Dear Prospective Families,

The Upper School at Fenn is characterized by its ability to offer a challenging, high-quality program in a comfortable middle-school atmosphere. Academics are the focal point of the Upper School experience, yet Fenn boys also participate in an interscholastic athletic program that offers a position on a team to every boy and an arts program that allows boys to select their courses by trimester. Eighth and ninth grade boys have earned the privilege of free periods. The faculty trusts Upper Schoolers to use this independence wisely; we count on their strong sense of responsibility.

The academic program in the Upper School is a demanding one that prepares boys well for secondary school The vast majority of our boys have the opportunity to attend either their first or second choice secondary school, and whether they choose independent or public school they graduate from Fenn will well-defined written expression, analytical thinking, and problem solving skills.

In the realm of athletics, the program features ten interscholastic sports and the philosophy is centered upon skill development, teamwork and sportsmanship, and fun. Never is a boy excluded from the program due to ability. All Fenn boys share in the camaraderie of competing on a team and working together toward a common goal.

Upper School students choose from as many as fourteen arts offerings over the course of an academic year. To meet graduation requirements, each boy must complete one studio art, one performing art, and one musical art over the span of two years. Many students earn recognition outside of Fenn for their accomplishments. Annually there is a winter musical produced in conjunction with the eighth grade class from the Nashoba Brooks School of Concord.

Fenn is committed to offering Upper School students a small, personalized experience in which to learn and grow. The students’ teachers are also their advisors, coaches, and mentors. With an average class size of twelve students, the Upper School offers many opportunities for students to be well known by each other and the faculty.

Leadership positions, particularly those available to ninth grade students, are a distinct and compelling feature of the Upper School at Fenn. The President and Vice President of the School are elected form the ninth grade class and class Senators are elected twice per year. Students also serve on school committees, are named captains of teams, and are directors of plays. Upper School students set a positive tone of leadership for the entire student body. Guided by the School’s motto, Sua Sponte (loosely translated: “’s in your hands”), eighth and ninth grade students hold themselves to a high standard and serve as important role models to the younger students.

The Upper School will challenge, in the best ways possible, your son both academically and extracurricularly. It is our belief that Fenn boys work hard, further discover their talents, and grow to become confident, well- adjusted young men during their two years in our division.

I encourage you to explore further what we have to offer your son.

Sincerely,

Derek R. Boonisar Head of the Upper School Fenn UPPER SCHOOL SCHEDULE MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY 8:20 ADVISOR ADVISOR ADVISOR ADVISOR ADVISOR 8:30 8:33 1 1 1 1 1

9:18 9:21 2 2 2 2 2

10:06 10:09 3 RECESS 3 3 3 ALL SCHOOL MEETING 10:21 ALL SCHOOL MEETING ALL SCHOOL MEETING ALL SCHOOL MEETING RECESS 3 10:24 RECESS RECESS RECESS

10:51 4 4 4 4 11:09 4 11:12

11:36 11:39 5 5 5 5 11:57 5 12:00

12:24 12:27 6 6 6 6

12:50

1:12 1:15 7 7 7 7 LUNCH LUNCH LUNCH LUNCH

1:55 RECESS RECESS ARTS ARTS 2:30 STUDY HALL STUDY HALL

3:15 3:15 3:30 SPORTS SPORTS SPORTS SPORTS

5:10 writing, especially as it relates to punctua - Resources ENGLISH DEPARTMENT tion, identifying essential and non-essential Literature phrases, introductory and independent Into the Wild , Jack Krakauer PHILOSOPHY : clauses, and tense and pronoun agreement. The Kite Runner , Khaled Hosseini Oral presentations, Socratic Seminars, The English program at Fenn is designed to To Kill a Mockingbird , Harper Lee group work, and class discussions are inte - teach boys to read actively and critically, to The Things They Carried , Tim O’Brien gral parts of the course. write effectively and fluently, to speak artic - Fahrenheit 451 , Ray Bradbury ulately and confidently, and to appreciate Romeo and Juliet , William Shakespeare Resources the power and pleasure of literature. The The Fall of Rome , Martha Southgate integration of reading and writing is a criti - Literature The Absolutely True Diary of A Part-Time cal component of the program. A variety of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn , Mark Indian , Sherman Alexie literature that is rich in content, style, and Twain On-Writing , perspective provides a model for the devel - All Quiet on the Western Front , Erich Maria Selected poetry and short stories by such opment of written language. Students write Remarque writers as Jumpha Lahiri, Elie Weisel, in response to reading and develop skills Macbeth , William Shakespeare Jamaica Kincaid, and Li-Young Lee, and critical to their growth as writers. The Odyssey , Homer essays ,including excepts from Selected short stories, poetry, essays and Thoreau’s Walden . GRADE 8 required free choice reading. Supplementary Materials The eighth-grade English curriculum at Fenn Grammar & Usage for Better Writing, GRADE 9 teaches the meaningful and close reading Amsco School Publications, Inc. of good literature with a central focus on The ninth-grade English curriculum is cen - Vocabulary for the High School Student, the development of strong writing skills. tered on the essential question, “How, Amsco School Publications, Inc. The course helps students discover the therefore, should I live in an imperfect unique voices of writers and the importance world?” Through close reading and analysis of the literary tradition by reading and ana - of text, including novels, short stories, poet - lyzing classic texts. In addition, it encour - ry, and film, students wrestle with the MATHEMATICS ages students to develop their own writer's notion of how one can find meaning and DEPARTMENT voice through daily, shared journal writings, purpose in the face of human moral and reflections and readings. Students study social failings, the unjust nature of life, and PHILOSOPHY : the techniques of the writer's craft, focus - the unexpected challenges of the physical ing on how a writer develops and portrays world, despite its beauty. The readings will In the mathematics program at Fenn, each the protagonist's journey through the moral represent traditional, contemporary, and boy builds a solid foundation of skills and complexities of his experience. They learn multicultural voices. fundamental concepts so that he can move how a writer creates and develops an The course focuses on expository and to increasingly complex material as he goes authentic and memorable main character. analytical writing, and emphasizes the writ - through the school. Logic, analytical reason - The course also focuses on the importance ing process: drafting, revising, editing, and ing, conjecture and proof, abstraction and of narrative and poetic structure and proofreading. Informal, reflective writing on symbolic structure are important cognitive explains key literary techniques and ele - the literature we read is often used as a skills that find easy exercise in math but ments. precursor to crafting more formal essays. also contribute to each student’s overall In their own writing, students are taught Students become familiar with the ele - intellectual growth. Teachers and students to recognize active and passive voice and to ments of verse and write their own poetry. make connections among mathematical top - incorporate the habitual use of vivid verbs Vocabulary and grammar skills are taught ics and continually expand of work and strong nouns, effective transitions and and reinforced within the context of read - with which each boy becomes comfortable. well-structured paragraphs. The course ing and writing instruction. Oral presenta - In both oral and written work, teachers teaches and demonstrates the importance tions, Socratic seminars, group work, and encourage boys to share their ideas and to of creating fully cycled writing with a clear class discussion are integral components present their reasoning with clarity. Since beginning, middle, and end. A strong of the course. boys have different motivations and ways of emphasis is placed on recognizing, under - connecting with the material, teachers standing, and practicing practical grammar employ a variety of approaches in the class - skills within the context of a student's own room. Finally, boys are encouraged to listen to each other’s ideas, to appreciate differ -

