● Introduction

INTRODUCTION

In planning a course of study, students should consult with their advisors, speak with current teachers for placement recommendations, review the course of study guide for updated requirements, and complete a four-year academic planning guide. Rising seniors should also consult with their college counselor. In general, each course of study should

● meet all graduation requirements; ● create a well-rounded, balanced experience; ● match strengths with appropriate challenges, and develop less confident areas; and ● provide opportunities and enthusiasm for growth, exploration, and risk taking.

Ultimately, it is each student’s responsibility to ensure that they fulfill the graduation requirements outlined below. While advisors will be involved in all aspects of course selection, students should double-check these requirements each year; if in doubt about their status, they should meet with the Registrar. Yearly course selections should be made with a four-year program of courses in mind.

Graduation Requirements:

To receive a Moses Brown diploma, a student must complete these requirements:

1. Earn a minimum of 34 credits. 2. Satisfy these departmental requirements:

● ARTS…………………………………2 Credits (Visual, Drama, Music) ● ENGLISH…………………………….8 Credits ● HUMANITIES…………………….....6 Credits (5 credits from Topics in World History, Modern World History & U.S. History and 1 Credit from Religious Studies) ● MATHEMATICS…………………….6 Credits (must include Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2) ● SCIENCE…………………………….4 Credits (laboratory science) ● WORLD LANGUAGES……………..6 Credits (sequential in one language)

3. Meet the school’s co-curricular requirements. 4. Complete these additional academic requirements: ● Ninth Grade Program ● 9th Grade Immersion ● 10th-12th Grade Immersion ● Senior Project Completion

Credits:

Yearlong courses earn 2 credits and semester courses earn 1 credit. Only coursework completed in the Upper School counts toward graduation credit; no credit is given for work done during eighth grade or at a summer school. Students may enroll in five or more courses at any one time. Those who wish to pursue seven classes must seek special permission, coordinated through the registrar, who will convene a group to respond to such requests.

Co-curriculum Requirements

The Co-curricular Program helps foster connections among students beyond the classroom and creates a sense of community between students and faculty. At the same time, the Co-Curricular Program strives to recognize students’ passions and the diversity of talent each student brings to Moses Brown; the educational experience at MB includes more than our academic offerings. The Co-Curricular Program aims to cultivate leaders, develop lifelong passions, build resilience, and strengthen collaborative spirit, all leading to a stronger and more cohesive school community. See the Co-curricular Planning sheet for all requirements.

9th Grade Immersion

For ninth graders, Immersion is the culminating experience of their social innovation and engaged scholarship work. Beginning with the ninth-grade orientation, students learn about the concepts of social innovation, design thinking, and engaged scholarship, and how they connect to the Quaker principles of social justice, community, and stewardship. In September, each Ninth Grade Program class is matched with one of Moses Brown’s Community Partners. Led by the Peer Leaders, each Ninth Grade Program class learns about its Community Partner and the community issue it is working to address. Classes make one site visit to the Community Partner, reading articles, and talking with experts, either live or via Skype. Ninth Grade Program classes present a summary of their first semester learning, as well as their designated challenge for Immersion, to the entire ninth grade class in January.

During Immersion, each Ninth Grade Program class is partnered with two Moses Brown faculty and one or two Student Leaders (10th, 11th or 12th graders who have applied to shepherd the ninth-grade group through their immersion project). Together, they embark on a week of exploration, research and collaborative problem solving that further deepens the class’s relationship with its Community Partner and engages students in our broader Providence community. Immersion ends with each Ninth Grade Program class presenting its ideas for addressing the Community Partner’s challenge, reflecting their learning and work during the previous week to its Community Partner.

Participation in orientation and all aspects of 9th Grade Immersion is a graduation

requirement. (Students entering Moses Brown in 10th , 11th, or 12th grade will be required to fulfill this requirement in an alternative manner to be determined, at a later time.)

10th - 12th Grade Immersion

The Upper School 10 – 12th Grade Immersion program is centered on a basic question: how can we more deeply incorporate experiential learning into our upper school curriculum? MB Immersion seeks to stretch students in new and profound ways through a wide range of offerings called Immersives. These hands-on courses represent an opportunity to explore a wider range of subjects and skills than is otherwise possible in our regular program of classes. Students will grow in new ways through deep inquiry, collaborative problem solving, trial and error experimentation, personal discovery, and reflection. Immersives provide a chance to learn in a range of settings and from a variety of professionals. This experience allows students and faculty to break out of their normal routines and “do school” differently. Immersion each year

is a graduation requirement; Immersives are non-credit and taken as pass/fail.

