Viewbook 2017 – 2018
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On the foundation of the highest academic standards and Jewish ethical Viewbook and spiritual values, Milken Community Schools develops students with 2017 – 2018 sharp minds, generous hearts, and kind souls. We value each member of our pluralistic community while we foster a deep connection to Israel, a lifelong dedication to the Jewish people, and a passionate commitment } to the service of humanity and the perfection of God’s world. } MILKEN COMMUNITY SCHOOLS | 15800 Zeldins’ Way, Los Angeles, CA 90049 tel: 310.440.3553 | milkenschool.org we WE ARE SCHOLARS As a grades 7 – 12 college preparatory institution, Milken Community Schools is one of the largest Jewish, independent, co-educational schools in the country. We are a place of rigorous academic preparation and intellectual inquiry built upon a foundation of spiritual and ethical practice. Our secure, picturesque, 10-acre campus is located in the Santa Monica Mountains along the Mulholland Corridor. Established in 1981, Milken’s challenging academics, extensive elective programs, and innovative institutes are led by highly qualified, respected educators. Our state-of-the-art facility promotes exploration and discovery in a safe environment where students are encouraged to take risks necessary to reach and exceed their potential. Our admission process supports this goal by admitting students and families who are committed to the mission of our school and who will be active and positive members of our dynamic learning community. WE ARE INDIVIDUALS Milken understands that every child possesses unique gifts and believes that those gifts are best nurtured in a supportive community. We are committed to personalizing the experience for each student. Through our curriculum of general and Jewish studies, we strive to develop confidence, critical thinking, and creativity. In doing so, we inspire passion, identity, and commitment as enduring foundations for balanced and purposeful living. Our dedication to are cultivating students with sharp minds, generous hearts, and kind souls makes our school a vibrant place for learning. WE ARE COMMUNITY We are home to a broad spectrum of students and families from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, and levels of observance. Our pluralistic community encourages intellectual, ethical, and spiritual questioning. Attending Milken prepares students to contribute to the broader world well beyond their high school graduation. We seek to connect the power of learning with ethical responsibility and spiritual purpose. Our students are taught the value of active participation in both their own community and in the larger global context. They learn to balance Hillel’s teaching of “If I am not for myself, who will be for me?” with “If I am only for myself, what am I?” Through service learning at the local, national, and international levels, our middle and upper school students learn that their efforts can make a profound difference in the lives of others. Milken. average 13 we are the class size MIDDLE SCHOOL SAPERSTEIN MIDDLE SCHOOL CAMPUS is an inviting, supportive, and safe environment for the academic development of young adolescents. The curriculum, faculty, and culture combine to create a community where students can pursue their academic passions and feel free to take intellectual risks. At the middle school, there are high expectations for every member of the learning community. Personalized teaching geared toward each child’s unique learning style ensures students will meet rigorous standards of excellence. We are committed to the success of every child. n CORE CURRICULUM Our rich academic program allows students to grow and develop while being challenged future. both intellectually and spiritually. The required core courses for middle school students include Humanities, Math, Science, Hebrew, Jewish Studies, Physical Education, and Advisory. n ELECTIVE COURSES Elective classes provide students with the opportunity to explore or continue to excel in an area of passion. Every middle school student enrolls in two elective classes each year. Elective courses include Architecture, Creative Writing, Journalism, Jazz Ensemble, Robotics, Spanish, Dance, Drawing, and Game Design. n ADVISORY We understand that middle school is a transitional and transformative time. For this reason, we have an Advisory program that creates a close community within the larger school. Small groups of students stay with the same advisor for two years, establishing a sense of nurturing support. Advisors oversee communication between students, faculty, administration, and parents, bolstering each child’s academic, social, and emotional well-being. Advisory ensures that each student receives support in dealing with many adolescent issues and focuses on study and executive functioning skills, including time management, organization, oration, and cooperative problem solving. n TECHNOLOGY The 40,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Saperstein Middle School Campus provides students with the ideal learning environment for the 21st century. Smart Boards, video conferencing, and a MakerSpace are just a few of the features of the middle school that enable students to use the latest technology and build essential digital skills. n SERVICE LEARNING Service learning at the middle school challenges our students to ask questions about the world beyond Milken. Through problem-based learning, students develop greater awareness, empathy, and the skills to respond to others’ needs. Students engage in class-based and whole-school tzedakah projects coordinated in partnership with members of the Los Angeles, national, and international Jewish communities. n ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES There are numerous opportunities for students to take part in clubs and enrichment opportunities according to their interests. Options include MATHCOUNTS, Debate, Photography, Performing Arts, and Cast and Crew. n MIX The Milken Innovators Xpo is a celebration of the X-Learning experiences that middle school students participated in during the year. X-Learning engages the school community in the design process; connects students’ learning to their interests, real-world problems, or actions; cultivates students’ innovation and entrepreneurial skills. CORE CURRICULUM ELECTIVES INSTITUTES UPPER SCHOOL The upper school provides a rigorous Milken is committed to supporting Our institutes and fellowship programs liberal arts education closely integrated students as they explore their interests are unique to Milken. Each program At Milken, we believe that every student is a unique, developing, and growing individual. The Milken with principles of ethical behavior, and discover new passions. Our upper offers both middle and upper school academic experience is based on a commitment to mastery-based learning— focusing on the skills intellectual curiosity, and spiritual school schedule allows students students the opportunity to deepen growth. Students pursue a challenging to enroll in as many as four elective their knowledge in a specific subject students will need now and in the future. In the upper school program, freshmen and sophomores and varied course of study based on courses per semester, whether they area, while working with experts in the deepen their content knowledge and hone their skills, while the juniors and seniors take their their abilities and developing interests. come from core subjects or the Visual field through apprenticeships. Institutes thinking and creativity to the next level by exploring, experiencing, and developing expertise. English, Social Science, Math, Hebrew, Arts and Performing Arts departments. base their curricula around integrating Science, and Jewish Studies comprise In addition to the Hebrew requirement, multiple subject areas, incorporating the core curriculum. The Milken 40 percent of Milken students elect to service learning, entrepreneurship, and requirements for graduation exceed enroll in one of our four world-language innovation and design processes. most college entrance requirements, offerings: Spanish, French, Latin, or we are and many Milken students excel far Mandarin Chinese. beyond those standards. n MITCHELL ACADEMY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (MAST) Q The Mitchell Academy of Science and Technology (MAST) encourages and inspires students to become innovators uni ue. and entrepreneurs. Students have the opportunity to interact with NASA engineers, Technion scientists, astronauts, college professors at MIT, CalTech, UCLA and USC, and other industry professionals. Students compete nationally and internationally, create patented inventions, and launch successful businesses. n SCIENCE RESEARCH In this three-year program, students work in professional research labs in the United States and Israel to conduct independent science research with a mentor. They build, write, and present a hypothesis before submitting their original science research to the Regeneron Science Talent Search. n BRIDGE BUILDING Each year, our students participate in a bridge building engineering competition. The teams collaborate to construct the strongest possible bridge built from wooden craft sticks and all-purpose white school glue. Our student teams consistently rank high, garnering awards and accolades in these competitions. n SAFE CRACKING Our students participate annually in the Shalhevet Freier International Physics Tournament, held at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel. Teams build safes that can only be opened by applying the correct principles of physics. n Additionally, MAST