1 “ Sua Sponte fosters individual responsibility, a skill needed for boys to become productive members of any future communities. FEN—N Fenn”teacher ent perspectives, and to engage their own Supplementary Materials Algebra One , Kennedy, Schultz, Ellis, Holt senses of curiosity. Trigonometry, Functions and Applications , Rinehart and Winston, 2003 Foerster, Addison-Wesley, 1998 Pre-calculus with Limits , Larson, Hostetler, GRADE 8 Exploring Regression , Dale Seymour Edwards, Third Edition, McDougal Littell, At the close of the seventh grade year, stu - Publications, 1998 2005 dents are sectioned by their teacher and Exploring Inequalities , Dale Seymour Supplementary Materials the mathematics department chair. The Publications, 1998 Exploring Centers , Dale Seymour options for placement are an honors pace, Algebra Experiments , Carlson, Ronald and Publications, 1998 a standard pace and a two-year pace. The Winter, Mary Jean, Addison-Wesley, 1993 Trigonometry, Functions and Applications , honors level course covers a full year of Larson Math Software Foerster, Addison-Wesley, 1998 algebra, delving deeply into discussions on Discovering Geometry , Serra, Michael, Key matrices, regression lines and quadratic GRADE 9 Curriculum Press, 1997 equations. The standard level course covers For those students who have completed Mathematics Journal , NCTM publication a full year of high school algebra at a more either Honors Algebra One or Algebra One, a Geometry from Multiple Perspectives , deliberate pace than the honors level. The full year-long course of Geometry is offered. Addenda Series by Coxford, NCTM, 1991 two-year program allows students to Topics include the development of geomet - The Geometers Sketchpad , Key Curriculum explore each topic from many different per - ric proofs, congruent and similar polygons, Press, 1995 spectives during their eighth and ninth circles, coordinate geometry and transfor - “Platonic Solids” video series, Key grade years. Students who have successful - mations. The course emphasizes the con - Curriculum Press ly completed Algebra One in the seventh nection between geometry and the physical Larson Math Software grade will either be placed in Honors world and works to maintain and extend Algebra or Honors Geometry/Trigonometry the student’s algebra skills as these skills in the eighth grade. Those selected for the are integrated in the explorations of the Honors Geometry/Trigonometry course will geometric concepts. Students explore and SCIENCE DEPARTMENT complete a full year of honors high school discover geometric principles through the Geometry, and a review of Algebra Two and use of a variety of approaches. PHILOSOPHY : an introduction to Trigonometry during the For those students who have begun the The overarching goals of Fenn’s Science final spring term. All students in the eighth two-year Algebra program in grade eight, Program are as follows: grade will learn how to apply their algebra - they continue their study in grade nine. The Students will understand the process of ic knowledge to solve real-life problems. two-year course provides additional time science, be grounded in the domains of sci - Students are required to purchase a Texas for practice, assimilation and mastery of ence, apply skills and content to the world Instruments graphing calculator and should the critical algebraic skills, which form the around them, and develop a respect, appre - plan to use it on a daily basis. Students use foundation for future mathematical studies. ciation, and enthusiasm for the natural sci - the graphing calculators to explore topics Academically qualified ninth graders ences. such as data analysis, graphing and pat - will enroll in an Honors Algebra Two or an The science program is designed to terns involved in algebraic concepts. Honors Pre-Calculus course. These stu - provide opportunities for the student to dents will use a standard honors curricu - experience growth in a variety of thinking Resources lum for the course that is topically equiva - skills and be exposed to each domain of lent to a rigorous high school Honors Textbooks science: life science, physical science, earth Algebra Two or Pre-Calculus program. Algebra One , Kennedy, Schultz, Ellis, Holt and space science, and technology and Students who have successfully mastered Rinehart and Winston, 2003 engineering. All courses in the Science this course will be ready to take the SAT II Algebra I: Expressions, Equations, and Department are activity and laboratory ori - level IC or II C Achievement Test at the end Applications , Paul A. Foerster, Prentice ented and of their spring term. Hall The Science Department firmly believes Algebra and Trigonometry , Paul A. Foerster, Resources that science is best learned by doing, and Addison-Wesley, 1999 that science is not a body of knowledge to Geometry , Brown, Jurgensen, Houghton Textbooks be mastered, but rather a way of thinking Mifflin Geometry for Enjoyment and Challenge, about how we experience the world around Advanced Mathematics , Brown Rhuad, Milauskes, Whipple, McDougal us. That philosophy is applied to the con - Littell tent whose breath includes all the domains

