A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE Our mission: to inspire our students • to think critically • act responsibly, and • discover a passion for lifelong learning
Contents About MPH/By The Numbers...................................1 The Story of our School/Prominent MPH Alumni....3 The Manlius Pebble Hill Difference............................5 The Lower School........................................................7 The Middle School......................................................9 The Upper School.....................................................11 College Counseling....................................................13 Sample Schedules.......................................................15 Athletics and Extracurricular Clubs..........................17 The Arts at MPH.......................................................19 Community at MPH..................................................21 Financial Information................................................22 Connect with Our Admissions Office........................25
ABOUT MPH Our Core Values 1. We are dedicated to the pursuit of distinguishable academic excellence. 2. We cultivate passionate, accomplished, and invested teachers who challenge students to become inquisitive and independent learners. 3. We build self-confidence, respect, integrity, and strength of character throughout all grades. 4. We stimulate intellectual, emotional, social, and physical development – we teach the whole child. 5. We believe children learn best in a caring, close-knit community that values diversity. 6. We foster a love of learning through creative problem-solving and critical thinking. 7. We strive to attract bright, motivated students who are prepared to partner with teachers and classmates to foster a mutually supportive learning environment. 8. We prepare students to become responsible contributors to the local and global community.
BY THE NUMBERS 315 students enrolled in Pre-K-grade 12 28 out of 31 MPH students received awards at the 2015 CNY STEM Fair. Top honors awarded to MPH students for four consecutive years.
30 inclusive and competitive athletic teams 1st place winner in 2015 Congressional Art Competition
12 Syracuse High School Theater Award Nominations for Cabaret, Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical
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32 percent of students from diverse backgrounds 100 percent of students accepted to four-year colleges or universities
$10.6M in college scholarships offered to 61
class of 2015 graduates. Acceptances at Brown, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Stanford, and Yale.
Learn more about independent education at mph.net/about
140 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE: THE STORY OF OUR SCHOOL In 1970, The Manlius School (founded in 1869) and Pebble Hill School (formed in 1927) merged to form Manlius Pebble Hill School (MPH). What began as a hybrid of a religious school and a military academy for boys has evolved into a dynamic and progressive institution for developing confident, intellectually curious, creative young people with a strong sense of character. The MPH of today strives to prepare its graduates to make a difference in an increasingly globalized society and take on the challenges of tomorrow.
PROMINENT MPH ALUMNI: • Noah Kellman ’09, recipient of 2011 & 2012 ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Award • Kent Sutherland ‘05, co-founder of Flexibits, developer of the top-selling “Fantastical” mobile app • Carrie Manolakos ‘02, actress, singer, Mamma Mia, Wicked • Patrick Danial ‘98, CTO and co-founder, Terakeet • MacLaren Cummings ‘97, CEO and co-founder, Terakeet • Ben Kram ‘95, software engineer, Google
Serving Pre-Kindergarten through grade 12 from its location in a residential suburb east of Syracuse, MPH is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. MPH is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools, the NYS Association of Independent Schools, the National Association of College Admission Counselors, the NYS Association of College Admission Counselors, the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools, and The College Board. In 2010, MPH was selected as one of 48 independent schools nationwide to receive an endowment of $2 million from the Malone Family Foundation. Money is drawn from the endowment to offer scholarships to financially needy, gifted students. Our Malone partnership enables us to offer the area’s only distance learning classroom, where Upper School students take highly specialized advanced courcework to individualize their academic program.
• Brian Thomas ’95, Coast Guard Marine salvage engineer and member of director James Cameron’s “Titanic Dream Team”
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• Laurie Halse Anderson ‘79, author • Paul Sutphen ‘78, U.S. State Department, director for The Middle East Partner Initiative • Alan Marcum ’74, manager, Firewall Forensic Engineering at Cisco Systems • General Howell M. Estes III ‘60, U.S. Airforce, Ret. • Steve Wynn ‘59, casino resort developer
Learn more about our history at mph.net/alumni/history
HIGH STANDARDS, CUSTOMIZED LEARNING: THE MANLIUS PEBBLE HILL DIFFERENCE
WHAT MAKES US SPECIAL
With several quality public and private school options available in the area, why choose our school? The short answer: MPH offers your child a highly responsive, customized learning environment. Our faculty teach to each student’s unique strengths and learning style. They are not limited by a state-mandated curriculum or standardized tests. When children are engaged participants and not merely an audience memorizing a recipe, they don’t just learn, they flourish.
