Mercersburg Zoom by Mercersburg Academy

First Edition

A C A D E M I C S.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I F O R P A R E N T S.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 BEYOND MERCERSBURG.............. 8 L I V I N G H E R E .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 F I N D YO U R PA S S I O N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 6 TR ADITIONS.............................. 20 A P P LY I N G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 M E RC A B U L A RY ! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 6 BY THE NUMBERS....................... 29

Zoom in on what makes Mercersburg Academy a school like no other. For example, who is MOE? MAPS isn’t about cartography—really? How could there be a beach on campus?!? Here in the Zoom, you’ll find fun facts and essential info about every dimension of your new school. Need more information? Just give us a call! 717.328.6173 admission@mercersburg.edu

1 AC ADE MICS LIKE NO OTHER —

Learning at Mercersburg transcends the textbook—whether in class around a Harkness table, on stage, on the field, or in the dorm. Your teachers always look for new, innovative approaches to help you think creatively and independently, to prepare you for college and life. You’ll graduate confident you can communicate and think effectively as a socially responsible individual—a participatory citizen of the world.

iii

ONE: ACADEMICS

Our faculty:

continually learning and developing

—

Our faculty members are second to none. They have a 24/7 passion for teaching, coaching, mentoring, living down the hall from, dining with, and “just hanging” with you and your classmates. More than 75 percent of our teachers hold advanced degrees, and they go out of their way to spend summers and breaks updating skills and exploring new technology. Mercersburg also convenes professional development workshops connecting faculty with noted experts. Recent topics have included the changing adolescent brain, experiential learning, strategic use of homework, and use of iPads and social media in the classroom. Each summer, the Mercersburg Summer Teaching Institute gives faculty even more tools. Conducted by leaders in the field of education, the Institute engages teachers in the latest research, while helping them better address students’ needs.

Help when you need it: virtually every night

—

Need some extra support and guidance? Everybody does. Or maybe you want to start reviewing for exams? You have access to four evening academic help centers—writing, math, language, and science. These centers are friendly, inviting spaces, always staffed by faculty members and sometimes by students, too, who have particularly strong skills in a discipline. When applicable, such as in the Language Media Center, there is a wealth of interactive technology to help you hone skills.

STUDY HALLS Starting your Mercersburg academic career on the right foot is important. As a 9th grader or new 10th grader, you must attend a structured, faculty-supervised study hall in Irvine Hall Sunday through Thursday evenings during the fall term. Evening study options are also available, and may be mandatory, for the winter and spring.

TUTORS Need more help? While our teachers are famous for being available for one-on-one support and advice, if you need more, you can arrange tutoring. The first step is to meet with the Director of Learning Services to discuss your needs, and your parents must also give written permission.

LEARNING SERVICES PROGR AM This is an academic resource for all students, parents, and teachers. The program improves outcomes by addressing specific academic challenges, helping you learn to organize your time, and providing resources and information to make learning more fun and rewarding.

ONE: ACADEMICS

Your adviser:

academics and beyond

—

Living away from home presents challenges to teenagers and parents alike. Our advisers are there for you and your family every step of the way. Your faculty adviser is the first person to talk to about any personal and academic issues. Each adviser has a group of six to eight advisees who usually live in his or her dorm. Your adviser—part cheerleader, advocate, and confidante—will always be watching out for you and connecting you to needed resources. Advisers are available to talk with parents at any time. Adviser/ advisee groups lunch together on Thursdays and also meet regularly to discuss individual and school issues.

The curriculum:

think college (plus a handful of sample accelerated courses)

—

As early as 9th and 10th grade, you will be immersed in all the core disciplines and developing skills that will define your academic career—English, history, foreign languages, math, science, religion, and fine arts. In 11th and 12th grades, you will delve into academic pursuits that interest you most, and you’ll have the opportunity to customize your study through unique electives. With more than 170 courses, including 40+ Honors, AP, and post-AP courses, there is something for everyone. Through MAPS and Springboard, Mercersburg’s capstone courses, you will accomplish a major academic project before you graduate.

ONE: ACADEMICS

SAMPLE ACCELER ATED COURSES ENGLISH

FINE ARTS

HISTORY

• AP English Language, American Literature

• Acting

• AP European History

• Ceramics

• AP U.S. History

• Dance

• Ancient Mediterranean World

• AP Art History

• AP Comparative Government and Politics

• AP English Literature, British and World Literature • In Pursuit of the Essay • Existentialism in Literature • The Art of Poetry • Power, Justice, and Authority

• Digital Art • Band

• American Studies • Human Geography

• Studio Art

• Your Life as History: The Quinn-Ferguson Honors Seminar

SCIENCE/MATH

LANGUAGE

RELIGION/OTHER

• AP Biology

• Chinese I, II, III, IV, and AP Chinese Language and Culture

• Buddhism

• Post-Apocalyptic Fiction • Existentialism in Literature

• AP Chemistry • AP Environmental Science • AP Physics, Algebra-Based, Mechanics, Electricity and Magnetism • Applied Human Anatomy and Physiology • Botany

• Stagecraft

• French I, II, III, IV, AP French Language and Culture, Contemporary Issues in the French-Speaking World post-AP, French Literature post-AP • German I, II, III, and IV

• AP Macro/Micro Economics

• Latin I, II, III, and AP Latin: Vergil, and Latin Literature post-AP

• Linear Algebra with Applications

• Spanish I, II, III, IV, and AP Spanish Language

• Human Genetics

• Statistics • Robotics I–III • AP Calculus, AB and BC • Multivariable Calculus post-AP

• Advanced Studio Art

• Introduction to Hebrew Bible/Old Testament • Introduction to New Testament • Introduction to World Religions • The Nature and Meaning of the Universe • Postmodernism • Totalitarian Regimes in the 20th Century • Single-Board Computers • App Development • Stream and Estuarine Ecology • Forensic Science • Climate Change • Mixing Music

