New Canaan Country School Viewbook by New Canaan Country School

let the

light in

OUR MISSION

SHINING EXAMPLE

ILLUMINATING

LIGHTING THE WAY

SEE SPARKS

WARM CONNECTIONS

EARLY CHILDHOOD

BRIGHT BEGINNINGS

THE LOWER SCHOOL

SEE HOW THEY LEARN

THE MIDDLE SCHOOL

LEARNING EVERY WHICH WAY

THE UPPER SCHOOL

UPPER REACHES

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

THE ARTS

ATHLETICS

NEXT STEPS

“Our ability to command the strong support we have always had is undoubtedly the result of the maintenance of high academic standards combined with rich experiences and individual services which have kept the school on the growing edge of education.” Henry H. Welles, Head of School, 1938 - 1963

“I call your attention to our school’s motto, translated as “Fortune Favors The Bold.” It takes on a powerful resonance as it applies to programs where the emphasis lies on helping children develop independent learning and self-responsibility.” Nicholas S. Thacher, Head of School, 1979 – 2000

“The interaction of human beings...between teacher and student, student and his fellows in the classroom, and teachers with colleagues, the give and take, the clashing points of view, the failures and successes, the spontaneity, the shared insights, the flashes of enjoyed humor – these are the qualities of a learning environment.” George E. Stevens, Head of School, 1963 – 1979

our mission new canaan country school • The

mission of New Canaan

Country School is to guide students to reach their intellectual, creative, moral, and physical potential. We value the imagination and curiosity of children and respect childhood as an integral part of life. Our teachers set high academic standards and challenge students to question, to think, to collaborate, and to act with integrity. The school works in partnership with families to teach personal, social, and environmental responsibility and to create a community that honors diversity and our common humanity. New Canaan Country School inspires students to be lifelong learners with the courage and confidence to make a positive contribution to the world.

“The four domains in our mission – intellectual, creative, moral, and physical – are interdependent. Finding the connections between physical and creative or moral and intellectual is where teachers do their best work. This is what a 21st century education is all about.” Timothy R. Bazemore, Head of School, 2000 - present

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Canaan Country School is a unique blend.

It’s a place where children are respected, challenged, and empowered; and it’s also a place where childhood is cherished and preserved. It’s a nearly century-old institution rich in tradition that remains on the cutting edge of educational innovation. Joyful learning abounds here—as do challenging academics. This is a cohesive community, though it’s composed of unique and diverse individuals from varied towns, cultures, and circumstances. The school is deliberately organized into discrete divisions to best serve different age groups; at the same time, the four divisions form one intentional continuum designed to carry each student forward into a bright, fulfilling future.

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eate reflect appreciate imagine forgive embrace accept laugh admire perse illuminating our school • Learning

happens in so many ways on these 75

acres—within two libraries, four art studios, six science labs, and dozens of state-of-the-art classrooms. In our LEEDcertified Stevens Building, recognized as one of the “greenest” school buildings in Connecticut, students not only make academic gains, they live a lesson of sustainability as well. Outside, you can see that this is a true country school, with woods, student gardens, an outdoor classroom, and a 35acre nature center. A ropes course challenges students to work together; a vernal pond’s walkways invite exploration. All of the children here contribute to caring for their school with daily campus jobs. And likewise, this school takes care of its students: with nurturing, supportive teachers, a cafeteria that serves fresh, local, and organic foods, and a program that equips each child with the skills and good character to last a lifetime.

lighting the way our faculty • For

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every six students at Country School,

there is one teacher: a skilled, knowledgeable professional who is talented, passionate, patient, and devoted to students. On average, that teacher has taught for 18 years and has one graduate degree. The more than 100 full-time, part-time, and apprentice teachers are an eclectic group of lifelong learners who lead by example. The students clearly respect them, but the reverse is also evident: these instructors understand what the children are capable of, and help them reach for it, challenging them to fulfill their potential—to find their path and follow their passions. Faculty members continually work to expand and hone their skills. Our apprentice program lets newer teachers learn from lead teachers. Seasoned instructors participate in overseas exchange programs, earn master’s degrees with Country School’s support, lead seminars around the globe, and use summer grants to review and refine curriculum. www.countryschool.net/Faculty

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see sparks our students • What

persevere hope believe encourage trust love

you’ll notice is engagement, curiosity,

motivation, and hard work. You’ll witness empathetic children who are comfortable and confident enough to speak up, ask questions, and serve as active partners in their learning experience. You’ll also see cooperation and camaraderie among a diverse group of children. Though they come from over 15 different area towns and countless backgrounds, here they form one safe, welcoming community. To enhance the feeling of fellowship, students from the upper grades are paired as buddies with children from the lower ones, serving as supportive role models. In their years at Country School, these children will grow, become leaders, and gain a good sense of who they are. And eventually, they will become alumni who continue to feel connected to this school for the rest of their lives.

