Isidore Newman School Learners. Leaders. Citizens. Friends.
{ since 1903}
A school with an ideal
“ For more than 100 years, a Newman
education has been about reaching higher to achieve personal goals, while at the same time reaching out to embrace the wider community around us. Preparing our students for the academic and career challenges that await them; helping them develop strong character; encouraging leadership—this is the work of Isidore Newman School.”
{ T.J. Locke, head of school
1
With a passionate, experienced faculty and a rich and challenging curriculum, Newman provides the ideal environment for students to achieve their full potential. Students are encouraged to work hard, to dream big, and to see academic success as an exciting and worthwhile pursuit. Nearly one-fourth of Newman students have received National Merit
Academic Excellence
recognition in the past five years, and Newman counts three Rhodes scholars among its alumni. Academics at Newman provide the foundation needed for success in college as well as success in the 21st century global community.
{ redefining academic rigor } Hard work and mastery of content become more meaningful when students make connections using an ever-developing set of critical thinking and problemsolving skills. Newman students are taught more than the mechanics of writing and arithmetic; they learn to think like writers and mathematicians. Understanding concepts, challenging assumptions and developing a unique voice are all key components of a Newman education. { technology } Every student in grades 6-12 has a laptop or a Tablet PC for classroom and home use. There is a computer lab in the Lower School, and the entire campus has wireless access. There are SMART Boards in lower school classrooms, and Newman teachers incorporate technology into lessons through podcasting, videoconferencing and Tablet PCs to make learning more efficient and dynamic. Newman is quick to adapt to the changing technology that increasingly defines our interconnected world. { programmatic enhancements } Newman is committed to self-examination, rethinking and revising programming to support and extend student learning. Recent additions to the
Distinctive Dimensions
academic experience include well-researched new teaching methods for reading and math in the Lower School; the interdisciplinary approach in the sixth grade; the writing seminar in the ninth grade, and the senior capstone courses. { advanced challenges } Advanced Placement and Honors courses at Newman include art history, European history, U.S. history, American government, Chinese, French, Spanish, Latin, physics B and C, biology, chemistry, environmental science and calculus AB and BC. Students also participate in academic clubs and compete both regionally and nationally. { authentic learning } The School’s motto is Discimus Agere Agendo, or “We learn to do by doing.” In every corner of the curriculum—be it the immersion in a world languages class, the lab-based scientific inquiry that begins in pre-kindergarten, or the integrated service learning projects that connect students with the community—students are engaged in relevant, hands-on learning.
Faculty Newman’s reputation for excellence is based largely on its faculty. Teachers are extremely well-read in their disciplines but also deeply interested in the best practices of teaching. They are constantly engaged in professional development and collaboration. Close to 60% of Newman teachers have an advanced degree, and our faculty has an average of 17 years of teaching experience. Some of the teachers and administrators have been with Newman for decades; others have come here recently from other top schools in the country because they want to be a part of Newman’s exciting intellectual environment.
3
Opportunities & Achievements • Newman counts among its alumni bestselling authors, award-winning Broadway and television actors, opera singers, the founder of a major computer company, an executive named one of 50 women to watch by The Wall Street Journal, judges, nationally recognized artists, and two Super Bowl MVP quarterbacks.
• In the past five years, 23% of Newman students have received National Merit recognition.
•N ewman’s historic campus is set on 11 acres in the heart of Uptown New Orleans.
• Mid-50% of SAT scores: Critical Reading 590-700; Mathematics 610-710.
•T here are two libraries with over 70,000 volumes and three full-time librarians.
• Newman athletic teams have won 76 State Championships… and counting.
• There is full cafeteria service with both breakfast and lunch options.
• Newman has an art gallery and a performing arts theater. • There is a professionally turfed athletic field with a grandstand, a pool and two gymnasiums.
small classes “Newman values each individual” is the first sentence in Newman’s statement of purpose, and it informs everything we do. Newman strives to keep classes small in all divisions. Our teachers really know their students, and our students learn from each other. individual support Newman teachers are trained to support the learning style of each student. Students further benefit from the expertise of five learning specialists, all with advanced degrees. In the Middle and Upper Schools, our advisory program brings small groups of students together with a faculty advisor several times a week to exchange ideas, share news and voice concerns. Newman employs three guidance counselors that are all licensed and are master’s level clinical social workers. Newman has two full-time college counselors. diversity Newman was founded as a nonsectarian, coeducational school where academic achievement has always mattered more than one’s background. People of color comprise 16% of the student body.