ONE: ACADEMICS

College counseling: it starts in ninth grade

—

You are assigned a college counselor as soon as you get to Mercersburg, because we know there is no time like the present to plan your future. We have one of the best student-counselor ratios in the country, meaning your college counselor will spend a lot of time helping you develop academic and life skills on your path to finding the best college fit. Here are some important markers of this relationship: • In 9th grade, your counselor will help you get into a groove academically and socially and introduce you to a full range of academic and counseling tools and resources. • In 10th grade, you will practice the PSAT and meet in small groups with your counselor to go over the results. • In 11th grade, you’ll sit for the PSAT in the fall before taking the tests your desired colleges require in the spring: the SAT I, SAT II, and/or ACT. This is also the time to meet more frequently with your college counselor to discuss your search, plan senior year, and take full advantage of your last summer before graduation. • Your senior year is an exciting time to finalize your college applications, and you’ll have the opportunity to meet with admission officers from more than 70 colleges and universities who visit the Mercersburg campus each year.

ACT and SAT prep:

Built in. For everyone. The results are huge.

—

Every 11th grade student receives personalized prep for the ACT and/or SAT. The prep is required, and the cost is covered by tuition. And the results are stellar: the average SAT score has soared by more than 150 points. This one-on-one professional tutoring not only helps determine which test is best for you; it also makes sure your scores reflect your capabilities. And it has reduced stress and anxiety around these tests dramatically.

ONE: ACADEMICS

Capstone experiences for seniors: Springboard and MAPS

—

SPRINGBOARD Springboard is a capstone senior seminar that offers 11 course selections rooted in the passions of some of our outstanding faculty members. Every Springboard course asks you, the student, to make a professional presentation in front of a panel of experts, which dives deep into a topic and generates new knowledge and insights. Current Springboard offerings are: • 3D Computer Graphics

• Global Food Chain

• Business of Sport

• The Human Footprint

• COMMARTS: The Art and Business of Graphic Design

• Maker’s Lab

• Entrepreneurship

• Performance as a Creative Collaboration

• Education Across Borders

• Rapid Application Development

• Parallel Histories

MERCERSBURG’S ADVANCED PROGR AM FOR GLOBAL STUDIES (MAPS) Did you ever think you would embrace the challenge of a 40–50-page paper, paired with 150 hours of community service? Meet MAPS, a two-year program for highly motivated students beginning in the 11th grade. You must apply to enroll in MAPS, which builds on, and expands beyond, the existing Mercersburg curriculum. You’ll become a more creative and independent thinker as you design and conduct a senior research project, take a number of the highest-level courses, and study abroad with a homestay component. MAPS will inspire you to redefine your potential and performance, both academically and personally.

Leadership opportunities: At Mercersburg, everyone leads.

—

From day one, you are expected to lead. From student-led discussions around the Harkness table to special roles built into daily life—like team captain, club official, or a position in student body government—Mercersburg gives you many opportunities to gain a deeper appreciation of responsibility. The result is a uniquely supportive community invested in each other’s success—and committed to improving the world.

ONE: ACADEMICS

Here are some other everyday leadership roles at Mercersburg: • Dorm Prefect

• Peer Group Leader

• Day Student Prefect

• Dormitory Duty Dean Assistant

• Conduct Review Committee

• Writing Center Fellow

• Head Waiter

• Burgin Center Proctor

• Library Proctor

• Burgin Center Usher

• Weekend Library Assistant

• Chapel Usher

Counseling Our trained counselors are available to help you with any issue. From homesickness and anxiety/stress management to personal and family issues, the Director and Associate Director of Counseling help students cope with issues so they can rediscover their academic focus.

Global travel experiences We believe strongly in the value of exposing students to different cultural and political perspectives on and off campus. Seeing yourself and our country through an international lens will help develop an intercultural literacy that is vital in today’s global climate, and Mercersburg’s robust travel program plays a pivotal role in educating you to be a truly global citizen. Trips include domestic excursions organized by the Mercersburg Outdoor Education program (MOE); exchange programs with sister schools abroad; an annual tropical biology trip in Nosara, Costa Rica; and community-service and cultural immersion trips with a specific focus or theme. Here are some examples: Spring 2016: Jordan, Grand Canyon (Arizona), India Summer 2016: Germany, Ireland, China, France, Ecuador & Galapagos Islands, Spain, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, South Africa, New River Gorge (West Virginia) Exchange programs: • Collège-Lycée Saint-Joseph, Thones, France • Gauss Gymnasium, Worms, Germany

• Nanjing Foreign Language School, Nanjing, China

• Colegio Alemán de Santiago, Santiago, Chile A common question is, “How much does it cost to travel?” If you have concerns about affordability, you will be happy to know there is endowed support and financial aid for official break travel thanks to a generous alumnus bequest. This philanthropy enables us to connect all students with the opportunity to travel abroad. Once you express interest in a trip, you can apply for financial aid. If approved, the award is commensurate with the financial aid you receive toward tuition.

T WO: KEEPING PARENTS IN THE LOOP

2 KEEPING PARENTS IN THE LOOP —

Parents receive all sorts of communications from the school, by email and mail. Sometimes they are general notices; other times it is something specifically about your child. Progress reports, grades, and comments During the first term of the year, new students and their parents receive progress reports every 2½ weeks. All students receive interim reports halfway through the term, including grades and teacher and adviser comments, as well as a final report at the end of each term. Parents receive the same reports by email. Parent News e-newsletter Parent News is your go-to, online newsletter of dates to know, school news, feature articles, photo galleries, and more. Published monthly, August to June, Parent News conveys the on-campus experience through the perspectives and voices of students, faculty, and staff.

