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Learning to Think
Each year, Park's Kindergartners monitor the eggs, the hatching, and the growth of resident goslings — honing their observational skills and laying the foundation for scientific thinking.
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Each child is unique
Children learn in different ways and they develop and grow at different rates. The role of Park's teachers is to recognize and encourage each child’s particular strengths, while supporting growth in all areas.
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We're Not Afraid to Get Our Hands Dirty–or Wet
The activity of learning is an expression of positive energies, fulfills natural impulse, and enriches life. Sometimes it is messy. And wet.
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Supportive Faculty
Park teachers stand apart because of their great passion for teaching and learning. They truly connect with students, provide insight and guidance, and encourage them to think critically for themselves as they learn by doing.
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A Diversity of Ideas
To fully understand a complex time in history, third graders learn the points of view of colonial settlers, Native Americans, and enslaved Africans through extensive research — including building shelters modeled after those of Eastern Woodland Indians.
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K-12 Partnerships
Upper School student tutors staff and run the Michael Cardin ’85 Writing Center, working with Lower, Middle, and Upper School writers in a variety of settings. Here, a student tutor works with a fourth grader on developing her writing.
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Experiential Learning
Fifth graders construct and use catapults to run experiments in which they collect and analyze data. Science is not just description or information, but inquiry: children try to design experiments that will help them find out what they don’t yet know.
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Inspired Faculty
Current Park teachers have, on average, over 20 years of teaching experience. 75% hold advanced degrees. They publish. They research. They present. They perform. And more.
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Challenge
Appalachian Challenge is Park’s nationally-recognized outdoor education program, originally constructed, maintained, and led by students. Middle Schoolers take Challenge as a P.E. requirement, and many become Challenge Leaders.
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Self-expression
Park's theater program is integrated into the curriculum through course offerings in the Middle School and Upper School — developing students' creative self-expression, self-discipline, and self-confidence.
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Experiencing Music
The music department at Park is committed to making music a part of students’ daily lives. Students gain musical knowledge and are challenged to explore their musical potential through creativity, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking.
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Winning with Humility and Integrity
Our interscholastic teams learn game fundamentals and strategies, work on conditioning and fitness, and understand the importance of perseverance, fighting against odds, and winning with humility and integrity.
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All is Number...
Upper School students can choose from an array of mathematics electives such as Calculus, Advanced Calculus, Advanced Discrete Mathematics, Abstract Algebra, Linear Algebra, and Topology and Knot Theory, and more.
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Thinking on Your Feet
Park's Mock Trial team has won four State Championships. Excelling in this head-to-head competition requires understanding of the law; excellent listening, speaking, reading, and reasoning skills; communication and cooperation; and focused determination.
