who we are
Northwood School is an independent, co-educational college preparatory school serving a boarding and day population of 175 students in grades 9 to 12. Located in the Olympic village of Lake Placid, New York, Northwood offers students a unique combination of rigorous academic preparation, wilderness appreciation, and athletic competition. Northwood students are a diverse population representing fifteen countries and twenty-two states.
the mission
Since its founding over one-hundred years ago, Northwood School has fostered intellectual, social, and physical development, graduating young people confident and prepared for college and beyond. Graduates move forward into careers and family with an education grounded in traditional college preparation and enhanced by the understanding that they are part of a broader social network. As seniors ring the traditional Victory Bell at the close of their graduation ceremony, their readiness embodies the school’s motto, “Strength through health and knowledge.”
the place
Lake Placid, New York, lies near the heart of one of the country’s largest wilderness areas, the Adirondack Park. Moreover, the village is steeped in Olympic history, having hosted the Winter Olympic Games in 1932 and 1980. Northwood students experience much of that history for themselves, playing hockey on the same rink where the USA won its gold medal, beating the USSR in the “Miracle on Ice”, and skiing the Olympic trails at nearby Whiteface Mountain. The eighty-acre school campus is situated just across Mirror Lake from the village, within walking distances to shops and restaurants.
Adirondack Park
playground, classroom, and home . . . The park is a 6,000,000-acre patchwork of public and private land, the largest wilderness preserve in the Eastern United States. The surrounding lakes, rivers, forests, and cliffs are central to the Northwood experience. On our annual Mountain Day, every student climbs one of the High Peaks, logging a cumulative mileage equal to the distance between Lake Placid and Florida!
The Program Academics: With the guidance of our academic director, students usually enroll in five courses. Most are full-year offerings, but some are half-year courses. In addition to the core course work of mathematics, English, science, social science, and foreign language, Northwood offers myriad other avenues for specialization in areas of art and music.
Academic responsibilities get priority over all else we do at Northwood. Incoming students must understand that the fun stuff - hockey, skiing, climbing - only happens when the class work is done. The academic director routinely keeps students back on campus to catch up on work, even when there’s a game or race. That reality is usually incentive enough to keep students on track.
Athletics: Northwood School has a long history of outdoor experience and athletic excellence. Just as students are encouraged to use their minds, so are they asked to work their bodies. In addition to traditional daily athletic programs like soccer, tennis, and skiing, there are also recreational possibilities such as rock climbing, kayaking, and golf. Most students join a competitive team for one or two seasons, and then try one of the outdoor experiential offerings to balance their athletic regimen.
Personal Development and Community Living: Northwood School is deeply committed to the idea that all of us — students and teachers alike — are responsible for its quality. Dorm life teaches the compromises and responsibilities of group living. Day students join in as full partners in student leadership organizations, such as the student council, the judiciary board, and the international students advisory council. Real growth happens when you look beyond yourself and focus on the role you can play in the broader social network.
Teaching and learning . . .
The essential part of the Northwood formula lies in the relationship between young people and good, caring adults. Faculty at Northwood have a wealth of experience, averaging over 17 years in education. Moreover, they integrate a wide array of interests into their daily work with students. Guitar, ceramics, community service, poetry, horseback riding, photography, snowboarding — if there’s a teacher with a passion, there will be a following of students learning something fun.
Personal Growth The more visible parts of a Northwood education will be counted in classes attended, homework assignments completed, and games won and lost. Equally important is the personal and social development. The Northwood formula is both simple and profound: Be yourself. Admit your shortcomings and devise a plan for fixing them. Make friends. Work hard. Look adults in the eye and respectfully speak your mind. Listen. Accept guidance. We welcome diversity in viewpoints. We enjoy idiosyncrasy. But we won’t play games. Our relationships are deep and real, and when you make those kinds of connections with friends and faculty, you won’t want to let them down. As early as Parents’ Weekend in October, parents report that they have seen noticeable changes. “He seems to be walking taller” or “She struck up a dinnertime conversation yesterday about international politics — we were amazed.” In every facet of its social, academic, and athletic life, Northwood School lives out its core values of respect, responsibility, courage, compassion, and integrity.