Focus on Writing Starting in pre-kindergarten, students are encouraged to find their voices and to view writing as a work in progress, where revision and collaboration with peers are essential to full engagement in the art and mechanics of writing. Throughout Lower School, students are exposed to various genres and techniques as they learn how to craft effective writing. In the Middle School, students build on this foundation and reinforce emerging skills as they relate to increasingly specific writing tasks. Ninth grade students take a writing seminar in addition to an English class. They continue mastering the basics while trying out advanced techniques as they relate to different disciplines. Prominent writers visit Newman annually to conduct lectures and workshops. Newman’s writing curriculum aims to demystify the writing process and to provide students the tools to reflect maturely, organize their thoughts and communicate in increasingly sophisticated ways.
4
Why Newman “ Newman has everything. But the most important thing to my husband and me in selecting a school for our daughter was a strong academic environment. We love that Newman is constantly reassessing itself, setting benchmarks against the top schools in the nation and always striving to improve.” { Kelly Alfortish, parent
“ I think Newman has always been on the forefront—in reaching out to the whole community, in their philosophy of trying to educate the whole person and in making sure that everyone has a wonderful experience. As we say in our mission statement, Newman
values each individual.”
“ We’re
so diverse in so many ways here—ethnically, socioeconomically and with respect to the interests students have. Kids dream of being the next Super Bowl MVP while remaining interested in literature or art and still making top grades.”
{P hillip Wallace, Head of the Middle School
{ Darryl Berger ’65, former Board Chair
5
“ Newman was by far the most important formative experience of my life. There’s a magic to Newman. It sparkles and delights. It challenges and stimulates, but also nurtures.” { Walter Isaacson ’70, Director of the Aspen Institute and bestselling author
6
7
Art is a universal language, integral to what it is to be human. With the creation of the position of Dean of the Arts in 2008, Newman has committed to giving the arts a new prominence in the daily life of the School, and to becoming a beacon for the arts in the New Orleans area. This renaissance in the arts is built on a proud tradition of artistic expression that stretches back to the school’s founding. Anyone
The Arts
of a certain age will tell you of Mr. Cooksey’s operettas, elaborate productions staged here for decades. When Isidore Newman founded this school, among his few requests were classes in art and music.
{ drama } The Newman Players each year produce a fall musical, a winter drama and a spring comedy. Students are encouraged to produce shows of their own. There are also classes in acting styles, stage movement, technical theater and playwriting. The Middle and Lower Schools produce a variety of shows throughout the year, and middle schoolers can opt for acting and technical theater classes. { music } Choral singing and musical instruction begin in the lower school. In fourth grade, all students choose to study a musical instrument or to sing in the chorus. For middle and upper school students, Newman has an award-winning band and chorus, a percussion ensemble and an a cappella singing group. There is a comprehensive music curriculum in the upper school. { studio arts } Newman’s halls are filled with the creative works of our students. The pre-K art show is a lower school highlight. A year’s worth of art, including works in the style of famous artists, cover the walls for the May show. Visual art classes in the Upper School include art history, drawing, digital color and design, and watercolor.
Distinctive Dimensions
{ special events } Upper school students display their artistry during Arts Week, a spring tradition of studio art exhibits, musical performances, poetry readings and student plays. The Bernard Herman lecture features lectures and student workshops with prominent writers such as Andrei Codrescu and Yusef Komunyakaa. { jazz camp } The NewJazzSchool is a summer jazz camp run by Newman, Surdna Foundation, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Foundation, Tipitina’s and Sweet Home New Orleans. The tuition-free camp is open to local students who successfully audition. It is run by jazz musician Donald Harrison, Jr. { facilities } Henson Auditorium is a 500-seat hall complete with orchestra pit, scene shop and choral rooms. The Reynolds Ryan Art Gallery is used for exhibits of student works as well as works by established artists. { in the works } Newman will be expanding the arts curriculum beginning in 2009, with more dance classes, weekend acting and studio arts classes for the community, and an Arts Concentration Program for students with exceptional talent and interest in the arts.
9
The Power of Coeducation
“ I do not want my girls to feel like they have to be seperated to get a fair shot at anything, be it classroom time or a leading position in student government. By developing their
character in a coed environment, students learn healthy socialization techniques.” { Sheila Gold, mother of Audrey, ’21 and Sydney, ’19
10
The Newman Family “ We are a tight community at Newman. The first people to congratulate me after I won the Super Bowl were all my Newman friends, the people I leaned on and who leaned on me in all sorts of ways all those years.” { Eli Manning ’99
11
12
Athletics • Most Newman middle and upper school students choose to play a sport. This commitment to athletics adds immeasurably to the School’s closeness as a community, and it gives students higher self-esteem, a sense of belonging and lessons in self-discipline. • A no-cut policy means anyone who wants to be on a team will be on that team, as long as he or she is fully committed.
