CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL LEADERSHIP
We can no longer afford to educate students with a model rooted in the last century. The tenets of entrepreneurial leadership propel us to move boldly in a new direction, with a unique product that is rich in flavor, creativity, and innovation. DR. PRISCILLA SANDS, PRESIDENT
we are rewriting our destiny as a school and inventing a new way of approaching secondary,
Wharton Professor of Entrepreneurial Management
college-preparatory education. Now more than ever, it
John R. Kimberly and GEMS Education, a global network
is essential that students be prepared with both a great
of award-winning schools.
skill set and a great mindset as they navigate education. They must be able to analyze and synthesize information,
As our school mission states, we aspire to educate
initiate and create opportunities, be adaptable and
students to be innovative leaders, breakthrough thinkers,
resourceful, take risks, collaborate with others, and problem solve. In short, be entrepreneurial. Since 2006, administrators, faculty, and leaders throughout our school community
and imaginative problem
This is why we created the center for entrepreneurial leadership
solvers. We foster and encourage an entrepreneurial mindset by teaching an innovative and collaborative approach to learning that is as real-world as you will see in any school in the country.
have invested countless hours researching, sharing ideas, and designing a
Throughout their SCH Academy Pre-K-12 academic
groundbreaking new curriculum that makes all of this
journey, students are incrementally exposed to the
possible for students at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy.
“strands” of knowledge that are the hallmark of CEL:
We call it the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (CEL).
The Art of Communication, Engineering/New Media, Entrepreneurship, Ethics, Global Immersion, Leadership,
Through CEL, Springside Chestnut Hill Academy
and Statistics. These seven strands are tailored to their
distinguishes itself as the only independent school in
grade level. The CEL academic program culminates in
the Philadelphia area offering a curriculum based in the
Upper School with a series of required seminars and
study of entrepreneurship. CEL has received national and
interdisciplinary electives that complement SCH’s
international recognition, support, and funding from
rigorous and proven college-preparatory curriculum.
organizations and individuals including the NASDAQ OMX Education Foundation, the National Association of Independent Schools, University of Pennsylvania
the mission of the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership
In an increasingly changing and fast-paced global economy, students must be prepared for college, life, and careers. The Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership incorporates a bold and creative vision that challenges the limitations of traditional education, preparing students for the real world. A deeply passionate and progressive faculty leads students to recognize the intersections among various disciplines — where innovation, enterprise, and value creation occur — helping students become more comfortable with complexity and to be adaptable, inquisitive, and resilient. With this pioneering mindset, the graduates of Springside Chestnut Hill Academy become leaders: competitive, courageous, and Future Ready.
the curriculum that offers more
The Art of Communication
Engineering/ New Media
Entrepreneurship
Ethics
Global Immersion
Leadership
Statistics
“Beyond the impressive skills acquired through our CEL curriculum, our graduates will take away something more profound: the fundamental strengths of character and habits of mind that lie at the heart of what we do as a school.” – Dr. Christine Heine, Assistant Head of School, Head of Upper School
The seven Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership strands are infused throughout the rigorous core curriculum and tailored for each grade, with exposure to many strands beginning as early as Pre-K. The
Art
of
Communication,
Entrepreneurship,
Ethics,
Global
Engineering/New Immersion,
Media,
Leadership,
and Statistics complement the essential core academic subjects that all students need and already receive at SCH. Relevant solving
skills using
are
taught,
design
including
thinking,
solution-based
interpreting
data,
problem
creating
a
startup venture, and presenting ideas with clarity and confidence. The Upper School CEL curriculum is presented as required seminars beginning in 9th and 10th grade, and a collection of electives in 11th and 12th grade that both leverage what was taught in previous seminars and complement SCH’s collegepreparatory curriculum.
Each seminar culminates with a final
project where students are asked to apply their strand learning.
the curriculum delivered through CEL The Art of Communication Through the Art of Communication students are exposed to various communication styles and tactics, both oral and written. Proficiencies 1. Craft and dissect a persuasive argument. 2. Present and speak with passion and authority. 3. C ommunicate and present through a variety of mediums:
written, oral, and digital.
Ethics Through the study of ethics within the context of classical philosophy and systems of reasoning, students are exposed to various methods of thinking and are urged to ask questions and think critically. Proficiencies 1. Use inductive and deductive logic to construct and
analyze arguments. 2. Explore one’s beliefs and respect those of others. 3. Examine ethics as it pertains to modern philosophy.
Engineering/New Media Through active engagement, tinkering, and prototyping, students design and build projects in a variety of media with input from both an artist and an engineer. Students are challenged to solve problems using design thinking to conceptualize, design, and build their solutions. Proficiencies 1. Understand fundamentals of engineering. 2. Learn 3-D design in Google SketchUp. 3. Learn prototyping through laser cutters and 3-D printing.