THREE: BEYOND MERCERSBURG

3 BEYOND MERCERSBURG Ââ&#x20AC;&#x201D;

Our Office of College Counseling makes applying to college a comfortable and easy process. We work with you to secure acceptance into the colleges you have targeted. Mercersburg has a long tradition of sending graduates to a wide variety of colleges and universities that suit their needs and help them continue growing academically and personally.

THREE: BEYOND MERCERSBURG

Over the past five years, Mercersburg graduates were accepted to over 400 colleges and universities.

SAMPLE COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES, 2012 - 2016 CLASS OF 2012:

CLASS OF 2013:

CLASS OF 2014:

CLASS OF 2015:

CLASS OF 2016:

127 STUDENTS

138 STUDENTS

127 STUDENTS

115 STUDENTS

126 STUDENTS

• Barnard College

• Carnegie Mellon University

• Bucknell University

• Boston College

• Bates College

• American University

• Boston College

• Babson College

• Bucknell University

• Bowdoin College

• Case Western Reserve

• California Polytechnic

• Carnegie Mellon University

• Bucknell University

• Columbia University

• Carnegie Mellon University

• Connecticut College

• Colby College

• Dartmouth College

• Columbia University

• Davidson College

• Brown University • Colgate University

• Columbia University

• Cornell University

• Georgetown University • James Madison University • Johns Hopkins University • McGill University • Middlebury College • New York University • Occidental College • Pennsylvania State University • Stanford University

• Emory University • Franklin and Marshall College • Georgetown University • Harvard University • Johns Hopkins University

• Emory University

• Lafayette College • Middlebury College • New York University

• Swarthmore College

• Northwestern University

• University of Michigan

• Stanford University

• UNC Chapel Hill

• Tulane University

• Williams College

• Johns Hopkins University

• Michigan State University

• University of Pennsylvania

• Wesleyan University

• Dartmouth College

• Rose-Hulman Institute

• United States Naval Academy

• University of Virginia

• James Madison University

• Kenyon College

• George Washington University

• UC Berkeley

• Dickinson College

• University of Pennsylvania • University of Virginia

• US Naval Academy

• Vanderbilt University

• University of Cambridge

• Vassar College

• Washington University (MO)

• Wake Forest University

• Wellesley College

• Wesleyan University

• Yale University

• Williams College

• Davidson College

• Carnegie Mellon University • Columbia University • Cornell University

• Duke University • Emory University • Georgetown University

• Harvard University • Kenyon College • Middlebury • McGill University College • Middlebury • Northwestern College University • New York • Pitzer College University • Princeton • Occidental College University • Pomona College • Rhode Island • Rice University School of Design • Stanford • Rice University University • The Ohio State • Swarthmore University College • Trinity College • UNC Chapel Hill • Tulane University • Tufts University • United States • University of Military Academy Chicago • United States • University of Naval Academy Pennsylvania • University College • University of London Richmond • University of • Wellesley College Washington • Wesleyan • Washington and University Lee University

THREE: BEYOND MERCERSBURG

Select notable alumni — Mercersburg has over 12,000 living alumni. Below are just a few of our notable alumni: Joel T. Boone 1909 | Hahnemann Medical College; admiral in U.S. Navy; recipient of the Medal of Honor and Distinguished Service Cross and six Silver Stars Ralph Talbot 1916 | Yale University; World War I flying ace; Medal of Honor recipient Benjamin Mahoney 1918 | owner of Ryan Airlines and builder of Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis James (Jimmy) Stewart ’28 | Princeton University; Academy Award (best actor, The Philadelphia Story, 1940), Honorary Academy Award “for his 50 years of memorable performances and for his high ideals both on and off the screen” Eugene B. Fluckey ’30 | United States Naval Academy; U.S. Navy rear admiral; recipient of Medal of Honor and four Navy Crosses Harry Hughes ’44 | University of Maryland, George Washington University; Governor of Maryland (1979–1987) Burton Richter ’48 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Nobel Laureate in Physics, 1976 H. F. “Gerry” Lenfest ’49 | Washington and Lee University, Columbia University; former owner of Suburban Cable (sold to Comcast in 2000), member of the Philadelphia Museum of Art Board of Trustees, chairman of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia Richard “Dick” Thornburgh ’50 | Yale University, University of Pittsburgh; Pennsylvania governor (1979–1987), U.S. attorney general (1988–1991) Richard Cass ’64 | Princeton University, Yale University; president, Baltimore Ravens Dr. Walter Pae ’67 | DePauw University, Penn State University; inventor of transplant heart pump James Perdue ’69 | Wake Forest University, University of Washington, Dartmouth College; chairman, Perdue Farms James Snyder ’69 | Harvard University; director, The Israel Museum in Jerusalem, former deputy director of Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Margaretta “Peggy” Northrop ’72 | University of California at Berkeley; editor-in-chief of Sunset magazine, former editor-in-chief of Reader’s Digest John E. Jones III ’73 | Dickinson College, Dickinson School of Law; U.S. District Court Judge, made ruling on highly publicized 2005 court case concerning a school board policy in Dover, Pa., regarding evolution and intelligent design

