Northwest School 2016 Viewbook by The Northwest School

Contents Long Live Real Learning

The Power of Creativity

Global Learning in Action

Preparing Body & Soul

A Culture of We

Long Live Welcome to Real Learning our house. Real life is layered and complex. There are intersections

If you’re fortunate enough to attendReal a Northwest School home basketball game this life is layered andday. complex. are intersections of experiences every At The There Northwest School, we winter, you might do a double-take when our mascot—The House—takes the floor. of experiences every day. At The Northwest School, we believe that way, too. Integrated, But The House, modeled after our iconic mainlearning building,should is not anbe accident. Rather, believe learning should be that way, too. Integrated, multi-dimensional, andintellectual sometimes a little it’s a symbolic reminder that this wonderful old edifice is the home of anmessy, in a good multi-dimensional, and sometimes a little in a good idealistic community of scholars whoway. embrace learning, bothIt’s forreal its own sake—and That’s the idea. learning. At messy, The Northwest way. That’s the idea. It’s real learning. At The Northwest for its promise to change the world for the better. And the moment you in our School students experience thewalk exhilarating chemistry School students experience the exhilarating chemistry massive but welcoming front doors you’ll find the joy in learning here is palpable. between academics and arts, between Humanities and

between academics and arts, Humanities and science, between politics and between culture. They study with

You’ll also discover that Northwest isscience, a demanding place. It has to be. The world They study with between politics and culture. students fromThe up pace to 15ofdifferent is shrinking, its challenges increasingly complicated. change is countries and immerse students from up to 15 globe. different countries and immerse cultures around the They unprecedented. Here, we believe theinkind of education that will prepare our learn kids to see the inthese cultures around So the globe. They learn to see the to thrive in such a world must reflectinterdependence complexities.of weaspects embrace of paradox. all life in the real world. interdependence of all aspects of life Because the world is never merely one the other, life ininto the House Thething big or picture comes focus.is bothin the real world. big picture comes into intimate and intense; supportive andThe challenging; improvisational andfocus. exacting; intellectual and playful; academic and creative. We celebrate the power of both individual and community. Here, among a truly diverse group of peers from around the world, students are encouraged—and feel safe—to wrestle with new ideas, express bold opinions, and take on novel challenges. Our interdisciplinary approach and unique interplay of academic and creative experiences are intentional. We believe this is how real learning happens—the kind that develops thinkers, activists, and innovators. But don’t take my word for it. Study these pages, and most importantly, please pay us a visit to see what life in the House might be like for you. We think it’s transformational.

Mike McGill Head of School

Contents Our House

Long Live Real Learning

Our main school building is lovingly called The House. In 1980, The Power of Creativity

The Northwest School welcomed its first students through the doors and into sunlit classrooms. The House was listed Global majestic Learning in Action in the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, and has been Preparing Bodyan&official Soul City of Seattle landmark. A major expansion declared in 2006 added A Culture of We more classrooms, a computer lab, a library, a dance studio, and a photography lab.

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Long Live Real Learning Real life is layered and complex. There are intersections of experiences every day. At The Northwest School, we believe learning should be that way, too. Integrated, multi-dimensional, and sometimes a little messy, in a good way. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the idea. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s real learning. At The Northwest School students experience the exhilarating chemistry between academics and arts, between Humanities and science, between politics and culture. They study with students from up to 15 different countries and immerse in cultures around the globe. They learn to see the interdependence of all aspects of life in the real world. The big picture comes into focus.

Real learning is seeing the big picture. S CIENCE + HUM ANI T IE S

Imagining Darwinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mind In tenth grade, our students gain a deeper understanding of evolution through scientific, sociological, and artistic lenses. For two weeks they examine the work of 17th Century nature artist Maria Merian, as well as comparative anatomists Linnaeus, Darwin, and Wallace. They study prevailing societal and political attitudes of the times, and then they diagram bones of mammalian skulls. Through the process, students begin to more fully understand how the great questions of evolution arose.

