjects and role models with differing life experiences that require them to think beyond their natural inclination and utilize newly acquired problem-solving skills. Teachers require their students to think for themselves and motivate them to delve deeply into subject matters. As a result, Gordon develops passionate, intelligent, and inquisitive learners who appreciate the different viewpoints that arise in all classrooms and are well prepared to lead and participate actively in all areas of study.
www.gordonschool.org/academics
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encouraging intellectual leadership the importance of Nursery through eighth grade Education
A nursery through eighth grade education allows students to mature and develop their selfconfidence and sense of identity in a small community catered specifically to their needs. The balance of a strong academic curriculum coupled with caring and respectful teachers results in high levels of achievement. Teachers guide and coach students to produce their best quality of work without the distraction of older students. Therefore, students take more risks, try new activities, and often acquire new interests and skills. Gordon teachers are proud of their young leaders and will ask them to present or display their final project or piece for others to benefit from. At each grade level students are instructed in math, science, writing, and reading. Classes in art, music, physical education, library, and technology complete a student’s experience. Modern language instruction begins at Young Kindergarten with formal Spanish instruction and at fifth grade students can continue with Spanish or study French. For a complete description of curriculum offerings please refer to the curriculum guide.
www.gordonschool.org/aboutgordon
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reinforcing connections with the world
Information Literacy & Technology All students use the more than 20,000 volumes in the Joukowsky Family Library. The two full time librarians have developed age appropriate reading and language skill programs that directly impact each student. Information literacy is a critical component as students develop research skills and use online resources. The library includes a second floor specifically designed for Middle School students, and features one of the most extensive collection of books for young adult readers in the area. Technology plays an essential role in academic work at all grade levels. Early Childhood students explore topics of study using iPads, Lower School students work on programming and engineering, and Middle School students create powerful research projects that require extensive use of online resources and visual media. Students use technology to construct knowledge, support academic skills, communicate with others, create visual and multimedia reports, and reinforce their connections with the world.
www.gordonschool.org/technology
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inspiring joyful learning Creative Expression
Students are encouraged to recognize and express their own creativity through the visual and performing arts. Topics from classroom study are often integrated into art projects and music performances as students put their own ideas into action. An annual visiting artist program is a highlight each year, allowing students to work with and learn from an internationally acclaimed artist.
All students experience the joy of self-expression as they gain musical literacy. As students move through the three divisions at Gordon, they can be part of large and small choruses, instrumental ensembles, a jazz band and a percussion group, as well as try out for a highly sought-after spot in the Middle School a cappella group, the G-Notes. In addition, students participate in theatre, musicals, and many small grade level performances as their creative expression fuels their public speaking skills and their self-esteem.
www.gordonschool.org/academics
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healthy & balanced a th l etics a n d w el l n ess
The school fundamentally values team and individual competitive play, sportsmanship, physical exercise, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Students explore and expand their athletic talents throughout their time at Gordon. Each student graduates with skill based knowledge, a competitive drive, a solid understanding of how to keep one’s body healthy, and is well prepared to bring out their best in any athletic endeavor. Weekly physical education classes and daily outdoor recess on two large playgrounds invite students to maintain an active and physical lifestyle. Students develop motor skills that assist them with higher level play and the discipline of playing a sport. Competitive team sports are offered after school beginning at fifth grade and include; soccer, field hockey, cross country, basketball, tennis, track and field, and lacrosse.
www.gordonschool.org/physicaleducation
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POSITIVE SOCIETAL IMPACT Community Leaders
It is essential for Gordon students who are 21st century learners to understand, embrace, and sustain a diverse and inclusive community where all voices are heard and valued. Students are required to be active listeners, planners, and collaborators as they learn to be leaders of the future. At a young age students explore and use the twelve-acre suburban campus to its fullest. Students can be found taking water samples in the pond to ensure a healthy and vibrant environment, observe and collect information about the variety of trees on campus to create a guide for others to follow, host student council food and clothing drives, release newly hatched polliwogs into the pond, plant seeds in the community garden, work with East Providence seniors, serve as role models for younger students through the buddies program, and manage the schoolwide recycling program. Students capitalize on the campus resources and assist with the stewardship of the facility, skills that will last a lifetime.
www.gordonschool.org/annualhighlights
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CONFIDENT & COMPETENT GRADUATES Eighth Graders are annually recruited by secondary schools
Individual secondary school placement counseling is provided to all eighth grade students and their parents to guide them in selecting the right match at the high school level. Gordon students are recruited and highly sought after by many high schools who look for confident, articulate, well-rounded, and responsible citizens. Each fall a secondary school fair allows eighth grade students and parents to gain valuable high school placement information, meet and talk with Admission Directors, learn about the process of applying to schools, and begin to weigh all options. The Head of School, along with the Middle School Division Director and Secondary School Placement Counselor work closely with students and their parents to provide advice and carefully navigate them through the entire process. Gordon students matriculate to independent day and boarding schools, parochial schools, and public schools throughout New England. On average, Gordon students have placed at one of their top two choices for high school.
www.gordonschool.org/ssp
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Beyond 3:15 pm m a th cl u b, robotics, a th l etics, th ea tre, soccer, cook in g , m us i c al i ns t r um e nt s , rock cl im bin g , d a n ce, k a y a k in g , m a rtia l a rts, a n d m ore
For many students, the school day continues until 5:30 p.m. and is filled with opportunities to play on the playground, learn a new skill, practice a talent, or participate in sports with classmates and friends. Age appropriate enrichment classes focused on a particular skill (math club, robotics, theatre, soccer, cooking, musical instruments, rock climbing, dance, kayaking, martial arts, and more) and two age appropriate care programs ensure students have a varied menu of engaging activities to enjoy in the afternoon. The Gator program, designed for students in nursery through fourth grade, features art projects, non-competitive games, sports clinics, group play, and quiet activities to help the youngest students transition after a busy day. The Young Adult Program, for students in fifth through eighth grade, provides afterschool care with just the right balance of supervision and independence. In a safe and supportive environment students start their homework, participate in group games, work in the computer lab, study in the library, or cheer on their peers at an athletic event.
www.gordonschool.org/afterschool
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GORDON SCHOOL
45 Maxfield Avenue East Providence RI 02914 www.gordonschool.org tel 401-434-3833
g ordon school
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