Baseball
Indoor Track
Basketball
Soccer
Cross Country
Swimming
Football
Tennis
Golf
Track & Field
Gymnastics
{ girls } Basketball
Soccer
Cross Country
Swimming
Golf
Tennis
Gymnastics
Track & Field
Indoor Track
Volleyball
• Physical education classes begin in pre-K. These classes teach not only skills and fitness but also nutrition. Beginning in the second grade, lower school physical education includes swim lessons. • Newman’s topnotch athletic facilities include a football field, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a large and well-equipped fitness and strength training center, two indoor gymnasiums, dance rooms and gymnastics equipment.
newman sports
{ boys }
Sports are a strong tradition at Newman that bring the community closer together.
• The sports medicine program employs two full-time trainers, and it allows students to serve as student trainers. • Newman won its first state championship in 1955 in boys basketball. Since then, the Greenies have gone on to win a total of 76 state championships, including 16 in volleyball.
“ My Newman education provided me with a solid foundation on which to grow as an athlete, a scholar and a person. My time on the football field positively impacted my time in the classroom and vice versa. I don’t think there are many
schools that are as good at ingraining a desire to be excellent in all things, not just one thing.” { Peyton Manning, ’94
Softball 13
It is not uncommon to find Newman graduates in the classrooms of the nation’s premier colleges and universities. We work closely with each family to personalize the process and find the “best fit” for each student. Below is a
Preparing for College Amherst College Auburn University
in the last five years:
Harvard University Indiana University
and A&M College
University of Florida University of Georgia
Spring Hill College
Lehigh University
Stanford University
Louisiana State University
Syracuse University
Loyola University
The George Washington
New Orleans
University
Massachusetts Institute
The University
of Technology
of Alabama
University of Pennsylvania
Clemson University
Millsaps College
The University
University of Richmond
Colgate University
New York University
of Arizona
University of South
College of Charleston
Northwestern University
The University of North
Carolina
Colorado State University
Oxford College of
Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of
Columbia University
Emory University
The University
Southern California
Cornell University
Princeton University
of Texas at Austin
University of
Rhodes College
Trinity College
Tennessee, Knoxville
Dartmouth College
University of Virginia
Duke University
Rice University
Trinity University
San Diego State University
Tulane University
Vanderbilt University
Emory University
Sewanee: The University
University of California at
Wake Forest University
Georgetown University
Berkeley
Washington and Lee
University of California at
University
Los Angeles
Washington University
University of California at
in St. Louis
San Diego
Wesleyan University
University of Chicago
Yale University
Boston College Boston University Bowdoin College Brown University Bucknell University
Georgia Institute of Technology
of the South Southern Methodist University
“ Newman made it easy for me to transition to college; it prepared me both academically and socially.” { Travis LeBlanc ’95, Princeton University ’99, Harvard University ‘03, Yale Law School ’03, University of Cambridge, ’04
14
Southern University
at Bloomington
Belmont University
colleges attended
list of institutions that at least two Newman graduates have attended
University of Colorado at Boulder
University of Kentucky University of Miami University of Michigan University of Mississippi University of Notre Dame
“ Newman teachers set the bar high for all of us. I walked into my classes at Penn and didn’t feel afraid of what would be demanded of me. I was prepared.
Newman challenges you and teaches you very early on what you are capable of.” { megan shetty ’05, pre-med student, biology major and french minor at the university of pennsylvania
“ I attribute a great deal of who I am to the experience I had at Newman. The school has a
well rounded and forwardthinking faculty that prepared me to go to Harvard. I was one of two black women in my class at Newman, and I never felt I was anything other than a peer to my classmates.” { Toni Hoover, ‘77, Senior Vice President of Pfizer Global Research and Development
Prepared for life “ My teachers at Newman taught me how to learn, but far more than that. They taught me to love learning, to open
my eyes to the world around me, and to seek out new experiences. Newman prepared me for life.” { Jack M. Weiss ‘64, Chancellor, LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center
15
Lower School / Pre-K through Grade 5
In the Lower School, bright, cheerful classrooms are linked by roomy, art-filled hallways. Places to read and places to be read to are nestled throughout our buildings, and active learning is abundant. Our lower school curriculum encourages children to develop a lifelong love of learning. We keep it interesting, we keep it challenging, and we also keep it fun and full of love. We teach our children to respect and celebrate themselves, their friends and the world around them. We emphasize the value in seeking excellence in character, community and academics.