Global Immersion Through Global Immersion collaborative projects, travel opportunities, and the eSCHift international leadership institutes, students gain the ability to think critically about their own roles in a global community. Students develop an empathetic viewpoint, hone their problem-solving skills, and expand their worldview as they build a network of peers and mentors from within their own community, country, and around the world. Proficiencies 1. Gain confidence navigating complex problems with peers,
organizations, and businesses from around the world. 2. U nderstand the impact of culture, history, geography, and
government on regional and global issues and economies. 3. Develop strategies for working collaboratively across a wide
cultural and geographical span using a variety of tools and approaches.
Entrepreneurship
Leadership
Through SCH Academy’s partnerships with large and small business leaders as well as leading organizations, students are exposed to the ideas behind the entrepreneurial mindset, and how and why certain people and organizations are successful when taking a business model from idea to launch and beyond.
Through the study of Leadership students are exposed to the characteristics, qualities, and varied intellectual approaches of civic, political, and business leaders.
Proficiencies 1. Understand the driving forces behind entrepreneurship and business challenges in different regions and sectors. 2. L earn from first hand opportunities to work with leading entrepreneurs. 3. Learn that good business planning and the ability to sell ideas encompasses all fields, exposing students to a range of people including successful filmmakers, artists, scientists, and technology startups.
Proficiencies 1. Learn the basic theories and models of leadership. 2. Develop the intellectual tools needed to be responsible
stewards of communities and organizations. 3. A nalyze the impact that personal relationships have on
members of an organization.
Statistics Students learn theories behind data analysis and the importance of being quantitatively literate. Statistics focuses on the idea that data is more than just numbers; it is the story behind the number and the significance of data context. Proficiencies 1. G raphically represent data and recognize the importance
and frequency of data mining in all aspects of society. 2. Draw conclusions and make inferences about data. 3. Become numerically literate in the digital age.
SCH Academy’s promise of delivering a Future Ready education is fulfilled in our coed Upper School curriculum, which combines a rigorous grounding in the core academic subjects with acquisition of real-world 21st century skills.
core curriculum Grade 9
Grade 10
Grade 11
Grade 12
Math Foreign Language Physics English History Arts
Math Foreign Language Chemistry English History
Math Foreign Language English Humanities Biology
Math English Humanities Senior Capstone Electives
center for entrepreneurial leadership Entrepreneurial Leadership Seminars (one per quarter, Grades 9 and 10)
The Art of Communication
Engineering/New Media
Global Immersion
Entrepreneurship I
Engineering/New Media II
Leadership
Entrepreneurship II
Ethics
Statistics
Upper School Electives (two in Grade 11, three in Grade 12)
Engineering, Design & Robotics Programming Real-World Systems Mechanical Engineering, CAD & CAM Digital Art & Graphic Design 3-D Modeling & Animation New Media Broadcasting Global Partnerships for a Changing World Privacy & Paranoia: Surveillance Literature Monstrous Imaginings: Unmasking Humanity Theoretical Mathematics Vector Calculus
Environmental Science Oceanography Forensic Science Pharmacology Constructing Race & Gender Chinese Digital Media & Latin Celluloid Dreams: Analyzing Film Gaming Songwriting
HARVARD GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION Deemed Critical by 600 College Presidents and CEOs:
The NASDAQ OMX Educational Foundation Mission
critical thinking • problem solving • collaboration • agility • adaptability • initiative • entrepreneurship
To promote learning about capital formation, financial markets and entrepreneurship through innovative educational programs.
Real-world competencies for student success, as reported by Tony Wagner, Harvard Graduate School of Education
Wharton
University of Pennsylvania
“The Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (CEL) is a commitment to a whole new vision for education, one that is future-focused and committed to developing in all students the essential skills and values that will be demanded and rewarded in the 21st century. Its Project-Based and Design Thinkinginfused curriculum will support the core courses of traditional education, but will do so largely in the service of the greater goal of having students produce something with their knowledge that is meaningful and engaging.“ — Patrick F. Bassett, President, National Association of Independent Schools
“SCH Academy is embarking on a very exciting, truly path-breaking initiative that will help redefine the scope, content, and delivery of secondary education for years to come. The faculty, administrators, and students who have worked together to design the new approach should be congratulated for their willingness to break from tradition in service of creating a new, technologically enabled model that puts the school on the leading edge of educational innovation.“ — John Kimberly, Professor of Entrepreneurial Management, Executive Director, The Wharton School /INSEAD Alliance
STANFORD UNIVERSITY Institute of Design A Leading Principle of 21st Century Education:
Design thinking is an advanced educational method that trains students to approach and navigate complex problems with creative confidence. All Springside Chestnut Hill Academy faculty have been trained in the principles of design thinking.
THE WISDOM OF 600 CEOS AND COLLEGE PRESIDENTS
THE THEORIES OF STANFORD, HARVARD, AND WHARTON
THE CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL LEADERSHIP
THE INSPIRATION OF OVER 130 LEADING-EDGE FACULTY
THE POTENTIAL OF 1,100 FUTURE READY STUDENTS