The Hamlin School Celebrates Character Day
10/3/16 — The Hamlin School celebrated Character Day, which poses the question: “What would it look like to have people around the globe devote one day to talking about character?” At its core, Character Day provides an opportunity for the world to devote time to thinking about how we can each be better people by focusing on kindness, empathy, and generosity.
At Hamlin, students were given the opportunity to focus on interpreting one word in the school’s creed. Students began by discussing the meaning of their specific word, delving deeply into the importance of Compassion, Courage, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility. Hamlin students were asked to think about a time when they saw their word exemplified during sports, physical education, or recess. Students then did artistic drawings that depicted the creed in action.
In addition to the student body’s participation, Hamlin’s Head of School, Wanda Holland Greene, was invited to speak live to hundreds of thousands of people all around the world about character education. She joined other profound thinkers like Angela Duckworth, Sal Khan, and Martin Seligman in this dynamic global forum.
Foxcroft School Sets New Record of 30 AP Scholars
9/20/16 — Foxcroft School student Patia Fann attained the status of National Scholar for her outstanding achievement on the 2016 Advanced Placement (AP) Exams. To become a National Scholar, a student must earn an average grade of at least 4 (out of 5) on all AP Exams taken and grades of 4 or higher on eight or more of the tests. Fann received perfect 5s on all ten exams she took, becoming Foxcroft’s fourth National Scholar and the first one in nearly a decade. Fann’s achievements led a record-setting 30 Foxcroft students earning 2016 AP Scholar Awards from the College Board for outstanding achievement on Advanced Placement Exams.
Worldwide, only about 22% of the 2.2 million students who took AP Exams performed well enough to earn AP Scholar designation. At Foxcroft, 40% of the most recent graduating class were recognized as AP Scholar award-winners. The number of Foxcroft AP Scholars reached double digits for the 13th consecutive year— an impressive feat for such a small school.
The Baldwin School Installs New Head of School
9/19/16 — Dr. Marisa Porges has been installed to her position as the new Head of The Baldwin School. A 1996 graduate of Baldwin and the first alumna to be named Head of School, Dr. Porges comes to Baldwin from the White House where she served as White House Fellow to the National Economic Council. Her priority as Baldwin’s new Head is to promote the school’s core mission, fostering students with a passion for lifelong learning and creating intellectually curious, confident, and empathetic young women who are prepared to have a lasting impact on the world around them.
“Baldwin dares our girls to test their limits, find their voice, and follow their passions into the wider world,” said Dr. Porges during her installation ceremony. “We help our students be their best selves, with a sisterhood at their back, and in the process, we change the world for the better.”
Young Women’s Preparatory Network Opens First All-Girls Public School in El Paso
9/1/16 — Young Women’s Preparatory Network (YWPN)—whose mission is to support single-gender, college-preparatory, public education in Texas and beyond—recently opened it’s eighth school, Young Women’s Leadership Academy (YWLA). YWLA is the first all-girls public preparatory school in El Paso, Texas.
Over 200 6th and 7th grade girls are attending YWLA this year, with plans to add a grade every year until the school has students through 12th grade. According to Principal Malinda Villalobos, YWLA’s focus will be on science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) programs with an emphasis on YWPN’s three pillars of leadership, college readiness, and wellness life skills, which will be taught daily.
“Each girl has her story to tell, and with our help, she will transform into what she wants to be, where she wants to go to college, and what she wants to do in life. We can’t wait to see what she becomes,” shared Villalobos.
Stoneleigh-Burnham Graduate Presents Research at International Coral Reef Symposium in Hawaii
8/31/16 — Recent Stoneleigh-Burnham School graduate Sophie Spring ’16 traveled to Honolulu, Hawaii, where she presented her research on the use of oysters for water quality remediation at the International Coral Reef Symposium. Her presentation was an outgrowth of her work as a candidate for the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma program while a student at Stoneleigh-Burnham.
The symposium brought together 2,500 coral reef scientists, policy makers, and managers from 70 different nations to present the latest research findings, case histories, and management activities, and to discuss the application of scientific knowledge to achieving coral reef sustainability.
The many opportunities to practice public speaking and engage with adults in a professional manner at Stoneleigh-Burnham helped Spring tremendously as she answered questions about her presentation and networked. “It was great to be able to articulate myself in a place where almost everyone else presenting was either a Ph.D. or a graduate student,” Spring said. “It’s a plug for the IB program that I was taken seriously because I put in the work to think creatively and think outside the box.”
Holton-Arms and Marlborough School Students Selected as Girl Up Advisors
6/8/16 — Holton-Arms School student Ellie Y. ‘18 and Marlborough School student Sophia D. ‘19 have been selected as two of Girl Up’s Teen Advisors for 2016-2017. Teen advisors help ensure that Girl Up succeeds in its mission by carrying out advocacy goals, providing feedback on campaign materials and energizing others to take action.
Ellie’s passion for equal rights for girls began in sixth grade upon watching the documentary Half The Sky. Since then, she has been actively involved in Holton-Arms’ Girl Up Club and is currently working to collect sanitary napkins for girls in Kenya who do not have access to essential hygiene products or facilities.
Sophia is a member of Marlborough’s Girls Go Global Club, which seeks to improve conditions for girls around the world. As a Girl Up Teen Advisor, she will oversee all Girl Up-related activities for the club. “I feel so fortunate and excited to be able to work even more closely with the Girl Up community in order to improve the lives of girls all around the world,” said Sophia.