• The oldest private educational institution in Central New York
Our curriculum is rooted in best practices and inspired by continual research of successful teaching models. While we are mindful of national standards, we allow them to inform, not mandate, our curriculum. As an independent school we have the freedom to design our instructional methods and approach, based on your child’s needs.
• In-depth study of subject matter promotes meaningful, lifelong learning, not rote memorization
Being an independent school also enables us to select our faculty on the basis of exceptional knowledge of their subject area and a deep understanding of how students learn. The result: an outstanding faculty who are experts in their fields and can engage in meaningful mentorships with their students.
• The area’s only Pre-K-12 school
• Small class sizes (average of 15 students per class) and 1:8 teacher to student ratio • Freedom from federal- and state-controlled standard curricula • Faculty teach to students’ individual needs, not just a “core” test
• “Whole child” approach fosters intellectual, social, and physical development, inside and outside the classroom
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• Students who grow into young people of strong character, with the life skills to succeed long after graduation THE RESULT: Our students earn the region’s highest composite SAT and ACT scores, and 100 percent of our graduates attend four-year colleges or universities.
We set high expectations for educating the whole child across multiple domains: academic, social, emotional, physical, and creative. We are committed to helping each child achieve his/her personal best and teaching our students to be reflective about their learning, to be self-advocates, and to contribute positively to our community both within MPH and beyond. Learn more about independent education at mph.net/academics
ACADEMICS
CULTIVATING A LOVE OF LEARNING: THE LOWER SCHOOL The early years of your child’s education form the foundation on which all future learning is built. In the Lower School, our goal is to instill a lifelong love of learning and build strong academic foundations. We begin by embracing each child’s unique gifts and talents. Our Singapore Math curriculum and highly personalized literacy program ensure that every child is developing deep fundamental competency in core subjects. Our project-based STEM instruction starts in Pre-K and prepares students for the annual STEM fair, beginning in grade five. In addition to the fundamental academic subjects, we emphasize learning in realms that stimulate children’s creative development, physical wellness, and their ability to understand the world from a global perspective. For that reason, the curriculum includes
• • • • •
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Daily physical education Art World language The area’s only certified Suzuki strings program Performing arts courses, including dance, chorus, band or orchestra
During these years, children will learn the importance of curiosity, cooperation, and self-confidence, all in an open, non-competitive environment. This will prepare them to be positive, contributing members of the community and prepare them for the unique challenges and learning experiences they’ll have in the Middle School. Learn more about the Lower School at mph.net/academics/lower-school
NAVIGATING THE TRANSITION: THE MIDDLE SCHOOL (GRADES 6-8) The Middle School years are a period of tremendous intellectual, social, emotional, and physical growth. Our faculty is dedicated to fostering children’s curiosity, skill development, and desire to learn while helping them cope with the challenges of being 11 to 14 years old. Middle School students see their advisor each day to discuss organization, homework, and other important topics pertinent to Middle School development. This helps students to become comfortable turning to their advisor for advice, support, or just to talk. In our Advisory program, they participate in small group activities that foster social and emotional well-being in addition to academic skills. Students take classes in traditional core subjects and move into Upper School prepared for advanced study, demonstrating competence, confidence, and initiative. Middle School students take courses in Latin, French, or Spanish before choosing which language they’ll continue studying in the Upper School. Seventh graders may take algebra, well ahead of the standard of introducing the subject in high school. Labbased science courses include a long-term research project on a topic of their choice, which they present at the spring STEM fair.
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Middle School students have opportunities to sample a rich variety of subjects, enabling them to make solid decisions about what to study more deeply in their Upper School years. Students have an average of 40 minutes each day to engage in physical education, performing arts, and visual art and design. They also take encore courses in technology, health, and writing. Learn more about the Middle School at mph.net/academics/middle-school
POISED FOR COLLEGIATE SUCCESS: THE UPPER SCHOOL (9-12) As students approach graduation, the intensity and depth of their academic and extracurricular engagement increase. Upper School students are actively involved in shaping their education, working with teachers to define, explore, and pursue areas of study that excite them. The increased independence of the Upper School daily routine enables students to strengthen known aptitudes while discovering new interests. Mentoring relationships with faculty, student-driven course selection, and the Senior Thesis Project enable our students to sample the rigors and challenges of college-level learning while they are still in high school. A demanding curriculum asks students to engage in evaluative, higher-level thinking.
