Looking Ahead to 11 th Grade Spring, 2014

1. Looking Ahead to 11th Grade Spring, 2014

2. The Junior/Senior Curriculum The curriculum in the junior and senior years challenges students to engage with ideas more deeply and relate to their peers and teachers more collegially. • In the 9th and 10th grades: • Courses are designed to emphasize and develop the essential student skills in each discipline and to help students move from concrete to more abstract thinking. • In the 11th and 12th grades: • The curriculum demands much more independent student responsibility, maturity and intellectual sophistication.

3. The 11th Grade Curriculum • English: semester electives • U.S. History • Mathematics as recommended by department • Chemistry (regular or honors) as recommended by the department • Language: • Many students are in level IV of their language, and have completed that graduation requirement. However, most students are advised to continue their language study at least through this level • One or two electives

4. English Electives • In the English department, students in 11th and 12th grades choose among semester-long seminars on a range of topics. • Juniors and seniors are together in their English classes. • All English electives emphasize and assume skill in critical reading, text-based discussion, and writing in a variety of modes. • Students will rank their top four English choices for each semester, and we do our best to give them one of these choices, within the constraints of the rest of their schedule.

5. Course Request form for 11th grade

6. The 11th Grade Experience Student-Advisor Role Student choice of advisor Deepening relationship Leadership positions Student organizations Athletics Junior Retreat (April) Formalize leadership roles Junior Privileges (May) College search process…

7. The College Search Process • Goals for Juniors • Explore options and test assumptions about types of colleges that fit the individual • Develop informed criteria, leading to a more refined search in the spring • Skills that Matter • Initiative, curiosity, positive risk-taking • Commitment to making an informed choice, based on steady research • Flexibility, openness to change • Engagement in the community

8. The College Search Process • Fall: Active college search • MISP College Fair, September 28 • Group meetings with admissions officers at SPA • Visit several types of colleges • Written reflections/questionnaires • Spring • Student meeting and family meetings with counselor • Further college visits • College Seminar – small group advising (once per cycle) • Testing • PSAT and Practice ACT in October – use practice tests to guide preparation • SAT (January) and ACT (February or April) • Optional AP and Subject tests (May, June) • Repeat testing – late spring or senior fall • Parent programs year-round

9. Course Requests for 11th Grade • Family conversation about priorities and plan to balance commitments • Our advice: • Make intentional choices. Don’t try to do it all – at least not at the same time! • In most cases, students should continue to carry a full academic course load (five core subjects)

10. Course Request Materials • Students already have received their individualized 11th Grade Course Request Form — due back, signed by student, parents, advisor, and College Counselor, by April 25. Please Note: • The full Upper School Curriculum, including all graduation requirements and detailed descriptions of courses, is available on the SPA website. Go to the Community section, select “Upper School,” and click on the link to “Upper School Academic Program Overview.”

11. Questions? • Chris Hughes • US Principal chughes@spa.edu • Judy Cummins • US Dean of Students jcummins@spa.edu • Susanna Short • US Counselorsshort@spa.edu • Mary Hill • Director of College Counseling and Academic Planning mhill@spa.edu • Cindy Richter • Assistant Head of School crichter@spa.edu