3 of science within each academic division. how much energy is stored in food as well Instruments In science class students will: as how the angle of the sun affects solar LCD projector Experience the various domains of absorption and seasons on earth. In May, IBID board science teams of students are given ten-meter by Design and conduct scientific ten-meter plots on campus. The challenge GRADE 9 experiments for each team is to analyze its plot using all The ninth-grade science course is a high Develop the skills needed to accurately of the skills and concepts learned during school Biology course. The fall focuses on interpret scientific data the year. Plots are mapped and have their biology and molecular biology. Students Communicate the results of soils analyzed for various elements and apply those concepts to units that focus on experiments in a clear fashion compounds. The total energy being genetic engineering, classification and evo - Convey an understanding of the absorbed by the vegetation in the plot is lution in the winter. The course culminates experimental process in an effective calculated along with the energy flow with human physiology in the spring. manner through the system. The year begins with development of The major units of the course are: skills needed to effectively use the micro - GRADE 8 Characteristic properties of matter scope and observe cells. The lab skills that Eighth-grade science at Fenn builds upon Phase changes were introduced in the eighth grade are the Physical Science content of the seventh Density reinforced through a number of labs that grade year, and applies that content to top - Solubility investigate such topics as osmosis/diffu - ics that detail Life Science and Earth The Periodic table and its patterns sion and cellular respiration. In tandem Science in the winter and spring. Energy with this research, the students continue to Throughout the academic year, students in Heat, Light, and Chemical Energy hone their skills at writing thorough and eighth-grade Lab Science apply the scienti- Organic Compounds high-quality lab reports. Many of the labs fic method by designing and conducting Types of reactions are quantitative in nature so that mathe - experiments, and analyzing data to draw Ecosystems and Biomes matics skills can be reinforced. The stu - valid conclusions. Emphasis is placed on Field Study of Fenn School campus dents learn the similarities and differences reporting lab findings in a structured lab between prokaryotic and eukaryotic organ - format. The content of the course work is Resources: isms. Through labs, lectures and videos, based on the guiding themes of matter and Books the course covers cellular metabolism, cel - energy. Physical Science: Concepts in Action; lular structure, the structure of DNA and The year begins with the exploration of Prentice Hall 2009 RNA, mitosis and meiosis. The basic princi - the some characteristic properties of mat - Ecological Principles ples of Mendelian genetics are introduced ter such as boiling points, freezing points, Energy of an Ecosystem Students and through the breeding of fruit flies and and density. As students are introduced to Research , Cothron, Giese, and Rezba, using computer simulations. The class also new science skills and equipment, they are Kendall/Hunt Publishing Co. Dubuque, IA, travels to the Museum of Science in Boston challenged to solve a specified problem 1993 to conduct an experiment involving genetic using those skills by designing and con - Chemistry with Computers , Holmquist, recombination in bacteria. Concepts and ducting experiments. Units frequently cul - Randall, and Voltz, Vernier Software, applications of genetic engineering, taxono - minate with a challenge. For example, at Portland, OR, 2005 my, and evolution follow in the winter. The the end of the unit on characteristic prop - Introduction to Physical Science , Glencoe, spring focuses on human physiology as the erties, teams are challenged to measure McGraw-Hill, 2002 digestive system, circulatory system, and boiling points and calculate density of Ecology , A Systems Approach to Carbon & immune systems are studied in depth. unknown substances in order to determine Energy, Terc & Kendall/Hunt Publishing, Throughout the year, students gain their identities. Students analyze their 1998 experience in conducting library/Internet results by creating graphs, data tables, and research and writing scientific papers. Software calculating statistics. Students summarize Topics include The Carbon Cycle and Global “LabPro Software”, Vernier Software, their laboratory findings in a structured Warming, DNA Mutations and Sickle Celled Portland, OR, 1995 lab report. Anemia, Evolution and Adaptations, Bread “LoggerPro Graphing,” Vernier software, As the year progresses, the concept of Digestion, The Immune Response and AIDS, Portland, OR energy is introduced and explored with Heart Disease, and Infectious Disease. specific attention given to chemical and Hardware Students culminate the year with an infec - light energy. Students learn to measure TI-83 graphing calculators, Texas tious disease challenge. Each trio of stu -