Ninth Grade Program

Ninth Grade Program is a one-semester program designed to expose first year Moses Brown students to a wide variety of topics to help them better acclimate to the campus community. Every ninth grader takes Ninth Grade Program. Topics include Friends Education, Engaged Scholarship, Social Entrepreneurship, Health Education, Leadership, Stress Management, and Naviance training. Each year new topics are integrated into the curriculum.

Ninth Grade Program classes are also assigned two Peer Leaders, seniors who work closely with each class—as well as the teacher—and serve as role models and student advisors.

Senior Project

The senior project gives seniors the chance to purse a new endeavor; continue, in greater depth, to expand their knowledge of a topic studied; or to connect their learning at MB to the larger community. Students will create an independent project that provides them the opportunity to plan their time, choose their own subject of interest, design and implement their project activities and goals, and finally, prepare a presentation/demonstration for approval and review by a panel of community members.

Transcripts

All requests for student records and/or official transcripts should be emailed to transcript@mosesbrown.org. The following information is required in order to begin processing a request for an official transcript: student name while at Moses Brown (i.e. original family name), graduation year or grade and year of withdrawal/transfer from Moses Brown, and address of where to mail official transcript. Please allow 7-10 business days for completion of your request. An email confirmation will be sent. The school does not fax official transcripts, and any documents handed directly to students or parents are marked “unofficial” unless in a sealed envelope. A current student’s unofficial transcript can be accessed through MyMB, under the Performance link.

Study Abroad/Off‐Campus Study

Moses Brown School values travel and global education, and seeks to be supportive when students express interest in studying at another school domestically or internationally for a semester or full-year. The number of spaces reserved for off-campus study is limited to 5 students per year*. Preference is given to juniors and seniors, but otherwise permission to attend another school is granted on a first-come, first-served basis. Students interested in exploring this option should register their interest with the Head of Upper School. Students must be certain that, even if they are away, they can meet all graduation requirements and complete major department expectations (e.g., E-Search, I-Search, Humanities research paper). Grades earned during off-campus study will not count as official Moses Brown courses, i.e., do not appear on the MB transcript nor contribute to the MB GPA.

*The reason for the limit is practical and budgetary. Students who are away for part of a year are charged partial tuition (one semester = 60% tuition), and MB agrees to hold that student’s seat for the full year at no additional charge. In order to limit the budgetary impact of such partial year enrollment, the school has set an annual limit of 5 for off-campus study.

Course Registration Guidelines

● Registration for Courses: Registration should be completed with the intent of taking all courses selected. All fall/spring course selections must list two alternates. Initial selections are discussed with the advisor as well as current teachers, and registrations are not complete until signed by the student, advisor, and a parent or guardian. All course registrations are reviewed by a committee including the Registrar and Upper School

Head. It is important to remember that it is students’ responsibility to ensure that they fulfill all graduation requirements. All course offerings and registrations are subject to change depending on availability, section size, facilities, and staffing.

● Registration for Electives: Students registering for departmental electives should note: first preference is given to seniors; juniors may enroll in departmental electives if space is available; and the lowest priority is given to students registering for a second departmental offering.

● Adding, Dropping, and Changing Courses: All adds, drops, and changes must be made through the Registrar. Students may make course changes during the drop/add period at the beginning of each semester. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the final date for course changes, typically one week after the start of classes. Courses dropped

after the drop/add period appear on the student’s official transcript.

Course change forms are obtained from the Registrar and/or Scheduler and require the approval of the advisor, teacher, and parent(s). Seniors making a course change must also consult their college counselor. Course or section changes may be granted for a variety of compelling reasons. Teacher preference is not a valid reason for a course or section

change.

● Waivers: A student who seeks a waiver of a graduation requirement should submit a written petition through the Registrar. It is highly unusual to be granted a waiver, and such requests generally reflect a documented recommendation by a learning specialist.

Until the student and parents receive official written notice from Moses Brown approving the waiver, the student will remain enrolled in the course that satisfies the requirement.

● New students: Students entering Moses Brown in the tenth, eleventh, or twelfth grade will have their graduation requirements established at the discretion of the Registrar.

They will meet all requirements (or the equivalent) of our four year program.

● Summer school: Summer school courses may not be used to satisfy a graduation requirement. The grade of the course taken will not be incorporated into the Moses

Brown Grade Point Average. Students may request that a summer school record be attached to the Moses Brown transcript for the purposes of college applications.

● Generally, students will be required to make up a failed course in a pre-approved summer school or repeat the course the following year at MB.

Grading System

● Attendance: The Director of Student Life and/or the Upper School Head, in consultation with the Registrar, a student’s advisor and teacher(s), will contact families with significant concerns about attendance, credit, and graduation. In each case, we endeavor to balance individual issues (health, family situation, etc.) with academic expectations. A 90% attendance rate for excused and unexcused absences will act as the primary guideline; normally, students who miss 20% or more of classes will not receive credit.