C H E M I S T RY + EN VIRONMEN T

Analyzing Real Data Advanced Chemistry students gain a better understanding of their impact on the environment by connecting lessons to their everyday lives. In one unit, they conduct carbon footprint analyses of their own homes, gathering data on transportation, electricity, and food. Then they learn about fuel sources by retrieving old cooking oil and making biodiesel fuel.

CIVICS + ACT IVISM

Learning Through Action Seniors start their final year by jumping into a political campaign. From city council to presidential races, students select a candidate or initiative, contact local campaign headquarters, and devote 18 hours to the cause. They must interview the candidate or someone closely connected to the campaign, write a transcript of the interview as well as complete an analysis of campaign literature and an evaluation of the election outcome.

“NWS opened the world to me in a way I never could have imagined. I was exposed to complex issues from both sides — it gave me such incredible information and a different life perspective and the confidence to ‘do,’ to go out in the world.” Lynda Turet ’01, Master’s Degree in Human Geography, University of Washington

H I S T O RY + T H E AT R E

Tapping Oral History In a compelling study of World War II, seventh graders conducted oral history interviews with local veteran pilots and women mechanics who were known as Rosie the Riveters. These stories were adapted into an original play, Crates of Thunder, by NWS Theatre faculty Laura Ferri, and performed by Upper and Middle School students at the Seattle Museum of Flight and multiple venues in England. The project involved at least three distinct generations working together and interwove four academic disciplines: Humanities, arts, and math and science via the aviation components.

R E S E A R C H + I M A G I N AT I O N

Embodying Role Models Every Northwest School sixth grader adopts the life of a scientist or mathematician. Choosing a scientist from ancient times to the present, they read a biography, gather research from print and online databases, create an outline, and complete a bibliography. Finally, they collaborate with other classmates to write and perform a scene in which four scientists from diverse disciplines, time periods, and nationalities meet and converse over tea.

M AT H + S E R V I C E

Engaging in Business In our Middle School micro-lending unit, students are given $15 to start a business of their own design. Through that business, they are expected to generate enough money to pay back the loan with a 10% interest rate. Examples of products have included lip gloss, hats shaped like animals, handbags, a fake mustache, and carnival games. On top of teaching math and financial skills, the course is a service project: Students donate their profits to organizations such as Goodwilll Industries and Farestart.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;One of the biggest reasons I went into chemistry as a career was my science class at NWS. Chemistry was tied into everyday life and the class was structured with open-ended questions. We were told to go out and search for answers, go look it up. The labs were challenging and coupled with the freedom to try things out.â&#x20AC;? Lewis Elwood Johnson â&#x20AC;&#x2122;03, Chemist and Nanotechnologist

The Power of Creativity

Complex challenges require creative thinkers. Asking the question is more interesting — and perhaps even more important—than having the answer. We encourage our students to pursue the things that challenge their minds and capture their imagination.

Inspiring students to continually ask questions, to step outside their comfort zones, to see things differently and be open-minded about outcomes, our faculty helps students prepare not just for college but to live life with meaning, purpose, and joy.

Imagining. Experimenting. Creating. DE VELOP ING VOICE

Public Art Public Art students paint murals, install sculptures, and yarn-bomb fences around our school grounds and the Capitol Hill neighborhood. Through the process, they develop a personal and public voice, and learn to interact and cooperate with different audiences.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Creating art gives students a point of entry that is their own, the ability to join the conversation and hear the nuance in the conversation. Art gives them a way to absorb lessons into their bones.â&#x20AC;? Suzanne Bottelli, Humanities teacher, poet and author of The Feltville Formation

P RECISION AND C ONFIDENCE

Mask and Mime Students gain confidence and learn to think on their feet in our Mask, Mime, and Improvisation class. The mime concept of “yes, and….” (rather than “yes, but…”) helps students develop open-minded team work and collaboration skills.

