Discover what inspires you MIDDLE & UPPER SCHOOLS GREENHILL STUDENTS are studious and high-achieving. THEY LEARN A LOT HERE, AND THEY LEARN IT WELL. But that’s not all that makes them special. Drawn to the unknown and motivated from within, they’re INQUISITIVE, PURPOSEFUL, AND BOLD in their quests for knowledge. With EQUAL PARTS GRIT AND JOY, they ask questions that lead to more questions, analyze critically, and unearth the why. FEARLESS AND OPEN-MINDED, they’re not afraid to make mistakes, explore spaces without boundaries, and be themselves. KIND AND COMPASSIONATE, they sharpen their minds and soften their hearts, learning not only for their own good, but for the good of others. TENACIOUS AND RESILIENT, they constantly give their all, developing personal strengths for lifetimes of success. Success they define themselves. They are inspired. They are inspiring. And it all begins right here, at Greenhill. Are you… naturally curious? energized by challenges? motivated? willing to try new things? open to making new friends? interested in solving problems? collaborative? caring and compassionate? happy to be yourself? passionate about life and learning? a fan of roaming peacocks? Yes? Then you belong at Greenhill. We seek excellence in everything we do. We’re that rare school that fully commits its resources and talents to a balanced program in academics, arts, and athletics. An inclusive community since its founding, Greenhill celebrates diversity in all its forms and welcomes the curious, inquisitive learner. SCOTT GRIGGS, HEAD OF SCHOOL 2 Unearth the Why Learning isn’t about memorizing facts and acing tests. That’s why Greenhill students achieve so much more than high grades and scores. They learn to ask questions, make mistakes, voice opinions, and embrace exploration. They cultivate personal strengths, pursue what interests them, and prepare for whatever their futures may hold. Above all, they become people who choose to learn. Greenhill: a school for the inspired. “I want our students to be in classrooms where they get to remember why they love to learn. I want them in classrooms where ideas are discussed in ways that lead to reflection and growth. I want them to have opportunities to learn what interests them and discover ways to give back to the world they are about to enter and not to just see their time here at Greenhill as a means to an end.” TREVOR WORCESTER, INTERIM HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL 3 Middle School Greenhill Middle School isn’t just a stepping-stone to Upper School. It’s a special place where students are valued, nurtured, and challenged to become their best selves. “Middle School is an exciting, important time at Greenhill. Our building is filled with engaged students who connect with each other, and enthusiastic teachers who connect with students. In and out of class, students build a strong academic foundation while developing important skills for school and life. And they learn in ways that are exciting and relevant right now. There’s a lot of fun happening here!” SUSAN PALMER, HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL 4 Middle School Students experience Chinese, Latin, and Spanish in the fifth grade language carousel before selecting a course of study. 5 Have an “Last year in science class we were doing an explains. “They picked up as much trash as activity outside and I thought, ‘Why is there they could and brought it back for us to weigh. Idea? so much trash?’ I realized I couldn’t pick it all We handed out prizes to the team with the Make it up myself, and I got this seed in my brain,” heaviest trash. It really motivated people.” reflects Sydney, a sixth grade student. With happen here. Thanks to its success, Greenhill Goes Green is that, Sydney and her classmates Alli and becoming a campus tradition. “We collected Isabelle launched Greenhill Goes Green, a over 15 pounds of trash that day. We’re going Middle School initiative to clean up campus on to do it again this year.” Earth Day. “Every team was handed a trash bag and assigned a place on campus,” Sydney 64 OWN YOUR DAY Middle Schoolers enjoy a lot of choices when it comes to day-to-day life at Greenhill. From classes and clubs to arts and athletics, opportunities to pursue At the Middle School, what you love abound. One seventh grader explains, “In Middle School you student-created clubs get to shape your own day. You can walk freely on campus. You get to choose build community and foster your sports and electives—we have so many awesome electives. And you initiative. figure out how to plan your studying. It’s been a challenge, but I’m learning!” INDEPENDENT LEARNING