Academic Profile 2013-2014
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Academic Profile 2013-2014 Rob Lake Overview Head of School Head-Royce is a nonsectarian college preparatory day school with co-educational Crystal Land classes from kindergarten through grade 12. Founded in 1887 in Berkeley, Assistant Head of School/ California as the Anna Head School for Girls, it was relocated in 1964 and now Academic Dean sits on a 22-acre campus in a residential area of Oakland and has been fully co-educational since 1979. On July 1, 2010 Robert A. Lake joined Head-Royce as the 10th Head of School. Catherine Epstein Director of Admissions & Financial Aid Admissions [email protected] 510.531.1300 x 2146 Head-Royce School seeks students who can profit from a rigorous academic program and who are capable of the self-discipline necessary to succeed. Barbara Gee The school seeks a diverse student body; admission is open to all students Associate Director of Lower and regardless of race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, Middle School Admissions & Financial Aid nationality or ethnic origin. [email protected] 510.531.1300 x 2224 The key entry points into the school when new classes are formed are kindergarten, sixth grade and ninth grade. Additional spaces may occasionally be available in Mary Fahey grades 1 through 11. Associate Director of Upper School Admissions [email protected] Our Mission 510.531.1300 x 2219 The Head-Royce curriculum reflects the diversity, globalism, environmental Lori Koven awareness and innovation of Oakland and the Bay Area. Through its rigorous Admissions/Financial Aid and challenging courses, the school seeks to inspire in students: Administrative Assistant • a lifelong love of learning and commitment to academic excellence [email protected] • a respect for the diversity that makes our society strong 510.531.1300 x 2113 • a passion for constructive and responsible global citizenship Dawn Brown-Ward • a facility for creative, collaborative and critical thinking Admissions Assistant [email protected] Our Students 510.531.1300 x 2178 Head-Royce enrolls approximately 880 students: 240 in the Lower School, 270 4315 Lincoln Avenue in Middle School and 370 in the Upper School. Students come from Oakland, Oakland, CA 94602 Berkeley and over 30 other Bay Area communities. Students of color comprise 510.531.1300 (phone) 50% of our population. For the 2013-14 academic year, the school will award 510.531.2649 (fax) more than $4 million in financial aid to more than 25% of our students. CEEB code: 050285 Our Faculty Head-Royce faculty members are experts in their fields, eager to share their enthusiasm for their subjects. They are devoted to discovering the ideal approach for each child and dedicated to inspiring students to reach their highest potential. The school has 109 faculty members who have an average of 12 years experience teaching. Advanced degrees are held by 60% of the faculty. The student-faculty ratio is 8:1. Academic Profile 2013-2014 Of Special Note Our Academic Program u The Institute for Applied Learning The Lower School offers a firm foundation in learning skills, concentrating on Established in 2013, the Institute a low student-teacher ratio to best serve the needs of each developing student. The academic program emphasizes concepts and skills in the areas of reading, for Applied Learning (IAL) provides writing, mathematics, social studies, science, art, world language, library, music, students with extensive and varied physical education and technology. Homeroom class structure includes class opportunities for hands-on learning, meetings and study of language arts, social studies, math and science. including internships and summer opportunities. The goal of the IAL • French, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish are introduced in kindergarten. is to encourage students’ future • Specialist classes each week in art, music, physical education, library, computers and science lab. leadership in areas including global • Cross-grade “families” meet regularly for community building and service projects. education and STEM (science, • Grade 5 Leadership Council provides rotating leadership skill-building for all students. technology, engineering and math). • After-school activities include music (band, vocal group and private music lessons); sports (swimming and tennis); and other classes (for example chess, taekwondo u Computer Science and graphic design). The goal of our computer science The Middle School is designed to meet the developmental needs of this transitional program is to provide a coherent, age group, and has an activity period to supplement the basic curriculum. The multi-year course sequence in the student body in the Middle School is the perfect size to study complex topics in subject. Upper School students can a nurturing environment. Faculty members are attuned to the development take up to four years of computer transitions that students face during this time and provide an environment that science. After completing AP is physically, emotionally and academically safe. The academic program builds Computer Science, students can take upon the foundations introduced in the Lower School. year-long courses in data structures • All students take English, history, math, science and a world language (French, and advanced program design. Spanish, Latin, Mandarin Chinese). • Fine Arts choices include drama, instrumental music, chorus and studio art. • All students take physical education and life skills; study skills and study labs u Other STEM Opportunities are incorporated into the school day. The school offers a Robotics • Students go on outdoor education trips that include camping, hiking, river curriculum in 2nd, 5th and 12th rafting and a ropes course. grades and fields both Middle School • Student government and clubs provide students with leadership skills. and Upper School Robotics teams. • Students take electives in the arts and computer science as well as other subjects. Each year Head-Royce students • A modified block schedule allows for a combination of long blocks and short participate in local, national and blocks for in-depth learning. international STEM competitions. The extra-curricular competitions Our challenging Upper School offers a strong college preparatory program with a each demand multiple-month variety of activities to supplement the academic curriculum and prepare students commitments — with students for college and beyond. In the Upper School’s academic program, all students take designing, prototyping, engineering four years of English and at least three years each of math, history, science and a and troubleshooting solutions to world language (French, Spanish, Latin, Mandarin Chinese). technically advanced challenges. • Head-Royce offers 15 Advanced Placement courses in subjects ranging from For example, last year students Biology to Studio Art. competed in robotics competitions • Students go on outdoor education trips that include camping, sea kayaking, and a design-a-brain contest. river rafting and a high ropes course. • Students can get involved with the award-winning debate team, the student newspaper and yearbook. • A wide range of student-initiated and organized clubs are available including Democracy Matters, Asia Club, Black Student Union, Fine Arts Dance Ensemble (FADE) and the Jane Austen Film Club. • Work-study jobs on campus include office support, tutoring and Lower School teaching assistants. Academic Profile 2013-2014 Of Special Note Student Leadership Opportunities u Global Online Academy To foster an atmosphere of self-governance, Upper School students may apply Head-Royce is a founding member to serve one-year posts on several faculty/student committees in areas such as of the Global Online Academy (GOA), Curriculum, Global Citizenship, Diversity, STEM and Honor Council. Additionally, a consortium of leading independent senior prefects serve as mentors to freshman homerooms and peer facilitators schools from around the world lead family groups (18 Upper School students and 2 faculty members) in monthly whose mission is to translate into discussions of community issues. online classrooms the intellectually rigorous programs and excellent teaching that are hallmarks of its Athletics member schools. We believe that Through our premier athletic program, Head-Royce students can play on over GOA will promote our students’ 25 interscholastic teams. Our competitive programs have captured more than global awareness by creating 100 league championships in the last 30 years. Sports offered include baseball, diverse, worldwide, online student basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and communities. Examples of GOA volleyball. Middle school teams compete in baseball, basketball, cross country, courses include Bioethics, golf, soccer, tennis and volleyball. Comparative Governments, Global Health, Microeconomics and Currently Head-Royce graduates are competing in interscholastic sports at Neuropsychology. Brandeis, Brown, UCLA, Carleton, Cornell, Dartmouth, Denison, Harvard, Haverford, Macalester, Middlebury, NYU, Oberlin, Occidental, University of Pennslyvania, Pitzer, University of Puget Sound, Stanford, Vassar, Washington University in u Global Citizenship Certificate St. Louis, Wesleyan, Whitman and Yale. In the fall of senior year, Global Citizenship Certificate (GCC) Fine & Performing Arts candidates, under the guidance of a faculty advisor, select a global Students are actively involved in the arts, participating in school musicals and issue of interest and craft