THREE: BEYOND MERCERSBURG

Deborah Simon ’74 | University of Southern California; board chair, Simon Youth Foundation, vice president, Mercersburg Academy Board of Regents Mark Talbott ’78 | Trinity College, top-ranked professional squash player in the world (1983–1995), U.S. Squash Hall of Fame member, more than 175 professional titles, head men’s and women’s squash coach at Stanford University Dr. Deirdre Marshall ’79 | Yale University, Stanford University; director of plastic and reconstructive surgery, Miami Children’s Hospital Betsy Mitchell ’83 | University of Texas at Austin, Harvard School of Education; Olympic gold medalist in the 400-meter medley relay at the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Games Michael Davies ’85 | University of Edinburgh; Daytime Emmy winner for producing ABC’s Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (2000, 2001); co-host of NBC Sports Network’s Men in Blazers Benicio Del Toro ’85 | University of California, San Diego; Academy Award winner (best supporting actor, Traffic, 2000), Golden Globe/Screen Actors Guild Award winner, star of major motion pictures Melvin Stewart ’88 | University of Tennessee; two-time Olympic gold medalist, 200-meter butterfly (Olympic record)/400-meter medley relay, bronze medalist, 800-meter freestyle relay, 1992 Barcelona Summer Games Vanessa Branch ’90 | Middlebury College; actress in Pirates of the Caribbean films, former Orbit Gum spokesperson Gabriel Hammond ’97 | Johns Hopkins University; Founder/CEO, SteelPath Fund Advisors, CoFounder, Broad Green Pictures LLC Rebecca Lowe ’99 | University of East Anglia; sportscaster for NBC, formerly with ESPN UK and BBC Josh Edgin ’06 | Francis Marion University, Ohio State University; pitcher, New York Mets (MLB) Vincent Rey ’06 | Duke University; linebacker, Cincinnati Bengals (NFL) Jack Taylor ’11 | Grinnell College; NCAA record holder for single-game scoring record (138 points)

F O U R : L I V I N G AT M E R C E R S B U R G

4 LIVING AT MERCERSBURG F R E Q U E N T LY A S K E D Q U E S T I O N S

—

Living at Mercersburg is all about making this school your own. You will feel free to be yourself, while broadening your horizons through new friendships and opportunities. It’s hard to be bored here because there is so much to do—sports, special interest clubs and activities, poetry slams, Techno Tuesdays, off-campus trips, drama/music/dance ensembles, and more.

F O U R : L I V I N G AT M E R C E R S B U R G

What are dorm rooms like? All dorm rooms are air-conditioned and furnished with beds, dressers, and desks, as well as voice and data outlets—and, of course, Wi-Fi. Most dorm rooms fit two students, but there are triples and singles in some dorms. Common rooms on most halls are a great place to hang out, and laundry rooms are always nearby.

How good is the food? We’re fortunate to have a dining service, SAGE, that cooks real meals from scratch. SAGE’s seasonal menus are custom-made for us, reflecting the students’ preferences as well as the fresh products available in the market. SAGE’s registered dietitians review and approve each menu to ensure that it offers a wide variety of nutritious choices. Vegetarian entrees are available at all meals. We also have salad bars, deli bars, fruit, soup, and homemade bread at every meal, and SAGE can accommodate any special dietary needs. Contact our office for additional information.

What’s there to do? Plenty! Picture yourself working with fellow students to pull together the latest issue of the Mercersburg News, finishing softball or soccer practice, or rehearsing for a one-act play. After all that, you may still have the energy to watch TV in the common room with friends, sign up for a movie-night out, take a pizza study break, play some pool in the Simon Student Center, persuade the faculty member on duty to take everyone to get Chinese food—or whatever else the Student Activities Committee comes up with.

Is there a dress code? First off, we don’t have uniforms of any kind. The Mercersburg dress code is sensible and aimed at good taste and appropriateness across different settings and occasions. We can send along guidelines but rest assured you have a wardrobe right now that will fit right in. Sometimes we do “dress up.” For example, the attire is semi-formal dress for all Monday evening meals and other special occasions.

Is it okay to be different? Yes! Mercersburg is a place where you can fit in easily.

What’s the Simon Student Center like? In a word: beautiful! Completely renovated, updated, and enlarged in 2013, the student center is truly that—the students’ center. It’s the place to hang out during your free rotation or on a weekend night with a bunch of your friends. On Friday and Saturday nights, the Student Activities Committee plans events for everyone, from karaoke and bingo to casino night and all-school dances. Even if nothing’s announced, you and your fellow students will come by simply to hang out on the rolling chairs and

F O U R : L I V I N G AT M E R C E R S B U R G

play foosball, pool, or ping pong. Buy a snack or smoothie at the True Blue Cafe. Or take a vote on what to watch on the theatre-size HDTV.

How late can I stay up? On weekday nights, all students need to be in their dorms by 10 p.m. Ninth and 10th graders must be ready for bed by 10:30, and 11th and 12th graders have an extra half hour. If you have homework to finish up, you can request “late lights,” giving you extra time. On weekend nights, underclassmen need to be in the dorm by 11 p.m. Seniors have an extra half hour, and everyone needs to be in bed by midnight. In addition to student proctors, there are always faculty members overseeing dorm life—and ready with a glass of milk and cookies, when the occasion arises.

What if I get sick? The Health Center offers the best on-campus health care. The Health Center is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with a registered nurse always on duty. The center has two exam rooms, as well as a 20-bed unit and 1 private room for observation. You can walk in or schedule an appointment.

What is the homework like? Teachers don’t have to assign homework daily, but they do make assignments clearly understood before the end of class and have to provide you with timely feedback. On average, you will receive approximately 20 minutes of homework per night for each lower-level class, which increases to 30 minutes for upperlevel classes. We encourage you to use free periods, early evening hours, and weekends to complete homework assignments, in addition to specified study hours every evening.

What about holidays and breaks? THANKSGIVING

WINTER

SPRING

You’re off from the preceding Friday through the Sunday after Thanksgiving Day.

School is usually closed for 2½ weeks for Winter Break. The break starts toward the end of December and ends the first week of January.

Spring break, usually in March, lasts for 2½ weeks. Over break, students can go home or sign up to go on a school trip.

• Long Weekends happen once a semester, from Friday after classes through Tuesday at 8 p.m., when you have to be back in the dorm. • Summer vacation begins on the Friday of exam week, following Commencement over Memorial Day weekend. Vacation ends a week before Labor Day. We call the week before classes Opening Week; it’s a chance to get settled before Convocation and your first classes on Labor Day.

