2018 Tuition Letters

Dynamic Growth of the Student Experience EXPERT THINKING • Broad expansion of engineering, coding, and upper-level science offerings across the school.

• New engineering and design relationship with Hasbro.

• New Entrepreneurship & Social Innovation program initiated in partnership with the Swearer Center at Brown University.

MATH • Addition of Math Clubs and Math Olympiad in lower school; increased focus on differentiated instruction (foundational support and acceleration).

• Dedicated math teacher specialists in 3rd through 5th grades; 5th grade using 6th grade math curriculum.

• Accelerated Algebra course in 8th grade and 8th to 9th grade; summer program in Honors Geometry.

• Math Counts and VEX Robotics teams in middle school.

• Multivariable Calculus and two levels of AP Computer Science added to upper school, along with competing in R.I. Math League.

TRIPS • 403 students and 47 faculty participated in overnight educational travel experiences (2016-17): upper 120 (29%)

middle 185 (100%)

lower 98 (50%)

• With 3 international, 7 domestic, and 6 local overnight TRIPs, MB students had over 16 options to choose from.

OPEN ACCESS • A record $4.2 million awarded in 2017-18, with an average award of $20,368, ensuring that every classroom, ensemble, and team is filled with the most talented and diverse students possible.

• Students of color now represent 25% of the student body.

• Moses Brown’s student body is 50% boys and 50% girls.

WOODMAN CENTER • With the renovated Jones Library and the Class of ’14 Cafe, the Woodman Center has become the new center of student and community life.

• Increase in major student performances from 3 to 10 annually, including: • Two fall upper school plays in rep and the spring musical, Les Miserables.

• First ever lower school musical: Annie • Two student-directed winter plays • Middle school musical: Legally Blonde • Spring Shakespeare in the Grove Y-LAB • First-ever Director of Innovation & Design David Husted ’86 stewards new Y-lab space and supports teachers’ work with student projects.

• Major participation growth in middle and upper school VEX Robotics teams.

• Already this year: • 1st grade designing new school garden • Lower school science projects on wind power and electrical circuits • Middle School designing and constructing ‘balloon cars’ • Upper School Engineering students designing coin sorters, gliders, boats, and more.

LOWER SCHOOL • New counselor Krista Haskell supporting learning differences and social-emotional learning for grades N-6.

• Additional in-house expertise and technology resources added to further enhance support of learning differences.

• New K-2rd grade phonics program.

• New engineering, coding, and design curriculum.

Getting excited for upper school

Hi <<Nickname 2>>,

Congratulations on getting through mid-terms! It must feel great to be starting the second half of the school year as you look ahead to finishing middle school. I am excited for you and can’t wait to welcome you to ninth grade in the fall.

While you still have many great learning experiences ahead of you over the next few months, I wanted to give you a glimpse into what’s in store for you in high school.

First, many things will feel similar, starting with teachers and advisors who are passionate and will be deeply invested in your success and personal growth. You can also look forward to exposure to a broader range of courses, teachers, co-curricular offerings, and educational travel opportunities. As a freshman, you’ll have more independence coupled with a strong support system and exciting new experiences, from your advisory and Freshman Studies sessions to a three-day Orientation Trip to Maine (Aug. 26-28) and a year-long focus on social innovation and engaged scholarship that culminates with an immersion experience in March. It’s also a time when your personal friendships grow, expand, and evolve as we add many new talented students to your class. You’ll have fun, work hard, and be supported and challenged to fully develop your special talents.

I’m guessing that at times you are both really excited and a bit anxious about the transition to the upper school. We’ll be here to help you throughout the process and I know all the hard work you’ve done in middle school will position you for great success over the next four years.

As the reality of high school draws closer, I’m sure you will have lots of questions. I want you to know that we will host you for a visit to the upper school on Friday, May 4 from 1:30–3:00 p.m. in the Woodman Center. I will also meet with the entire eighth grade class to talk about what to expect next year and answer your questions. Jared and your eighth grade teachers will partner with us to ensure you have the right academic schedule and advisor. If you want to get a head start, there is a lot of information about ninth grade on MB’s new website: mosesbrown.org/newto9th.

I look forward to getting to know you in the months ahead and to having you in the upper school next year. If you (or your parents) have any questions, please feel free to email me at rmoulton@mosesbrown.org. Best of luck over the next few months as you finish middle school! We can’t wait to welcome you!

Rachel Moulton Head of Upper School P.S. Your parents will also be invited to learn more about the upper school on February 21 from 8:15–9:15 a.m.

Getting excited for middle school

Hi <<Nickname>>,

As we begin the second half of the school year, I always get excited thinking about the fifth graders planning to join our middle school community in September. While I really want you to focus your energy on the work and fun of fifth grade for a few more months, I also wanted to share a sense of the sixth grade experience with you. Sometimes when you know what’s coming up, it’s easier to stay focused on the tasks at hand.

In middle school, you will continue to find teachers who really care about you. Certainly more will be expected of you, but your middle school teachers will support, encourage, and inspire you every day. In the classroom, they will challenge you to think a little more deeply, be even more creative, and teach you to work collaboratively with your classmates to find innovative solutions to real-world problems. It’s also a time when you can look forward to having more freedom and responsibility. In middle school, you become much more ‘in charge’ of your academic experience. And you’ll have lots of opportunities to explore your interests and develop new passions. From the chorus, wind ensemble, and jazz band to middle school team sports, from the winter musical to robotics and math clubs, there is something for everyone.

If you’re like most fifth-graders, the transition to middle school is probably making you feel excited and a bit nervous all at the same time. I’m here to tell you that all the hard work you’ve done in lower school will have you well prepared. If you are looking for more of an academic challenge, we’ve got that. If you’re looking for a larger pool of friends, we will add about 16 new students to the class. Additionally, you’ll make friends with seventh- and eighth-graders who might be on your soccer teams, in the ensembles, or in the play with you.

I am sure you (and your parents) may have a few questions. My job is to make sure every one of those questions gets answered. In the weeks ahead we will host you for a visit to the middle school, and I’ll visit the 5th grade classroom to talk about what to expect next year (homework, schedules, ‘free time,’ sports, music, team trips, etc.). In the spring and summer, I will meet individually with you and your family so I can learn more about you as a person and a student, and so I can make sure we create the best plan to help you reach your potential. If you want to get a head start learning about middle school, there is a lot of information about sixth grade on MB’s new website: mosesbrown.org/newto6th.

If you (or your parents) have any questions that you don’t want to ask in a big group or feel like you need to know right now, please feel free to email me at jschott@mosesbrown.org. I look forward to getting to know you in the months ahead.

Jared Schott Head of Middle School P.S. I’ve also invited your parents to come tour the middle school and learn more about 6th grade on Feb. 1 or 6 at 8:30 a.m.