ď ? welcome to Harpeth Hall
ď ?
Welcome to a school with a tradition of excellence and a commitment to life-long learning. Here you will be encouraged to deepen your knowledge, explore new opportunities, and learn how you can make a difference. Harpeth Hall will challenge you to realize your potential and to go beyond your expectations.
Go Beyond Your Expectations |
“The incredible atmosphere of academic excellence and an excitement to learn is what I love about Harpeth Hall. When I walk in the doors, I feel like every day will be an adventure where I will learn something new.� Margaret, junior
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ď ?
H
arpeth Hall
is a school of visionary educators who continue to expand and adapt a challenging, girl-centered curriculum to prepare young women for the world they will lead. From 5th through 12th grades, our technologyrich classrooms provide our students with the 21st century skills they need to become critical thinkers, confident leaders, and effective
innovative problem solvers.
21
st
century classrooms
On any given day, a
The Kite Runner.
middle school Spanish
Our classrooms feature
class may Skype with
hands-on, project-based,
students in Spain, and
and interdisciplinary
an algebra class might
learning. Our students
manipulate TI-84
learn to set priorities,
graphing calculators
develop decision-
to collect and analyze
making skills, and value
data to determine linear
the process of the
relationships. At the
educational experience.
same time, an upper school biology class is sequencing DNA while an English class is using Google Earth mashup combining satellite imagery, videos, and photographs to explore Khaled Hosseini’s novel
Go Beyond Your Expectations | 3
visionary Harpeth Hall’s college preparatory curriculum is designed around how girls learn best. It is interdisciplinary, integrated, hands-on, and project-based.
4 | Come to Harpeth Hall
ď ?
I
t is a dynamic time to
as they enter an even
be a Harpeth Hall student.
more competitive
Our graduates will lead
workforce. Harpeth Hall
a world that is increas-
graduates embrace new
ingly diverse, global, and
literacy competencies
technologically advanced.
that include the ability to assess, interpret,
Harpeth Hall is a national
analyze, synthesize,
technology leader in
and communicate in
the independent school
multimedia formats.
community. Access to
Additionally, because we
technology throughout
are a founding member of
the campus facilitates
the nationally recognized
learning and gives our
Online School for Girls,
students a powerful
our students have more
advantage in their educa-
opportunities to expand
tional careers as well as a
their knowledge through
heightened preparedness
online learning.
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Harpeth Hall’s mission is to develop responsible citizens who have global perspectives and make meaningful contributions to their communities and the world.
6 | Come to Harpeth Hall
A
prepared
Community Citizens
t Harpeth Hall,
are more honorable than
instilling the value of
giving back to the com-
community service in our
munity, helping those who
students is an extremely
are in need and doing
important part of our mis-
one’s part to make the
sion to help young women
world a better place. Our
prepare for a well-rounded
service learning program
and rewarding life. All
not only prepares our girls
Harpeth Hall students
to be better community
participate in meaningful
service providers, but it
service learning oppor-
also inspires them to make
tunities, developing
service an important part
their skills and talents to
of their lives.
address local, national, and international issues
Spirit of Service Facts:
and deepening their
• 100 percent voluntary
understanding of social responsibility. One of the pledges of a Harpeth Hall graduate is to “live honorably,” and
participation • 13,000 volunteer hours annually • 150-plus organizations served annually
we believe few things Go Beyond Your Expectations | 7
“Traveling abroad is the most edifying experience you can have. By being exposed to a different culture, you are naturally widening your worldview and becoming better educated.� Emily Hong, class of 2010 College Choice: Yale University
ď ?
T
he Harpeth Hall
international exchange
knowledge by taking
graduate finds herself in
opportunities. Harpeth
courses not offered
a world where she must
Hall prepares graduates
through the standard
be prepared to live and
for new ways of thinking,
curriculum, to interact
work not in one culture
living, and working in the
with citizens from other
but many cultures. Our
21st century.
countries through aca-
globally based curriculum
8 | Come to Harpeth Hall
demic travel, or to con-
offers Middle Eastern
For many students,
nect their world-class
and Asian studies in the
our signature Winterim
education with real-world
Middle School and World
program is a pivotal expe-
experience through
History in the Upper
rience. Offered for three
internships in Nashville,
School. Other initiatives
weeks in January for
New York City, Washington
include adding Mandarin
upper school students,
D.C., and beyond.