F O U R : L I V I N G AT M E R C E R S B U R G

What’s a typical school day like? Every school day starts with breakfast. The dining hall opens at 7:30 a.m. and remains open until the first class at 8:50 a.m. Breakfast isn’t required, but we recently adjusted our class schedule so you have enough time to get more sleep and grab breakfast before class. Most students eat breakfast every day. Every class rotation (period) lasts 50–60 minutes. There are seven but you’ll have no more than six in a day. One day, your first rotation may be math; the next, it may be English. It just depends on the day’s schedule. The five minutes between rotations is ample time to reach your next class. Classes usually end at 3:40 p.m.

How do I pick courses? When do I get my class schedule? Once you enroll, the Academic Dean will review your record and transcripts to construct an appropriate schedule and course load. If needed, placement tests are sent to you by June 1 and reviewed by the appropriate department(s) to ensure proper placement. Beyond core requirements, we want students to pursue interests and discover new ones. Schedules are often flexible, and we’ll work to make sure you are challenged but not overwhelmed. You’ll receive your schedule when you arrive and register.

How do I pick my roommate? Shortly after being accepted, all new students are sent a roommate questionnaire. From there, we work hard to find other new or current students who seem to be a good fit based on your answers. We go out of our way to ensure all students are comfortable and happy in the dorms and with their roommates.

Where do students come from? Ours is a true global community. The Mercersburg student body comes from more than 30 states and 30 different nations, on every major continent.

Can I leave campus to visit family some weekends? Of course. Students are allowed to depart campus throughout the year with the exception of weekends preceding a break for a holiday or vacation. Just make arrangements through the Dean of Students office.

FIVE: FIND YOUR PASSION HERE

5 FIND YOUR PA S SION HERE —

It’s hard to be bored at Mercersburg. Our campus is brimming with arts, athletics, and more. Whether your life outside class revolves around the Simon Student Center, the Burgin Center for the Arts, the Masinter Outdoor Education Center, or the Hale Field House, you will find plenty to do—and you may well find yourself pursuing unexpected new interests.

FIVE: FIND YOUR PASSION HERE

Performance group activities: what are they?

—

Your performance group activity (PGA) enables you to stretch your creative muscles. PGAs include sports, dance ensemble, theatre, Mercersburg Outdoor Education, community service, and the Garden Club. You participate in one PGA each term until you are a busier senior, when you do a PGA for just two out of the three terms.

Arts:

find your inner artist

—

Mercersburg has always been a home to creativity. Since 2007, its embodiment has been the Burgin Center for the Arts. Here music, dance, theatre (including technical theatre), and the visual arts (including painting, drawing, digital arts, and ceramics) take flight. A glass wall wraps the building’s front, melding indoor and outdoor spaces and becomes luminescent at night. Among the Burgin’s features are: • a main theatre with superb acoustics • a drawing room and a digital art lab • a studio theatre and a scene shop • two dance studios

• studios for painting, ceramics, and sculpture

• a recital hall and choral room

• an art gallery

Athletics:

your favorite sports are probably here

—

With a history of Olympic athletes and 26 varsity teams, athletics is an important part of the Mercersburg experience. Whatever sport you love, you’ll probably find it here. Last year, we fielded competitive teams in: • Fall: Cross Country, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Volleyball • Winter: Basketball, Indoor Track & Field, Squash, Swimming & Diving, Wrestling • Spring: Baseball, Golf, Lacrosse, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Track & Field The center of athletics is Nolde Gymnasium, a comprehensive athletic complex that holds the McDowell Fitness Center, three basketball/volleyball courts, a squash center with 10 courts, a nine-lane swimming pool, and a wrestling center.

FIVE: FIND YOUR PASSION HERE

The Hale Field House, completed in 2016, features a competition 200-meter track with six turn lanes and eight sprint lanes. The infield area also includes four competition tennis courts and basketball courts. Outdoors, the Academy boasts 11 playing fields (including a synthetic-turf field for field hockey, lacrosse, and soccer), a 14-court tennis center, and a 400-meter all-weather track. In addition, the Masinter Outdoor Education Center, a retrofitted barn, has its own indoor 30-foot climbing wall and equipment for all sorts of outdoor activities (cycling, canoeing, kayaking, and more).

Other things you’ll enjoy doing — COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Community service is a hallmark of Mercersburg. Most students participate in at least one project each year, often with a school-wide focus, such as Community Service Week. You and your classmates will work, have fun, develop lifelong skills, and make a positive impact on others. Students can also propose and develop projects—as individuals, an advisee group, a club, a team, or even a whole dormitory.

SCHOOL NEWSPAPER The Mercersburg News is a student-written, student-run newspaper, with print and online editions. Now in its 115th year, the News is proud to be one of the few high-school newspapers in the country to publish weekly. Editors are always looking for new reporters, photo editors, and copy editors. Being part of the News provides students a chance to gain valuable hands-on experience that may inform a career choice.

YEARBOOK Like many Mercersburg traditions, the KARUX dates almost to our founding. Students started writing, editing, and publishing the yearbook in 1895 and it remains a rich and enduring way to document every graduating class and each year in the life of our school.

BLUE REVIEW Blue Review is the student-designed and -written literary magazine, published with the support of the Fine Arts department, the Writing Center, and the English department. Students begin work in the fall with the choice of a theme. The publication comes out, accompanied by an online edition, during the spring term.