4 Fenn has helped my “ son through some of the pre-teen awk - wardness, and given him confidence to move on to secondary school. —Fe”nn parent dents is given a “patient.” The challenge is The Social Studies program at Fenn is “After the First,” Facing History and to correctly identify what infectious disease designed to teach boys to be able to: Ourselves Curriculum the individual has. This involves actually Think critically “Challenge of ,” Facing History and looking at slides from the patient and con - Evaluate and synthesize information Ourselves Curriculum firming their initial diagnosis. The students Acquire, organize and use information “Night and Fog,” Facing History and then take on the roles of primary care from using a variety of sources Ourselves Curriculum physician, CDC representative, or WHO Write analytically using text evidence “America’s Response to the Holocaust: member and present to the entire ninth Discover the world through geography Deceit and Indifference,” Facing History grade their findings, a history of the dis - Appreciate history and the forces that and Ourselves Curriculum ease, and a statement on epidemic preven - shape civilizations “The Presidency,” Knowledge Unlimited tion. Understand cause and effect in world CD Rom events “Lest We Forget,” Holocaust Video Resources “Decisions, Decisions: Building a Nation,” GRADE 8 Books Tom Synder Productions Biology , Miller Levine, Prentice Hall Eighth-grade social studies focuses on civic Speaker Publishing, 2008 responsibility in a democracy and the Rena Finder, Holocaust survivor Students and Research , Cothron, Giese, and development of different political systems. Rezba, Kendall/Hunt Publishing Co. The first half of the year examines GRADE 9 American government, its structure and Dubuque, IA, 1993 Ninth-grade social studies focuses on the ability to adapt to our modern culture. The Biology with Computers , Holmquist, history of the Middle East. The course second half of the year focuses on the rise Randall, and Voltz, Vernier Software, begins with a study of the Arab and the of Nazi Germany and The Holocaust. By fol - Portland, OR, 2005 Islamic world. Following an examination of lowing the Facing History and Ourselves Software the life of Muhammad, we study the religion curriculum, students make connections “LabPro Software,” Vernier Software, of Islam, including the Five Pillars of Islam, between historical events and human Portland, OR, 1995 the differences between Sunni, Shiite, and nature. “LoggerPro Graphing,” Vernier software, other sects, and Islamic architecture. Portland , OR Resources Students then learn about the demise of Hardware Ottoman power, the rise of European influ - Textbooks TI-83 graphing calculators, Texas ence prior to World War I, the consequences American Government: A Complete Instruments of the Versailles Peace Treaty in the Middle Coursebook , Ethel Wood & Stephan LCD projector East, and the growing influence of Zionism. Sansone IBID board The final section of the course focuses on Smoke and Ashes: The Story of The the development of Egypt, Iran, Saudi Holocaust , Barbara Rogasky Arabia, and Iraq since World War II, and Novels examines the relationships of these coun - SOCIAL STUDIES Animal Farm , George Orwell tries with the United States. The course con - DEPARTMENT The Wave , Todd Strasser cludes with an intensive study of Israel and Parallel Journeys , Ayres Palestine. Throughout the year students write a number of research papers and PHILOSOPHY : Supplementary Readings Street Law: A Course in Practical Law , make numerous presentations to their The Social Studies curriculum teaches stu - Abertman, McMahon, O’Brien classes. dents that they are part of a greater com - The Constitution: Yesterday, Today, and munity, nation, and world. Through their Tomorrow , Barbara Feinberg Resources study of a variety of primary and secondary Facing History and Ourselves: Holocaust Arab World Studies Notebook , Audrey sources and exposure to different ways of and Human Behavior , Strom and Shabbas learning, students are empowered to think, Parsons A Concise History of the MIddle East , Arthur speak, and write critically. The goal of the Videos Goldschmidt department is that boys will develop curios - “A Class Divided,” Facing History and Israel’s Wars , Ahrom Bregman ity about history and current events with a Ourselves Curriculum Paris 1919 , Margaret McMillan respect for diverse cultures, past and pres - Bedouin , John King ent.

6 Zionism: A Brief History , Michael Brenner Grade 8 in this course. Spanish is used almost Islam, Faith-Culture-History, Paul Lunde exclusively in class. Some students will Eighth-grade Spanish meets four times per A History of The Arab Peoples , Albert demonstrate a real command of the week. Students are grouped by ability. Hourani Spanish language. There is an Honors class and a standard Every year, the Spanish Department class. Both the Honors and the standard offers the students the opportunity to par - sections use the Spanish First Year text ticipate in a trip to a Spanish-speaking book, but proceed at a slightly different MODERN FOREIGN country. pace. LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT Students continue building their under - Resources standing of grammatical structures and PHILOSOPHY : vocabulary, including development of listen - Textbooks Spanish is an extraordinarily rich and beau - ing, speaking, reading and writing skills in Spanish Two Years , AMSCO Publication tiful language spoken in many parts of the Spanish. Continued emphasis is placed Other Resources world. Learning Spanish leads to an upon cultural awareness and appreciation Destinos - Video Program by Annenberg increased awareness, understanding, and of the culture of Spanish-speaking coun - Publication acceptance of other languages and cultures tries. 9th grade “folder” with teacher generated of the world, as well as an increased under - Every year, the Spanish Department and assembled materials; grammar, standing of one’s own language and culture. offers to all Upper School students the songs, poems, and other materials per - The main goals of the Spanish opportunity to participate in a trip to a taining to the course. Department are to: Spanish-speaking country. Assorted reading texts Teach students the language skills and discipline necessary to learn Resources and use Spanish, as well as any Textbooks LATIN DEPARTMENT other foreign language they may Spanish First Year , AMSCO Publication study in the future. 8th grade “folder” with teacher generated Arouse students’ interest, curiosity, and assembled materials; grammar, PHILOSOPHY : and acceptance of different peoples songs, poems, and other materials per - Latin is the language which is at the root and cultures around the world. taining to the course. of many languages, including English. Help students learn about the history, Assorted reading texts The cultural achievements of the ancient culture, geography and people of Romans who spoke it have contributed Spanish-speaking countries. GRADE 9 significantly to American life, especially Develop students’ listening compre- Ninth-grade Spanish meets four times per in the areas of art, architecture, political hension skills. week and the students are grouped by abili - thought and engineering. Help students enunciate words, speak ty. There is an Honors class and a standard The philosophy of the Latin program at in sentences, and communicate class. Students continue developing listen - Fenn is to prepare students for reading effectively in Spanish. ing, speaking, reading and writing skills Latin with ease, understanding and enjoy - Help students read and correctly use through a variety of texts, tapes and films. ment. Spanish grammar. In addition, students will continue to The main goals of the program are to Increase students’ enjoyment and become acquainted with the people, civiliza - offer students the opportunity to: appreciation of the culture, friend - tion and culture of Spanish-speaking coun - Pursue with enthusiasm the language ships, and travel in Spanish-speak - tries. Recorded and written materials will written and spoken by the ancient ing countries. be presented for comprehension and dis - Romans. cussion and the students will keep a weekly Study a language that can be learned journal, write compositions on the cultural more through reading than through topics presented in class, and give oral pre - speaking. sentations. Students review grammar and Develop good strategies and organiza - vocabulary, focusing on more complex tional techniques for mastering grammatical structures including subjunc - the grammar and vocabulary of tive and compound tenses. Idiomatic usage Latin and other world languages. of vocabulary and style are also addressed Expand their understanding of English

