Headmaster: Peter J. Caldwell Head of Upper School: Darren Burns Director of College Counseling: Noreen L. Cassidy Morristown-Beard Associate Director of College Counseling: Roslyn Estrada Associate Director of College Counseling: Keith Vassall School College Counseling Assistant: Heather McClanahan
Profile: The Class of 2016 CEEB Code: 310845
Within a culture of support and collaboration, Morristown-Beard School students discover and develop their individual pathways to academic success and personal fulfllment while becoming enlightened, morally responsible citizens of the world.
THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY produce. Te honors distinction is not based on quantitative factors (i.e. Morristown-Beard is an independent, coeducational day school serving “more work”), but is measured by the qualitative rigor and analytical depth students from over 80 communities and nine counties in northern New of the tasks undertaken to earn honors. Jersey. Tere are 570 students in grades 6-12, with an Upper School Humanities Program enrollment of 422. Tere are 92 faculty members, of whom 68% hold Te Humanities approach to the study of English and history in grades advanced degrees, of which 16 are doctoral. Te School is accredited by 9-11 merges the traditional subject areas of these departments to create a the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and the New Jersey richer and more engaging experience of both literature and history. An Association of Independent Schools and is approved by the New Jersey integrated curriculum, organized thematically and global in perspective, State Department of Education. allows students to make new and surprising connections among different cultures, works of literature and time periods, while enhancing a common CURRICULAR PHILOSOPHY set of critical skills. Te program relies heavily on analytical writing, MBS has fully embraced the “new” or “21st Century” paradigm for critical and creative thinking, discussion-driven classes, close reading and secondary education, as articulated by such thinkers and researchers as the oral presentation. It is also a model of cross-disciplinary collaboration for late Grant Wiggins, Sir Ken Robinson, Tony Wagner, and many others. both students and faculty. Despite the challenges this new model poses to many traditional secondary National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) school assumptions and practices, its focus on skills over content, on critical In 2011, Morristown-Beard became the first high school in the country and creative thinking over mere absorption of information, on critical to annually administer NSSE to our graduating seniors. Used by reading and writing in all disciplines, and above all its foundation in a well over 1,000 American colleges and universities, NSSE is typically “growth” as opposed to “fixed” mindset, is supported by a wave of cognitive administered to college freshmen and seniors in order to evaluate students’ research and emerging best practices. Our academic program has been experiences against five benchmarks – Level of Academic Challenge, steadily evolving for the past decade along these lines, and we are justly Active and Collaborative Learning, Student-Faculty Interaction, Enriching proud of the progress we have made in preparing our graduates to succeed Educational Experiences, and Supportive Campus Environment. After in higher education and in the social landscape of the future, both of which three years, useful, actionable data has emerged. Not only do the survey’s are themselves in the midst of complex, rapidly evolving change. Our results affirm a positive school culture and an outstanding learning students, therefore, need to be understood and assessed in the light of these environment at Morristown-Beard, they demonstrate that the level of principles, as outlined in our Statement of Curricular Philosophy: student engagement among our seniors often surpasses the national level of college freshmen. Moreover, this feedback about the School’s teaching and Te Morristown-Beard curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, problem learning environment allows us to craft informed and intentional responses solving, independent thought, and intellectual risk taking. It supports cross- that are being played out in the classroom and beyond. disciplinary connections and a holistic view of knowledge. It encourages Writing Across the Curriculum integration of habits of intentional speaking and writing so that students may Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) is a pedagogical movement that develop and articulate their ideas. Te curriculum is process-oriented, and values writing as a method of learning across all fields, not merely in the teachers’ assessment of student work reflects the means by which a student creates traditional areas such as English and history courses. When students are given and learns in addition to final product. Te curriculum at Morristown-Beard frequent opportunities for WAC, they think more critically and creatively, esteems the qualitative as well as quantitative dimensions of learning and engage more deeply in their learning, and are better able to transfer what supports students’ making connections to other areas of intellectual thought and they have learned from course to course, context to context. In 2011, MBS the larger world. established a comprehensive Center for Academic Writing (modeled closely on the writing centers found in every college and university) led by a trained SIGNATURE PROGRAMS composition specialist who has helped to establish a robust writing program Earned Honors Model at the School. Transformative assignments have been integrated into In keeping with the idea of a growth mindset and the awareness, Science, Math, Wellness, Foreign Language, History, and Performing Arts definitively established by research, that intelligence is not fixed but capable departments. In 2013 we created a junior elective designed to train students of continuous growth in the proper learning contexts, we have created an to be peer tutors in composition. Students engaged in academic writing at “Earned Honors” model in many classes whereby students are not pre- MBS are supported through a variety of writing workshops, feedback from slotted as “honors” or “regular” but are placed in heterogeneous classes faculty and peers, and other services offered by the Center. and given the opportunity to earn honors on the basis of the work they
70 Whippany Road tMorristown, NJ 07960 tTel: 973.539.3032 tFax: 973.539.1590 twww.mbs.net Curriculum Notes Class of 2016: Advanced Placement Program Students must fulfll required prerequisites and have Junior Year Grade Distribution * Semester Courses departmental approval in order to enroll in any of the 12 Grades AP courses ofered. With the exception of those taking A+ A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ Chemistry and United States History, the majority enrolled Humanities English 11* 13 27 28 39 19 4 3 in AP classes are seniors. In addition to courses ofered, Humanities English 11 (H)* 10 11 32 16 2 1 recommended juniors may also sit for the English Language English Electives * 8 10 2 5 2 1 5 and Composition exam. English Electives (H) * Humanities History 11 4 20 16 18 5 1 Advanced Seminar Program Humanities History 11 (H) 1 6 8 6 5 1 In an efort to provide a rigorous alternative to the US History (AP ) 2 4 5 standardized curriculum and testing of AP courses, we History Electives * 7 3 1 have created a menu of Advanced Seminars for seniors and History Electives (H) * 2 7 1 1 selected juniors that equal or exceed AP courses in terms of Intermediate Algebra 1 3 1 3 conceptual challenge, complexity of material, development of Algebra 2 3 5 4 8 2 1 critical skills and overall preparation for college academics. Algebra 2 (H) 1 1 1 1 Pre-Calculus 3 2 6 11 8 3 1 Tey are therefore among the most academically rigorous Pre-Calculus (H) 2 9 7 4 3 1 courses we ofer. Tese courses, which are either one semester Calculus 1 or full year, are proposed by faculty with a particular interest Calculus AB (AP) 1 1 1 and expertise in a given feld and are subject to a