Trying
and winning . . . The rewards of courage, persistence, and teamwork are found in almost every element of life at Northwood. You don’t need experience. You just need to try. Beginners experience rock and ice climbing. All coaches at Northwood follow a developmental model of coaching. While teams are successful on the field and ski hill, the development of each individual student athlete is the coach’s primary responsibility.
Life as a Northwood Student Once you’ve joined the Northwood School community, your life will be a busy one. After a whirlwind orientation period, you’ll settle into a busy routine. First, you will get to know people. Most boarding students have roommates, and with the friendly guidance of resident assistants and other returning students, newcomers quickly figure out that dormitory living requires compromise, patience, and a sense of responsibility — all qualities that will serve you for a lifetime. On each dormitory hall is a faculty member (usually backed by a supporting staff of toddlers, a dog or two, and a friendly spouse), someone who will quickly become a big part of your life here. Day students are equally immersed in school life, most staying on campus well after regular school hours, either to participate in extra-curricular activities or just to spend time with friends in the dorms. Breakfast begins at 6:50 am (attendance optional but encouraged), with forty-minute class periods starting at 7:40 am. Classes are lively and purposeful, designed to strengthen skills ultimately needed for college. You will leave each class with a homework assignment, and while free periods might tempt you to congregate in common areas, you will quickly learn that time management is vital and that free periods are probably best spent in the library or a quiet corner in the dining room to get an early jump on the evening’s homework. At 9:00 am each day there is a thirty minute flex-time for teachers and students to meet. Classes end at 2:30 pm, followed by sports and activities. Students can opt for wilderness skills offerings, such as rock-climbing, hiking, trail work, and kayaking; or they can join competitive teams like soccer, hockey, crew, and lacrosse. During the winter, when days are short, the sports period begins right after lunch, with classes resuming again in the late afternoon. Regardless of the season, everyone who tries out makes a team, and regardless of the choice, each activity will be demanding and gratifying. Student-athletes at Northwood find their lives really busy — and really satisfying. Rigorous training and travel put demands on students that will seem daunting at first, but after some practice and some missteps, the routine will be just the kind of preparation you’ll need in college. Graduates frequently boast that balancing things in college was surprisingly easy after their Northwood experience.
Admissions the right fit . . .
Admissions to Northwood School means matching the needs of the applicant with the offerings of the program. The question isn’t so much “are you good enough for the school?” or “is this school good enough for you?” Instead, it’s finding out whether you and the school are a good match. That inquiry usually starts with a call or an email to our admissions office.
Experience For Yourself We will follow our conversation up with some printed material, and if you like what you see, you will fill out an application, gather required transcripts and letters of recommendation, and send them to our admissions team. You will also be invited to write a short essay, one that will give you an opportunity to tell us who you are.
Your interview day will be a friendly and informal opportunity to immerse yourself in the life of the school and to imagine what it might be like to be a part of it. You will meet students and faculty, and you will attend a few classes in the company of a student guide.
The director of admissions will sit down with you and your family or guardians to discuss your aspirations and answer any further questions about the school. If you are a serious athlete, artist, musician, or outdoor enthusiast, you will also meet your future coaches and teachers to discuss their specialties.
If you and our admissions team are confident that you can both succeed at our level and at the same time enhance our school community with your contributions, you will be welcomed to join Northwood School.
Northwood values diversity in all areas and will not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, nationality, or disability.
Olympic traditions . . .
Northwood’s heritage of athletic excellence is legendary. It’s a hundred-year legacy woven into the cultural fabric of the school. Photos lining our Wall of Recognition give visitors a glimpse into some of Northwood’s proud traditions: Its steady stream of National Hockey League players, its continuous run of Northwood representatives in every Winter Olympics since 1964. On your admissions tour you will meet 2002 Silver Medalist Andrea Kilbourne-Hill. Once enrolled, you and your friends might be surprised to find that your physics teacher Matt Roy learned about forces the hard way, as a bob-sled driver in the 1988 Calgary Games. And even though it was over thirty years ago that the world heard Al Michaels ask, “Do you believe in miracles?” every new hockey player feels a sense of awe and history stepping for the first time onto the big ice of the Olympic Center.
