Th e
Mo n t g o m e r y
A c a d e m y
EXCEPTIONAL Yes, we’ve been called that, and so have our students. At The Montgomery Academy, we challenge our students with a strong college preparatory curriculum, as well as the chance to explore the world beyond academics. However, the most important part of an MA education is building a strong moral character that allows each student to be a leader in society and in the community. “The MA Difference” is what sets our students apart and is why so many parents desire an Academy education for their children.
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MA
K
K I N DE R GA RT E N
T H E R I G H T STA RT Walk into one of our kindergarten classrooms, and you will immediately see what a loving and nurturing school MA truly is. Exceptional teachers, beautiful facilities, and a stimulating environment make children eager to learn in an instructional setting that allows for individual attention.
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MA
K
HIGHLIGHTS
• The latest educational technology, including iPads and Apple TV • Daily visits to enrichment classes such as Spanish, music, and art • Hands-on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) lab • Beautiful library with over 22,000 books • Outdoor learning garden • Hot, nutritious lunches served daily and included in tuition • Recess and physical education held every day • A playground just for kindergartners • Exciting, experiential field trips
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INSTRUCTIONAL COACH
To complement classroom teachers, an additional teacher works with students on extra projects and provides individual instruction and enrichment to the curriculum.
MA KINDERGARTEN TRADITIONS
Matisse self-portraits created by the kindergarten children in art Pajama Day Daddy Day in the Park Thanksgiving Feast Christmas Tree Farm Visit Easter Egg Hunt Mother’s Day Coffee Beach Day Annual “I Like School” Play Weekly Town Meetings
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AFTER-SCHOOL CARE
To support our working parents, we offer MA+, an after-school program providing a variety of fun activities. K I N D E R G A R T E N B U D DY TRADITION
Kindergarten students are paired with seniors and fifth-grade mentors to establish a sense of community and foster a supportive school environment.
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MA
GRADES
1 5 TO
L OW E R S C H O O L
T H E F O R M AT I V E Y E A R S Young children are naturally curious. Our dedicated and loving Lower School faculty creates an environment where curiosity is fostered and students learn to creatively problem solve. These skills impact the entire spectrum of learning, and our students are active participants in the process! Recess every day on a playground specifically designed for students in grades 1-5 helps keep them healthy and happy. Daily enrichment classes expose young students to the fine arts, science, technology, engineering, math, a world language, and character education. Our students love to read, and the Lower School library is the hub of the school. Students have daily access to over 22,000 volumes of carefully selected children’s literature. There is simply no place else where your child can enjoy such a well-rounded experience during the early formative years.
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MA
GRADES
1 5 TO
HIGHLIGHTS
• The latest educational technology, including iPads and Apple TV • Daily visits to enrichment classes such as Spanish, music and art • Hands-on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) lab • Beautiful library with over 22,000 books • Outdoor learning garden • Hot, nutritious lunches served daily and included in tuition • Recess and physical education are held every day • E xciting field trips • Optional piano and instrumental music lessons
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INSTRUCTIONAL COACH
To complement classroom teachers, an additional teacher works with students on extra projects, and provides individual instruction and enrichment to the curriculum to meet our children where they are. B I W E E K LY L E S S O N S F R O M T H E G U I DA N C E CO U N S E LO R
These lessons help our students learn empathy, responsibility, and how to deal with stress and emotions. AFTER-SCHOOL CARE
To support our working parents, we offer MA+, an after-school program providing a variety of fun activities. W E E K LY T O W N M E E T I N G S
We come together to collaborate, learn, and recognize our shared goals while creating a sense of community.
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MA LOWER SCHOOL TRADITIONS
Sharing projects that introduce community service and philanthropy Grade-level themed plays Annual Culture Study Family Fun Night Marathon Run MA Fun Run Creek Week Flight Ceremony Eagle Day MA Grandparents Day Annual Author Visits Weekly Town Meetings
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MA
GRADES
6 8 TO
MIDDLE SCHOOL
TIMES OF CHANGE Our Middle School is designed to help students deal with change in a positive way. Foundations of leadership, study habits, and valuable life skills are taught and will carry students through their academic careers. Daily enrichment classes expose students to the arts, technology and multiple world languages, and students may also begin competing in athletics. Stepping outside traditional academics, students acquire real-world learning through trip opportunities to exciting destinations like Washington, D.C., and Space Camp. Students also continue their commitment to public service, learning about its importance and putting their awareness into action on local Saturday morning projects. Experiences like these allow Academy students to develop a broader understanding and appreciation of the world around them.
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MA
GRADES
6 8 TO
HIGHLIGHTS
• 1 :1 iPad program to allow for personalized, innovative instruction • A majority of students participate in the Duke TIP program based on high ERB scores • E xperiential learning trips to Jekyll Island, NASA Space Camp, and Washington D.C., to bring science, history, and culture to life • A MEA recognized chorus program • E nrichments and electives in Art, Music, Drama, Speech and Debate, Computer Science, and World Language • A dvisory program wherein teachers and students build relationships to develop character, build camaraderie, and hold each other accountable • H ot, nutritious lunches served daily and included in tuition
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SERVICE LEARNING PROGRAM
Our Awareness in Action program builds connections with the needs of the greater Montgomery area. 20TIME PROJECT
Students in the seventh grade follow the Google 20Time concept and spend 20 percent of their time studying a topic that they feel passionate about. LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
Students in the seventh and eighth grades participate in an interactive program each week that introduces the vocabulary of leadership. Students attend leadership seminars in their grade level and then follow that session with discussions in their own advisee groups. They learn the connections between leadership and service, and recognize their potential to display leadership beyond traditional leadership positions.