FIVE: FIND YOUR PASSION HERE

MERCERSBURG OUTDOOR EDUCATION (MOE) Ever thought you’d go rock and ice climbing, biking, or backpacking as part of your high school education? Trained faculty and staff lead Mercersburg Outdoor Education (MOE) classes and excursions at all levels, from beginner to expert. Scaling a cliff, riding through forests on a mountain bike, and ski mountaineering also teach personal responsibility, leadership, integrity, and teamwork. MOE’s hub is a retro-fitted 10,000-square-foot barn, the Masinter Outdoor Education Center. From here, you can start exploring: • Hiking and Backpacking | You’ll spend hours exploring the wilderness around Mercersburg, like the Tuscarora Trail, the Appalachian Trail, and Buchanan State Forest. Your newfound skills will include how to set up a tent, cook with a camping stove, and navigate with a map and compass. • Rock Climbing | Get ready to scale new heights—from an Adventure Series trip event to a place on the Climbing Team, including trad, sport, and bouldering. • Endeavor | Endeavor is MOE’s outdoor leadership program combining technical wilderness training with interpersonal skills. Endeavor students lead their peers on treks including winter camping, ice climbing, and backcountry overnights. • Break Travel | Climbing glaciated slopes in Peru or descending the Grand Canyon offer priceless, once-in-a-lifetime experiences, often set against the world’s outdoor wonders. Spring break and summer trips can last a few days or up to a month. But sign up early. Opportunities are limited.

SIX: DISCOVER OUR HISTORY AND TR ADITIONS

6 DISC OVER OUR HIS TORY & TRADITIONS —

As soon as you arrive at Mercersburg, you will find history all around. Many traditions date to our founding in 1893 (and some to the college first established on this campus in 1836). You will be part of this proud heritage.

SIX: DISCOVER OUR HISTORY AND TR ADITIONS

Alma Mater | Mercersburg’s official school song, with lyrics by Thomas A. Crichton and music arranged by Henry Ready, is sung by the student body “with full hearts and loud swelling cheers.” Baccalaureate | The whole school honors seniors with a Chapel service prior to Commencement. Faculty members process in full academic regalia and lead the seniors in. When the service is over, the seniors lead their teachers, symbolizing their readiness to go into the world. Convocation | The opening ceremony for the school year features a faculty speaker who addresses the whole school in full academic regalia. Declamation | The finale event of Irving-Marshall Week calls on chosen students, who have been rehearsing for weeks, to perform 6–8 minute monologues in front of the whole school. Family-style meals | Living together also means eating together. Every weekday lunch and three dinners a week, including semi-formal dinners on Monday nights, bring together the entire student body at assigned tables shared with faculty and faculty families. In the egalitarian spirit of our community, students take turns carrying trays of food from the kitchen to individual tables and then cleaning up following the meal. Irving-Marshall Week | This spirited weeklong competition is our most beloved tradition. When you first come to Mercersburg, you join either the Washington Irving Literary Society or the John Marshall Literary Society. At the end of the winter

term, the two Societies split up and square off in everything from chess and basketball to ping pong and swimming. Students proudly wear Irving’s red and white or Marshall’s blue and yellow as they compete or cheer on their comrades. The centerpiece event—Declamation, a spoken-word contest—follows a celebratory dinner. The Head of School announces the winning society at a postDeclamation dance. Moving up ceremony | On the last day of every school year, the Chapel is the setting for this symbolic ceremony. The seniors, about to graduate, vacate their front row seats, and all of the classes move up. It marks the first time that the uppermiddlers (11th graders) are recognized as seniors, and the newly elected class president takes over from his or her predecessor. Painting the Numbers | Four-year members of the senior class bond together in a late-night gathering at the beginning of Spirit Week by putting their own unique stamp on the intersection in front of Main Hall. Copious amounts of blue and white paint are involved (though not all of the paint ends up on the street). Step Songs | On the Friday evening of Alumni Weekend (Mercersburg’s version of homecoming), the student body assembles on the Main Hall steps to belt out a traditional mix of school songs and vigorous cheers to entertain the gathered alumni and drum up excitement for a full day of athletic contests against a Mid-Atlantic Prep League rival. An all-school bonfire follows.

S E V E N : A P P LY I N G TO M E RC E R S B U RG

7 APPLYING TO MERCERSBURG —

Applying to a new school may seem daunting, but we’re here to help every step of the way. Here’s all the information you’ll need to apply.

S E V E N : A P P LY I N G TO M E RC E R S B U RG

Step One | SCHEDULE YOUR TOUR AND INTERVIEW Your interview is critical to the admission process. If possible, it’s also important for you to visit campus for an official student-led tour. That’s when you’ll also have an interview with an admission officer. To schedule a campus visit, please contact the Admission Office at 717-328-6173 or at admission@mercersburg.edu. If you cannot visit campus, admission officers may schedule Skype or FaceTime interviews.

Step Two | TAKING THE RIGHT TEST All students are required to submit standardized test scores* as part of the application. The required test depends upon the grade to which you’re applying. • Applicants for 9th/10th grades must submit the SSAT. • Applicants for 11th grade must submit scores from the PSAT, SAT, or ACT. The SSAT may also be acceptable. • Applicants for 12th grade or a PG (Post Graduate) year must submit the SAT or ACT. • Non-native English speakers: All applicants for which English is not their first language must also submit results from the TOEFL exam. SSAT School Code – 5026 TOEFL School Code – 0877 *Applicants must have taken required standardized tests during the current academic year and all scores must be submitted to Mercersburg before the January 15 application deadline.

Step Three | YOUR APPLICATION Mercersburg accepts only the Standard Application Online (SAO) from SSAT. We realize many students apply to multiple schools so we have moved exclusively to the SAO for the convenience of our applicants. You can start your application by visiting ssat.org. Required Application Components: • Student Application • Transcript(s) with current and previous 2 years of grades* • English Teacher Recommendation • Math Teacher Recommendation • Guidance Counselor or Principal Recommendation • Fourth Recommendation of choice (encouraged but not required) *Post-Graduate applicants must provide their full high school transcript.