Athletics Northwood’s culture of challenge isn’t limited to elite competitions. As an alternative to traditional team sports, many of our students opt for exciting and fulfilling alternatives such as rock and ice climbing (both top-roped and multi-pitch), winter camping, white-water kayaking, snow shoeing, and cross-country skiing. With Whiteface Mountain and the East’s biggest vertical drop only nine miles away, many students spend their afternoons and weekends skiing and riding the slopes. Moreover, our scheduling flexibility and our appreciation of achievement allow specialists to pursue golf, figure skating, speed skating, horseback riding, ski jumping, and freestyle skiing at the world-class venues right at our doorstep.
Yes, we have a traditional lineup of team sports like lacrosse and tennis, soccer and ice hockey. But Northwood School, Lake Placid, and the wild Adirondack Mountains offer a whole lot more.
College
acceptances . . . A sampling of college acceptances over the last five years includes B oston C ollege B oston U niversity B owdoin C ollege C larkson U niversity C olby C ollege C olgate U niversity C onnecticut C ollege
C ornell U niversity F ordham U niversity H amilton C ollege H obart and W illiam S mith C olleges M ichigan S tate U niversity N ortheastern U niversity P enn S tate U niversity
R ensselaer P olytechnic I nstitute S kidmore C ollege S t . L awrence U niversity S t . M ichael ’ s C ollege S yracuse U niversity U niversity of V ermont W esleyan U niversity
What’s Ahead For You Foremost, Northwood is a college preparatory school. All elements of the school focus ultimately on the preparation for and application to colleges that fit students’ aspirations and abilities. The college preparation process starts in the sophomore year, with preliminary testing and introduction to some of the elements of standardized testing like SATs and ACTs. Juniors are assigned one of a team of college counselors who help them and their parents think about college options and narrow their list of appropriate schools. Senior year is busy with regular mandatory SAT and ACT preparation classes in math and English. When it’s time to make applications, individual teachers collaborate with college counselors to create a detailed and personal letter of recommendation. And, of course, parents play an important role discussing options and strategies with college counselors and following along in the application process.
100-year Heritage the stories continue . . .
In 2005 we proudly celebrated our one-hundredth year with a birthday party few will ever forget. Graduates from as far back as the early 1930s shared stories with new alumni readying themselves for college. Young or old, their Northwood experience was essentially the same: a solid foundation for a rewarding life.
Staying Connected Get ready to make friends. Graduates tell us that the relationships they made during their Northwood years were among the most powerful of their lives. The wins and the losses, the good weather and the bad, the free-time Saturdays and the pre-exam jitters — life at Northwood is a shared experience.
Students at Northwood School get to know their teachers almost as well as their peers, faculty members who are so much more than just classroom lecturers. They share cheeseburgers on their history teacher’s porch. They paddle white-water rapids with their music teacher. They sit around a campfire with their English teacher. The Northwood magic is based on person-to-person, not role-to-role, relationships. And when you know that adult as well as you do, you feel a little more obligation to be yourself and do your best.
Northwood faculty also keep in close contact with parents. Whether it’s through email updates of class progress, late-night phone consultations, or face-to-face meetings, the school understands that parents are full partners in the process of educating and raising their children. (Over the years we’ve seen many parents continue their Lake Placid visits long after their son or daughter has graduated.)
The connections that Northwood students make extend well beyond campus. Community service is initiated and led by students, and rather than mandating a number of hours as a graduation requirement, Northwood has a tradition of enthusiastic volunteerism. Most years our students collectively log around a thousand hours at a local nursing home, helping out with youth sports, teaching middle schoolers how to ice climb, reading to kindergarten kids, or keeping village streets litter-free.
Chris Ely ’71, Co-founder of Applegate Organic & Natural Meats speaks with students about the amazing careers that await them after college.