E X P RE S SION AND P OISE

Play Production Ensemble Students perfect skills of expression, articulation, spatial awareness, and timing in Northwest’s sophisticated and professional theatre productions. Both Middle and Upper School students are challenged with comedic and dramatic plays, ranging from Blue Stockings, by Jessica Swale, to Nicholas Nickleby, adapted from the novel by Charles Dickens. Through the demanding processes of rehearsal and performance, students acquire not only discipline but resilience and composure.

ADAP T ING AND I N N O VAT I N G

3D Printing & Glass Blowing Students in sculpture class are using computer programs and 3D printers to help create bronze or glass sculptures. One student printed a model of Mt. St. Helens that was then cast in hollow bronze at Pratt Fine Art Center’s foundry. Lava for the mountain was created out of glass, using the traditional lost wax method.

P ERFEC T ING P ERFORMANCE

Upper School Jazz Band Valuable skills come from performing music, including discipline, confidence, and collaboration. NWS music students perform in venues around Seattle, including an annual spring gig at Tula’s Jazz Club.

“Our theatre training is excellent and will help students no matter what they do. They learn to communicate and to project. They’re relaxed before an audience because they’ve learned to think on their feet. They learn that it’s not what if something goes wrong but what will you do when it does go wrong? How will you handle it with grace and confidence?” Laura Ferri, NWS theatre teacher, director, playwright

AGIL I T Y AND C ON T ROL

Breakdancing Focus, observation, awareness, and control are skills students perfect through breakdancingâ&#x20AC;&#x160;â&#x20AC;&#x201D; one of the many dance forms NWS students can choose to practice and perform.

Global Learning in Action In today’s interconnected world, a global perspective is critical. At The Northwest School, we build global learning into everyday school life. Our boarding program brings up to 60 students from other countries to live on campus and join our community. Domestic students team up with international students in science labs, Humanities debates, athletic teams, and arts productions. We also send students abroad for two - to three -week trips and for extended study. Students can choose to live and attend classes for seven weeks at our partner schools in France, Spain, China, or Taiwan.

Global learning is real learning. WI T NE S SING FREED O M AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

Trip to El Salvador The Northwest School trip to El Salvador is a powerful example of how we work to graduate students with historical and global perspective. Our students prepare for a two-week trip by studying the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s twelve-year civil war and the 1992 Peace Accords. In El Salvador, they stay with host families, meet and talk with former refugees of the war, visit historical and cultural sites, and on Election Day, join other international election observers to monitor polling stations and help ensure voting is fraud free.

C ONNEC T ING ACROS S T HE O CE AN

French IV Urban Poetry Project An exciting new Urban Poetry Project connected Northwest School French and Spoken Word students with students from our partner school, Lycée Emmanuel Mounier, in Angers, France. Students on both sides of the ocean collaborated in creating, reading, writing, and translating their original urbanthemed poems in both English and French. They communicated and shared work by using Voice Thread, an online tool for asynchronous communication.

T H I N K I N G G L O B A L LY, A C T I N G L O C A L LY

Sixth Grade Global Issues Action Project Right from the start, sixth graders are exposed to global issues and inspired to get involved. In the Global Issues Action Project, students choose a world issue such as global hunger, loss of biodiversity, deforestation, pollution, or access to education. They research the issue, produce a visual and oral presentation to parents and classmates, and carry out an action in the local community to support change. Most recently, students wrote letters to local and state politicians, created and handed out biodiversity leaflets at community centers, raised money to support homeless shelters, and pitched in to help clean up and maintain land for public vegetable gardens.

“At Northwest, I gained a much broader awareness of things happening outside my life and the larger patterns of conflict in the world. I learned I can take an active role in doing something about them. NWS made me excited to be part of a solution and to want to make things better.” Emma Fuller ’05, Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University

G AINING GLOB AL P ER SP EC T I VE F RO M B OT H SIDE S

Debating World Issues Eleventh-graders tackle some of the world’s thorniest and most controversial issues in our annual Eleventh Grade Debates. International and domestic students team up to research the pros and cons of issues such as using drones to combat terrorism, phasing out nuclear power, ending agricultural subsidies, and closing Guantanamo Prison. Leading up to the debates, teammates strategize both sides of the issue, practice arguing either side, and a few days before, they finally learn which side they’re on. On debate day, they must argue in front of their peers and faculty. Students observing the debate are allowed to ask clarifying questions, provide critical analysis of the debate’s performance, and vote on the issue.