S E V E N : A P P LY I N G TO M E RC E R S B U RG

Step Four | CHECK YOUR APPLICATION STATUS To check your status, you will have to log into your SSAT account to view your SAO. Once an item has been submitted, we will have access to it and will process the items within 3–5 days. The Admission Office will also contact you periodically with updates and reminders. Feel free to contact us at admission@mercersburg.edu or 717-328-6173 with additional questions.

IMPORTANT DATES Admission Application Deadline: January 15 Notification Date: March 10 The Admission Office will notify all applicants about admission decisions and financial aid awards. Applications received after the deadline will be evaluated on a rolling basis. Reply Date: April 10 Admitted students must notify the Admission Office of their enrollment decision.

— A P P LY I N G F O R F I N A N C I A L A I D Philanthropy, an important Mercersburg tradition, allows us to prioritize financial aid so that as many students as possible have access to this excellent education. Mercersburg currently administers a financial aid program that makes tuition affordable for 40 percent of families through grants and scholarships. Understanding a Mercersburg education is a significant investment, the Financial Aid Committee works hard to determine a fair assessment of a family’s ability to pay.

S E V E N : A P P LY I N G TO M E RC E R S B U RG

Step One | INDICATE YOUR NEED To be given full consideration, it is important that you indicate your intention to apply for financial aid on the application for admission.

Step Two | COMPLETE THE PARENT FINANCIAL STATEMENT (PFS) To determine financial aid eligibility, Mercersburg requires all new and returning applicants complete the Parent Financial Statement (PFS) through School and Student Services (SSS) at sss.nais.org. SSS will be available to accept applications for the 2017–2018 academic year on Monday, October 31, 2016. Include Mercersburg’s school code (5026) and a copy will be made accessible to Mercersburg Academy.

Step Three | SUBMIT ALL FINANCIAL INFORMATION TO SSS All new applicants for financial aid must submit to SSS three years of tax returns (1040s with all schedules and attachments), including the current year, accompanied by W2s. Returning applicants for financial aid need only submit the current year’s IRS filing. For families with multiple children in tuition-charging schools, a copy of the financial aid award received at each child’s institution should be uploaded to SSS as soon as it is available. The family should then notify the Admission Office that they have done so.

Important Dates Financial Aid Application Deadline: January 31 We understand that families may not have current year taxes available by our January 31 deadline. Current year taxes should be completed and uploaded to SSS as soon as they are available. Notification Date: March 10 Applicants for financial aid are notified of their award at the time of their acceptance.

E I G H T: L E A R N Y O U R M E R C A B U L A RY !

8 LEARN YOUR MERCABUL ARY! A G L O S S A RY O F MERCERSBURG TERMS

—

By now, you have a sense of some terms that are specific to life at Mercersburg. There are plenty more. Flip through this brief “Mercabulary” list and you will be fluent before you know it.

E I G H T: L E A R N Y O U R M E R C A B U L A RY !

The 15 | The top 15 English students in the senior class are invited to participate in a book club with the English faculty. Back campus | This part of campus is closer to the athletic fields, Hale Field House, and Ford Hall, which is the Dining Hall, and includes Fowle Hall and Tippetts Hall. Blue Card | Your Blue Card will serve as your school ID and student bank account card. That means your parents can add cash to your account so you can make everyday purchases from places like the Blue Storm Cafe, school store, or snack closet. Blue Storm | This is your Mercersburg mascot— Go, Storm! The Chapel | Short for Irvine Memorial Chapel, is the first building you will see when you drive into campus and the site of many important school functions. While Mercersburg is nondenominational, services are held there every Sunday. When the Chapel first opened its doors in 1926, it was dedicated to the Mercersburg alumni killed in World War I. In 1993, it was rededicated to our founder and first headmaster (1893–1928), Dr. William Mann Irvine, who with his wife, Camille, nurtured the vision for the Chapel as the campus’ central building. The Chapel contains one of 163 carillons in America, and its spire is a replica of Oxford University’s Church of St. Mary the Virgin. Dining Hall duties | Organization is key to our family-style meals. At each table, an assigned student Table Proctor delegates the responsibilities at each meal. The White Coat brings food to the tables; the Blue Coat cleans up after the meal. Mugwumps, on a volunteer basis, are dressed casually, since they have the “dirty job” of assisting the dishwashers.

Distinguished scholar / Commended scholar | When you finish the academic term with all your grades 90 or above, you are a “distinguished scholar.” At 85 or above in everything, you’re a “commended scholar.” Front campus | Swank Hall, South Cottage, Main Hall, and Rutledge Hall are all dormitories considered to be on the “front” of campus. Inbound | Every new student arrives on campus early to participate in group activities with other new students, all of which are designed to give you a smooth and happy introduction to your new classmates, the campus, and starting your life at Mercersburg on exactly the right note. Juniors | Some schools use this term for 11th graders; at Mercersburg, “juniors” are members of the 9th grade class. Late Lights | If you need some extra time to finish work at the end of the night, just ask your dorm dean for “late lights.” You’ll get at least 30 more minutes. Lenfest | Short for Lenfest Library, which will become one of your favorite study spots. The building, which echoes the architecture of Irvine Memorial Chapel, is named for one of our most generous alumni, H. F. “Gerry” Lenfest ’49, a philanthropist and the former chair of our Board of Regents. Lower-Middlers | This is what we call members of the 10th grade class. PG / Post-Graduate | Every year twelve to fifteen students who have already graduated from high school enroll at Mercersburg for a post-graduate year to gain independence, strengthen their study skills, retake SAT/ACT, and compete in a sport for another year.

E I G H T: L E A R N Y O U R M E R C A B U L A RY !