Academic Courses ENGLISH Introduction to Literature and Composition is a full-year freshman introduction to composition, literary analysis, and vocabulary. A reading list that includes Of Mice and Men, Catcher in the Rye, Lord of the Flies, Julius Caesar, and To Kill a Mockingbird is supplemented by regular work in vocabulary, grammar, and poetry. Methods and Meaning in English is a full-year sophomore course that takes a more intensive look at sentence and paragraph construction as the basis for excellence in writing. Highlights include weekly writer’s workshop, in which students present their work for class editing on a wide screen. Literature includes The Sea Wolf, Life of Pi, The Merchant of Venice, Death of a Salesman, A Lesson Before Dying, and Cannery Row. In the spring term, students begin practicing for the writing component of the SATs. Literacy Themes and Analytical Writing is a junior-level course with a focus on American literature, designed to complement study in US History. The Scarlet Letter and A Streetcar Named Desire are two of the many works of literature that explore the American experience. Longer paper assignments ask students to hone their research, rhetorical, and analytical skills. Advanced Composition and World Literature is essentially a college-level freshmen English course with creative and analytical writing assignments, lively classroom debate, and a rigorous reading schedule that includes Heart of Darkness, All the King’s Men, The Mayor of Casterbridge, The Stranger, and The Great Gatsby. AP Literature and Composition considers the most essential issues with which novelists, poets, playwrights, and philosophers have concerned themselves and to discuss and to evaluate the answers which they have suggested. In the course of consideration we will focus not only on what is being said but on how it is said through study of literary techniques (syntax, tone, imagery, indirection et al) and perspectives (psychological, historical, philosophical, and philological). It is expected that students will be vigorous and insightful
contributors to class discussions and proud authors of dozens of analytical, expository, college application and creative essays (some will be the forty-minute AP-type assignments; others, much longer pieces). Revision of many assignments is mandatory, but students may improve any out-of-class theme’s grade by meticulous attention to specific corrections and general editorial suggestions.
acquisition. Learning another language gives fresh perspective to one’s own native tongue, and it encourages the learner to look with fresh eyes at other cultures.
AP Language has two purposes: first, to teach—or, ideally, to locate and hone—the skills of critical reading and writing that one needs in order to do good work in collegiate humanities courses above the freshman level; and second, to prepare students for the Advanced Placement Examination in English Language and Composition. This course has as its chief aim the teaching of certain habits and skills in reading, thinking, and writing—not the study of a “canon,” or list, of literary masterworks that one must be able to discuss in order to pass for a well-educated owner and user of English.
French II, III, IV and V emphasize written and spoken expression, introducing students to French literature and the more sophisticated nuances of conversation. French III, IV, and V continue to develop advancing students of French in literature, writing, and culture.
Honors sections are available to qualified students in the junior and senior year.
Spanish II, III, IV and V are a continuation of the process. Classroom focus is on conversational Spanish, while homework includes practice in grammar and mechanics, along with reading literature as it pertains to Spanish-speaking cultures. Spanish III, IV, and V take students into more sophisticated literature. Authors include Neruda, Traven, and Matute.
ESL English as a Second Language ESL courses are offered to international students not yet fluent in English. Reading, writing, listening, and speaking are taught and practiced, all with the goal of full immersion into normal programming. ESL courses include geography, US history, and TOEFL preparation. ESL is also a platform for cultural literacy as it trains and encourages its participants to immerse themselves in the life of the school as preparation for full participation in American society.
French I is an introduction to French, beginning with basic vocabulary, verb conjugations and tenses, basic sentence constructions and vocalization of a new language.
Spanish I explores Spanish cultures, both in the Western Hemisphere and Spain as a welcome to the spoken and written language. Students learn basic vocabulary and grammar as they begin to build a foundation in a language that is fast becoming essential in the United States.
SOCIAL SCIENCE The Foundations of the Modern World melds world history, geography and cultures. The course will emphasis the foundations upon which all social science courses are based: research, writing, organization, memorization and critical thinking.
Instruction in French and Spanish is offered from levels I to V, beginning with basic vocabulary and sentence structure and moving on through conversation, rhetoric, cultural studies, and literary interpretation. Classes are small, and active participation is vital to acquisition of any foreign language.
The Modern World is designed mainly for 10th graders with an appropriate background in world history. The course looks at world geography as an underlying component of history, culture, politics, and resource development. Since the course includes several major papers, the skills of academic writing are introduced, including research methods, source citation, and overall paper presentation.