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For their Senior Thesis Project, students choose a topic, conduct intensive research, and become teachers of the subjects they’ve mastered. This year-long endeavor culminates with a special event in which students present their findings to alumni, parents, and community leaders who evaluate their work. Students may further personalize their study through our distance learning program, taking specialized courses and studying advanced subjects such as Arabic, multi-variable calculus, and medical bioethics in our state-of-the-art online learning classroom. When the time comes to leave our halls, Upper School students know they can move confidently into the world of college, equipped with the intellect, imagination, and character it takes to succeed in higher education, career, and beyond. Learn more about the Upper School at mph.net/academics/upper-school
COLLEGE BOUND AND SUPPORTED EVERY STEP OF THE WAY We take college very seriously at MPH, and begin the college preparation process in Pre-K by cultivating a love of learning. The self-management skills and global interest students develop in the years that follow help them become independent and curious, prepared for the rigors and rewards of college. While the college counseling process begins formally during the junior year, we advise freshmen and sophomores on topics like course selection, study skills, paying for college, and building a portfolio of extracurriculars that help them become proactive, well-rounded applicants. With over 18 Advanced Placement (AP) course offerings, our students have many opportunities to earn college credit. An average of 80 percent of 10th-12th graders take AP courses such as literature, US history, calculus, physics, French, and Spanish, and 82 percent of students who take an exam score a 3 or higher, qualifying them for college credit. Our PSAT and SAT prep courses produce results. In 2014, our students’ SAT and ACT composite scores were the highest in the region.
Here are some of the colleges and universities to which our 2015 graduates were accepted: • Adelphi University
• Fordham University
• American Musical and
• George Washington University • Rutgers University
Dramatic Academy
• Rochester Institute of Technology
• Hamilton College
• Skidmore College
• American University
• Harvard University
• St. John Fisher College
• Arizona State University
• Johns Hopkins University
• College of St. Rose
• Binghamton University
• Kenyon College
• Stanford University
• Boston College
• LeMoyne College
• SUNY Brockport
• Boston Conservatory
• Maryland Institute
• SUNY Buffalo
• Boston University • Bowdoin College • Brown University
College of Art • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• SUNY Geneseo • SUNY New Paltz • SUNY Oswego
• Bucknell University
• McGill University
• SUNY Potsdam
• UC Santa Cruz
• Merrimack College
• Syracuse University
• Centre College
• University of Miami
• Tufts University
• Clarkson University
• Missouri University of
• Union College
• Colgate University
Science and Technology
• United States Naval Academy
• Connecticut College
• Nazareth College
• University of Southern California
• University of Connecticut
• New England Conservatory
• University of Vermont
• Cornell University
of Music
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• Vanderbilt University
• Dartmouth College
• New York University
• Villanova University
• DePaul University
• Pennsylvania State University
• Wheelock College
• Florida Institute of Technology
• Princeton University
• Yale University
To achieve our 100 percent college placement rate, our Director of College Counseling provides highly personalized guidance through the search and application process, helping students find the colleges or universities that best suit their goals, abilities, and career plans. We also host college visits from over 75 institutions each fall. Learn more about college counseling at mph.net/academics/college-counseling
A DAY IN THE LIFE: SAMPLE SCHEDULES * Middle and Upper School courses are organized in 80-minute blocks to enable intensive exposure to course content. Students take courses on alternating days. LOWER SCHOOL (Grade 1)
MIDDLE SCHOOL* (Grade 7)
UPPER SCHOOL* (Grade 11, STEM focus)
UPPER SCHOOL* (Grade 12, Humanities focus)
8:10-8:35 a.m. Morning meeting
8:10-9:30 a.m. U.S. History/Latin
8:10-9:30 a.m. American Literature/AP Economics