thorough Calculus BC (AP) 1 peer-review process, overseen by a committee of experienced Statistics (AP) 1 teachers with college teaching backgrounds, before being Business Math* 1 authorized by the School. Discrete Mathematics* 3 Te seminar format promotes critical thought and Non-Euclidean Geometry* 2 1 1 discussion, requires students to work independently and is Statisical Inference* 1 fexible enough to encompass a broad range of course themes. Statistics and Probability* 1 In all Advanced Seminars, the level of reading, writing and Biology 1 6 11 23 14 1 2 7 critical discussion equals that found in a frst-year college Biology (H) 7 9 12 3 Chemistry 1 1 course. Seminars are small (4-8 students), and enrollment is Chemistry (H) 1 by permission of the instructor. Chemistry (AP) 2 2 4 1 Independent Study Advanced Physics 1 * 3 Our Independent Study program encourages students to Advanced Physics 2 * 1 2 1 explore areas of interest that fall outside the traditional Forensic Science * 1 1 1 course catalog. Under the guidance of selected faculty Sports Medicine * 1 7 3 5 1 members with a special expertise or interest in the feld, Advanced Geosciences (H) 1 1 2 3 students work side by side to develop a scope and sequence French 2 (H) 2 French 3 1 1 5 2 curriculum, create authentic class specifc content and create French 3 (H) 1 original assessments. Independent Studies are ideal for French 4 3 1 motivated, high-achieving students. Current topics include French 4 (H) 2 5 2 1 Acting for the Camera, Bioethics, Ecosystems Modeling, Latin 3 2 1 2 3 2 Sign Language, Quantum Physics and Songwriting. Spanish 1 1 Graduation Requirements Spanish 2 1 2 Te School utilizes a modifed block schedule. Classes meet Spanish 2 (H) 1 seven times in a 10-day cycle including a 30-minute workshop Spanish 3 3 7 5 5 6 2 1 period designed for students to step outside the traditional Spanish 3 (H) 1 1 3 structures of the classroom and fnd creative, student- Spanish 4 9 6 3 2 1 centered ways to engage in their discipline. Te academic Spanish 4 (H) 1 2 3 year is divided into two semesters during which a minimum Spanish 5 (AP) 1 academic load is six courses. While a total of 24 credits is Test Scores (Class of 2015) Grading System and Class Rank required for graduation, we encourage students to pursue Grade point averages are unweighted and calculated based Middle 50% Mean their academic interests by going beyond the minimum SAT on the system below. A cumulative GPA is not calculated, nor do we rank our students. requirements of: Critical Reading 510-620 564
English 4 years Math 510-640 579 Letter Grade Grade Range Points Writing 530-640 587 A+ 97-100 4.00 Mathematics 3 years A 93-96 4.00 ACT A- 90-92 3.67 History 3 years Composite 24-29 26 B+ 87-89 3.33 Science 3 years B 83-86 3.00 B- 80-82 2.67 World Language 3 years C+ 77-79 2.33 Performing/Visual 1 year Junior Year GPA Distribution C 73-76 2.00 & Digital Arts (101 students) C- 70-72 1.67 D+ 67-69 1.33 3.75 – 4.00 16 3.00 – 3.24 23 D 63-66 1.00 3.50 – 3.74 33 2.75 – 2.99 3 D- 60-62 0.67 3.25 – 3.49 25 2.50 – 2.74 1 F Below 60 0.00 Upper School Academic Course Offerings 2015-2016
ADVANCED SEMINARS MATHEMATICS Semester Electives (11, 12; honors): Algebra 1 (9, standard) (11,12 unless noted; standard): Are We Alone? Life in the Universe Geometry (9,10; standard & honors) Advanced Physics 1- 2, Anatomy and Physiology (12), Art History Intermediate Algebra (10,11; standard) Forensic Science, Genes and Society, Sports Medicine Eastern Philosophy Algebra 2 (9,10,11,12; standard & honors) Ethics Pre-Calculus (9,10,11,12; standard & honors) VISUAL AND DIGITAL ART Introduction to Arabic Language and Culture College Math Topics (12, standard) Introduction to Art (9,10,11,12) Introduction to Italian Language and Culture Calculus (11,12; standard) Art 1 (9,10,11,12) Medical Breakthroughs: Past, Present and Future Calculus AB (10,11,12; AP) Art 2 (10,11,12) Molecules that Changed History Calculus BC (11,12; AP) Art 3 (11,12) Science, Culture and the Decade of the 1960s Statistics (11,12; AP) Art 4 (12) Teories of Beauty: An Introduction to