The goal of foreign language study is not limited solely to language
United States History is a junior-level course that covers the exploration
FOREIGN LANGUAGE
and development of the United States. Along the way, students are asked to challenge conventional interpretations and to understand history as a process, not just a chronology of events. Advanced Placement (AP) US History is available to qualified students. Politics looks at the current the state of world politics, including the competitions for power and the role of religious and ideological belief systems. Students will focus on particular areas of struggle, such as the conflicts in the Middle East, the emerging economic power in Asia, and the new shape of Europe. This is a junior and senior-level course. Sociology is an introductory elective course designed for upperclassmen. Sociology encourages students to look at social patterns, many of which they have long taken for granted. Customs and belief systems about death, marriage, sexuality, family structure, crime and punishment are among the topics covered. International Relations examines major issues in international relations today (such as terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, globalization and the growth of transnational agencies and economies, and the preponderance of failing States as a result of the spread of ethnic and religious intolerance) and explores examples of genocide in the previous century including events in Turkey, the Holocaust during World War II, Europe, Africa, Southeast Asia and the Balkans. Specific geographical regions of conflict such as the Korean Peninsula or the Balkans may also be investigated. The American Wilderness will explore the influence of the American landscape on artists, writers, environmentalists, and the American populace during the 19th century and the legacy that was created for the 20th century. Students will become familiar with issues of national identity and development. They will also explore the importance of wilderness preservation and conservation in conflict with economic growth and development. These themes will be explored through writings from Thomas Cole, George Catlin, John Muir, Henry David Thoreau, Roderick Nash, Alfred Runte, Aldo Leopold and other scholars. Landscape artists will also be examined as will their influence on changing 19th century perspectives about the wilderness. Adirondack Explorations is designed for seniors. Adirondack
Explorations examines the role of the Adirondack Wilderness in the modern world. Two books are required: the Adirondack Atlas, and Contested Terrain by Phil Terrie. The course will help students develop a working knowledge of the history of the Adirondack Park, and the many challenges the Adirondack Park managers face today. Two specific case studies (centered on the Mirror Lake watershed and the former Lake Placid Club) will anchor the course. The Vietnam Effect will examine the controversial American war in Vietnam from the point of view of both cultures, focusing on why it divided their populations and how it changed the political landscape of each country. It will study the causes of conflict during and after World War II, the path towards US involvement in Vietnam, crucial turning points in the conflict such as the Tet Offensive and the My Lai Massacre, and the impact of the war on American society. The class will place special emphasis on the experience of soldiers on the ground using visiting veterans, autobiographical sources, and selected works from the body of fiction written about the war. Anthropology is an introductory exploration of primitive and pre-state societies, covering physical anthropology, archaeology, basic concepts of culture, and cultural evolution. This is a halfyear upper-class offering. AP Psychology provides an overview of current psychological research methods and theories. Students will explore the therapies used by professional counselors and clinical psychologists and examine the reasons for normal human reactions: how people learn and think, the process of human development and human aggression, altruism, intimacy, and self-reflection. Students will study core psychological concepts, such as the brain and sense functions, and learn to gauge human reactions, gather information, and form meaningful syntheses. The equivalent of a 100-level college survey course, AP Psychology prepares students for the AP Exam and for further studies in psychology and life sciences. To help prepare students for the AP exams, each unit exam is designed to replicate the AP Psychology exam. Students are required to answer 60 questions within a 45 minute period and one Free Response question is assigned overnight. Students also participate in a variety of experiments. These range from quick in-class exercises to replications of famous experiments, as well as self-designed experiments. Psychology is an introductory study
that covers such diverse topics as neurology, dreams, sensory perception, deviant behavior, and learning theory. Along the way, the course introduces students to the major theories and theorists who have shaped modern thought. In addition to regular work in a textbook, students write a major research paper and design an experiment, from the initial formulation of a hypothesis through the testing, documentation, and reporting of their findings. Economics teaches students about choices and decision-making. It is the study of the process through which people seek to satisfy their wants, decisions manifested in consumer choices, investments, lending and borrowing, and governmental economic policy. Students learn about economic and financial principles, developing understandings and tools that will serve them well beyond their school years. Great Issues The Headmaster teaches this half-year elective course designed for the student with an interest in current moral, social, and political dilemmas. Each issue - religious freedom, abortion, civil rights, medical