7 “ Math is a life skill, a way of thinking, a way of problem solving, and a path of opportunity. I have taught every grade from four through nine and regardless of level, boys surprise themselves Fwhen they ‘get it”’E! —Fenn Nteacher N grammar and vocabulary. pate in a trip to Italy, which includes visits graders receiving priority in class place - Appreciate those aspects of their to Pompeii and Rome. ment. First choices cannot be guaranteed, cultural background as Americans but careful records are kept throughout which they inherit from the ancient Resources the year to ensure fairness to all. All stu - dents planning to graduate from Fenn at Romans (and Greeks). Textbook the end of the ninth grade year must com - Oxford Latin Course III plete three arts requirements: one in Fine GRADE 8 Love Transformation: An Ovid Reader , Arts, one in Dramatic Arts, and one in In the eighth-grade year, students are no Richard LaFleur Musical Arts. Students graduating as longer grouped heterogeneously, but by eighth graders are encouraged to meet ability. We have an Honors class and a stan - two of the three requirements. dard class. The honors and standard sec - The Upper School Arts Program of elec - tions use the same text, Oxford Latin Course ARTS DEPARTMENT tives and requirements ensures that Fenn Book II , but proceed at slightly different students will have hands-on experience in paces. Through use of the texts and a num - PHILOSOPHY : a variety of art forms, while it allows them ber of exercises, students continue their A Fenn education is about self-discovery. to develop real expertise in a medium they acquisition of both Latin grammar and Boys come to know themselves as find particularly rewarding. It provides vocabulary. In addition, the students work students, athletes, and, through the Arts our students with a broad-based arts on a number of readings adapted from the Program, as artists. At Fenn they have education in preparation for their next original Latin. This allows them to develop wonderful opportunities to discover and school and for the rest of their lives. excellent sight reading shills that will serve develop their aesthetic nature. The worlds them well throughout their Latin careers. of art, drama, and music come alive for The cultural and historical dimensions boys as they develop their own unique to the course center around the civil wars skills as well as an appreciation for the PAINTING that arose after the assassination of work of all artists. Caesar. The students read accounts of OIL PAINTING alliances, betrayals and battles of this tumultuous time of the Roman world. Drawing from the Lower and Middle School UPPER SCHOOL ARTS studies of artists and their works, this Resources The Upper School Arts Program is a unique course explores some of the many tech - and exciting program, enabling students to niques used in oil painting. Students create Textbook explore, experiment, and excel in the arts. their own works on canvas while experi - Oxford Latin Course II Unlike the required curricular offerings in menting with ideas from the masters. Oxford Latin Course III Lower and Middle School, our Upper School Through discussion and research, students students indicate their choices from a develop keen eyes and critical thinking GRADE 9 dozen wonderful courses in fine, dramatic skills. These exercises emphasize the pow - The grammatical focus of the ninth-grade and musical arts. Courses routinely offered erful contributions of Art to social change in a given year include: Oil Painting, Art program is the continuing acquisition of and revolution. They become the students’ Studio, Ceramics, Photography, Wood Shop, the basic forms and vocabulary of the Latin window into human experience across Yearbook, Drama, Theater Tech, Debate, language. Students begin to work with many cultures. The class also will discuss Video Production, A Cappella Singing, more complex grammatical principles and and evaluate the contributions of artists of Beginning Guitar, Computer Composition, proceed to the uses of the subjunctive various ethnic, racial and cultural back - Music History, and Rhythm Ensemble mood. The ninth grade’s cultural focus is grounds. Students have the opportunity to (instrumental). Students take one intensive the establishment of the city of Rome and visit the studios of professional artists at course per trimester in classes composed the Roman value system as exemplified in the Emerson Umbrella. They also interact of both eighth and ninth graders. the legends they told about their heroes. The selection procedure takes place with visiting artists whose works are dis - Depending on the secondary school he prior to each trimester. All eighth and played three times a year in the Kane Art attends and on his mastery of the ninth graders are presented with course Gallery. Students’ works are also displayed basic principles of the language, a student descriptions of all available offerings and in the Kane Gallery and other parts of the completing the ninth-grade program quali - number the courses in order of their pref - school. fies for intermediate-level Latin courses. erence. Arts class assignments are made In alternate years, the Latin Department based on these sign up sheets, with ninth offers students the opportunity to partici -