Chinese as a world
Winterim gives girls a
language and expanding
chance to broaden their
worldview Our international ex-
China, France, Germany,
changes provide students
South Africa, and Spain.
with opportunities to immerse themselves in
Through our international
the cultures of various
exchanges and our glob-
countries and develop
ally centered curriculum,
worldwide connections.
we have made the world
These experiences provide
our classroom and are
our students with aware-
preparing our students to
ness, understanding, and
become global leaders.
appreciation of others and how they live. Currently, we offer international exchanges with schools in Go Beyond Your Expectations | 9
“I always feel as if I am part of this big, loving community of hundreds of smart girls who challenge me to do my best every day.� Halle, junior
10 | Come to Harpeth Hall
supportive
Life-long Friends
ď ?
A
sk any Harpeth
traditions serve as guides.
Hall student what she
Harpeth Hall’s mission, as
likes best about Harpeth
shared by our predecessor
Hall and you will likely
schools, Ward Seminary
hear enthusiastic descrip-
for Young Ladies (1865)
tions about the opportu-
and Ward-Belmont (1913),
nities to make life-long
is to provide excellence
friendships. Because we
in education for young
are an all-girls’ school,
women. This mission
our students can be who
continues to provide
they are without feeling
inspiration and identity to
the pressure to censor
the entire Ward-Belmont
themselves. Harpeth Hall
and Harpeth Hall com-
is a place where learning
munity from the past into
and laughing co-mingle,
the future.
where friendships and
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mentor “I have never met a group of adults more eager to impart knowledge to students. They are absolutely willing to give any and all help necessary to a student to make her academic career as successful as possible.� Kate, senior
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H
arpeth Hall’s
faculty is one of our greatest strengths and is at the heart of our excellent educational outcomes. Recruited nationally, our exceptional faculty is devoted to our mission of providing an education tailored to the needs and gifts of girls. Well before classes begin each day, they meet with students to review concepts or answer homework questions. Well into the evening, they gather in the auditorium or bleachers to cheer on our girls. Their roles in the lives of our students reach beyond classroom teacher. They serve as role models, mentors, confidants, advisors, coaches, club sponsors, and friends. Additionally, our faculty is made up of seasoned educators. They bring an average of 17 years teaching experience and 80% hold advanced degrees. Always engaged in ongoing professional development, our faculty’s pursuit of knowledge models life-long learning for our students.
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“Harpeth Hall lives out its mission to create confident leaders. I always thought of my high school experience as intensely academic, and it was once I was gone that I realized how many ways the education fostered my leadership skills as well.� Margaret Walker, class of 2008, Princeton University
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accomplished
Future Leaders
ď ?
A
t Harpeth Hall,
being a leader is more than being captain of a team or president of a club. A Harpeth Hall leader is a young woman who models integrity, respects others and herself, is always learning, understands her actions make a difference, acts when she sees a need, has a positive attitude, inspires others, listens thoughtfully, communicates effectively and
and hone this essential
understands when to lead
life skill. Participation in
and when to follow.
more than forty school
At Harpeth Hall, students learn that the responsibilities of leadership come our way every day and that there are multiple ways to be leaders.
clubs provides students with numerous leadership development skills including organization, teamwork, and communication.
Collaborative classroom
Leadership development
assignments give students
is intentional at Harpeth
the chance to lead teams.
Hall, because we know
Public speaking oppor-
our students are the
tunities allow students
faces of the future.
to express themselves
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champion
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H
arpeth Hall
59 percent of upper
has always been on the
school students partici-
cutting edge of girls’
pate in athletics. Harpeth
interscholastic athletics.
Hall fields more than 45
In fact, in the late 1800s,
teams in 11 upper school
The Ward Seminary for
sports and 10 middle
Young Ladies, Harpeth Hall’s predecessor school, had the first girls’ varsity basketball team in the South and one of the first in the nation. Three alumnae are Olympians: cross-country runner Margaret Groos Sloan, class of 1977, swimmer Tracy Caulkins Stockwell,
school sports. More
class of 1981, and eques-
importantly, we know
trian Linden Wiesman,
that athletic competi-
class of 1993.
tion develops leadership,
Superior coaching, stateof-the-art facilities and unmatched team spirit
“The richness of my athletic experience played an incredible role in my development physically, mentally, and emotionally. There is no price tag you can put on learning what trust, perseverance, grit, and sacrifice really look like.” Buffy Baker, class of 1987, Florida
State University graduate, varsity tennis coach
integrity, courage, and teamwork to achieve a common goal.
have earned Harpeth Hall
These are vital skills for
its winning legacy. Our
championship teams and
scholar-athletes have
for college and beyond. At
garnered nearly four doz-
Harpeth Hall, our athletes
en state championships.
are champions – on and
More than 90 percent of
off the playing field.
middle school and
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“Dance is called a discipline for a reason. Dancers are learning life lessons. They are learning time management, teamwork, meeting deadlines and performing to the best of their abilities.� Stephanie Hamilton, Harpeth Hall dance teacher
18 | Come to Harpeth Hall
celebrated
personal differences
ď ?