Highlights { multiple teachers/small classes }
{ traditions and celebrations } Students
{ S.T.A.R.S. } Students Teaching and
At the earliest elementary levels, there
and families share in a wealth of events,
Respecting Science sends Newman fourth
are two full-time faculty members in
including Taste of Culture, the Author’s
graders to public schools to conduct
each classroom. Class sizes are small
Tea and Windows on the World.
science experiments with their peers.
{ lower school counseling } A counselor
{ world language instruction } Students
works with teachers, students and parents
learn French and Spanish in lower
{ after school offerings } Classes include
to make sure character education is an
school. They learn the languages and
dancing, gymnastics, sports, science,
integral part of the curriculum.
they immerse themselves in new cultures.
{ science } Newman’s signature lower
{ Greenie Gatherings } These weekly
{ advanced teaching methods } Newman
school science program features lab-
assemblies focus on character and
employs best practices, teaching reading
based learning beginning in pre-K. For
community building.
in small groups and teaching math
example, lower schoolers work with
concepts, not simple memorization.
university professors to rebuild wetlands,
to make each child feel understood, supported and appreciated.
cooking, arts, theater, and photography.
growing marsh grasses in an outdoor classroom.
Newman 16
Middle School / Grade 6 through Grade 8
This is a period of dramatic change in any child’s life, and Newman allows students space to take risks and to accept new challenges, all in a safe and supportive environment. It is phenomenal to watch children who seem so young when they enter the Middle School at sixth grade become mature young adults as they leave the eighth grade and head for the Upper School. We give these students the tools they need for future academic success, and we give them the opportunity to figure out how they fit into the larger world.
{ service learning } Through Math in
{ science } The experiential approach
{ advisory } Students are assigned
Meals, sixth graders learn about math’s
to science continues in the Middle
an advisory group, led by a teacher or
practical applications by planning and
School; all three middle school science
administrator. Advisories meet four
purchasing supplies for a meal for
classrooms are laboratories.
times a week, giving students a tight-
{ math } Students continue to develop
knit group that serves as a home base
families at the Ronald McDonald House. They also research and write reflective essays after the experience. Students hone their interdisciplinary skills with a final service project; in 2008, they produced a book about New Orleans which went to a school in Tanzania. { writing/reading } A reading blog allows students to discuss and critique books online with classmates.
their math reasoning skills in Middle
through Middle School.
School, and we offer advanced math in
{ experiential learning } In the sixth
seventh and eighth grade to qualified
grade, students take a day trip to a
students.
historic site in Louisiana. In the seventh
{ arts } Students take an art class daily.
grade, students go to Percy Quin, a
They choose between band, chorus, acting, technical theater, painting and other artistic pursuits.
Mississippi state park. Eighth graders travel to North Carolina for a week of outdoor fun and wilderness training.
Upper School / Grade 9 through Grade 12
Building on the solid foundation created by our Lower and Middle schools, our Upper School provides a stimulating and challenging environment in which students mature and prepare for a lifetime of success. The most advanced scholars have a broad array of Advanced Placement and honors opportunities. Those needing extra help or those with learning differences have a strong support system of advisors, learning specialists and professional counselors. Students become well-rounded adults by engaging in community service, trying out for a musical, playing on a team, performing in the band or joining a club.
{ senior capstone courses }
{ Washington } A Newman tradition
{ debate } Debating has been a
These college-like courses engage all
going back more than 50 years,
Newman tradition since the 1910s.
seniors in high-level, interdisciplinary
the weeklong Washington, D.C. trip
Newman has won hundreds of
work in a subject that truly inspires
connects our ninth graders with
trophies in local, regional and national
them. Students benefit from an
what they are learning in civics.
tournaments.
impressive roster of guest speakers.
{ eclectic electives } Offerings have
{ ninth grade writing } Freshmen
{ involvement } Newman has more
included “Madness in Shakespeare,”
at Newman take a writing seminar
than 35 clubs and organizations. There is
“African-American Fiction,” “Ancient
in addition to their traditional
a student government, a community
Chinese History” and “Astronomy
English class.
service club, a student newspaper,
and Particle Physics.”
a yearbook and the Pioneer, the oldest continuously published school literary magazine in Louisiana. The majority of upper school students engage in volunteer work.
{ Wonder Week } Students create
{ Summerbridge } Newman’s campus
and teach non-traditional classes
is home to this nationally respected
for a week each year. Classes have
program. High school and college
included journalism, the Sixties,
students teach area middle schoolers
chess and sewing.
on Saturdays and in the summer.
1903 Jefferson Avenue New Orleans, Louisiana 70115 504.899.5641 telephone 504.896.8597 fax
www.newmanschool.org