Ross School History

Ross School History

> Interdisciplinary and project-based learning emerge as the foundation of the Ross program. > The Travel School is founded.

Enrollment: 2 1991- 1992

1991-PRESENT

> Ross undertakes collaborative pedagogical research in curriculum planning and assessment with Harvard University’s Project Zero. > Ross School is officially established with a charter from the State of New York.

> Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences and his experience with children's museum discovery methods are incorporated into the Ross teaching practices. > The Ross Home School Project develops out of the Travel School.

> Programs for faculty professional development, assessment, recruitment, and curricular planning are inaugurated with the first faculty summer retreat.

19 9 4 – 19 9 5 Enrollment: 8 > William Irwin Thompson and Ralph Abraham, founding Ross mentors, outline the Cultural History curriculum for grades K–12 > The curriculum in grades 5 through 7 is formalized, focusing on the development of Near Eastern civilizations (1500–1000 BCE) in the fifth grade; Ancient Greece, Mexico, and China (1000 BCE–300 CE) in the sixth grade; and the Mediterranean period of 300–1400 CE in the seventh grade.

> The Ross School website, www.ross.org, is launched. > Digital tool technology is infused throughout the entire educational infrastructure.

Enrollment: 48 19 9 7– 199 8

Enrollment: 12 19 9 5 – 19 9 6

Enrollment: 6 19 9 3 – 19 9 4

19 9 2 –19 9 3 Enrollment: 3

> Ross School adds a co-educational High School to the program.

19 9 6 – 19 97 Enrollment: 31 > Outcomes-based assessment is introduced in addition to traditional testing, allowing students to demonstrate mastery of curricular content in a number of different ways. > Ross School’s first team, girls field hockey, competes with other schools at home games on local fields and away games on opponent’s fields.

> The Center for Well-Being opens, providing the School with unparalleled resources for wellness, nutrition, and the performing arts. > The Ross School Café program begins to serve regional, organic, seasonal, and sustainable (R.O.S.S.) meals to students and faculty. > Winter Intersession (now Field Academy) is introduced.

Enrollment: 138 19 9 9– 20 0 0

19 98 –199 9 Enrollment: 96 > Ross School furthers the exchange of best practices through the expansion of partnerships with educational institutions locally, nationally, and internationally. > Sonic Convergence, a virtual project with students from Ross School and schools in Sweden and China to explore the music of their own and other cultures in order to compose a multicultural symphony, begins. > Construction begins on the Center for Well-Being and the Media and Humanities Pavilion.

> Ross School’s first semi-annual Empty Bowls service project benefits local food pantries and raises awareness of world hunger. > Mandarin Chinese is added to Spanish and French as an option for foreign language study.

> The Media and Humanities Pavilion and the Senior Thesis Building open. > Seniors present the School’s first Senior Projects, independent projects for which each student must submit an original product and process folio and also make a formal presentation to a panel. > Ross School holds its first high school commencement for the 42 members of the Class of 2001.

> The first Ross Institute joint publication, Globalization: Culture and Education in the New Millennium, is released.

Enrollment: 279 2 0 03 –2 0 04

Enrollment: 240 2 0 01– 20 0 2

2 0 0 0 –2 0 01 Enrollment: 194

> Drs. Marcelo and Carola SuarezOrozco, Harvard University education and immigration experts, are scholars-in-residence for the year.

2 0 0 2 –2 0 03 Enrollment: 244 > The Middle School welcomes boys in grades 5–8 and almost doubles in size as it becomes a co-educational school. > Ross begins a multiyear collaboration with its first international partner, Tensta Gymnasium in Sweden, scaling up Ross School’s global curricular approach and technological innovation.

> Ross receives accreditation from Middle States Association, and the first-ever International Credential awarded by MSA. > Drs. Marcelo and Carola SuarezOrozco, Harvard University education and immigration experts, are scholars-in-residence for the year.

> Ross School merges with Morriss Center School, resulting in greater educational resources for all students for the coming year and thereafter.

> The first Ross Institute joint publication, Globalization: Culture and Education in the New Millennium, is released.

> The second Ross Institute joint publication, Learning in the Global Era: International Perspectives on Globalization and Education, is released.

