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State of the School Ja n u a ry
2018
Board of Trustees • We’ve made significant strides of progress at MVS. • We’re moving in positive directions, aimed at achieving our strategic vision: “Refining a truly differentiated educational opportunity that positions MVS as a nationally-recognized leader in academically rigorous, experience-based learning.” • The Board of Trustees values Jay’s leadership. As we prepare to welcome a new Head of School, MVS is exceptionally well-positioned to continue to advance its mission and strategic vision for the future.
Head of School • We’ve created new facilities that match our mission and vision. • We’ve advanced the Immersion Method as a way of deepening student learning, engagement, and academic success. • We’ve strengthened the school’s commitment to safety, inclusion, and well-being. • The outcomes have been impressive in terms of enrollment, retention, and financial strength. • School enhancements next year include additional teaching roles and exciting new learning facilities and resources. • All of our progress is rooted in the exceptional quality of our teachers, staff, and volunteers.
Early Childhood Where fostering a lifetime love of learning begin • Highest enrollment to date at 37 students. • Utilizing four areas for center time - wood, brick, glass, and art space. • Co-curriculars: gym, music, library, and world languages. Science is woven into art by the artist-in-residence. • Big Kids Work, providing tools for self navigation of all subjects, especially the hard sciences. • Snack time isn’t just a piece of cake. Reggio method incorporated to make snack time an immersive learning experience. Students plan their snack ahead with their parents and faculty members and then create the snack on their own schedule, giving them choice and independence. • Continued success with 6:1 student ratio.
Lower School Educating students for K through Life • Curriculum: ˚˚ Literacy rich resources, adopted Lucy Calkins writing scheme ˚˚ Math in Focus: Singapore math, with emphasis on critical thinking ˚˚ Science labs and computer programming • Mini Immersion, twice a year - student created topics and improved experiences • Social-Emotional Learning: thematic Monday assemblies that explores interpersonal, self management, decision making and social awareness • Techonology use and proposed plan for the future • Committed faculty and staff working tirelessly to differentiate education for every child
Middle School Where our students are transformed • Immersion will take place at the same time as upper school immersion, thereby leading to the creation of new immersion offerings for the 18-19 school year and beyond. • Middle School is creating scheduling flexibility and the potential for cross-curricular collaboration by lengthening classes to 85 minutes that meet every other day. Students will continue to have daily study hall or performing arts offerings, as well as daily recess and regular advisory. • The Computer Science/Makerspace will open in August, and MS students will have a dedicated computer science course for part of the year. • SEL and character development will remain a focus of the middle school. There will be a continued emphasis on promoting kindness and empathy. • Middle School will be adding a new science lab.
Upper School Where students become self-sustaining and self-evolving learners • The Aries Project - our senior capstone project, a year-long intensive research experience where students choose a research topic, compose a research question and write a scholarly literature review. • Formally established a Computer Science Department. This year, US will offer four distinct Computer Science Electives: Introduction to Processing, Principles of Computer Science, Introduction to Games, Arduinos & Raspberry Pis. • Rigorous electives including Gender Studies, Modern Arabic Literature, Entrepreneurship, Journalism, the Graphic Novel, the Law in Literature, and Multivariate Calculus. • Enhanced student assisted teaching course, which facilitates a teaching/leadership apprenticeship for seniors. • Launching a week long immersive internship program with BerrieHill, an engineering development firm.
LOWEST
TUITION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS IN OHIO
7.2
Million in the endowment
92
%
of the class of 2017 was accepted to the nation’s highest ranked colleges
HIGHEST SAT and ACT scores in the Dayton area
491
Current enrollment