Moravian Academy
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MORAVIAN ACADEMY IGNITE A LOVE OF LEARNING WHAT ARE THE ELEMENTS OF AN EXTRAORDINARY EDUCATION? IT BEGINS WITH A MISSION: MORAVIAN ACADEMY IS A CHURCH-RELATED SCHOOL WHOSE MORAVIAN TRADITION AFFIRMS THAT YOUNG PEOPLE BEST REALIZE THEIR POTENTIAL IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING. WE SEEK TO PROMOTE THE CHILD’S FULL DEVELOPMENT IN MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT. SINCE 1742 THE SCHOOL HAS ENCOURAGED SOUND INNOVATIONS TO MEET CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES WHILE RECOGNIZING THE PERMANENCE OF BASIC HUMAN VALUES. PAGE ONE QUALITY AND CHALLENGE From the first days of Lower School through 11th- and 12th-grade courses that match the level of university studies, Moravian Academy inspires achievement through high expectations. Together, our students and teachers embrace challenging material. They come to terms with complexity and ambiguity. They delve deeply. The goal is not only for students to master content and build skills—which they do—but also to grow as sophisticated thinkers and as lifelong learners. “ Our teachers motivate us to ask more of EXCEPTIONAL ourselves, to go beyond our expectations.” AND PASSIONATE — UPPER SCHOOL STUDENT “ The level of commitment on the part of the FACULTY faculty is simply stunning.” — PARENT AND TRUSTEE MORAVIAN ACADEMY PAGE THREE “ Comenius Projects offer a rare opportunity: to work in partnership with a faculty member on original research that reflects the student’s unique intellectual interests and to pursue that topic in real depth.” — UPPER SCHOOL FACULTY MEMBER ADVANCED EXPLORATIONS MORAVIAN ACADEMY PAGE FIVE At every grade level, class sizes are small, and the impact is profound. PERSONAL Teachers know each student well. They tailor instruction to children’s individual strengths and needs. They shape interactive, project-based ATTENTION experiences impossible with larger groups. “ They know what each student needs. They’ll spot a puzzled face and immediately reach out.” — UPPER SCHOOL STUDENT A student speaks about her Haaj to Mecca. A campus event features GLOBAL student-produced films in Chinese. A visiting university professor explores the complexities of Latin American politics. This is a school AWARENESS where students see themselves as members of a global community and prepare for life in a multicultural world. MORAVIAN ACADEMY PAGE SEVEN AN ATMOSPHERE OF LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING “ Everyone’s different, no one’s perfect, and we all try — LOWER SCHOOL STUDENT to be kind to each other.” MORAVIAN ACADEMY PAGE NINE Moravian Academy is proud to offer Spanish Immersion, Suzuki BREADTH violin, Chinese, filmmaking, woodworking, and1 -to-1 iPad and laptop programs. But what’s truly remarkable is that all these OF opportunities and more are available to every student here. Each has the chance to become a Renaissance person: an artist and OPPORTUNITY scientist, an author and athlete, a star in many spheres. MORAVIAN ACADEMY PAGE ELEVEN EXCEPTIONAL CAMPUS SETTINGS “ With the combination of new and old buildings and the sweeping green spaces, the Merle-Smith Campus feels like a college—in fact, quite a beautiful college.” — UPPER SCHOOL FACULTY MEMBER “ I leave our building and see the weeping cherries by Central Moravian Church. I see our children at play amid three centuries of history.” — LOWER SCHOOL FACULTY MEMBER MORAVIAN ACADEMY PAGE THIRTEEN The quality of a Moravian Academy education can be seen in the POWERFUL institutions our students go on to attend and their success there. Again and again, our graduates tell us that they are more than OUTCOMES prepared to excel in college and beyond. They speak of the profound, positive impact of Moravian Academy, the power of their experience here in helping them shape successful, fulfilling lives. “ When you visit a classroom, it’s remarkable. In the ENERGY Lower School, you’ll see a group of five-year-olds focused serenely on their work. In the Middle and AND Upper Schools, you’ll hear older kids engaged in ENGAGEMENT fascinating dialogs. It’s very impressive.” — PARENT AND TRUSTEE “ It’s an environment of high achievers—but not out of competition, out of genuine intellectual curiosity.” — UPPER SCHOOL MUSIC TEACHER MORAVIAN ACADEMY PAGE FIFTEEN LOWER SCHOOL The Lower School at Moravian Academy nurtures young students who are inquisitive and independent, capable and kind. Here, children develop a deep love of learning, and build the foundation of skills key to success for years to come. A PROGRAM OF BREADTH AND RICHNESS / The Lower Broadcasting Company provides a unique opportunity to School presents students with a remarkable array of Lower Schoolers, who collaborate in managing all aspects learning opportunities. At the heart of the program is a of a daily morning news broadcast. strong