8:10-9:30 a.m. Global Citizenship/AP European History
8:35-8:55 a.m. Fundations (word study)
9:30-9:45 a.m. Morning snack in dining hall
9:30-9:45 a.m. Morning snack in dining hall
9:30-9:45 a.m. Morning snack in dining hall
9:00-10:30 a.m. Literacy: reading and writing
9:45-11:05 a.m. Accelerated algebra/Life science
9:45-11:05 a.m. AP Calculus/AP Physics Mechanics
9:45-11:05 a.m. AP Language and Composition/Free block
10:30-11:00 a.m. Recess
11:05-11:45 a.m. Tutorial/Advisory
11:05-11:45 a.m. Tutorial/Advisory
11:05-11:45 a.m. Tutorial/Advisory
11:00-11:40 a.m. Lunch in dining hall
11:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Lunch in dining hall
11:45 a.m.-1:05 p.m. Spanish IV/Forensics
11:45 a.m.-1:05 p.m. Philharmonica Orchestra/AP Statistics
11:40 a.m.-12:20 p.m. Spanish
12:15-12:55 p.m. Physical education
1:05-1:45 p.m. Lunch in dining hall
1:05-1:45 p.m. Lunch in dining hall
12:25-1:35 p.m. Mathematics
1:00-1:40 p.m. Art/Spanish elective
1:45-3:05 p.m. AP Physics Lab/3D Modeling
1:35-2:15 p.m. Science or social studies
1:45-2:25 p.m. Orchestra/English
3:05 p.m. Dismissal
1:45-3:05 p.m. Digital Art and Photography/ Comedy, Satire, & Parody (English Elective)
2:20-3:00 p.m. Physical education
2:25-3:05 p.m. Chorus/English
3:05 p.m. Dismissal
3:05 p.m. Dismissal
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3:05 p.m. Dismissal
Learn more about our curricula at mph.net/academics
GROWTH OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
EXTRACURRICULAR ENGAGEMENT: ATHLETICS AND CLUBS MPH graduates are well-rounded young people with diverse interests and talents. At our school, we encourage students to enrich their education by participating in athletics and our many clubs. Athletics at MPH are for everyone, athletes and enthusiasts alike. Our inclusive teams are also competitive and frequently reach sectional and state championships. Interscholastic sports begin in seventh grade with modified teams and go up to varsity level. We have a variety of teams for boys and girls, including:
• • • •
Soccer Cross country Tennis Lacrosse
• • • •
Track and field Volleyball (G) Basketball (B) Golf (B)
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Our clubs give students meaningful opportunities to explore skills outside the classroom, build relationships, and experience the joy of achievement, whether it’s practicing a sport, mastering an art form, or promoting activism. Popular clubs are offered each year, and students may start new clubs for emerging interests. Here are just a few:
• • • • •
Robotics Math League Chess Club Stock Trading Club Gay Straight Alliance
• • • • •
Jazz Ensemble Shakespeare Society Alpine Ski and Snowboard Club National Honor Society Z Club (community service)
Learn more about athletics at mph.net/students/athletics and clubs at mph.net/students/extracurricular
THE ARTS AT MPH: PERFORMING ARTS AND VISUAL ART AND DESIGN We believe each student has creative talent, so we provide many ways to explore and express it. Our visual and performing arts opportunities enable students to step boldly into the limelight or hone their craft in quiet, supportive settings. Whether a student has many years of experience or is trying something for the first time, we do everything we can to nurture creative development. MPH graduates have appeared in Broadway productions of Mama Mia, Wicked, Jersey Boys, and Little House on the Prairie, The Musical. Musicians shine in string quartets, jazz ensembles, orchestra, band, concert chorale ensembles, plays, and Broadway-style musical productions. Our dance instruction is one of the only full-credit, high school level dance programs in Central New York.
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The Visual Arts Design program at MPH prepares students to enjoy, understand, and create art, beginning at the Lower School level. Our youngest students learn the importance of fearless experimentation and study the history of art across time and cultures. This forms the foundation for a sophisticated, progressively challenging art education program that emphasizes conceptual, technical, and aesthetic competencies. From traditional media such as pen and ink to the most cutting edge design software, our students have access to a variety of materials from which to make their ideas reality. Our artists’ award-winning work is displayed in our school, the community, and across the country.