M E A S U R I N G C U LT U R A L W E L L - B E I N G

Twelfth Grade Statistics Working together with students from our partner school in Taiwan, The Affiliated High School of National ChengChi University, Northwest School math students embarked on a project to measure well-being in different cultures. Students from both schools created a “well-being index number” and an “education index number” for their respective countries based on what they considered essential for health and happiness. Through discussions, students shared and compared their motivations for picking the particular components and assigning relative weights of their index numbers.

UNDER S TANDING P OL I T IC AL F ORCE S

Seventh Grade World Court Debates Seventh-graders grasp the impact of politics on indigenous cultures through our annual World Court Debates. Representing England, France, Spain, the United States, and Native American cultures, students battle it out for land rights to the Pacific Northwest territory in 1810. The passion of these debates is often so intense it spills out into the hallway and to all corners of the House.

Immersing in Language and Culture At Northwest, every student learns to speak another language, either Chinese, Spanish, or French. Through our International Boarding Program, students join our community from China, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Russia, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. On our international trips to China, El Salvador, France, Spain, and Taiwan, students spend two weeks in cultural and language immersion. Our Study Abroad Program allows students to live for eight weeks with host families and attend school at NWS Partner Schools in China, France, Spain, and Taiwan.

Preparing Body and Soul A strong healthy body is fundamental to emotional and intellectual well-being. At The Northwest School, we believe there is an athlete in every student, and when a student finds the right sport, he or she thrives and excels. We offer a competitive sports program as well as a full fitness program and encourage students to participate on both school and recreational teams. At every grade level, students practice dedication, discipline, and sportsmanship, learning how to be fit for play and, most importantly, how to be fit for life.

“I stress that the score is only one aspect of the game – the bigger picture is your integrity. This is much bigger than winning or losing. It’s about getting knocked down, getting back up, and helping your teammate up. It’s about mindfulness: how you are responding to and living your life, both inside and outside of competition.” Britt Atack, NWS Athletics Director

1 4/1

st State Champs

2016

2015

2014

NWS track athlete Maya J.’16 takes first place in the 400m, and Tibs P. ’17 takes first in both the 1600m and the 3200m at the Washington State Championships.

Four NWS track athletes win first place in the 400m, 800m, 1600m, and 3200m races in the Emerald City League Championships.

NWS Boys’ and Girls’ Ultimate Teams capture both Regional and State Ultimate Championships.

Cross Country

2014

NWS Cross Country Teams bring home league championship trophies in every division, including High School Boys’, High School Girls’, Middle School Boys’ and Middle School Girls’.

Cross Country athlete Graham Peet ’15 wins the State Championship title in the 5k.

NWS track athletes win State Championship titles in the 400m and 1A Boys High Jump at the Washington State Championships.

40+ 2014

2013

since 2010

NWS Girls’ and Boys’ Varsity Basketball Teams qualify for Tri-district playoffs.

NWS Girls’ Varsity Soccer Team qualifies for the State Championship playoffs and brings home the Emerald City League Sportsmanship Award.

NWS graduates have gone on to play sports in Division I colleges.

Clockwise from top left: Sam Cook ’15 was selected to join the Seattle Cascades, a professional ultimate team in the Western Division of the American Ultimate Disc League, in 2015. He is one of three high-schoolers in 2015 to make the cut for the 12 open-roster spots. Sam helped win a gold medal for the Team USA Men’s Junior (U20) National Team in Wroclaw, Poland, in 2016. Josie Gillett ’15, a decorated sports star, helped capture the silver medal in the women’s division of the World Junior Ultimate Championships in Wroclaw, Poland, in 2016. NWS Boy’s Varsity Team member Leo P. ’17 drives past an opponent during the 2014-15 season. Maddie Meyers ’12 sprints to the national Sundodger Cross Country Invitational, 2014.

