Masters School Brochure - Upper School by The Masters School

the masters school | 49 Clinton Avenue, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 | mastersny.org | 914.479.6420

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THE UPPER SCHOOL

Welcome to Masters. As we so often do at our school, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve gotten together to think hard about what something means; in this case, what it means to be a Masters student. So as you read our book, please be on the lookout for our thoughts and observations. One day, perhaps youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll join the discussion!

A rou n d our ta b le are : 01

Sibo

Chelsea

A le x

M i n Ji

A le xa n d ra

Chri st i a n

M acy

Syd ne y

M r . I ves

Ror y

06 09

Why Harkness? Harkness really allows everyone in the classroom to feel like they have an impact on each other’s learning. It’s so helpful when you aren’t constricted to hearing from only one perspective. And having classes with kids from other countries allows me to think more globally. 10

Rory

AROUND OUR TABLE Come in and have a seat. Not in the back row—there isn’t one here. At The Masters School you’ll take your place right up front and center at the Harkness table, where you’ll participate fully. You’ll need to come prepared, of course, ready to contribute, question, and think deeply. This demand for active participation doesn’t stop in the classroom, either. It characterizes every aspect of a Masters education: whether you’re competing on the lacrosse field or performing with an a cappella group, memorizing Mandarin vocabulary or leading a food drive. Here, whatever the pursuit, whatever the challenge, students are expected to “do it with thy might” and make the most of the abundant opportunity this school has to offer.

C L A SS N OT E S Approximate number of Upper School students: 435 Average number of students in a class: 14 Number of all-school meetings per week: 3

THE PERFECT PARADOX Can a school be both demanding and welcoming? Can it make its students feel at home and also move them out of their academic comfort zone? I believe that it not only can, but it must. It is precisely because of The Masters School’s diverse and accepting environment that our students feel enough at ease to step out and challenge themselves. It is thanks to our safety net of respectful support from faculty and peers that our students can take healthy risks and push themselves to stretch, grow, and realize their potential. It’s a wonderful dynamic that makes a Masters education uniquely powerful and transformative. If you’re intrigued by what you see here and on our website, I invite you to visit us to get a better feel for our school and the extraordinary education we provide. Maureen Fonseca, Ph.D. Head of School

Who are you? What I love most about Masters is that it enables me to be a multifaceted student. Musician, athlete, actor, writer, scholarâ&#x20AC;Ś this school allows you to be the person you want to be. ale x

AROUND CAMPUS These 96 acres make an idyllic place to learn and live. Sloping fields and woodlands overlooking the Hudson River provide a serene setting for our campus in historic Dobbs Ferry. The expansive athletic fields, the new track, and the welcoming dormitories tell you something about this school. The aesthetics are impressive: from Estherwood Mansion, on the National Registry of Historic Places, to charming Masters Hall, housing most of the upper school’s classrooms. Add the park-like open spaces and the walking paths through the trees, and you’ll agree: It’s truly beautiful here. But what distinguishes Masters is something else. It’s schoolmates who hail from all over the country and world, bringing with them different life stories and perspectives. It’s classes that require every ounce of your intellect, but that also leave you wanting more. It’s the knowledge that you’re among friends and faculty who respect and appreciate you and who want to see you spread your wings and succeed.

SPE AKIN G O F SPE AKIN G Percentage of students who study public speaking: 100 Years a foreign language must be studied during Upper School: 3 Foreign languages offered in the Upper School: Ancient Greek, French, Latin, Mandarin, Spanish

What is it like here? Living in a dorm is like living in a microglobe. All the cultures mixed together...itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a once-in-a lifetime opportunity. I love the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the entire student body, and how eager all the students are to help and challenge one another to learn more. M in J i

COME LEARN Education is like an earthquake. It should shift the foundation you assumed to be solid. It should unnerve you; compel you to look around, to scrutinize the world and your position in it. This is what happens around Harkness tables at The Masters School every school day. Students sit face-to-face with others whose varied perceptions are informed by different cultures and backgrounds. It becomes the task of everyone gathered to recognize and navigate the uncertainty. To find answers, but also to develop new questions. To absorb and assess facts, but at the same time to challenge assumptions, consider possibilities, and feel the worldview shift again and again. This is how learning happens. In the course of their Masters education, students often wonder, “What do I believe?” It’s a question that becomes harder to answer as their education progresses. The world is far from black and white, these teenagers discover; it’s a kaleidoscope of factors and forces. Teasing out the truth is never simple, but always rewarding.

