SH Academics

English

The mastery of English forms the heart of a strong liberal arts curriculum and college preparatory program. And so, the highest goals of the Stanwich School English curriculum are to inspire in students a love of literature as thoughtful, perceptive readers and to help students become skillful, versatile writers. In the classroom, we help sharpen students' critical-thinking skills and encourage them to become engaged, incisive speakers and active, sensitive listeners. The English curriculum is structured in such a way that an increasingly sharpened critical awareness-in reading skills, in writing, and in oration-builds incrementally. By studying a broad range of ancient and modern works, including novels, poems, plays, films, and essays by canonical and non-canonical authors, students come to understand the historical growth of literary genres and the multicultural richness of world literature.

Each course is designed to help students read such works for their distinctive portrayals of the human character with an increasingly sharp eye for how authors bring human experience to life. Students respond to literature in personal, imaginative, and analytical writings, as well as by participating in oral work-discussions, dramatic readings, and presentations.

While deepening their study of characters' successes and failings, students become more aware of the complexities inherent in becoming compassionate, responsible, and ethical human beings. Our program also seeks to enable students to become more thoughtful about themselves in relation to their local and global communities. At every level, the English curriculum encourages critical thinking and rewards clear expression of that thinking. In addition, students learn basic concepts of grammar and rhetoric and how to apply them in their own writing, ultimately providing the groundwork for university study in writing and literature.

Mathematics

The experience of mathematics at Stanwich is designed for the student to raise his or her appreciation of the language's ability to significantly transform our world, to become robust problem solvers who can communicate their investigations, and, through mastery of math's internal processes, to instill the confidence to pursue quantitatively rigorous interests which elicit their passion. The mathematics curriculum endorses and incorporates the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics standards and philosophies regarding math instruction.

The learning of mathematics is centered on the integration of visual, oral, and symbolic exposure to fully develop the depth and breadth of a student's cognitive abilities, and so through the course of a Stanwich math education, a student will be exposed to many different ways of defining and framing problems, as well as solving them. Direct instruction is complemented by independent and cooperative problem-solving activities with unique investigations into the applications of the language to science, the arts, business, and the home, enabling the student to synthesize seemingly diverse concepts. This part-whole methodology utilizes technology to enhance a student's understanding through extensions heretofore unreachable. Technology is prudently assimilated into the curriculum to assist the student's growth, careful to avoid dependence on the technology as a substitute for authentic understanding of the language. Traditional concerns about organizing students' work and knowledge motivate us to encourage the neatness, thoroughness, and clarity of thought and expression necessary for success in math and across the disciplines. We believe that math is not just a cornerstone of intellectual development but also essential to effective participation as citizens in our democracy and in the world.

Science

The science curriculum aids students in their understanding of the natural world and strives to produce graduates who demonstrate a well-developed scientific intellect and who know how to approach problems rationally and methodically. We encourage students to question, to explore their surroundings, to seek answers, and to look at the world from different perspectives. Possessing those tools, students can then apply their knowledge to the integration of concepts within the realm of science and across disciplines. We want students to understand that science is an active and ongoing process. We mold active learners who are capable of independent, cooperative, and collaborative work using the available technology and tools. We emphasize the students' status as global citizens, including but not limited to the stewardship of their environment, ethical decision making, and possessing comprehensive historical perspective, all of which result in individuals better able to live and guide the world.

Students will have first-hand experience with the scientific method: designing experiments, organizing and analyzing data, and interpreting results. Students do science rather than simply being told about science. When relevant the school's campus is utilized to explore topics and provide examples. Stanwich School offers a broad range of courses in the areas of biology, chemistry, physics, and environmental sciences. The laboratory experience is an integral component of the science curriculum and is emphasized throughout the program.

World Language

In an interdependent world, the study of languages promotes communication with and understanding about people of other cultures, a fuller participation in the global community, and the preparation to play an active role in the global economy. The program creates opportunities for students to experience and acknowledge different patterns of thought and other value systems. Through the department's interdisciplinary approach, students better understand their own language and culture and develop a sense of responsibility and commitment as world citizens. World language courses emphasize the development of communicative competence using a variety of approaches and making frequent use of up-to-date classroom technology.

Throughout the program, language teachers work on developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Students are called upon to approach second-language acquisition through a deeper understanding of their own language and of language in general. Through careful study of linguistic constructs, students develop a respect for language in and of itself, and for its ability to empower. As students come to express themselves effectively in the target language, they are better prepared to face challenges as leaders in an increasingly international world.

Beyond becoming proficient in a second language and, in some cases a third, students learn understanding and empathy. Appreciation of both diversity and interdependence is fostered through a careful mapping of cultural focuses presented throughout the curricula. The outcome for students is a profound appreciation of other cultures, past and present, as they exist within this country and abroad.

Social Studies and History

The primary mission of the social studies and history curriculum is to teach an intentional program of history, culture, and heritage that will enable students to know themselves more fully as developing individuals in a changing historical context and as active participants in their local, national, and world communities. In essence, we desire that each student comes to an understanding of his and her own humanity through an understanding of the humanity of others. We seek to expose students to western and nonwestern historical traditions while also grounding students in the history of the United States.

We seek to use and study the past to understand the present. Woven throughout our approach to understanding both past and present is intentionality in presenting issues, individuals, and events from multiple perspectives and in examining global human experiences in light of such unifying themes as the process of change over time and the interrelationships among societies. History is a process of discussion, interpretation, and continuing revelation in both evidence and understanding. Our curricular challenge is to provide students with the tools to understand the multiple factors that shape history: social, economic, cultural, political, personal, religious, geographic, and structural.

We seek to foster students' abilities to think and write critically, to assist them in establishing a knowledge base which allows a better understanding of today's increasingly interconnected world, and to further their capacity to recognize and respond to long-term causal sequences. Each course works to embody the values and mission of Stanwich School through fostering in students a deepening sense of civic understanding, involvement, and activism.

Visual & Performing Arts

At Stanwich, we believe that the arts are for everyone and are an essential part of a strong liberal arts curriculum. The purpose of the program is to facilitate the student's need for expression and to help the student develop empathy for and awareness of others. The art curriculum emphasizes the concept that art is a powerful visual language of signs and symbols. Through their studies, students become aware of how this language is at work in the world around them and become skilled in their ability to communicate effectively in it. Works of art often involve subtle meanings and complex systems of expression that go beyond ordinary speaking and writing.

The actual practice of making art engages the imagination, fosters flexible ways of thinking, develops disciplined effort, promotes innovation, and builds self-confidence. For some students the study of art will lead to careers in the arts. For many others, it will permanently enhance the quality of their lives with a fluency in the visual language and an informed appreciation of the arts. Skills practiced and honed in the arts curriculum are critical in the other disciplines, as well: reflection, self-criticism, persistence, vision, and the willingness to experiment and learn from mistakes. Each course offered provides students with a broad survey of contemporary and traditional art concepts, techniques, and working methods. We strive to instill the courage to face challenges, the skills to solve complex problems, and an understanding and appreciation of the visual arts.