ethics - begins with a focused reading and moves on through brief, but well-supported position papers. This is a senior-level course. Ethics Many scholars have debated ethics, their place in society, their ability to be used to influence people and thought, their ties to religion, etc. This course will not focus on those debates, and the philosophers who theorized on the subjects. Rather, the course will focus on issues that affect us today, how ethics influence our decisions, and the reasoning that leads to unethical practices. The course aims to examine our role in the world and the effects of our actions. MATHEMATICS Algebra I All students take a full-year mathematics course. In the freshman year, it’s usually Algebra I, introducing students to the abstract nature of mathematics and developing competence in basic algebraic skills. Geometry strives to develop students’ analytical processes with a hands-on approach to geometric properties and an on-going connection to real-world situations. The course is designed to show the link between geometry and algebra, and to emphasize this connection whenever possible. Deductive reasoning is also encouraged by the gradual development of the proof,
and all traditional geometry topics are covered in this course. Algebra II continues the process for juniors and advanced sophomores, aiming at more sophisticated concepts and process such as polynomials, rational and irrational expressions, quadratic equations, and initial exposure to analytic geometry, trigonometry, and matrices. Algebra III/Trigonometry is designed for students who won’t be taking honors-level math but will still be preparing for mathematics courses in college. The course material is an extension of the skills and concepts taught in Algebra II. Pre-Calculus is offered to qualified juniors and seniors, as demonstrated either through honor-level work or SAT scores in the 500-or-better range. Topics include function-analysis, trigonometry, exponentials and logarithms, probability and statistics. Calculus is an honors-level course aiming to develop an understanding of the basic concepts of calculus and the achievement of solid skills in differential and integral calculus. This is a challenging course that requires precision, hard work, and creative problem solving. AP Calculus is offered to a select group of students designated by the academic director and the math department chairman. Statistics is an introduction to college-level statistics, covering probability, measures of central tendency and distribution of data, hypothesis testing, design study and data gathering, and linear regression. Moreover, students are asked to think critically about the use and abuse of statistics by researchers, policy advocates, politicians, and marketers.
SCIENCE Biology begins with an overview of major theories of life origins and moves on to analyses of the forces that shape it. The study includes a focus on life at the cellular level, including genetics and human anatomy. Geology looks into the structure of the earth via examinations of mineralogy, plate tectonics, and surface geomorphology. Field trips and laboratory study help students develop an appreciation of geologic time and the dynamics of landscape process and formation.
Chemistry Classroom lectures and nightly homework assignments introduce the theoretical concepts of chemistry, such as atomic theory, chemical bonding, and organic chemistry, while laboratory exercises demonstrate the practical applications of the study. Topics here include energy use, lasers, and acid rain as it affects the Adirondacks. Physics develops the spirit and methodology of the scientific inquiry through investigative laboratory experiments. Topics include mechanics, electricity, forces, optics, measurements, and scientific notation. Friendly competitions in bridge building (and breaking), rocket launching, and ski jump egg dropping make Physics one of the more visible subjects on campus. Environmental Science examines the critical environmental issues facing the citizens of the earth. Global warming, ozone depletion, pollutions, waste management, energy alternatives, recycling, and land use planning are important to all students, whether or not they plan to focus on the sciences in college or careers. The Adirondack Park provides the setting for field trips and hands-on observation of human interaction with earth processes. AP Biology This is a challenging full-year college-level introductory study of biology, offered to qualified students with a background in biology and chemistry and a record of achievement in the sciences. This laboratory course examines life from the molecular and cellular levels on through heredity, evolution, organisms, and populations. AP Environmental Science provides students with the scientific concepts and methods required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world, to identify and analyze environmental problems both natural and man-made, to evaluate the risks associated with these problems, and to examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them. Human Biology uses a hands-on approach to learning the structure and function of human body systems. It will expand the student’s current knowledge of how the human body works starting with the molecules of life and continuing through all major body systems. During the comprehensive study of the systems, students will come to
understand more fully how their daily activities affect their health now and in the future. Students will also relate how disease leads to loss of functioning in the systems. Health This is an important look at decision making taught by the athletic trainer. Life-style choices require candid discussion and honest appraisal of behaviors and consequences. Sexual behaviors, drug and alcohol use, diet, depression, training - these are just some of the topics that young people face daily. The more they know here, the more likely they’ll make the healthiest choices.
