Here, they become.
Every student is unique. So why are so many schools exactly the same? One isn’t.
At The Miami Valley School, we’re independent in our teaching and learning, and in our thinking and doing. For over 50 years, our students have enjoyed the freedom to explore their world, in a community that encourages them to discover how to express themselves in it. Although we adhere to a demanding scholarship built on a foundation of integrity and grit, teachers here do more than prepare students to score well on a standardized test someday. They empower students to live life to the fullest every day, to discover their true passion and purpose, and then to responsibly pursue it with emotional and intellectual rigor. It’s why students don’t just come to The Miami Valley School.
Here, they become.
Any school can prepare students for one thing.
Here, we prepare them for anything. Graduates of The Miami Valley School have achieved great success as Wall Street titans, worldfamous chefs, Emmy-winning actresses, and university presidents. But not every MVS student will go on to such high-profile positions. And that’s okay. It’s not our place to instill our passions or purposes in your student. It’s our life’s work to help your children discover and cultivate theirs. Here’s how we do it. Here’s how we’ve always done it.
Experiential learning
Intellectual curiosity
Personal excellence
Leadership
Individuality
Community
Promote it so that students learn more by doing more.
Emphasize it so that students learn to pursue it in all of their endeavors.
Celebrate it so that students learn to appreciate their own unique talents and the talents of those around them.
Foster it so that students learn never to stop asking questions.
Develop it so that students learn to live a life of responsibility, dignity, and integrity.
Embrace it so that students learn the value of teamwork and the joy of belonging.
The #1 reason to apply to The Miami Valley School?
Take your pick. There are many reasons to consider The Miami Valley School. The number one reason is that we offer a relevant, real-world education you won’t find anywhere else in Dayton—one that helps students develop the knowledge and skills to succeed at anything they put their heads and hearts to. And we’ve done so for over 50 years.
The Immersion Method - the MVS philosophy
that learning is rooted in direct experience which leads to engagement and discovery of passion
Individualized college counseling
of graduates attend 4-year colleges and universities
Highest ACT
High academic standards
and SAT scores in the area
without standardized testing
Outdoor education with greenhouse, gardens, and exploration center
Mandarin, French, Spanish -
beginning in early childhood
Prioritizing diversity in viewpoint, culture, religion, and ethnicity
At our early childhood school, children ages 3 to 5 come to do, actively learning, asking questions about their world, and exploring it in search of answers. Celebrating the individual spirit starts here. Every morning the EC welcomes little ones to come just as they are. At MVS it’s the adults listening to the students, not the other way around. Children drive the learning with their interests paving the way to inspired education.
Here, children don’t come to sleep their days away.
They come to dream
of what their lives can be.
A building designed with teachers Kid-centered and imaginative Our one-of-a-kind school includes the best elements from various educational philosophies that are celebrated in how the teachers and students work and learn together. Child-sized windows invite outside observation and conversation. A special glass cave whispers, “bring a book, or come sit and wonder.” Walls with small openings to crawl through encourage imaginative play. A wood room full of blocks to build a fortress creates teamwork, and a full kitchen beckons students to cook and nourish their ideas.
Growing confidence in the Atelier Where creativity blossoms The prevalent and spacious Atelier, the students’ own light-filled art studio, plays a major role in the education of our young ones. Every project has an art component, so the Atelier is home base to their creative process. A special art teacher guides each student through the journey of their own imagination. If they can dream it, they can make it.
Lower school at The Miami Valley School isn’t your typical K–5 experience. Here, it’s about educating students for K through Life. Because what children learn during these incredibly formative years—and how they learn it—will impact who they become as adults. Through our Immersion Method, students learn not only to read and write, but also to conduct science experiments, create art, sing songs, play instruments, and speak Mandarin. They learn how to research, collaborate, and communicate effectively. The most important thing we teach them? To love learning and to spend their lives doing just that.
Here, students don’t just come to learn what it takes to progress to the next grade.
They come to take their learning to the next level.
Experiential learning Just one way we feed hungry minds Each spring, the lower school’s kindergarten cafe opens for business—and for reading, writing, Singapore math, health and nutrition, science, and social studies. Planning starts when kindergartners take field trips to Dayton-area restaurants and grocery stores to taste foods, ask questions, and gather information for their own cafe. Following an immersive, hands-on study of all things edible, students
brainstorm and select a theme and name for their cafe, research recipes, plan meals, create the menu, and ultimately prepare and serve the food. Throughout the cafe’s week-long run, each child has the opportunity to be maître d’, chef, server, and cashier, and they collectively manage the cafe with minimal adult assistance. Beyond the kindergarten cafe, our inspiring Immersion program allows all lower school students to dive deeper into a single theme for two weeks every January.
Middle school teachers at The Miami Valley School are committed to turning one of the most challenging times in a young person’s life into one of the most rewarding. It starts with our immersive method of teaching students about what’s around them, while giving them the opportunity to discover what’s within. This combination not only makes a world of difference in our students, but also empowers them to make a difference in the world.
Here, students don’t just transition from grade school to high school.
They’re transformed.
Social-emotional development It’s about the whole student In addition to an immersive, engaging, and rigorous academic environment, the middle school at MVS emphasizes character development, social-emotional growth, and a sense of belonging. Middle school is a critical time in a young person’s search for “sense of self,” and MVS provides a warm, studentcentered environment where each child is known, appreciated, and challenged to positively impact the world. Through division wide, grade level, and advisory activities, 6th-8th graders are taught the values of relationships, connections, and community responsibility.