● SeniorAttendance: Seniors who miss approximately 15% or more of classes during the second semester will be required to take a final exam in the class. With regard to college visits, please take advantage of special opportunities for seniors identified in College

Counseling communications.

● Grades: Moses Brown School does not rank students or have an honor roll system. Grades are issued as letters: A (superior) through E (failure) in the Upper School. There are plus and minus grades for each category except E.

● Grade Reports: The school year is divided into two semesters; students receive letter grades four times a year with narrative comments written for yearlong and semester courses for each mid-semester report. (Teachers may submit a comment at the end of a semester to note an inadequate effort, an unsatisfactory grade, or a positive change in performance.) Advisors and parents access grades and comments through MyMB.

The mid-semester grades and comments are intended to serve as indicators of a student's progress; they are not recorded on student transcripts. Semester grades are entered on a student's transcript.

● Transcripts and GPA: Moses Brown calculates a weighted, cumulative Grade Point

Average (GPA). The GPA is automatically calculated and recorded on the Moses Brown transcript. Only credit-earning courses taken at Moses Brown in grades 9-12 are included in the GPA. The GPA is calculated twice a year, on semester grades only. Honors and AP courses receive an additional .3 weight.

A+ = 4.3; A = 4.0; A- = 3.7; B+ = 3.3; B = 3.0; B- = 2.7; C+ = 2.3; C = 2.0; C- 1.7; D+ = 1.3; D = 1.0; D-.7; E = 0. Passing grade is a D- or above

● Academic Warning: Students who are not meeting the academic and attendance expectations of the school will be reviewed by the faculty and may be placed on Academic

Concern. There are three levels of concern: advisory, review, and warning. The school’s response to a student reflects the level of concern.

● Summative Assessments: Hour long summative assessments or projects in first semester courses take place during the last week of semester 1.

● Semester Exams: Cumulative exams are given at the end of second semester (June) in most academic disciplines. These two-hour exams account for 20-25% of the semester grade, unless otherwise designated by the head of upper school.

● Senior Grades: Seniors must pass all second semester courses in order to graduate from

Moses Brown School.

● Incompletes: When a student's work is incomplete at the end of a term, the teacher may assign a failing grade at that time or grant the student an extension of up to ten academic class days. An extension is normally granted only when a severe medical or family issue exists. The school will not grant credit for a course unless all major assignments have been completed.

● Pass/Fail: Students occasionally have an option of taking a course for credit on a pass/fail basis if it is not a requirement for graduation. This option exists to encourage students to explore academic areas that might not fall within their strength or stretches their programs.

Students must request this option through the Registrar. Final approval rests with the department head and the Head of the Upper School.

● Independent Study: This opportunity allows a student to pursue an interest that extends beyond the curriculum offered in the Course of Study. The independent study must be the student’s sixth course and taken as pass/fail; an independent study does not receive graduation course credit. A student must fulfill his/her Fine Arts graduation requirement before he/she can be approved for an independent study in the Arts. To apply for an independent study, the student must find both a faculty and department sponsor and write up a description of the academic study.

INFORMATION FOR FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS

The transition to the Upper School at Moses Brown presents many challenges for first-year students. For many, the expectations of our rigorous college preparatory program are intense, and the work becomes much more analytical. It is important, therefore, for first-year students to recognize faculty expectations, establish healthy and productive study habits, manage time successfully, and make responsible choices that will contribute to a productive, enjoyable experience. Here are a few helpful hints:

❑ Get to know your advisor, the Director of Student Life, the Grade Dean, the Registrar, and the Head of Upper School as soon as possible. These adults will prove to be helpful advocates.

❑ Seek out your teachers for extra assistance and, if needed, establish a regular meeting time.

Getting extra assistance is not a sign of ignorance but, rather, signals to the teacher your earnest desire to learn. Visit the Learning Center after school.

❑ Ask questions in class. If you don't know or understand something or if you need help finding a solution to a problem, ask your advisor or a teacher. Only by asking can you discern answers to suit your individual needs.

❑ Homework and daily preparation for classes are the keys to success in the Upper School.

Preparing for class means following up on materials covered in class, reviewing class notes, outlining and taking notes on reading, and mapping out strategies for longer term assignments.

❑ Do not let work pile up. If you find yourself falling behind, seek out your teacher or advisor right away to develop a strategy for correcting the problem. You do not have to feel overwhelmed.

❑ Take time to review the many academic, extracurricular and co-curricular offerings in the

Upper School, and take advantage of at least one activity.

❑ It is important early in the year to establish good habits and time management skills, so seek to establish a balance between time to relax and socialize, with during the day to study, see teachers for extra help, or complete homework. Using time wisely is one of the most important skills to manage in upper school.