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MA MIDDLE SCHOOL TRADITIONS
6th-grade trip to Jekyll Island Science Center 6th-grade History Projects 6th-grade Olympic Games Celebration at Jasmine Hill 7th-grade Interdisciplinary Summer Reading Project 7th-grade Colonial History Project 7th- and 8th-grade Experiential Learning Week 8th-grade trip to Lanark, the Alabama Nature Center 8th-grade Research Paper Service Learning Opportunities Writers’ Club “Pi” Day Eagle Day
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MA
GRADES
9 12 TO
UPPER SCHOOL
PREPARING FOR SUCCESS Upper School is the time to prepare for college and adulthood. Numerous honors and Advanced Placement courses help students earn early college credits. Our exceptional curriculum includes areas as diverse as visual and performing arts and computer science. Character development continues to be important, and Academy students are encouraged to examine values and ethics while participating in programs like honor council, student government, community service, and other character-building activities.
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MA
GRADES
9 12 TO
HIGHLIGHTS
• 1 00 percent of Academy graduates attend a college or university. • O ur speech and debate team has been recognized as one of the top programs in the nation and is led by a Diamond
schools in Alabama with a Cum Laude Society, which recognizes superior academic performance. • Experiential learning focuses on
Award-winning coach. The team
providing students opportunities
consistently sends students to the
to acquire knowledge and skills
national competition and has won the
outside of the bounds of the
state championship 16 times, the most
traditional classroom. Through
in the state and the third-most in the
these experiences, students are able
nation!
to step beyond their day-to-day
• O ver $28 million in merit-based financial assistance has been offered to our graduates in the last
curriculum and engage in more real-world learning. • Student-led clubs initiate giving
five years, with over 70 percent
projects throughout the year, and
of each graduating class receiving
students participate in numerous
scholarships.
organized community service.
• A variety of Advanced Placement and honors classes are offered. • N umerous Advanced Placement Scholars are recognized annually. • N ational Merit Scholar semifinalists, finalists, and commended students are recognized each year.
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• The Academy is one of only three
• Philanthropy 101, sponsored by the Jimmy Samford Foundation, enables select Upper School students to intently study nonprofit agencies and philanthropy during a summer course.
MA UPPER SCHOOL TRADITIONS
Kindergarten-Senior Buddies College T-shirt Day Eagle Day Tug-of-War Homecoming Week Festivities Senior Privileges Headmaster’s Cup Hanging out in the Commons, a place for Upper School students to study, relax and socialize
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• Our nationally ranked choral program has performed in prestigious venues around the country. • Plays and musicals are performed in our state-of-the-art theater. Students are honored annually at the State Trumbauer Competition. • A remarkable Visual Art Department produces students who are awarded frequently for their creative talent in art shows around the state. • Hot, nutritious lunches served daily and included in tuition
ADVISEE TIME
Students are assigned a faculty advisor as a freshman and meet daily with him/her. Advisors serve as mentors to our Upper School students. A S S E M B LY T I M E
Assemblies cover topics of interest to Upper School students.
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Th e
Mo n t g o m e r y
A c a d e m y
P E R F O R M I N G A N D V I S UA L A R T S
C E L E B R AT I N G C R E AT I V I T Y Appreciation of the arts begins early at the Academy. Weekly exposure to art and music classes begins in kindergarten and continues throughout the student’s academic career. Courses in theater, music, and visual arts are offered in middle and upper levels, and students are allowed opportunities to perform on stage and at various venues. Our outstanding choral groups have been recognized nationwide and have even performed at Carnegie Hall. Our speech and debate team is ranked in the top one percent in the nation. Advanced Placement courses in visual art, music theory, and art history are offered for college credit. Art at Montgomery Academy is not just a hobby, it is a passion.
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Th e
Mo n t g o m e r y
A c a d e m y
AT H L E T I C S With over 30 athletic teams, MA has opportunities for both male and female athletes to play and compete — no matter the level of skill or expertise. Since many MA coaches are also faculty members, the students and teachers know each other in different contexts and settings, which builds strong relationships across the school community.
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MONTGOMERY ACADEMY EAGLES
BOYS Baseball (V/JV) Basketball (V/JV/MS) Cross-Country Football (V/JV/MS) Golf (V/JV) Soccer (V/JV) Tennis (V/JV) Track & Field GIRLS Basketball (V/JV/MS) Cross-Country Cheerleading (V/JV/MS) Golf (V/JV) Soccer Softball Tennis (V/JV) Track & Field Volleyball (V/JV/MS)
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MA ATHLETICS HIGHLIGHTS
• A s of 2016, the Academy’s
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athletic teams have earned 65 state championships — more than any public or private school in the River Region. • N umerous students and coaches are named All-Metro players or coaches of the year by The Montgomery Advertiser. • M axPreps.com named MA the top athletic program in the state in 2014. • 7 0 percent of Academy students participate on one of MA’s athletic teams. • P hysical education classes take place every day in grades K-9.