“NWS taught me how to balance my athletic life with my academic and social life. I’m extremely grateful for that. I learned I can still excel while I’m having fun.” Maddie Meyers ’12, Washington State Distance Triple Crown Winner, NCAA Cross Country and Track Athlete

A Culture of “We” We’re a different kind of school. Creative, caring, unconventional. We call each other by first names in order to foster respect; we discipline with a philosophy, not a policy; we create opportunities for all grade levels, 6-12, to be together. We expect each and every student, no matter what age, to act with courtesy and common sense. We embrace our differences and don’t shy away from critical conversations. We clean our space together, whether it’s inside the building, out in the wilderness, or in other parts of the world. We create a safe environment in which to try new things, experiment and fail, and try again. And above all, we celebrate and honor who we are.

Community Meeting Every week, the entire school gathers together for Community Meeting. Students of all grade levels and faculty share news and announcements, perform arts pieces, and raise awareness about social justice issues and initiatives.

Honoring Our House and Ourselves Eating to Save the Planet Lunches at NWS are not only delicious, they’re sustainable. All fish and meat are purchased from small local farms and two-boat fishing enterprises. Fresh vegetables and fruits are served seasonally, and every Monday is meatless.

“NWS ensured you saw the bigger picture, whether it was an integrated science and Humanities curriculum, or Community Meeting, or eating lunch together in the Main Hall. One of the big lessons we all took away was that we were part of something bigger, and that, in whatever way we chose, we should be engaged in that community and contribute in a positive way.” Josh Miller ’96, Conservation Paleontologist, Assistant Research Professor, University of Cincinnati

Interest Groups At The Northwest School, if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got a passion you can start an interest group or join one. Some of the current groups include Environmental Sustainability, Diversity, GLAM, Black Student Union, Feminism, Geeks, and Music.

Community Conversations NWS students of all ages participate in a community-wide conversation about issues of diversity. Organized by NWS students who attend the Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC), the event provides a forum to discuss identifiers such as race, gender, sexual orientation, and family structure.

Environment Program Taking care of the school is the responsibility of each and every student. Three times a week, everyone in the school stops what he or she is doing and cleans the school environment. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s called the Environment Program and is designed to teach students respect and ownership of space, whether it be in school, out in the neighborhood, or in other parts of the world.

ArtsFest Every spring, we honor the visual and performing arts with ArtsFest. Before hundreds of friends and family members, students light up the stage at Seattleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Town Hall with dance, instrumental, spoken word and a cappella performances.

Celebrating Together Winterfest Every year, the entire school celebrates science and math with a day-long spectacle known as Winterfest. Middle and Upper School students thrill each other with chemical experiments, catapult competitions, math games, rocket launches, and the favorite 8th grade Bridge Building Contest.

International Night Market Hundreds of students and faculty flock to our annual International Night Market, sampling the delicious array of culinary delights from all over the world, including Ethiopia, Korea, Russia, and Japan. This student-led event is a fundraiser for the junior class Migrant Farmworker Trip.

Meet Our Alumni Kisanet Bezabih ’16 During her four years at Northwest, Kisanet maintained an outstanding GPA while also leading the Black Student Union, singing in a cappella choir, playing volleyball and basketball, and singing and dancing in school musicals. When it came time to apply to colleges, Kisanet cast a wide net. She applied to eleven colleges and universities across the United States – and was accepted to all of them! She chose Wesleyan, though it was a difficult decision with Boston University, Carleton, Lake Forest, Macalester, Northeastern, St. Olaf, Trinity, University of Washington, Vassar, and Whitman being her other choices.

Josh Miller ’96 Josh was only an 8th grader when he first glimpsed his future scientific career at NWS. Now as a conservation paleontologist and assistant research professor at the University of Cincinnati, with a PhD in Evolutionary Biology, he is on a quest to unlock ecological secrets of the past. He’s mapping concentrations of female caribou antlers across arctic regions to gain a better picture of living conditions and climatic changes over millions of years. This data can help drive better wildlife and land management policies today.

