Beaver Country Day School
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Beaver Country Day School is an independent, college preparatory day school for students in grades 6 through 12 founded in 1920 and located on a 17-acre campus in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, near Boston. Recently the school has been moving toward calling itself only by its initials, "BCDS," though it is a somewhat controversial move within the student body.
BCDS is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and is a member of the College Board, the Cum Laude Society, and the Coalition of Essential Schools.
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[edit] History
BCDS was incorporated as an elementary school and an all-girls' high school in 1920 by a group of parents who were deeply interested in progressive education and the Country Day School movement. The first head of school was Eugene Randolph Smith, a prominent progressive educator and a follower of the noted educational reformer John Dewey. It was originally located near downtown Boston on Beaver Street and moved to Chestnut Hill in the 1930s. Over the years the school has remained true to its progressive roots while evolving with the times. The school adopted coeducation in 1971.
[edit] Mission Statement
Beaver Country Day School offers an academically challenging curriculum in an environment that promotes balance in students’ lives. Deeply committed to individual student success, teachers inspire students to:
- Reason and engage deeply with complex ideas and issues;
- Be intellectually curious, open-minded, and fair;
- Identify and build upon their strengths;
- Develop leadership and teamwork skills;
- Act effectively within a genuinely diverse cultural and social framework;
- Serve both school and society with integrity, respect, and compassion.
[edit] Core Standards of the Beaver Country Day School Learning Experience
1. THE CAPACITY FOR MORAL REASONING—
1.1. as the basis of responsible living
1.2. in matters that cross boundaries of culture, age, gender, and ethnicity
1.3. in matters of personal, community, and global import
1.4. in matters of intellectual property, ideas, and personal creativity
2. THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY—
2.1. her or his own ideas, opinions, and reasoning process
2.2. in the mediums of writing, oral exposition, discussion, and artistic expression
2.3. across boundaries of culture, language, age, gender, expertise, and ethnicity
2.4. in forums and to audiences of a variety of sizes and purposes
3. RESPECT—
3.1. for the dignity and value of human life and work, including one’s own
3.2. for the value of community, including the value of a multiculturally constructed world
3.3. for the sanctity of the natural world as an environment for all living things
3.4. for the persons, property, and creative and intellectual endeavors of others
4. CROSS-CULTURAL AWARENESS—
4.1. in personal relationships
4.2. in the context of her or his own community
4.3. in historical and global context
4.4. in such a way as to help bring people together across boundaries of difference
5. INTELLECTUAL CHARACTER—
5.1. in appreciating the value of hard work, of knowledge, of learning, of personal creativity, and of the life of the mind
5.2. in taking pride in responsibly meeting one’s obligations as a member of a learning community
5.3. in developing an active interest in events, issues, and trends in the broader community and the world
5.4. in developing the ability to bring past learning and thoughtfully derived evidence to bear on new problems and issues and in support of ideas and assertions
6. THE CAPACITY FOR CREATIVE AND FLEXIBLE PROBLEM-SOLVING—
6.1. in embracing the challenge of complexity in intellectual, practical, and personal matters
6.2. in the application of reasoning processes to the analysis of problems and the synthesis of new approaches
6.3. in the application of techniques and strategies for acquiring and applying information in the service of problem-solving
6.4. in maintaining an optimistic attitude when faced with a challenge or problem
7. THE CAPACITY FOR EFFECTIVE ADVOCACY—
7.1. in matters of equity and social justice in the community and the world
7.2. in matters of personal responsibility in the areas of intellectual property, ideas, and personal creativity
7.3. in service to the community at all levels
7.4. in personal relationships and in the expression of personal needs and concerns
8. ACCESS TO SELF—
8.1. in the areas of creativity and artistic expression
8.2. in understanding the ways in which she or he learns and understands
8.3. in the area of self-reflection
8.4. in her or his emotional and spiritual life
9. THE CAPACITY FOR COLLABORATION AND LEADERSHIP—
9.1. in academic and intellectual endeavors
9.2. in groups with varied membership and purposes
9.3. in the problem-solving process
9.4. in working toward community goals through action or service
10. THE VALUE OF WELLNESS—
10.1. through the expression of thought and feeling in movement, sport, and performance
10.2. in the ability to make informed choices in all areas of physical and emotional wellness
10.3. in valuing the understanding and expression of personal needs and self-interest
10.4. in valuing the capacity to share and process the concerns and needs of others in areas of personal choice and well-being
[edit] Students
BCDS offers grades 6 through 12. Current enrollment (2006-07) is about 405 students, of whom 300 are in the upper school (grades 9–12). Classes are small, averaging about 15 students per class; one hundred percent of Beaver graduates go on to four-year colleges and universities. The school community is diverse, with students coming from 45 towns in the metro Boston area and speaking 20 languages besides English at home. About 28% of students and 16% of faculty are of color. Currently 26% of students receive financial aid.
[edit] Programs and Facilities
In addition to a challenging, student-centered academic program, BCDS prides itself on offering an exceptional arts program and dedicated facility (a three-story Visual and Performing Arts Center opened in 2004) and a competitive athletic program that will benefit from the ongoing construction of an expanded Athletic Center (scheduled for completion in the summer of 2007). The school also integrates community service and social responsibility into its curriculum and extra-curricular program through its recently endowed Anne Hiatt Center.
[edit] School Song
Stand we now to hail thee,
Beaver, loyal and united.
By the guiding spirit
Let our hearts and minds be lighted.
May we know through rightful living
And the light of friendship true:
Ours the right to claim the motto:
Mente et Manu.
Stand we now to hail thee,
Beaver, loyal and united.