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ct contribute warm connections wonder inspire create reflect appreciate imagine forgive embr our partners • The

success of this school is largely the result

of our students’ families. These supportive, enthusiastic adults participate in countless day-to-day and special events. There are abundant opportunities for parents to give their time, energy, and talents to Country School. They help with admissions, community service, field trips, and fundraising efforts. They bring in speakers on parenting issues and mentor new families at the school to ensure they feel welcome. They form groups like Working Moms, to help women who work stay engaged in the school. They host Multicultural Conversations, bringing together diverse groups to discuss books and issues that explore both our differences and commonalities. Parents not only nourish our own Country School community, they reach beyond it. During our Family Community Service Day, they take part in community service projects across Fairfield County, demonstrating our school’s mission of making “a positive contribution to the world.”

early childhood These are the years of discovery. The stretch from age three through kindergarten is filled with unbounded joy, curiosity, and imagination. It’s a time to allow children to explore, experiment, and find answers to their countless questions. Whether they’re learning poetry, watching chicken eggs hatch, estimating the number of bottle caps they’ve saved for recycling, or tasting varied cultural foods prepared by classmates’ families, these children are filled with exuberance, and their world is filled with possibilities. Our teachers help them to learn through play and meaningful activities aligned with their developmental level. These young children thrive in our Thacher Building, which was designed by an alumnus specifically for our Early Childhood program and beautifully represents the strong sense of community here. The central piazza is the perfect place for weekly Gatherings, when the children join together to sing, to perform, to share. One class might show a book they made about the planets; another, the bluebird houses they made with their sixth-grade buddies for a local wildlife preserve.

highlight COME OUTSIDE & LEARN • This

beautiful campus offers small children

something crucial: the great outdoors. Exploring the flora and fauna surrounding the school feeds the students’ inherent love of the natural world, and the need to respect and protect it. To enhance their connection with nature, each class chooses a tree on campus and visits it throughout the year, observing and documenting its changes—possibly even adorning it with a handmade “gift.” www.countryschool.net/EarlyChildhood

bright beginnings The job in our Early Childhood division is to foster curiosity and creativity, and to help young people begin to understand themselves and their world through hands-on experiences. Our teachers recognize children’s abilities and challenge them to stretch and strengthen their minds. The Early Childhood program nurtures a lifetime love of language, literature, and self-expression. It deepens students’ understanding of numbers, operations, measurement, and two- and three-dimensional shapes. It improves children’s problem-solving skills. And it enriches their lives with art, music, and movement classes. Play happens here, as it should—teaching children to take risks, pay close attention, and become contributing members of a caring community. In a classroom, you might see them working at math and word games in small groups or writing a play for the puppets they’ve created. In a large activity room in our Early Childhood building, you might see children zooming along on scooters on their bellies—strengthening their bodies and improving their coordination.

highlight LIGHT NIGHT • Among

the many traditions that our young

students enjoy, our Light Night stands out. A culmination of the children’s study of light, it’s an evening event with students’ families. The Thacher Building is darkened and transformed into a “light museum” in which to experiment with different kinds of lights. The children hold a parade with lanterns and sing to their parents. It’s one of many celebrations of learning and community that characterizes Country School.

the lower school Inquisitive and enthusiastic, students in grades one through four begin to grow more independent in their thinking and learning, wanting to reach beyond what they know. This is the time to feed the flame of curiosity. The caring and comfortable community feel of the Lower School is the ideal environment for this period of seeking and discovery. Here, the children feel safe enough to take risks, to explore and experience new ideas. They participate and perform—with musical instruments, in a traditional Mummers’ play, and as historical characters during our yearly Wax Museum event. Fourth graders get the opportunity to lead weekly community assemblies. The students begin to have more experiences outside the classroom in the Lower School. They visit the Garbage Museum to inform their understanding of recycling and sustainability and Long Island Sound to investigate tide pools. Recently, they’ve been helping repopulate salmon in the Connecticut River by hatching salmon eggs and taking them to a tributary for release.