9 Resources darkroom skills while being introduced CERAMICS to accessory equipment such as filters, Museum tripods, tripcords, wide-angle and telephoto DeCordova Museum The primary focus of Upper School Ceramics lenses, electronic flash and strobe lighting. Exhibitions at the Concord Art Association is on learning to “throw” on the potter’s Instruction in advanced darkroom tech - and Emerson Umbrella Center for wheel. We have eight electric potter’s wheels niques such as dodging, burning in, flash - the Arts which afford each student his own wheel. ing, pushing and pulling film and high con - Artists’ studios From a small lump of clay, students create trast printing are also offered. Emerson Umbrella vases, bowls, mugs in a variety of sizes and The digital imaging portion of the Upper Computer shapes. They continue the process by trim - School Photography program is expanded Research for Art Appreciation ming and glazing. The pieces are fired in an to fully one third of the term. A more in electric kiln. Some students may also elect to Video and slide shows depth look is taken into the hardware and hand-build sculptural forms. In addition, we Art History and Appreciation software used in the process, and an visit the studios of professional ceramic emphasis is placed on the manipulation, Books artists as well as several small, local gal - deconstruction and reconstruction of multi - Art and Man , leries. ple images. Students’ finished prints are Oil Painting: A Direct Approach , J. Pike displayed in the classroom, around the Art Magazines Resources school, and in the Kane Gallery and Robb Textbook Hall lobby. Introduction to the Ceramics Studio ART STUDIO Handbook , Vince Pitelka Video WOODSHOP Ceramics: Throwing on the Wheel By employing skills learned in the Lower and Middle Schools, students will explore Books Upper School Woodshop, with its expanded varying media and technique. Drawing infor - Sculpting Clay , Leon Nigrosh time period, allows us to truly work in a mation from historical masters and con - Handbuilding Ceramic Forms , patient, disciplined and craftsman-like way. temporary artists, students will study line Elsbeth S. Woody The Spirit of Clay , Robert Piepenburg Students are encouraged to work on a proj - and shadow via a range of subject matter Nightmares in the Sky , Stephen King ect that will demand a high level of skill to spanning nature drawing to human figure Generations in Clay , Alfred Dinert, Jr. and complete. A wider assortment of tools and drawing. Students will have opportunities to Fred Plog options are opened up to the Upper School visit with professional artists from the The Eccentric Teapot , Garth Clark woodworker. As at every level of instruc - Emerson Umbrella and other local Faces on Places , Suzanne Haldane tion, the paramount concern is safe and associations. The Big Book of Ceramics , responsible use and care of tools. Upper Joaquin Chavarria School woodworkers are expected to be Resources Shoes , Linda O’Keeffe able to maintain all of the tools that they Museum Periodicals use, and to use them to create a truly Exhibitions at the Concord Art Association Ceramics Monthly unique and exciting project. Finished pieces Emerson Umbrella School Arts will be displayed around the school, with Kane Gallery visiting artists Slides selected pieces exhibited in the Kane Computer Gallery. To research artists and styles Video and slide shows To study technique and art history PHOTOGRAPHY DEBATE Books Drawing Trees , S. Maltzman Upper School Photography students review Students have the opportunity to learn and Drawing the Human Head , B. Hogarth the operation and maintenance of the hone skills in public speaking, both formal Hooked on Drawing , S. Brooke 35mm camera, film selection and basic darkroom techniques. The students then and extemporaneous. Formal debate com - concentrate on refining their shooting and mences after the second week. The skills of

10 “ Fenn’s single-sex environment allows boys to focus on developing good work habits without distractions. FEN—FeN n”n teacher