Aaron Loux ’05 Aaron’s love for dance began at a young age. He started dancing at the Creative Dance Center as a member of Kaleidoscope, a youth modern dance company, and began his classical training at the Cornish College Preparatory Dance Program. After graduating from Northwest, he studied dance at The Julliard School, in New York, where he earned his B.F.A. Currently, he is a member of the renowned Mark Morris Dance Group, and was recently recognized by the New York Times as one of the 10 best performances by a male dancer in 2014 for his work in Morris’s Acis and Galate.

Sarah Farr ’06 Currently pursuing a PhD in Sociology at the University of WisconsinMadison with a focus on recruitment and labor migration, Sarah’s goal is to inform and change policies to better protect the rights of migrant workers. She wants her research to help empower workers who come to the U.S. primarily from Mexico for short-term jobs in the agricultural, production, and service industries. Sarah and her colleagues launched Contrados.org, a website that acts as a kind of YELP for contemporary migrant workers, allowing them to anonymously post their stories and inform others about exploitative practices by U.S.-based companies and recruitment agencies.

The Northwest School offers a faculty who engage each student in sequential, cross-disciplinary study in the Humanities, Sciences, and the Arts. We are a diverse community of people who challenge each other to learn in a healthy, creative, and collaborative atmosphere of respect for others, the environment, and ourselves. We graduate students with historical, scientific, artistic, and global perspective, enabling them to think and act with integrity, believing they have a positive impact on the world.

Our Other House

Our newest building, 401 E Pike, brings many elements of daily student life into one exciting space. This â&#x20AC;&#x153;vertical

Nondiscrimination Policy campusâ&#x20AC;? makes smart square inch, featuring The Northwest School does not discriminate on the use basisof of every race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender, disability, use of service animals, national or ethnic origin, ortwo-tiered any other trait a league-size Gymnasium, 175-seat Theatre, or characteristic protected by lawRoom, in admission of otherwise qualified students; in providing access Dining and 6,000 square foot Rooftop Sports Field. to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at The Northwest School; or in its administration of educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid, athletics, and other school-administered programs.

Aaron Loux ’05 Aaron’s love for dance was born at a young age. He began dancing at the Creative Dance Center as a member of Kaleidoscope, a youth modern dance company, and began his classical training at the Cornish College Preparatory Dance Program. After graduating from Northwest, he studied dance at The Julliard School, in New York, where he earned his B.F.A. Currently, he is a member of the renowned Mark Morris Dance Group, and was recently recognized by the New York Times as one of the 10 best performances by a male dancer in 2014 for his work in Morris’s Acis and Galate.

Sarah Farr ’06 Currently pursuing a PhD in Sociology at the University of Wisconsin-

Our Home Away from Home Madison with a focus on recruitment and labor migration, Sarah’s

goal is to inform and change policies to better protect the rights of The Northwest School is the migrant only independent school in Seattle workers. She wants her research to help empower workers with an international boarding program. Our dormitory who come to theresidential U.S. primarily from Mexico for short-term jobs in is located across the street from our new building, and houses up the agricultural, production, and service industries. Sarah and her to 60 students on gender-specific floors. Common areas include colleagues launched Contrados.org, a website that acts as a kind lounges where students can relax andfor watch TV, laundry facilities, of YELP contemporary migrant workers, allowing them to a computer lab, and a study room. anonymously post their stories and inform others about exploitative practices by U.S.-based companies and recruitment agencies.

Nondiscrimination Policy The Northwest School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender, disability, use of service animals, national or ethnic origin, or any other trait or characteristic protected by law in admission of otherwise qualified students; in providing access to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at The Northwest School; or in its administration of educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid, athletics, and other school-administered programs.

1415 Summit Ave Seattle, WA 98122 P. 206.682.7309 F. 206.467.7353 www.northwestschool.org