Connelly School of the Holy Child

Connelly School of the Holy Child is a Catholic, independent, college-preparatory school for girls, grades 6-12 located in Potomac, Maryland, USA. It is operated independently in the Archdiocese of Washington, and is a member of the Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington and the Association of Independent Maryland Schools.

History

Connelly School of the Holy Child, established by the Society of the Holy Child Jesus in Potomac in 1961, is a Catholic, independent, for girls, grades 6-12. The School is part of a network of 33 Holy Child schools in the United States, Europe and Africa, based on the educational and moral teachings of Cornelia Connelly. Holy Child schools promote academic excellence and stress social responsibility by providing an environment for developing the critical-thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills needed in a changing world.

Cornelia Connelly was an American woman, born in Philadelphia, who founded the first Holy Child school in England in 1846. Her innovative teaching philosophy, years ahead of its time, stresses engaged, active learning; critical thinking; and personalized attention, now borne out with modern research as creating those competent graduates with skills desired by employers.

Curriculum

The Upper School curriculum offers a broad range of core courses and a challenging selection of electives, constantly encouraging the students to think critically and creatively. The Holy Child faculty promotes class discussion and provides an environment where students can openly express their own thoughts and opinions. Student schedules include free periods to allow individual assistance from teachers, independent study and collaboration for group projects. Students are urged to take full advantage of assistance from their teachers.

Upper School graduation requirements are as follows: 4 English credits, 4 Religion credits, 3 Mathematics credits, 3 Science credits, 3 Social Studies credits, 3 Foreign Language credits, 2 Fine Arts credits, and 1.5 Physical Education credits.

A wide range of AP courses as well as supplemental offerings from the Online School for Girls provide not only strong foundation for college, but also fill in those more esoteric selections not available on campus, and with a specific expertise in teaching young women.

The Middle School program at Holy Child provides the academic structure and the individual freedom essential to the development of the young adolescent. Each student’s mastery of basic skills provides her with the opportunity to progress from concrete to more abstract thought. Girls are encouraged to take personal initiative through questioning and analytical thinking. Study skills, such as time management and problem solving, are taught and practiced. The Middle School faculty demonstrates the interconnectedness of all knowledge by structuring interdisciplinary and thematic units. Experiential learning encourages the girls to discover concepts behind this core knowledge and fuels the love of lifelong learning. Following the example set by Holy Child’s foundress, Cornelia Connelly, Middle School teachers understand that learning takes place in a variety of contexts and include in their academic plans field trips, traditional celebrations and service projects, as well as

Athletics

Seasonal Sports Offered at Holy Child:

Fall: Soccer, Field Hockey, Volleyball, Cross Country, Tennis Winter: Swimming, Basketball, Indoor Lacrosse Spring: Lacrosse, Softball, Track, Golf All seasons: Equestrian, Dance

Holy Child participates in the Independent School League (ISL).

Mission statement

From the Holy Child Web site: Connelly School of the Holy Child is a Catholic, college preparatory school, committed to the intellectual, spiritual, artistic, physical and social development of young women in grades 6-12. The School emphasizes academic challenge, joy of learning, and the education of well-rounded women of faith and action. The Holy Child community welcomes students and families of different faiths and diverse backgrounds. In keeping with the philosophy of our founder, Cornelia Connelly, Holy Child values the uniqueness of each individual and fosters a life of service to others.

External links

• Holy Child Web site: http://www.holychild.org/

Notes and references