Enrollment: 279 2 0 0 3– 20 0 4

> Summer Camp @Ross opens and extends the Ross ethos to children of all ages who come to take advantage of engaging programs in the arts and sciences, natural history, and athletics.

Enrollment: 565 2 0 0 7 –2 0 0 8

Enrollment: 346 2 0 0 5 –2 0 0 6

2 0 0 4 –2 0 0 5 Enrollment: 278

> Ross joins 165 schools across the country in becoming a charter member of the Green Schools Alliance (GSA).

2006–2007 Enrollment: 555

> Ross is invited to participate in a conference at Harvard Graduate School of Education titled "Building Usable Knowledge in Mind, Brain, and Education."

> Ross opens on two campuses, the original East Hampton campus and the new Lower School campus in Bridgehampton, with students in grades pre-nursery through 12.

> Ross welcomes the first international student, from China, to attend Ross while living with a local host family.

> The 1:1 laptop computer programs expands to the Middle School. > For the first time, a Ross School alumnus returns to Ross as a fulltime employee.

> Ross School boarding program more than doubles to include 50 students from around the world and the United States. > Ross School receives a grant from the New York State Energy Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) for $242,028 to install solar panels at the Lower School. > Ross hosts its first Alumni Art Show at the Ross Gallery.

> Upper School athletic facilities are expanded with a new playing field, baseball diamond, outdoor basketball court, and the Ross Tennis Center opens with six Har-tru tennis courts, which are bubbled seasonally to allow for year-round play. > Ross Lower School builds an organic vegetable garden that allows students to connect to the land at an early age. > Ross School expands its global vision by introducing a boarding program which serves students in grades 7–12 from more than a dozen countries, including the United States.

> The boarding program grows to almost 150 students from 28 countries, including the United States. > The Ross School Tennis Academy is launched for competitive studentathletes in grades 7–12 and postgraduates. > Students in grades K–12 begin studying both Mandarin and Spanish as part of their curriculum.

Enrollment: 465 2 011 –2 01 2

Enrollment: 498 2 0 09 –2 010

2008–2009 Enrollment: 554

> Ross School embarks on a yearlong celebration to mark its 20th anniversary.

2 010 –2 011 Enrollment: 485 > Ross School expands its widely renowned lunch program to Ross Lower School and builds a café in the Lower School Field House for grades K–4. > NYU Press publishes Ross Institute’s third book about globalization and education: Educating the Whole Child for the Whole World: The Ross School Model and Education for the Global Era. > Ross continues to expand and formalize the Curriculum Writing Project.

> The Curriculum Writing Project is professionally published as the Ross Learning System (RLS). > Grades 7 and 8 participate in Field Academy for the first time, with both travel and local opportunities offered. > Innovation Lab @Ross grows to include a concentration in marine science, and a partnership with Gump Research Station in Mo’orea, French Polynesia, makes possible an Field Academy course on the island.

> Ross is also awarded the Middle States Association Program of Distinction in Global Literacies.

Enrollment: 529 2 015 –2 016

Enrollment: 548 2 013 –2 01 4

2 012 –2 013 Enrollment: 513

> Ross School is fully re-accredited by Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools and the New York State Association of Independent Schools.

2 014 –2 015 Enrollment: 530

> Ross School introduces Innovation Lab @Ross, an Academy for advanced high school students passionate about science, math, engineering, media, and technology, as well as the Junior Innovation Lab @Ross, a twice-weekly extended-day program for students in grades 5–8.

> Field Academy courses, both on and off campus, revolve around issues of sustainability. > Development of the Ross Learning System (RLS) continues, including significant progress on adding a sustainability thread to the K–12 curriculum.

> Ross School introduces World Travel Academy @Ross, for families who want to bring the Ross curriculum and learning experience along with them to a destination of their choice.

> Ross is named to a list of the 10 best school lunches in America, recognizing the School’s commitment to healthy, regional, organic, seasonal, and sustainable nourishment.

> Fifth grade moves to the Lower School campus and former middle school grades 6–8 join the Upper School community.

> Summer Camp @Ross expands to Bridgehampton campus.