T
hrough our Fine
Arts program and co-curricular opportunities, students are exposed to the varied means of expression inherent in the disciplines of dance, drama, music, and the visual arts. Girls discover their passions and emotions and explore new ideas, subject matter, and cultures while creating their own artistic voices. The performing arts program offers dance,
faculty of professional art-
can participate in excep-
music, and theatre in an
ists. Each performing arts
tional dramatic, musical,
inspired and challenging
discipline is specific in
and comedy productions,
environment. Students
training, but all educate
award-winning choral
develop their performance
the individual student to
and orchestral ensembles,
skills with the support and
expand her abilities. In the
and excellent after-school
leadership of a committed
performing arts, students
dance companies. Go Beyond Your Expectations | 19
ď ?
T
he visual arts pro-
their students, encourag-
gram develops skills while
ing them to step outside
engaging a student’s
of their comfort zones
creativity and imagination.
while nurturing their in-
Our state-of-the-art facility
dividual talents. Whether
features three art studios,
picking up a paint brush
a photography lab and
for the first time or put-
darkroom, a videography
ting the finishing touches
lab, a media lab, and an
on her senior portfolio,
art history lecture hall.
each girl finds a sense of
Classes in the visual arts
accomplishment and a
are dynamic. The facilities
fresh perspective.
and faculty inspire. Within
20 | Come to Harpeth Hall
the context of different
Harpeth Hall’s compre-
media, teachers mentor
hensive Fine Arts program
individual provides students with ways to express their creative talents and energies. Within each discipline, students strengthen critical thinking skills, perceptual awareness, and problem solving. They learn to create, value, and support the arts for a lifetime. At Harpeth Hall, the fine arts are a vital, integral component of a complete education. Go Beyond Your Expectations | 21
22 | Come to Harpeth Hall
“What I learned at Harpeth Hall was that a woman can do anything she wants.” Beth Vaughn, class of 1971, Auburn University graduate, environmental engineer
remarkable
Dynamic Network
Our graduates become
successful alumnae who distinguish themselves in virtually every industry. Harpeth Hall alumnae are architects, artists, CEOs, doctors, engineers, lawyers, teachers, writers…
F
rom the time a girl
steps onto our campus until her commencement
the list is endless. What they have in common is the benefit of our outstanding all-girls college preparatory education.
day, we seek to instill in
As class of 2004 Harpeth
her a passion for knowl-
Hall alumna and Spelman
edge. Along the way, she
graduate Kim Hogg notes:
discovers her talents and
“It was at Harpeth Hall that
gets a glimpse into the world that she will lead. Each year, Harpeth Hall graduates young women well prepared to attend prestigious colleges and universities from coast to coast and abroad. Their intellect, talent, and will
I came into myself, that I became exposed to opportunities that shaped me in a way I did not then understand. It was here that I developed a spirit of service, a thirst for knowledge, and the ability to think critically and live honorably.”
to achieve set them apart.
Go Beyond Your Expectations | 23
Mission Statement
Harpeth Hall is an independent college preparatory school for young women where each student realizes her highest intellectual ability, becomes fluent in the sciences, the humanities, and the arts, and discovers her creative and athletic talents. Harpeth Hall develops responsible citizens who have global perspectives and make meaningful contributions to their communities and the world. With a tradition of excellence and a commitment to life-long learning, Harpeth Hall educates young women to think critically, to lead confidently, and to live honorably.
Core Purpose
Our core purpose is to nurture a sense of wonder; to instill a will and facility for learning; and to promote cultural understanding, environmental stewardship, and service to others. The pursuit of these goals will inspire students and faculty to combine knowledge with goodness and reflection with action.
Values Statement
The Harpeth Hall community – students and faculty – has chosen respect, integrity, individuality, and trust to be our guiding principles. These values reflect our reverence for expressing kindness toward and acceptance of others; our commitment to diversity, forgiveness, and achieving one’s personal best; and our dedication to the service of others.
Financial Aid
Harpeth Hall believes all bright and talented young women who yearn for an exceptional educational opportunity should find a welcoming and open door at our school regardless of their family’s resources.
Admission
For further information please contact: The Harpeth Hall Office of Admission by calling 615-346-0126 or emailing admission@harpethhall.org.
The Harpeth Hall School | 3801Hobbs Road | Nashville, TN 37215-0207 | 615-297-9543 | www.harpethhall.org Harpeth Hall does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, or disability in the admission and educational policies, financial aid programs, employment practices and other school administered programs.