Peer group | Every incoming 9th grade class breaks into small groups, each led by two seniors. During the first half of the year, the groups get together to talk and see how everything is going. It’s an easy way to answer questions, learn traditions, work on leadership skills, and transition into life at Mercersburg. Prefect | In each dorm, seniors and a select number of 11th graders are chosen to be student leaders. You can turn to your prefect for help, conversation, or advice. Pretzel Pie | THE signature dessert at Mercersburg for decades! Under a pretzel crust topped with rainbow sprinkles, you’ll find vanilla ice cream— sure to satisfy both your salty and sweet cravings. Regent | Mercersburg’s governing body is the Board of Regents, composed of alumni of the school and parents of former or current students. Rotation | Every class lasts 50–60 minutes, and they rotate their starting times daily. There are six class rotations each day. SAC | The Student Activities Committee plans fun events throughout the year on campus and even off campus, like excursions to Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and even NYC! Senior trip | Before Commencement, all seniors hit the road for a fun trip with faculty chaperones. Recent destinations have included Nemacolin Resort, Seven Springs Resort, golf outings, community service projects, and white water rafting.

Snack Closet | Need a late-night snack to refuel? Every dorm dean keeps a closet stocked full of tasty, healthy treats. Spider Field | If you enjoy tossing around a frisbee, the open area behind Ford Hall and Fowle Hall will be one of your favorite spots. Spring Break Travel | Broaden your horizons during spring break and summer vacation by signing up for group trips all around the world. Each year Mercersburg faculty members plan and supervise a range of unique trips. From outdooreducation and academic travel to service trips both in the U.S. and abroad, you can find anything that fits your liking. Tippetts Beach | We may not have sandy beaches, but that won’t stop you from hitting the beach— specifically, the grassy expanse behind Tippetts Dorm. On any sunny day, you can join fellow students hanging out and playing soccer or frisbee. Upper-Middlers | You guessed it: this is the term for members of the 11th grade class. White Key/Blue Key | Our school colors, in the form of “Keys,” describe the official Mercersburg ambassadors. White Keys are parent ambassadors, who assist with events on campus, host events, and speak with prospective new families. Blue Keys are student ambassadors, who host the campus tours.

NINE: MERCERSBURG BY THE NUMBERS

9 MERCERSBURG BY THE NUMBERS FAC TS & FIGURES

—

Nothing beats visiting Mercersburg and seeing for yourself that this is a school like no other. But everyone loves facts and figures. Here are some that speak to our beautiful campus, capabilities, student body, and accomplished alumni.

Historical roots dating back to 1836, chartered in 1865, yet run as a preparatory school under Exeter model since 1893. Governed by a 30-member Board of Regents. NOTABLE FACTS $252 million endowment An active alumni population of 11,406 (as of June 2016) lives in all 50 states and 81 countries. Students and faculty utilize the Apple iPad as the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s universal digital platform; additionally, nearly 200 computers are available for student use.

STUDENT BODY 430 students; 85% boarding, 15% day 53% boys, 47% girls Students reside in 31 states and are citizens of 47 nations.

More than 45,000 volumes in the Lenfest Hall Library, more than 50,000 volumes housed on campus

23% international students

Approximately 1,700 alumni have served in the military

104 faculty members

THE FACULTY 75% hold advanced degrees

3 Medal of Honor recipients 7 Rhodes Scholars, 1 Nobel laureate, numerous Fulbright Scholars

ACADEMICS 170 traditional courses

ARTS 65,000-square-foot Burgin Center for the Arts (performing and visual arts center) 5 theatre productions a year, 2 dance concerts, 2 pops concerts 4 vocal ensembles, 3 instrumental groups 2 Academy Award winners (Jimmy Stewart and Benicio Del Toro), 2 Golden Globe winners, 1 Emmy Award winner

More than 40 Honors, AP, and post-AP level courses Two senior capstone experiences: MAPS and Springboard Mean SSAT grade 9: V: 677 Q: 696 R: 673 Total: 2046 Mean SSAT grade 10: V: 696 Q: 701 R: 678 Total: 2075 2016 AP Exams: Mercersburg students took 557 AP exams (national average is 214); 80% of our students scored a 3 or higher (national average is 59%); 58% of our students scored a 4 or 5 (national average is 32%).

Hale Field House increases our indoor facilities to 168,000 square feet, and an Olympic-size pool is coming soon.

ATHLETICS Member of the Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL), the IndependentParochial School League (IPSL), and the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association (PAISAA)

7 NATIONAL AP SCHOLARS 26 members of the Mercersburg Class of 2016 were formally introduced as members of the Cum Laude Society.

COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES (CLASS OF 2016)

83% accepted at Barron’s “Most Competitive” or “Highly Competitive” colleges and universities

26 sports; 25 varsity teams; 20 junior varsity, thirds, and club teams 54 Olympians, 12 of whom are gold medalists 10 playing fields; 1 synthetic turf field Nolde Gymnasium and Athletic Center (Plantz Courts, Flanagan Pool, Kuhn Wrestling Center, McDowell Fitness Center) 400-meter all-weather Curran Track Smoyer Tennis Center/Frantz Tennis Pavilion: 14 all-weather tennis courts Davenport Squash Center: 10 international regulation squash courts

THE CAMPUS 300-acre campus 30 school buildings 7 student residences 47 classrooms and labs

TUITION AND FINANCIAL AID

Class of 1938 Observatory

Boarding student tuition: $56,350 (covering tuition, room & board)

McFadden Model Railroad Museum

Day student tuition: $39,050

James Buchanan Cabin

50% of students receive financial aid (need-based/merit)

Irvine Memorial Chapel 24/7 campus security Masinter Outdoor Education Center: houses Mercersburg Outdoor Education (MOE) and a 30-foot climbing wall

Arce, Buchanan, Guttman, Hale, Lenfest Legacy, Mercersburg, Regents, Whitmer, and 1893 merit scholarships awarded

MERCERSBURG ACADEMY

www.mercersburg.edu 717.328.6173

facebook tumblr

twitter

Mercersburg Academy abides by both the spirit and the letter of the law in all its employment and admission policies. The school does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, or national or ethnic origin.