A strategic partner of NCGS, Girl Up is an innovative campaign of the United Nations Foundation. They give American girls the opportunity to become global leaders and channel their energy and compassion to raise awareness and funds for United Nations programs that help some of the world’s hardest-to-reach adolescent girls.
Hamlin School Students Empower Girls Through Noe Valley Girls Film Festival
5/26/16 — Four students from The Hamlin School recently started The Noe Valley Girls Film Festival (“NVGFF”) to encourage young girls to get involved in the movie-making process. NVGFF seeks short film submissions made by girls anywhere in the world in two age groups: up to 5th grade and 6th-8th grades. Taking place in fall 2016, the festival will showcase the top submissions and winners will be presented with awards by a local filmmaker.
“We hope to create an annual event that will bring girl filmmakers and Noe Valley residents together for a fun filled evening of great film and local spirit,” shared Charlotte and Ella, two of the festival’s founders.
Three Agnes Irwin Students Receive Awards in Theater, Creative Writing
5/25/16 — Three students from The Agnes Irwin School have been recognized for artistic achievement in two well-known area competitions, one in theater and two in creative writing.
Senior Sophia L. was named best solo dancer in the Greater Philadelphia Cappie Awards for her role in The Haverford School’s production of Guys and Dolls. The Cappies is a national program that recognizes the best individual and ensemble performances, costuming, stage design, critic reviews, and a dozen other categories in high school theater production.
Seventh grader Parker M. and sophomore Lexi S. were awarded prizes for creative writing in the Mordechai Anielewicz Creative Arts Competition in their grade categories. Sponsored by the Jewish Federation’s Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), this competition is an opportunity for middle and high school students to respond to the lessons of the Holocaust and the related issues of ethnic, racial, and religious intolerance through creative expression. In the poetry competition, Lexi was awarded third prize for her poem “Am I My Brother’s Keeper?” and Parker received an honorable mention for her poem “Only One.”
J.J. Abrams Keynote Speaker at The Archer School for Girls 5th Annual Archer Film Festival
5/3/16 — Celebrities and entertainment industry professionals recently joined The Archer School for Girls in presenting the 5th Annual Archer Film Festival. Director and producer J.J. Abrams was the keynote speaker for the event. The Archer Film Festival is one of the only all-inclusive global high school events dedicated to empowering female filmmakers with the goal “not to exclude men, but rather to include women.” Young filmmakers submitted thousands of student-produced films from all over the world, and twenty of these films were screened at a pink carpet gala.
The Archer Film Festival’s mission is to feature young filmmakers who are working to increase the number of women in the film and television industry and to participate in the conversation about women’s representation onscreen. “The Archer Film Festival was created to encourage our student filmmakers, give them hands-on experience in the industry, and to help achieve gender parity in front of and behind the camera,” said Head of School, Elizabeth English. “Archer students have run with this idea, making the Festival their own and bringing exposure and attention to a problem that affects the way young girls see themselves and their place in the world.”
Stoneleigh-Burnham School Student Wins International Art Award
5/2/16 — Stoneleigh-Burnham School student Maia Castro-Santos ’20 recently won the $2,000 Junior Division prize in the Unsung Heroes Art Competition for her paper collage of civil rights pioneer Sylvia Mendez. Castro-Santos portrays Mendez as a young girl surrounded by words that defined the racism and discrimination of her time.
The Unsung Heroes Art Competition was sponsored by the Lowell Milken Center (LMC) for Unsung Heroes, part of the Milken Family Foundation. Castro-Santos’ winning collage was chosen from a pool of nearly 300 entries and 40 finalists. Her piece is to be displayed in LMC’s Hall of Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott, Kansas, a new museum and exhibition space opening in May 2016.
Agnes Irwin School’s Repertory Company Selected to Perform at Edinburgh Festival Fringe
4/29/16 — Agnes Irwin School’s Repertory Company was selected to perform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe as part of the American High School Theatre Festival (AHSTF) in August 2017. Festival Fringe is the world’s largest and most prestigious arts festival, including more than 3,000 performances of music, theater, dance, comedy, and more. Agnes Irwin’s theatre department will use the coming school year to develop a stage production for Festival Fringe.
“This is truly an honor for our theater program at AIS. The selection recognizes the excellence of our program, which means that each and every student who has been involved in any of our productions contributed to this accolade,” said Bill Esher, Chair of the Visual and Performing Arts Department at Agnes Irwin.
Emma Willard School Inspires Girls’ Confidence and Leadership through Student-Led Book Discussions
4/20/16 — Emma Willard School is a community of readers. This is clearly visible during Emma Willard’s first week of school when seniors are given the opportunity to lead book discussions with peers and faculty.
In the spring semester of their junior year, Emma girls are invited to nominate a title they would like to read and lead a discussion on during their first week back to school in August. They can choose any book they like, so long as it is age appropriate and has enough substance to merit discussion. Current and incoming students are then able to sign up for the book discussions they would like to join with the senior leaders. Faculty, staff, and administrators are also encouraged to participate in this unique program.
This program exemplifies Emma Willard’s core values. It is about girls finding their voices, taking risks, and not being afraid to lead. It is about students from all grades, domestic and international, day and boarders, drawing closer together. It has become something of a tradition—a rite of passage on Emma’s campus.