“ Fenn boys know that they will be held responsible for their behavior and decisions. This is very useful in molding thoughtful, considerate, and morally upstanding young men. —Fenn teacher ” oration, rebuttal and cross-questioning are tual information; character biography Resources practiced as teams debate each other. After forms; age-appropriate acting texts list - Selected original Upper School scripts; gaining experience in debating a variety of ed previously. Upper School drama packets; character topics, students conduct a final debate for biography forms. an audience of Upper School students and WINTER MUSICAL faculty at the end of the term. In odd-numbered years, the Fenn Drama SPRING COMEDY and Music Departments host the Third-term drama brings outrageous come - Resources Fenn~Nashoba Brooks musical, staging full- dy to the Fenn stage. In the tradition of Fenn Library, Internet searches, or any scale musical productions. In past years we ancient Greek theatre (and Harvard’s Hasty resources pertinent to the topics have produced Guys & Dolls , Fiddler on the Pudding Theatre), all roles, male and Roof , The Music Man , Oklahoma! , female, are portrayed by our own Fenn Brigadoon , My Fair Lady , and Joseph and Men, dressed to the hilt by our talented the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat . Cast parent costume crews. Past productions DRAMA members from both Fenn and Nashoba such as Peril at Pumpernickel Pass , Private Brooks Schools, chosen by audition, Eyes , Showdown at Glitter Gulch , Who Put rehearse the musical three times a week The Upper School Drama program offers stu - the Overalls in Mrs. Murphy’s Chowder? , from December through the first week in dents many opportunities in serious drama, Song of the Mounties , and The Great Ice March. A Tuesday afternoon dress rehears - musical theatre and comedy. Building on the Cream Scheme , and Real Rasslin’ have cre - al is open to the public, and two evening foundation acquired in the Lower and Middle ated our own tradition of both hilarity and performances and a matinee are present - School Drama Programs, the pieces selected risk-taking. Students give an evening per - ed. In even-numbered years, the musical is and performed in the Upper School are more formance, and a performance in All School hosted by The Nashoba Brooks School and advanced and require total artistic commit - Meeting. ment, truthful characterization, effective is directed by their faculty. ensemble work, and risk-taking. Students Resources receive individual attention with regard to Resources Selected royalty or non-royalty scripts from acting skills such as character development, Selected scripts, librettos, and musical licensing agencies such as Pioneer emotional expression, physical movement, scores rented from licensing agencies Drama Service, Baker’s Plays, Dramatic motivation, vocal delivery, and staging tech - such as Tams-Witmark, Music Theatre Publishing, Inc., Samuel French, Inc., niques. Drama offerings vary by term as International, and The Rodgers and Dramatists Play Services, I.E. Clark described below. Hammerstein Company; rehearsal Publishing. schedules, production schedules, FALL DRAMA character biography forms. The first-term drama course features a UPPER SCHOOL PLAYS serious one-act play in the tradition of THEATRE TECH past offerings such as The Winning Season , In even-numbered years, when The Navajo House , Moby Dick , Leader of the Nashoba Brooks School hosts the musical, This course covers the technical aspects of People , One Day in the Life of Ivan the Drama Department collaborates with theatre productions, including both dimmer Denisovich , Abe Lincoln in Illinois , and the English Department and produces the board and spot lighting, sound board, Echoes from the Titanic . There is an original works of Upper School playwrights. focusing and gels, writing cues, stage man - evening performance for parents and Selected one-act play scripts are turned agement, stage crew organization, and friends, and a performance in All School over to student actors who bring these often times special effects. The course is Meeting. pieces to life on stage. Drama students organized so that three quarters of the time serve as actors, directors, lighting techni - students are involved in “hands-on” experi - Resources cians, and stage crew members. These ence, while the remainder of the time is short plays are presented to Upper School Selected royalty and non-royalty scripts spent in a classroom setting. Students are audiences at the end of the term. from licensing agencies such as called upon to assist technically with any Dramatic Publishing Company, Samuel Fenn production, including the fall Middle French, Inc., Dramatists Play Service, School play, the Fen n/Nashoba musical, and New Plays, I.E. Clark, Baker’s Plays, and other curricular performances. Heinemann Methuen; supportive contex -

12 Resources the piano, guitar, MIDI sequencer, and a component of this course. Song writing is rhythm ensemble for accompaniment. As offered one term. Script of present production, video of the boys become comfortable with unison present production if available, lighting singing, the class moves on to two-part STEEL DRUM ENSEMBLE equipment, sound equipment, set pieces (melody and bass line), and subse - design sheets, assorted tools, sets, Steel Drum Ensemble is a trimester-long quently to three - and four-part harmony. and props. elective Arts course open to eighth and Students also have an opportunity to try ninth graders (limited to 8 students). vocal percussion, improvisation, and scat Students review basic note reading and singing. Repertoire is chosen by the stu - incorporate that knowledge to play three to dents and teacher, and pieces generally VIDEO PRODUCTION come from American popular music. “Duke five pieces in an assembly. Music ranges of Earl,” “Sweet Home, Alabama,” “Twist and from traditional calypso to popular reggae tunes. This course is offered two terms. This basic introductory course in Video Shout,” “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” and “No Production provides students with instruc - Woman, No Cry” are among the most recent tion for operating and caring for the video choices. No prior experience is necessary, camera, as well as training in collecting, and there is no audition. At the end of term, BEGINNING GUITAR arranging and editing footage. Students the class performs with the Rhythm work in small groups to produce documen - Ensemble and Drama class during an All- School Meeting. taries, commercials, news-gathering and This class for beginning guitar is offered at community service projects. Students will least one term a year for students who WINTER MUSICAL (SEE DRAMA ) make use of the Fenn video studio to simu - want to learn how to play this versatile late live shoots and talk shows. instrument. Some practice time outside of MIDI C OMPOSITION (SPRING ) class is expected. Students may, in a later Resources Budding composers have an opportunity to term, opt to participate in the Rhythm Ensemble. Handbook by T. Cobblah create their own music in this class, using Cablevision Television Station several MIDI programs. Mastertrax, Encore, Resources Selected movie classics. Band-in-a-Box, Music Time, and other pro - grams allow boys to work on independent Charts arranged by the instructor. projects generated through the computer. MIDI composition builds upon music MUSIC reading skills learned in the Middle and Lower School. At the beginning of the term, RHYTHM ENSEMBLE we will review basic notation and harmony. UPPER SCHOOL MUSIC We will also have a brief introduction to the The Rhythm Ensemble, offered for a term at Based upon foundations formed in the piano keyboard. While no previous musical least once a year, is an instrumental group Lower and Middle School curriculum, the experience is necessary, a background in which may include students at advanced Upper School classroom music offerings piano or other instrument will be helpful. beginner level or beyond on guitar, bass are intended to involve the students in a After exploring the capabilities of software guitar, keyboard, and drums. The ensemble variety of musical experiences. Some class - in a series of assigned projects, students performs music from different styles such es are more performance oriented, while will choose to use two of the programs to as rock, blues, jazz, and funk. Students will others are more academic in form. In all create at least two compositions of any also study the specific sounds and tech - course offerings, it is the goal of the Upper style they wish. Final compositions will be niques of these styles, and will work on tun - School music program to increase the sen - presented to the class. ing and good ensemble playing. sitivity and appreciation of all students to music as an art form. SONG WRITING Resources The song writing class is a trimester-long A C APPELLA (FALL ) Arrangements selected and adapted by elective Arts course open to eighth and In this vocal music class, boys will have instructor. ninth graders. Students learn a few basic the opportunity to become accustomed to chord progressions on guitar. They then their changing voices. Instruction begins learn the art of lyric writing to create origi - with learning to sing in unison and using nal songs for voice and guitar. Recording is

