| The Emery/Weiner School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Texas, United States | |
| Information | |
| Type | Independent |
| Motto | Connecting with the Past, Preparing for the Future(2000-2010) (2011-Present), "A Decade of Difference" (2010-2011), "Keep Emery Different" (Unofficial) |
| Established | 1978 |
| Headmaster | Stuart Dow (2000-2009) (2011-Present), Dr. David Portnoy (2009-2011)
city = Houston |
| Faculty | 80 |
| Enrollment | 479 |
| Student to teacher ratio | 7:1 |
| Campus | Urban |
| Color(s) | Navy and White |
| Mascot | Jaguars |
| Website | http://www.emeryweiner.org |
The Emery/Weiner School is a co-educational, independent Jewish day school in Houston, Texas, United States serving grades 6-12.
The $14 million campus is located on 12 acres (49,000 m2) in southwest Houston outside of the 610 Loop, inside Beltway 8, and east of the Westwood subdivision.
The school houses 90,000 square feet (8,000 m2) of classroom space, along with several acres of accessible playing fields.
Contents |
The I. Weiner Jewish Secondary School opened in 1978. The first school year, 1978-79 the school operated out of the educational buildings at Congregation Brith Shalom, and the athletic facilities of the Jewish Community Center.[1] The first campus the school owned was located at 12583 South Gessner Road in what is now the Brays Oaks district. I. Weiner moved to 9825 Stella Link Road in 2000 and the Houston Independent School District acquired the former campus; as of 2008 the former campus is Gross Elementary School.[2][3][4] Emery High School opened in 2001, and so the campus became collectively known as The Emery/Weiner School.[1] In 2005, Emery/Weiner graduated its first senior class, with graduates attending colleges including Northwestern, Princeton, Stanford, The University of Texas at Austin, and Vanderbilt. In 2008, EWS embarked on a 10.5 million dollar "Expanding Horizons" campaign to expand its facilities and endowment. The expansion included a new Upper School wing, athletics pavilion, and fine arts complex.[5]
| Discipline | Years |
|---|---|
| English | 4 |
| Judaic Studies | 4 |
| History | 3 |
| Mathematics[Curriculum 1] | 3 |
| Science | 3 |
| Foreign Language[Curriculum 2] | 2 |
| Fine Arts | 2 |
| Physical Education | 2 |
120 hours of community service are required for graduation. A minimum of 30 hours must be completed each year.
The visual arts program at EWS is designed to develop students' visual perception, aesthetic awareness, critical judgment and historical perspective while teaching skills and techniques. Through a sequential, developmental curriculum, students learn to analyze works of art while acquiring the skills of fine craftsmanship. Knowledge and skills are the keys to being able to fully explore their own personal visions. Students will emerge with confidence in their own skills as well as an informed appreciation of the expressions of others. The visual art courses currently being offered are Drawing and Painting, Ceramics, Photography and Digital Photography.
In the performing arts, Emery/Weiner offers four major productions annually plus a senior-directed production. The shows vary from year to year in terms of style and content in order to give the students (and the audiences) the opportunity to experience a broad theatrical spectrum. All students, grades 6-12, are eligible to participate in the productions. As the School takes a holistic approach to theatre education, students are trained in every aspect of production including acting, design, and construction. As a result, each production is predominantly student-run. In addition to acting, students also study directing, playwriting, film study, and technical theatre. Theatre students are treated to field trips to the Alley Theatre where, in addition to seeing a production, they are given exclusive backstage tours and talk back sessions with actors. Stagecraft courses concentrate on safety and proper use of theater machinery paired with a solid training program in theatrical painting techniques, scenic construction, lighting techniques, sound execution, costume building and prop creation.
The EWS Music Department offers courses both in academic and applied music. Middle School students may take a Cultural Arts course, which focuses on learning critical listening skills and a general appreciation of music of all genres. Beginning Percussion, also offered at the Middle School level, is a class that teaches the fundamentals of percussion and rhythm, the backbone of all music. In percussion class, students learn about the history of the instruments, how to read music and rhythm notation, and basic techniques in playing while also studying several different types of percussion groups and various styles of performance. Upper School students may enroll in Vocal Ensemble, a group that performs a capella and accompanied music from 1000 years of music history. Those with a penchant for rock 'n roll can take Instrumental Ensemble, a class in which guitarists, flutists, saxophonists, drummers, pianists and vocalists study and perform pop music from the past 40 years. Music Appreciation, an academic course, allows students to learn the basic principles of music which can be applied to all genres. They work to think and write critically about a wide range of music—works such as Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess," Mozart's "Marriage of Figaro," and the pop songs of Sting.
The Emery/Weiner School physical education and athletic department serves as an extension of the classroom. At EWS, physical education as one of the components of a well rounded formal education. The physical education curriculum is designed to educate the whole child both through physical movement, as well as by the teaching of physical movement. Through the teaching of physical movement, a student gains valuable knowledge, values, and skills. Students also gain a better understanding of themselves and their ability to function in society. The teaching of physical movement helps the student to develop motor skills, coordination, and healthy habits for life. In both physical education and athletics, the student is expected to learn appropriate physical, social, and psychological development; the development of decision making skills and goal orientation; the ideals of competition, teamwork, and sportsmanship while at the same time achieving the goals of success and participation; and the concept of an integral relationship between a sound mind and body leading to a lifetime appreciation for physical fitness and good health habits.
Middle School boys teams include soccer, basketball, baseball, tennis, cross country, and track. Middle School girls teams include girls volleyball, soccer, softball, tennis, and track.
Upper School boys teams include 6-man football, basketball, soccer, tennis, baseball, golf, and track. Upper School girls teams include volleyball, basketball, soccer, tennis, cross country, cheerleading, softball, golf, and track.
In both the Middle and Upper Schools, students at Emery/Weiner participate in experiential learning trips that foster community and instigate personal growth. In addition to class-specific field trips, Middle School students participate in a fall retreat and spring culture trips. From an overnight camping experience in sixth grade to the eighth grade trip to Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Philadelphia, the trips grow each year in length and depth. Each grade in the Upper School takes three distinct trips: a weekend Shabbaton, or Sabbath retreat, that is more religious in nature; a week-long outdoor education experience in places such as Big Bend National Park that focuses on skills including hiking, caving, camping, and canoeing; and a week-long culture trip to cities such as Los Angeles and New York where students experience regional cultures (both Jewish and non-Jewish) by visiting museums, historical sites, and places of local interest. The program culminates with a senior trip to Poland and Israel, coordinated with the Alexander Muss School. On all trips, students are required to record thoughts in a school-provided journal.
Ma'amad and Kallah, the daily assemblies in the Upper and Middle Schools respectively, are devoted to ethics and spirituality. They feature presentations from students, teachers, and outside speakers.
Winterim is a two-week period in the Upper School following winter recess in which unique mini-courses are offered, such as gender studies, media literacy, environmental literature, film, and songwriting. In addition, students participate in school-wide community service projects, such as Habitat for Humanity, and go on outdoor learning trips. During this period, seniors complete career internships that match their demonstrated interests and aptitudes.