grounding in the most essential skills; students Global Languages — All students receive instruction in become passionate and perceptive readers, well-practiced Spanish every day beginning in prekindergarten, with writers, and agile, enthusiastic mathematicians. It is a teacher who speaks virtually no English during the common for many to achieve well beyond their grade level. instructional period. In addition, many families take part Even more important, children learn to combine the joy in a program using Rosetta Stone, through which Lower PROJECT-BASED LEARNING / The school makes students scientists (including parents) who bring a wealth of of discovery with discipline and hard work, acquiring the School families are currently developing skills in more active participants in their educational experience through professional experiences and cultural traditions. skills of the capable student. than 30 languages, from Arabic to Mandarin. The Spanish hands-on collaborative projects of many kinds. In science, MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT / As impressive as the Lower Many special dimensions enrich the experience: Immersion Program, offering an even deeper language students build circuits, and in social studies they build experience, is described below. School’s academic program may be, it is only part of a Science — Daily lessons in the classroom combine with Indian villages. They make films illustrating their ideas, broader experience of learning and growth that seeks to weekly trips to the science lab. From “dissecting” a and they make connections between mathematics and SPANISH IMMERSION / Moravian Academy has launched nurture children’s development in mind, body, and spirit. A flashlight to studying the effects of dietary changes on lab community service as they operate their own bookstore, a groundbreaking program that brings our curriculum weekly chapel service provides a time for members of the animals, the focus is on active inquiry. raising funds for charitable causes. From year to year, the in world languages to a new level. Through the Spanish school community of all faiths to gather and reflect, while challenges change, but always the emphasis is on active Social Studies — Students pursue fascinating thematic Immersion Program, children experience classroom an active service program offers diverse options for putting exploration. units, exploring the culture and histories of communities instruction in all major subject areas in the Spanish our energies to work for others. Just as important are the from the local to the global, stamping their simulated language, beginning in kindergarten. In effect, they are CONNECTIONS BEYOND CAMPUS / The adventure of Lower countless teachable moments we seize everyday, chances passports each time they visit a new nation in their studies. transported during the school day to the Spanish-speaking School learning extends beyond the boundaries of the to promote kindness and understanding, to embrace the world, where they become full and fluent citizens. Music — Starting in prekindergarten, all students take classroom. Field trips dot the calendar throughout the goal of becoming not only more accomplished scholars, part in an exceptionally strong music program. The The program offers an exceptional opportunity to achieve year as children set off to explore art in the museums but also better people. option of Suzuki violin and cello instruction begins in high-level proficiency in a second language. In addition, of Philadelphia, the autumn bounty of a pumpkin patch, AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT AND EXTENDED CARE / kindergarten, and a majority of students take part. research shows that this learning approach offers other or aquatic life in Green Pond on Moravian’s Merle- An extended-day program provides early morning Children may also join the handbell choir, a cherished advantages, from enhanced English language skills to Smith (Upper School) Campus. Starting in third grade, supervision from 7:30-8:00 and after-school activities Moravian Academy tradition. greater creativity in problem solving. children also take part in an overnight trip each year, with from 3:00-6:00. Pre-K families may choose a half-day destinations that have included a Pocono environmental Technology — Students and teachers employ iPads, Being phased in grade by grade across the Lower School, option with morning instruction only, or a full day, which center, Greenkill Outdoor Education Center in New laptops, and classroom SMARTBoards to enhance learning the Spanish Immersion Program has the capacity to adds afternoon enrichment activities, including creative York State, and Gettysburg, where they tour the Historic in a multitude of ways, from accessing online mathematics accommodate roughly one-third of each entering class. movement, language experiences, outdoor activities,