What have you learned? M EET MA S T ERS

Mo d e rn dan ce Jazz, h ip hop & tap da n ce Classi cal ballet

Percentage of students who pursue interests outside their classes: 100 Number of students who play team sports: 300

Time management! I play three varsity sports, I participate in many clubs, and I’m taking two honors and one accelerated class. At Masters, I’ve discovered that I can rise to the challenge. c h e l sea

Dra ma Cabaret Tr oupe Ch amb er Music Do bbs 16

Number of students who perform in a play, music ensemble, or dance group: 300 Number who do both: 100

Do h te r s G le e Club Jazz Ban d

T h e f i n e arts orch e st r a Th e N atur als Ro ck Ban ds Sw i ng Ban d pai nti ng il l ustr ation

UNIQUE BUT UNIFIED No two Masters students are alike, but certain qualities characterize them

G OOD TO K N OW

all. These young men and women are comfortable in their skin, passionate in their pursuits, and thoroughly engaged in their studies.

ce ramics

Universally, these teenagers display an impressive spirit of generosity. You’ll

ph otogr aphy

about; and you’ll also see them helping one another feel at home and at ease.

gra p h ic design

The diversity of this student body is striking. Not only are dozens of

v id e o

different countries and states represented here, but the students come from

see them working to raise money and awareness for the causes they care

different cultural, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds as well. The variety leads to a distinctive mutual acceptance and appreciation. You’ll notice an unusual absence of cliques here, and plenty of kindness.

Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Number of accelerated and honors classes offered: 11 Number of advanced placement classes offered: 15 Years of religious history, practice, and ideas studied in sophomore World Religions class: 14,500

Do the arts matter?

Where does knowledge come from? The best way to learn is to do. And teachers here are always looking for ways to get their students into real-life situations—whether it’s through field trips to meet with experts, performing with professionals, or interning in New York City. 09

M r . I v es

ARTS ALL AROUND In today’s world and tomorrow’s, creativity is crucial, not only for a rich and rewarding life, but also to effect positive change. In science or business or philanthropy, a creative mind is a must for innovating solutions. The arts are where creativity reigns supreme and they play an important

Absolutely! The arts are one of my favorite aspects of Masters. My passion has always been music—and now it’s theater as well. I love how this school exposes students to every part of the arts during our time here. C h r i st i a n

role at Masters. They’re interwoven into academics; they appear prominently in co-curriculars and clubs; opportunities to study them abound. Dance and drama, photography and video, music in its countless forms—we offer it all and encourage our students to explore. The Masters School’s two-story art studio is full of light and possibilities. Students work at drawing, painting, sculpture, and printmaking, and put the professional ceramics studio to good use. The performing arts abound here too: dance ensembles, a cappella singing groups, a swing band, jazz band, and orchestra. Ballet, modern dance, jazz, tap, theater, and ethnic dance are all available. Our proximity to New York City is an inestimable advantage. Students can attend plays, musicals, symphonies, and other performances; and they get

E XP RE SS YOU RS E LF Seats in Claudia Boettcher Theatre: 500

instruction at conservatories and art studios on Saturdays. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Whitney Museum of American Art are just a few of the world-class institutions awaiting a visit.

Number of music practice rooms in Strayer Hall: 10 Number of grand pianos on campus: 15 Number of vintage harpsichords: 1 Number of students who take private music lessons during the school day: 250 Days per week “Open Art” studio time allows students to work on projects: 7 Number of Apple computers in the digital media lab: 17 Number of upper and middle school student musical, theatrical, and dance performances per year: over 40

SE E HOW WE L E AR N Minutes per week dedicated to each major class: 220 Minutes per week spent in each minor class: 110 Number of major and minor courses offered each year: 85 and 33

DELVE DEEPLY Every class around the Harkness table is exciting and gratifying. But The Masters School also offers a variety of academic programs that ratchet up the educational experience several levels. These include: City Project, a unit of freshman World History I in which students explore todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New York City to learn about urban life in the ancient world. Model United Nations, which gives every member of the sophomore class a firsthand understanding of current global issues and legislative procedures, as well as the challenges of productive debate and consensus-building. American Studies, a multidisciplinary junior-year course that prompts students to explore the underlying philosophical and moral assumptions of Americans. Students look closely at the complex forces that have shaped our nation, and they begin to understand this country with new insights. The Masters Thesis, a rigorous guided elective for seniors. Students select a topic, conduct in-depth research across a variety of disciplines, write and present a scholarly research paper, and complete a creative project culminating in a performance, lecture, or exhibition. As varied as these endeavors are, they share certain crucial qualities. They all tie a number of subjects and skills together. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re hands-on and demand complete participation. And they bring theories and history to life so that our students can learn in a very real, memorable, and fulfilling way.

AROUND NEW YORK There’s only one New York City. And there’s only one boarding school this close to it. The Masters School takes full advantage of this proximity, tapping into the rich cultural and educational resources the city offers. Being only 35 minutes from Manhattan means that the school’s Model United Nations can see the real one in session. A class studying world religions can visit a Sikh gurdwara, a Hindu temple, and countless other diverse places of worship. Spanish students might visit El Museo del Barrio or go to Washington Heights to put their Spanish to conversational use. Students can study on the weekends at conservatories and universities. And Masters’ many performing artists get opportunities to take the stage in the city’s venues—sometimes including Radio City Music Hall. Scholarly lectures, poetry readings, classic films...there’s simply no limit to what can be learned in this vibrant, thriving metropolis.