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Th e
Mo n t g o m e r y
A c a d e m y
FA C U LT Y AT M A MA teachers are well-known for having high expectations and a passion for what they teach. 70 percent of our teachers hold advanced degrees, and our low studentteacher ratios guarantee that your child always has the support he or she needs to succeed. Consistently, our alumni state that the positive relationships they had with the MA faculty was one of the best parts of their MA education.
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MA FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS
• Each year, teachers in grades 6-12 receive written feedback from their division director about their performance. • MA teachers regularly hold “coach classes” either before or after school for students who need additional assistance. • All MA faculty members write yearly goals for developing their craft as professional educators. • MA teachers are given the resources necessary for professional development through workshops, seminars, and travel.
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Th e
Mo n t g o m e r y
A c a d e m y
PREPARING LEADERS OF CHARACTER
HONOR CODE
LEADERSHIP
College Advising We believe the college admissions
MA’s Honor Code fosters trust,
At the Academy, we challenge our
process is about finding good matches
integrity, and honesty. Lower
students to be actively involved
School students are taught to tell
in their school and their world,
between students and colleges. Our
the truth, do their own work, and
whether as members of student
respect the property of others.
government, volunteering their
Middle and Upper School students
time, or leading a community
sign the Honor Code, and write the
service project. Our goal is to
pledge on all major assignments
grow young adults who take
and papers. The Honor Code is
responsibility for their actions.
monitored by a student-led honor
In all that we do at MA, we have
council in grades 7-12.
a multi-layered approach to leadership development, where we challenge students to become adults of character and take responsibility for their own actions in an honorable manner.
college advisors provide support, guidance, and education to our students and families as they navigate the world of college admissions. • 1 00 percent of Academy graduates attend college. • O ver $28 million in merit-based aid has been awarded to our graduates over the past five years. • 8 6 percent of the 69-member Class of 2016 received merit-based scholarship money, totaling over $9.5 million.
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Th e
Mo n t g o m e r y
A c a d e m y
MA STUDENTS ARE EXPLORERS Throughout their time at the Academy, students will learn about the world through travel opportunities and exposure to culture. Field trips to capitols and caverns are popular with our little ones. Middle School students take more extensive trips to places as diverse as Jekyll Island and Washington, D.C. Upper School students have amazing international travel opportunities, and all trips are designed to expose your child to new cultures and new learning.
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Mo n t g o m e r y
A c a d e m y
SERVICE, CLUBS, & ACTIVITIES No matter what your child’s interest, there is a special place just for him or her at the Academy. Younger students may enjoy co-curricular art classes, music, martial arts, and scouting. Older students have choices as varied as the Science Club, Writers’ Club, the Thespians, and video-gaming activities. New clubs are being created — by students — all the time. Service learning is an integral part of an MA education, and students are taught early the value of philanthropy. It’s a big world, and we want our kids to explore it and serve it!
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Service to the community begins with Lower School sharing projects. Middle and Upper School students partner with area agencies and raise money while they immerse themselves in service projects through hands-on experiences. Whether it is collecting books to refurbish a school library devastated by a tornado or working with the homeless or hungry, Academy students learn the importance of being empathetic servant leaders.
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Th e
M o n t g o m e r y
A c a d e m y
THE SPIRIT OF MA
SCHOOL TRADITIONS “Are you Cardinal or Navy?” is an important question at Montgomery Academy. Each student is designated one of these school colors, and it becomes an integral part of his or her identity. Team assignments and competitions are often based on these colors, and the excitement culminates on Eagle Day, when teams get to show off their unique spirit as teachers, alumni, and parents cheer them on from the stands.
MA SPIRIT TRADITIONS
Our mascot, Swoops The alma mater “Soar Eagle Soar” is sung after many MA sports victories Homecoming door-decorating and float building competition Homecoming Parade Spirit Days Class T-shirts Headmaster’s Cup Competition
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MA TRADITIONS • Commencement exercises in the Courtyard. • Opening-day convocation and procession of seniors and kindergarten buddies. • Seniors sponsor a Faculty Appreciation Dinner prior to convocation. • MA Ambassadors represent the school at official events. • Eagle Day competition and Carnival
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• College T-shirt Day • Community service involvement
• Fall Carnival sponsored annually by the junior class • Annual Lower School plays, Middle School plays, and the Spring Musical
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The Montgomery Academy
develops leaders committed
honor, scholarship, service and the pursuit of excellence. to
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VAU G H N R O A D C A M P U S
HILL CAMPUS
MIDDLE SCHOOL & UPPER SCHOOL
L OW E R S C H O O L
3240 Vaughn Road
1550 Perry Hill Road
Montgomery, Alabama 36106-2725
Montgomery, Alabama 36106-2691
(334) 272-8210
W W W. M O N T G O M E R YA C A D E M Y. O R G