highlight CUE THE CLASSICS • Every

year, fourth graders don their chitins,

laurel leaves, and winged sandals to reenact Odysseus’s adventurous travels home from Troy. They are at just the right age to understand and enjoy Greek mythology, with its concepts of honor and duty, heroes and rascals. www.countryschool.net/LowerSchool

see how they learn Lower School students begin to have the selfcontrol and focus to practice skills and work on mastery. Observing them, you’ll notice joy: in their studies, their activities, and their friendships. The Lower School develops their self-direction and nurtures their personal and social growth. Now is the time for students to learn to read effectively and write skillfully through a balanced approach that combines literature and phonics instruction. And in addition to strengthening their abilities with English, they also study Spanish. Because children at this age are “concrete” thinkers, our teachers introduce math concepts using hands-on materials before introducing the corresponding abstract algorithms. Geometric explorations, surveys, graphing, games, and everyday problem-solving in all subjects help to make mathematics meaningful. Cultural traditions, history, celebrations, and stories are integrated into the curriculum to complement social studies. Students explore many science fields and become confident investigators who are able to make sense of the world around them.

highlight FIRST-HAND KNOWLEDGE • During

their study of immigration,

students learn about and share their own families’ origins and cultures. Then they simulate an immigration experience, deciding on the few items they would bring from their homeland and spending a morning in Perrine Commons dressed in traveling clothes, lugging suitcases, and getting harangued by “customs officials” in an unintelligible language. Ultimately, the class travels to Ellis Island to experience what they’ve studied and gain greater understanding of the cultural mosaic of our country.

middle school What a time of change! In fifth and sixth grade, children begin growing into young adults. Increasingly aware of the world and their place in it, they become more autonomous and begin to learn independently. It’s a wonderful time to be at New Canaan Country School. The Middle School guides students to become self-directed learners with the skills to further their intellectual, creative, and moral growth. They benefit from a wide variety of arts and athletics opportunities and engage in hands-on learning, public speaking forums, and exciting events like our Medieval Faire. A strong adult presence and smaller classes help to usher children through these crucial transformative years. Socializing with peers is important at this age, and our students are able to do so not only during recess, but also through a variety of organized social events that strengthen the feeling of togetherness and support. The students volunteer together too, for causes like Person to Person in Darien and the Waveny Care Center in New Canaan.

highlight A SWEET TRADITION • Every

year, the sixth graders make maple

syrup. This means tapping the campus’s maple trees, boiling the collected sap in our sugar house, and then preparing the finished syrup. It’s a delightful tradition that teaches students about how plants store energy, how people can create food from nature, and how together, they can make wonderful memories.

learning every which way As in life, the various disciplines taught in our Middle School are interwoven, giving every topic more relevance and impact for the students. Consequently, they come to understand that nothing exists in isolation, that the world is interconnected, and that all learning has an important place in the greater scheme of things. In the Middle School, students cultivate an appreciation of good literature and strengthen their writing skills. Where possible, readings in English classes are related to the topics studied in history, which is integrated with geography and current events. The math program stresses the importance of computational skills, as well as the application of logical thinking to problem-solving. Fifth graders study the human body, flowers and seeds, and weather. Sixth graders study geology, learn to identify local birds and investigate their ecological role, and explore the topics of electricity and magnetism. And throughout the Middle School years, students continue to strengthen their abilities in Spanish.

highlight REACHING OUT • On

World Read Aloud Day, fifth graders joined

with ninth graders and connected with students in Tanzania via Skype to read books to one another. It was part of our School-to-School program, which seeks to connect classrooms in the US with those in rural Africa and heighten students’ understanding of the complexities of global citizenship. It’s an exciting way to use technology to forge some very human connections and broaden children’s horizons. www.countryschool.net/MiddleSchool

the upper school Grades seven through nine are years of critical thinking and confidence, leadership and responsibility. By their conclusion, students have acquired habits of mind to last them a lifetime: creativity, perseverance, independent thought, and collaboration. Upper school students measure themselves by external assessments like grades and the SSAT, but we work to keep them intrinsically motivated. They discover what it means to be an independent learner. Group work and public speaking are important now, so we hold our World Congress and science debates. Philanthropic activities include seventh graders helping at a daycare center, and eighth and ninth graders running a Special Olympics program on campus. By ninth grade, our students have a clear sense of autonomy, initiative, and competence. They’ve become leaders, serving as editors of the school newspaper, captains of athletic teams, and members of the Discipline Committee. They act on boards of extracurricular groups and as leaders of the Country School community. They are well prepared for high school and beyond.