STUDY SKILLS PROGRAM This program serves all 9th graders, new 10th graders as well as students with learning differences. It consists of a daily guided study hall supervised by a team of experienced teachers with expertise in the learning strategies we will teach. The goal of the program is to help students become self-regulated learners who manage their own learning process, choose goals, and utilize effective learning strategies. The study hall teachers partner with the subject teachers to help students master the Seven Essential Study Skills: • Keeping track of assignments and • other obligations. • Asking questions in class and seeking help outside of class. • Showing up on time and with • • • necessary supplies to class and • other school commitments. • Turning in school assignments • • that are complete and timely. • Completing long assignments by • • working on them incrementally. • Studying effectively for tests and • quizzes. • Demonstrating consistent effort • in all classes. THE ARTS The Arts, broadly defined, play a big role in both the life of students and in the academic instruction of our programming. Additionally, all students are encouraged to express themselves artistically even if they are not enrolled in a particular art course. Newcomers routinely play roles in drama productions, train in a new musical instrument, put together an informal rock band, throw a ceramic pot, join the
Knit-Wits, a beginner’s knitting club, or perform in fun and spontaneous talent shows on weekend evenings. Digital Photography is a handson course that introduces the camera itself and basic composition for photography. Additionally, it explores the ever changing world of digital photography. This course serves both neophytes and experienced photographers, and it encourages all to participate in school publications, such as the newspaper and yearbook. Ceramics Hand building, pinch pots, coil pots, and wheel-thrown pieces - these are the basic skills that students learn as they enter the world of ceramics. Student work on display around campus also demonstrates their skills in creative design, firing, and glazing. This is a good course for someone who might not be confident in his or her artistic skills but wants just the same to try an arts offering. Sculpture This course will offer an introduction to the fundamentals of sculpture. Students will learn to think and interpret ideas in three dimensions using a variety of media including, wood, clay, glass, plaster, organic, and found objects. We will learn to safely use small hand tools and basic construction & adhesion principles. The course will include a brief history of modern sculpture and students will have an opportunity to use several contemporary artists as inspiration for our projects. Some of the artists we will study include Joseph Cornell, Louise Nevelson, David Smith, Klaus Oldenberg, Christo, Andy Goldsworthy, and Alexander Calder. Art Exploration This course is designed for the nonartist. Students that are willing to work hard in class and do homework will do well in this course. Students will explore all the Northwood studio spaces throughout the semester and work to complete eight separate week long projects per marking period. Some of the projects will be accompanied with an art history component where the student reads about an artist or period of time relating to the project. Each student is encouraged to work in the studio outside of class and will gain homework points for that extra time. Projects are graded on creativity (thinking outside the box), following directions, good technique, and the oral critique presentation.
Fiber Arts The object of this course is to provide an introduction to the media and tools used to create a wide variety of fibrous arts and crafts. The first half of the course is spent dying and printing textiles. The second half is primarily about weaving. There are quizzes and critiques throughout the semester and each student is expected to log in an hour of homework time per week.
Instrumental In this course you will learn the basics of music and to play the instrument of your choice. The course will be taught using a combination of group and individual instruction. The focus is to become familiar with instrumental and ensemble playing and understanding the fundamentals of music. This is a performance based class.
Drawing This course will begin by exploring the basics of drawing with gesture and contour techniques. Students will work with a variety of subjects beginning with still life objects, then using our peers and ourselves as models. We will continue our exploration to study shading, texture and perspective with a variety of mediums including markers, calligraphy pens, pastels, and chalks. The course will also cover the fundamentals of two-dimensional design. We will study how line, shape, color, value and texture come together to create a dynamic composition.
STUDENT INVOLVEMENT
Painting & Printing This course is designed for the artist that wants to work two-dimensionally. There will be eight separate projects each marking period. Projects are graded on creativity, good techniques, completion, and defending work at the critique. During the painting portion, students will work with watercolor, Acrylics, silk and oil paints. During the Printing portion, students will explore Mono, Relief, reduction-cut and silk screen-printing. Each marking period will be divided into eight separate week long projects and some of those projects will be accompanied by an art history component where the student reads about an artist or period of time that relates to the project being worked on in class. Steel Drums This is a popular and comfortable introduction to music and performance. Our performing group “The Pan Handlers” is a fine demonstration that students, even newcomers, can become adept at reading music, understanding rhythmic patterns, and playing a role in larger groups. This is a half-year course open to all students. Jazz Band Depending on the backgrounds and aspirations of the participants, this course focuses on developing individual instrumental skills and working together as a performing group. A jazz band, a rock band, and a variety of soloists make up this dynamic offering.