Girl s S occer Boy s So ccer Girl s Volleyball Girl s Field Hockey C o e d Cr oss Coun tr y Girl s Basketball

B IG CI TY , B I G OP P ORTU NI T I E S

Boy s Basket ball

Number of New York City museums listed on ILoveNY.com: over 100

Girl s Fen cin g

Percentage of boarding students who attend a Broadway show and visit a New York City museum: 100

Boy s Fe n cing

at h l et i c s JOIN THE CLUBS Co e d I ndoor Tr ack

Walking down the corridors of Masters Hall, you know it: the students Gi rl s Lacr osse Boy s Lacr osse Girl s Sof tball b oy s BasebalL Girl s Ten n is Boy s Te nn is

at this school are into everything. You see the colorful posters for every

C o e d T r ack & Field

Miles between the Metro-North Railroad station in Dobbs Ferry and Grand Central Station: 20.7

kind of club imaginable, conveying different talents and interests. You can tell that these students travel, perform, volunteer, and pursue knowledge outside of their classes. You can sense the friendships and the funâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;as well as the hard work. Leadership skills are honed daily at The Masters School, both around Harkness tables and in the context of the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s various groups: dorms, student government, sports, community service, and countless campus clubs. The Masters tradition of co-leadership enables both one boy and one girl to collaborate and lead together. That means twice the opportunity,

C o e d Golf

Average number of academic field trips to New York City per year: 30

double the responsibility, and all of the lessons that leadership imparts.

What does NYC stand for? New York City represents countless opportunities. It includes so many educational sites, and such diversity. Students can reach out to the city for any subject of learning. Wall Street, the Met, Chinatown, Central Park, and many other destinations...there are just so many places where we can visit and find real-life applications of our education. min ji

VA RI E T Y I S T H E S PICE O F M AS T ER S

AROUND THE FIELD

Number of campus dormitories: 6

Stretch your legs. Clear your head. Fill your lungs. And keep your eye on the ball. Give your all, tap your reserves, and reap the countless rewards that

Number of countries Masters boarding students come from: over 20

sports have to offer. The Masters School recognizes athletics as a crucial component of a good

Percentage of Upper School students from other countries: 15

education. Sports strengthen the body, sharpen the mind, develop teamwork, deepen friendships, and enable participants to test their limits. Students

Number of American states represented by Upper School students: 17

become better strategic thinkers. They develop good sportsmanship. They take

Percentage of students who benefit from Masters being a boarding school: 100

Our interscholastic sports program is strengthened by talented, dedicated

direction. They practice and improve. And, importantly, they have fun.

coaches, outstanding athletes from around the world—many who have been developing their skills since a young age—and an instructional approach that builds athletic excellence, healthy competitiveness, and the traits of respect, discipline, perseverance, and dedication, which will serve our students well for the rest of their lives.

COM E P L AY Year track and turf field completed: 2011

AROUND THE WORLD

Year the Community Athletics and Arts Center will be completed: 2014 –2015

The optimal student body is created by intention and alchemy. Choose strong scholars from across the country and around the globe, from varied circumstances, and gather them on a campus outside of New York City to pursue knowledge together. Friendships bloom, insights improve, and a spirit of mutual support develops. From Australia to Uganda, from Turkey, Taiwan, and Tennessee...every student brings something unique and invaluable to The Masters School. The student body is both diverse and cohesive, with no dichotomy between day and boarding students. On the contrary, everyone here is so engaged with school activities—on both weekdays and weekends—that it feels like a sevenday school.

New sports offered in these facilities: track and field, squash, swimming

How important are athletics? Being on two varsity teams this year, I learned how much of an impact sports could have on a person. At Masters, every sport has the support of the whole school and every game has large crowd turnouts. This gives athletes more pride in this school we’re representing—and makes playing very exciting. S i bo

Number of tennis courts: 8 Number of grass athletic fields: 4 Number of student-athletes who attend the annual spring training trip to Florida: over 100 01

What do you value? I love the way it feels so diverse here. You have people with their own personalities and none of them are really the same. They come from around the globe and are genuinely interesting. C h ristian

MEET OUR FACULTY Some teachers you never forget. They capture your interest, believe in you, and push you. They make an indelible impression and change your life for the better. Exceptional instructors like this are what make Masters the school it is. Teachers get involved in studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; education and well-being in a variety of ways. A calculus instructor might be a dorm parent as well as a volleyball coach. A French teacher might accompany students to a Broadway matinee or help them with a service learning project. And all these adults serve as student advisors. The result is that Masters faculty members get a 360-degree understanding of their students and consequently can better support and guide them. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no wonder that teachers tend to stay at The Masters School for so many years. They appreciate the high level of scholarship they see; and find that their high expectations constantly get surpassed. Faculty members also enjoy excellent opportunities for ongoing development. And with every class they take or seminar they attend, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re able to bring something back to their students and make the educational experience that much better.

How far can you go? I would easily say I am realizing my potential here at Masters. The School has provided me with a challenging yet comfortable environment. My teachers push me and inspire me to do the best work I can, while still being sensitive and understanding. mac y

IN SPIR IN G Percentage of teachers living on campus: 60 Average number of years current Upper School faculty have been at the School: 8.8 Percentage of faculty with higher degrees: 65 Percentage of teachers who serve as student advisors: 100