Independence comes with challenges, which is why our Middle School curriculum is designed to help students learn skills for school and life, like time-management, self-advocacy, compassion, and resiliency. It’s the perfect time to grow through trial and error. A Sampling of Middle School Clubs & Electives CLUBS ELECTIVES Chocolate Club 3D Rendering and Design First Lego League Applied Ceramics Humans of New York Club Band Junior Classical League Choir Math Club Creative Writing Quiz Bowl Improv Rugby Club Musical Theater Spanish Club One Act Play Production Step-Dancing Club Printing and Drawing Problem-Solving and Service Prototyping Robotics Speech and Debate Strings Technical Theater Video Production 75 LEARN IN THE REAL WORLD… FOR THE REAL WORLD Explore our country’s founding documents in the Library of Congress, stand in Martin Luther King’s footsteps at the Lincoln Memorial, and discuss the Active, hands-on, critical issues of our time with your Congressional representative during the and relevant projects eighth grade Washington, D.C., trip. capitalize on Middle School students’ Build your own solar-powered cell phone charger in Exploratory Design class, determination to better then test it on the quad. the world. Launch a business with real money, and sell your products for a good cause at the Annual Holiday Bazaar. Compete in Olympic Games and bring mythology to the stage—some students act, some design sets, some build an app for ticket sales—all live ancient history on Greek Day! Get Inspired by Relevant Learning “At Greenhill, we’re not just learning history. We learn why we need to learn history or math. It’s great to know that I’m not just here to get good grades and go to college. I’m here because Greenhill will help me with my entire life.” 7TH GRADER “Our teachers always teach me interesting things that I’ll be able to use later in my life—things that I want to learn and know.” 5TH GRADER MORE THAN BOOKS Greenhill’s library is a hub of discovery on campus. In Middle School, students learn valuable digital research skills, explore an extensive collection of young adult and teen fiction, and enjoy “Library Day,” a weekly English class that instills a lifelong love of reading. 8 Q&A with What do you love about teaching? What’s your teaching philosophy? I love science. I can get completely I like a loud, somewhat chaotic classroom. Don Myers sidetracked talking about whatever’s new That means work is going on. I don’t lecture; at the moment and debating with the kids. I walk from student to student. That’s the Exploratory Design But that’s a good thing. Middle School is a best way to teach problem-solving skills. and Prototyping place where education needs to be fun and Any advice for students? pertinent. Fail forward. If something doesn’t work, What makes your students special? don’t stop there. Try to figure out where it They think outside the box. One of my went wrong and move past it. prototyping students, for example, keeps What inspires you? coming up with new ideas and concepts for There’s so much out there that we don’t her programmable circuit. It’s been fun to know. There’s so much left to be discovered. see a new side of her. 9 Upper School EXPLORE SPACE WITHOUT BOUNDARIES Upper School is the time to pursue academic opportunities that support you—your interests, your plans, your goals. One junior puts it this way: “There is no typical Greenhill student, but everyone is motivated and wants to be here. They like being in a place where they can study what they’re passionate about right now. You can create your own options here. You don’t have to wait until college to study what you love.” So double up in a discipline, take a Global Online Academy course, even invent your own class. Decode, discover, develop the world around you. “As an Upper School teacher, my job is to give students the tools to decode the world around them. I don’t just teach the Constitution, I teach students how to analyze any documents they come across. My other job is to instill a sense of wonder. Yesterday, I found out that sea butterflies exist—how amazing is that? I want my students to get a glimpse of all that they do not know and to set out to discover as much of it as they can. Finally, I believe that teaching character is as important as inspiring students to learn. Courses inspire students to seek solutions to the world’s problems. I hope that by the time students leave my classroom, or any classroom here at Greenhill, they’re sensitive to intolerance and fired up to tackle the injustices of the world.” AMY BRESIE ’96, UPPER SCHOOL HISTORY TEACHER 10 “The only way you can go wrong is to drift through.