Immersion Dedicated term for singlar exploration MVS Immersion happens in January and middle school students each have three weeks to explore a single field of study. The thematic, cross-curricular experiences include projects on campus and field work in locations across the United States. Some might dive into the historical and culinary importance of New Orleans, while others rock their world through climbing, caving, and rappelling. We call it Immersion. Students call it an amazing one-of-akind opportunity. 11
In the MVS upper school, our oldest students show what they can learn and discover all they can do. A rigorous curriculum ensures that students are prepared for college, and we emphasize experiential learning, community service projects, interdisciplinary clubs and activities, social and emotional education, and a unique immersion program.
Here, high school students don’t just attend class.
They own their education.
Immersive learning Explore, connect, share, reflect At the heart of an MVS education is the Immersion Method of teaching and learning. Immersive learning honors the interests of students and facilitates opportunities for students to direct their own learning through meaningful experiences under the guidance and mentorship of caring faculty. Research projects beginning in the ninth grade are scaffolded by teachers but ultimately driven by the students. Of particular importance are the Social Experience Project and Aries Capstone, completed by juniors and seniors respectively. These long-term efforts allow students to dig deep into issues relevant to them and their peers. By designing their own research study, our students develop strong research skills while also growing their capacity for empathy as they probe the perspectives of others.
College counseling The one Dayton-area school where 100 percent of students go on to college Beginning in the ninth grade, and continuing through graduation, our director of college counseling assists students and their families with the college planning process everything from identifying colleges that match individual goals and aspirations to admission testing, applications, essays, and letters of recommendation. Here, it isn’t just about getting students into college; it’s about ensuring they go to the college that’s right for them.
Music and the Visual and Performing Arts Creativity is the essential ingredient to living a balanced and fulfilling life At MVS, the arts are a crucial part of every student’s education. Painting, singing, and performing in a theatrical production are some of the best opportunities for creative selfexpression. Beginning at the early childhood school, students experience music and art on many levels. Students experiment on different instruments and in different forms of art. Performing in front of a large audience begins in 4th grade through full-scale theatrical performances in our theater.
personal lives, whether as creators, observers, or collectors. At MVS, a student doesn’t have to be a born artist to develop a lifetime appreciation of the arts.
Visual and Performing Arts Highlights
Painting / Drawing / Ceramics Sculpture / Jazz Band / A Cappella Choir / Improv / Strings / Acting Directing / Stage Managing Set Design / Lighting / Sound Here, students embrace the process Costuming / Makeup / Music Theory and discover how art is a meaningful History of Music / Music Production way to communicate. They’re inspired to incorporate what they learn into their Music Technology
Athletics Nine varsity sports, one team Team sports enrich students’ lives and enhance their intellectual and emotional development. In lower school, students are exposed to numerous sports, develop basic skills in physical education class, and begin playing inter-scholastically in 4th grade. Middle school emphasizes a balance of participation and competition and in upper school, we promote athletic excellence and highlevel competition.
Every student is invited and encouraged to participate in competitive athletics. There are no tryouts. If they’re enrolled at MVS, they’re already on the team.
Sports Highlights Cross Country / Golf / Soccer / Tennis Basketball / Bowling / Swimming & Diving / Lacrosse / Track & Field
Technology and Innovation Using computers to make real connections At MVS, we embrace technology to help us become compassionate global citizens and leaders. Our teachers encourage exploration and learning through technology every day. Through TED talks, video discussions with experts around the world, podcasts, and Skype interviews, our students are equipped to debate different viewpoints and to develop their positions.
As technology changes, our innovative tech team educates our teachers and implements new tools to make the classroom more engaging. The MVS experience is designed to equip students with the knowledge of how to properly, effectively, and safely use technology.
Social & Emotional Learning Listening to clues, embracing vulnerability Social and emotional learning is woven into our curriculum at MVS. Everyone comes to school each day with a different level of energy and attitude. It is our priority to check in regularly to determine where everyone is on a personal level. For those feeling more vulnerable or frustrated
on any given day, our teachers use specific techniques to ensure that students unite and help each other. Having conversations with our school counselors and building healthy relationships with one another is why students feel MVS is a safe second home.
Community Service Lending a helping hand, experiencing the difference firsthand Giving back to the community is an integral part of the MVS culture and experience. In all grades, our service curriculum fosters a deep sense of humanity and a commitment to advancing peace in our community and around the globe. We partner with multiple organizations in Dayton and around the world to give our students unique opportunities
to acquire the experience and tools needed to make meaningful contributions in service to others. Community Service Highlights For the Love of Children / East End Community Services / Homefull Five Rivers MetroParks / United Rehabilitation Services / The Foodbank 4 Paws for Ability
Claire McConnaughey ‘05
Katherine Brown ‘14
Doug Jenks ‘87
Here, she did become! We know her experiences at MVS have given her the tools to be successful. Shelia Ahner P ‘19
It is hard to imagine a better (or remotely equal) education investment for children than MVS. Bob Albrecht P ‘14, ‘19, ‘22
Here,
we treat students like the individuals they are, so they’re empowered to discover the men and women they’re meant to be.
Contact us to schedule a visit or for more information Admissions@miamivalleyschool.org 5151 Denise Drive Dayton, OH 45429
937-434-4444
miamivalleyschool.org