highlight DRAWING FROM DIVERSITY • Upper

School students continue to

learn to respect the many differences within this community and embrace its commonalities. Our Diversity Team includes teachers from all four divisions led by the Director of Diversity. Affinity groups for students of color meet regularly, and CAFÉ (Cultural Awareness for Everyone) meets weekly, by grade, for discussion of topics such as religion, sexual identity, and socioeconomic disparities. www.countryschool.net/Diversity

upper reaches By the time they move on to secondary schools, Country School students have gained significant academic, social, and athletic skills. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve learned to lead and developed their sense of responsibility, integrity, and altruism. In the Upper School our students get broad exposure to the best of classic and contemporary literature and then analyze, discuss, and write about what they read. They gain the fundamentals essential to understanding higher math in secondary school, with options including honors geometry. Upper School students can continue with Spanish, or learn French, Latin, or Mandarin through ninth grade. Science courses include life sciences, environmental science, physical science, and both a biology and an honors biology course. A class period is devoted to clubs, in which all Upper School grades participate. The students conceive, design, and suggest clubs. Each group has student leaders and a faculty adviser. Current clubs include: Chess, Architectural Drafting, Foreign Films, A Cappella, Current Events, IOS App Developer, Sign Language, Yoga, Spanish, and Cooking.

highlight EXPANDED STUDIES â&#x20AC;˘ As

the culmination of a sixth, intensive course,

9th Graders participate in off-campus experiential learning. They might retrace the steps of the civil rights movement by traveling to Mississippi and Alabama, learn firsthand about Mexican culture in San Miguel de Allende, dive into marine biology off the coast of Florida, or explore Cajun culture and perform community service in New Orleans. www.countryschool.net/UpperSchool

beyond the classroom 01

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Challenge Course

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Buddies

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Upper School Talent Show

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Light Night

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Lower School Arts Assembly

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Halloween Parade

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Collaborative problem solving

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Upper School musical

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Sustainability Day

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Spring Fair

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Kindergarten ice skating

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Middle School class trip

the arts Creative expression has a vital role in education, and Country School ensures that its students are exposed to a wide variety of artistic activities. We do this to enhance their creativity, to offer them opportunities for self-expression, and to enrich their lives. From Early Childhood through Middle School, the arts curriculum explores a variety of media and materials to assure fundamental knowledge of all areas of visual and performing arts. Studio art, music, movement, drama, and woodworking are balanced in studio classes and performances. In Upper School, students choose from a wide variety of arts electives, allowing them to explore new avenues of expression and gain more advanced instruction in the areas of their particular interest. Performing arts options include singing groups, an orchestra, drama, theater improv, musical theater, keyboarding, guitar ensemble, a jazz band, and classes on music theory and history. Visual art electives include ceramics, printmaking, drawing, painting, architecture, and furniture making—as well as higher-tech pursuits like documentary filmmaking, digital photography, and podcasting.

highlight ELECTING GROWTH • In

the woodworking elective, students

recently chose an “ice yacht” project. They were faced with the engineering challenge of creating a wooden “boat” with runners and a sail in which to cross a frozen lake. Beyond woodworking, students had to put their skills in physics and design to work—not to mention planning and patience. www.countryschool.net/CreativeArts

athletics No one stays on the sidelines at New Canaan Country School. Physical activity and sports are integrated into every grade level. They enable students to gain crucial skills—sportsmanship, teamwork, and fair play—and stay fit in the bargain. With two gymnasiums and five recently rebuilt playing fields, Country School offers a dynamic sports program that includes interscholastic competition in ten major sports. The Cougars play soccer, football, ice hockey, field hockey, lacrosse, softball, baseball, basketball, and volleyball. Yoga and racquet sports are options too. The athletic program is mandatory for the Middle and Upper School. Students select a sport during each of three seasons, and also have the option of participating in a drama program for one of those seasons. Middle Schoolers can take part in intramural and interscholastic competition; and in the Upper School, every student has the opportunity to compete in the Fairchester League of area independent schools.

highlight GOOD SPORTS • Alumni

frequently tell us how important being

on a team at Country School was for them. So much can be gained from athletics: self-discipline, stamina, strategy—not to mention friendships. Students gain much from their athletic experience here. Most go on to play sports at the varsity level in secondary school—and many become team captains. www.countryschool.net/Athletics

admire persevere hope believe encourage trust love understand dream

steps m respect contribute wonder inspire honor next achieve Country Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s involvement with our students does not

end with their completion of ninth grade. We work to ensure that every student moves forward towards suitable and gratifying educational pursuits, providing careful counseling to match each student with the most appropriate secondary school. And we stay connected with, and work to support, each and every graduate. Many return to campus frequently for reunions, career networking, and panel discussions with our current students and parents. Our alumni continue to live the Country School mission long beyond their tenure here. They demonstrate it in their roles as ambassadors and environmentalists, filmmakers and journalists, politicians and heads of non-profits. Countless alumni have won awards and recognition for their professional achievements and personal contributions, and each in his or her own way works to make this a better world. www.countryschool.net/Placement

audentes fortuna juvat â&#x20AC;˘ fortune favors the bold

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL • 545 Ponus Ridge p.o. box 997 • New Canaan, ct 06840 • 203-972-0771 • www.countryschool.net