Aesthetics Statistics and Probability (11,12; honors) Studio Art (12, AP) Engineering Drawing 1 (9,10,11,12) ENGLISH Semester Electives Engineering Drawing 2 (10,11,12) Humanities English 9 (standard & honors) (11,12 unless noted; standard): Architecture 1 (11,12) Humanities English 10 (standard & honors) Advanced Topics 1: Linear Algebra, Advanced Topics Architecture 2 (12) Humanities English 11 (standard & honors) 2: Discrete Mathematics, Non-Euclidean Geometry Introduction to iOS Programming (9,10,11,12) English 12 (standard & honors – semester electives) (10,11,12), Personal Finance and Business Math, Video Broadcast Journalism (10,11,12) English 12 (AP) Probability Teory (10,11,12), Statistics and Data Analysis (10,11,12) Semester Electives Senior Semester Electives (9,10,11,12 unless noted): (11, 12; standard & honors): PERFORMING ARTS Ceramics, Crafts 1-2, Sculpture, Digital Arts, Digital At Wit’s End, Creative Writing, Crime and (9,10,11,12 unless noted): Graphic Design, Advanced Graphic Design, Conscience, Debate Matters, Deja Who? Memory Teater 1: Introduction to Teatrical Medium Digital Video Storytelling, Photography 1, and Identity in Literature, Elements of Style, Teater 2-4 (10,11,12) Photography 2 (10,11,12), Alternative Photographic Harmony and Discord: Music in Literature, Iconic Musical Teater Processes (10,11,12), Advanced Photography (11,12), Women in Western Literature, Irish Literature, Stagecraft 1-4 Digital Photography, Music Production, Computer Journalism, Te Language of War, Manuscripts and Teater Dance 1-4 Arts and Sciences: Graphics and Animation, Computer Musicals, Other Voices, Poetry of the Body, Quests, Chorus 1-4 Arts and Sciences: Interactive Programming Reading and Writing Graphic Narrative, Shakespeare Jazz Ensemble 1-4 and Film, Shakespeare’s Rivals, Te Short Story, Percussion Ensemble WELLNESS What’s So Funny? Comedy in Literature, String Ensemble Wellness 9 (full year) Woodwind Choir 1-4 Wellness 10 (one semester) Introduction to Dance Driver Education Teory (10, one semester) Semester Electives Dance Performance Wellness 11 (one semester) Introduction to Communication (11,12) Advanced Dance Semester Electives Writing Studies: Peer Tutor Training (11) Morristown-Beard Dance Ensemble (10,11,12 unless noted): HISTORY Semester Electives Diversity Perspectives Introduction to Hatha Yoga Humanities History 9 (standard & honors) (9,10,11,12 unless noted): Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies Humanities History 10 (standard & honors) Chorus Mini Session (11,12), From Bessie to Beyonce: Peer Group (11,12) Humanities History 11 (standard & honors) Women Who Rock, From Joplin to Jay-Z: Popular United States History (11,12, AP) Music in America, Fundamentals of Music, Music European History (12, AP) Teory, Teater Dance Mini Session (11,12) WORLD LANGUAGES (9,10,11,12): Semester Electives SCIENCE French 1 (standard) French 2-4 (standard & honors) (11,12; standard & honors): Physics 9 (standard & honors) French Language (AP) Constitutional Law, Continuity and Change in Mathematical Physics 9 (standard & honors) French 5: Creative Oral French (honors) the Middle East, Economics, Geography of the Chemistry (9,10,11; standard & honors) Spanish 1 (standard) Developed World, Geography of the Developing Quantitative Chemistry (standards & honors) Spanish 2-4 (standard & honors) World, Te Hero in Ancient Greece, Irish History, Biology (10,11,12; standard & honors) Spanish 5: Hispanic Culture through Music and Film Te Living Constitution, Medieval Studies, Real to Full-Year Electives: (honors) Reel 1-2: History through Pop Culture, Te Rhetoric Biology (11,12; AP) Spanish Language (AP) of Leadership, Social Psychology, Te Vietnam War, Chemistry (11,12; AP) Latin 1-3 (standard & honors) Women’s History Environmental Science (11,12; standard & honors) Latin 4 (honors) Physics C Mechanics/Electricity and Magnetism (11,12; AP) OTHER Physics 2 (11,12; honors) Service Learning Senior Project WHIPPANY ROAD, MORRISTOWN, NJ r -- r WWW.MBS.NET 2012-2015 Matriculation
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