Learn more about athletics at mph.net/students/performing-arts
GROWING AND LEARNING TOGETHER: COMMUNITY MATTERS AT MPH We care as much about shaping responsible citizens as we do scholars. To that end, we focus on character development in formal ways such as our annual handshake ceremony, and less formal ones like regular assemblies and lunch periods in which students and faculty eat together. Our small-group Advisory program promotes an atmosphere of mutual respect and a genuine understanding of the notion of community. MPH is the only school in the area where Pre-K through grade 12 students share one campus, allowing students to forge strong connections with fellow students of all ages. Lower school students benefit from having role models who demonstrate leadership and academic success. Upper School students know they must act responsibly—both on campus and off—to set a positive example. In this unique blended environment, students feel safe to be their true selves and grow into confident young adults of strong character. An important lesson we try to teach every day is that diversity makes all communities richer. Acknowledging and embracing difference helps us communicate and collaborate, and magnifies the feeling of togetherness that makes our school a place where everyone feels they belong. We celebrate the value each person brings to MPH, which strengthens the bond students feel to the school and each other.
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FINANCIAL INFORMATION: TUITION, FINANCIAL AID, AND PAYMENT PLANS Manlius Pebble Hill School is an independent, non-profit school that operates on the tuition schedule below. Tuition includes lunch (grades 1-12), books, and auxiliary fees. To offer parents a variety of payment plans to help budget the cost of enrollment, we partner with FACTS Tuition Management. Many parents choose an automated monthly payment plan to pay tuition in several installments throughout the school year, working with admissions staff to select their preferred payment plan at the time of enrollment.
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Financial Aid MPH is committed to working with families of qualified applicants to help make enrollment possible. We offer need-based financial aid to eligible students in all grade levels. Approximately 40 percent of MPH families currently participate in our financial aid program. The Office of Admissions works closely with parents during the application process to determine eligibility for aid, offering guidance with the financial aid application and providing counseling as soon as the results are available. The minimum tuition payment for families is $11,000/child. Need-based financial aid can be awarded to cover the difference between the minimum tuition and the full cost of enrollment.
Learn more about tuition, financial aid, and payment plans at mph.net/admission/financial-info
Malone Scholarship Our partnership with The Malone Family Foundation allows us to offer scholarships to high-need, gifted students. The Malone Scholarship can be awarded to students in grades 7-12 who perform at or above the 95th percentile of their class and have at least 30 percent financial need. The Office of Admissions accepts applications for available Malone Scholarships each fall and conducts a comprehensive selection process to name a new Malone Scholar for the following school year. GRADE
2015-16 ANNUAL TUITION
Pre-K
$13,750
Kindergarten
$13,750
Grade 1
$18,869
Grade 2
$18,869
Grade 3
$19,025
Grade 4
$19,025
Grade 5
$19,437
Grade 6
$19,437
Grade 7
$20,378
Grade 8
$21,138
Grade 9
$21,149
Grade 10
$21,999
Grade 11
$22,507
Grade 12
$22,987
“I think of MPH as more than a college-preparatory school. I think of it as a life-preparatory school.� 22
Dr. Eric Fung, father of Alexander (grade 5) and Maxwell (grade 7)
“MPH gave my life momentum. The school sparks every student’s inherent curiosity– to fuel self-discovery, challenge the status-quo, and change the world.” Patrick Danial, ‘98 CTO and Co-Founder Terakeet
TAKE THE NEXT STEP: CONNECT WITH OUR ADMISSIONS OFFICE Now that you’ve had a glimpse of life at our school, we invite you to visit campus for a personal tour. You’ll have a chance to stop by classrooms to observe our faculty and students in action. Our admissions staff will answer your questions and guide you through the application and enrollment process. We also encourage you to attend one of our upcoming admissions events. They’re great opportunities to visit campus and network with our community. Please join us for any of the following: • Fall Open house (each November) • Breakfast with Admissions (held regularly January-May) • Early Learning Open House for Pre-K and Kindergarten (each March)
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Visit mph.net/admission to view a complete list of events, RSVP online, or schedule your tour. Connect with us on social media. Follow us on Twitter (@MPHSchool) and Facebook (facebook.com/MPHSchool) for photos and videos that provide a live-time snapshot of our campus and classes! We’re honored that you’re considering our school and look forward to many exciting and memorable years ahead.
Learn more about admissions at mph.net/admission
MANLIUS PEBBLE HILL SCHOOL
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5300 Jamesville Road, Syracuse, NY 13214
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mph.net
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@mphschool
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315-446-2452