Student initiative and leadership development are fundamental to Northwood’s broad educational philosophy. Moreover, as students involve themselves in and take responsibility for specific aspects of the school, they not only enhance the overall quality of the school community but they also prepare themselves for future adult roles. Student involvement is a vital part of the Northwood experience, and all students are encouraged to play a role in one of the following student organizations: Student Council Resident Assistants International Advisory Council Dining Room Captains Day Student Representatives Judiciary Board Team Captains Ad-hoc committees & discussion groups CARE - community service organization Myelin Project Fund-Raiser Red Cross Blood Drive
HEALTH SERVICES Northwood employs two full-time registered nurses, a full-time athletic trainer, and a school counselor, all of whom play an important and varied role in the lives of students. In addition to monitoring daily sick call and scheduling local doctors’ appointments, the nurse is everyone’s mother-away-from home. Her office is a welcome sanctuary for students, whether they are looking for a snack, some company, or a private talk with a health professional. Our athletic trainer monitors weight-training and conditioning, pregame taping, and injury rehabilitation. Additionally, he creates training goals for teams and individual players. He also teaches a health class.
The school counselor oversees the social and personal well-being of students. He works confidentially oneon-one with students, arranges referrals to outside counseling agencies, oversees faculty advising, facilitates conflict resolution, and advises student organizations. The nurse, trainer, and counselor make up the school’s wellness team. Health services in Lake Placid and nearby Saranac Lake include hospitals, physicians, and a wide variety of specialists.
ANNUAL CALENDAR & TRAVEL Northwood School operates on a traditional academic calendar, with classes beginning in early September and graduation in late spring. The annual calendar is designed to accommodate major holidays, offer periodic breaks, and facilitate athletic competitions. Lake Placid is served by a commercial bus line, and Adirondack Airport, twelve miles away at Saranac Lake, offers air service. At vacation times, the school also charters a bus to Albany Airport and train station. Driving times:
Montreal, Canada 2.5 Albany, NY 2 Burlington, VT 2 Syracuse, NY 3.5 New York City 5 Boston, MA 5
hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs
Students are allowed to use their personal cars for transportation to and from school for weekends or vacations. Once on campus, they must turn in their license plates until the next break.
ADMISSIONS PROCESS
TUITION
Northwood School seeks applications from motivated, positive, young adults who seek a challenging academic environment, a competitive athletic experience, and involvement in community service.
Current tuition is available on the admissions section of our web site, www. northwoodschool.com. In order to secure a place at Northwood School, upon acceptance, a $2,500.00 deposit is due with the signed contract. Tuition payment options are available.
STEP 1
FINANCIAL AID
The first step in the Admissions process is to request a detailed information packet by calling (518)5233382, or submitting the online form.
The Financial Aid office assists 60% of the Student body. Financial Aid is based on a family’s registered ability to pay, as presented to the School Scholarship Service by completing the Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) form for financial assistance. Visit www.nais.sss.org to apply online for financial aid. Tuition insurance is available.
STEP 2 The second step after receiving the information packet is to apply online and send your school transcript, teacher recommendations, and test scores* to the Admissions Office at Northwood School, 92 Northwood Rd., Lake Placid, NY 12946. STEP 3 The third step after submitting your application is to call the Admissions Office to make an appointment for you and your parents to meet with the Director of Admissions for a personal interview and tour of the campus. Interviews are required for all Admission candidates. A Skype interview may be given to those applicants living a great distance from Northwood School. Students are strongly encouraged to visit the campus while classes are in session. Most independent schools, to evaluate how an applicant performs on standardized tests, use the Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT). Please visit www.ssat.org for more information.
TIMETABLE The Northwood School Admissions office operates a rolling admissions program starting February of each calendar year. Once an applicant has interviewed and all of the application materials are complete, acceptance letters are mailed out. The Financial Aid committee reviews all financial reports and mails scholarship letters at the same time. ICE HOCKEY / SKIING At the highest levels in both ice hockey and skiing there are additional expenses surrounding overnight trips, tournament and race entry fees and meals. ESL Students enrolled in our English as a Second Language program will pay an additional fee of $2,000.00. INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS International Students pay an additional fee of $1,000.00. ESTIMATED YEARLY EXPENSES Books and Supplies $500.00 Weekly Allowance $600.00 ($20 - 25 / week for boarding students only) Student Activity Fee $325.00