13 GRADE 9 against other schools in the area. STUDENT LIFE In each of the athletic seasons, Fenn DEPARTMENT The ninth-grade Student Life curriculum is offers a choice of sports for Upper taught by Dr. Charles Streff, Fenn’s consult - Schoolers to play. In the Fall season, boys ing psychologist. It is broken into three seg - PHILOSOPHY : may choose football, soccer or cross-coun - ments, according to the three school-year The Fenn Student Life Program is designed try; in the Winter, hockey, basketball or terms. In the Fall, boys will be discussing to support and nurture boys as they grow wrestling; in the Spring baseball, tennis, how to balance school life, home life and and mature during their preadolescent and lacrosse or track and field. All Fenn coaches outside relationships; examining their rela - early adolescent years at Fenn. In support are Fenn teachers or alumni, and Fenn tionships with their peers, families and of the School’s mission, the Student Life guarantees that any boy who wishes to play friends; and talking about the issues of Program reinforces the values of honesty, a given sport will have that opportunity. self-esteem and moral grounding in our respect, empathy and courage. The curricu - Varsity: Coaches of Varsity teams will society. During the Winter term, the cur - lum strives to enable Fenn students to use their players to put forth every effort to riculum centers around sexual education: understand and engage successfully the be competitive. In close games, every boy dealing with relationships, appropriate sex - social, emotional and physical challenges may not play. In other games, coaches have ual behavior, understanding one’s sexuality, and changes of their pre and early adoles - the responsibility of playing as many boys dealing with media, advertising and sexuali - cent years. It does so by developing boys’ as much of the time as possible. A player’s ty, and making decisions that are safe and self-confidence, expanding their self-aware - poor attitude or his absence from the prac - appropriate. Dr. Streff will also address the ness, deepening their understanding and tice may limit his playing time. boys on homosexuality. In the Spring term, acceptance of others, and promoting a Junior Varsity: Like the Varsity, Junior there is a drug abuse curriculum that dis - sound knowledge of the physical, emotional Varsity squads will be the best practicable cusses the high school/secondary school and social development tasks of this period sizes to allow quality playing time for the world of drugs and alcohol, risky behavior in their lives bridging boyhood to manhood. boys. Coaches will play every boy approxi - as it pertains to drugs and safety, the mately a quarter of each game. Having media and advertising around alcohol, GRADE 8 done that, it is understood that in the last marijuana and tobacco use, and the FCD few minutes of a close game, there is no The Student Life curriculum in the eighth program. Finally, there will be discussion need to continue substitution. A coach may grade is broken into three parts. The Fall about graduating from Fenn and the mixed play his/her best players in an attempt to curriculum centers around acceptance and emotions that sometimes accompany win the game. A player’s poor attitude or treatment of peers, self-esteem issues, and leaving Fenn and beginning a new school his absence from practices may limit his the balance of stress at school, home and in the fall. in other relationships. During Winter term playing time. there is a human sexuality component to Resources Third Team: It is incumbent upon the the program, which deals with the differ - School and the Director of Athletics to sup - The Freedom from Chemical Dependency ences between the male and female anato - ply enough coaches and game schedules so Program my, contraception and birth control, and that the Third Team squads are not sexually transmitted diseases and the AIDS too large. It is the goal of the Third Team virus. There will also be discussion about coaches to play every boy on their teams appropriate ways of dealing with one’s own for an approximately equal time. As is the ATHLETICS DEPA RTMENT sexuality. In the Spring, the boys will be case with Varsity and Junior Varsity levels, part of an alcohol and drug prevention pro - a player’s poor attitude or his absence gram. There will also be a segment on end - UPPER SCHOOL ATHLETICS from practice may limit his playing time. ing the eighth-grade year, whether the boys In the Upper School, Fenn is committed to In the sports where there may be only are returning to Fenn as ninth-graders in offering a quality experience to each boy one team (Football, Hockey, Lacrosse), the fall, or are leaving Fenn. at whatever level he plays. This does not every attempt will be made to meet the mean that he is guaranteed to make a needs of all levels of players on the team. Resources Varsity or even a Junior Varsity team. It is On these Varsity teams, it is possible that not every boy will play in every game. Readings Fenn’s philosophy that the quality of the However, additional games can be added to Role plays boy’s athletic experience is more important enhance the experience of all the players. Videos and films than the level of the team he makes. Upper Fenn strives for a positive overall experi - Freedom from Chemical Dependency (FCD) School boys play in Fenn’s interscholastic program, in which they compete on teams ence for each member of the team.

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