Viewbook

Letter from the Head of School | Four Stories
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THE PORTFOLIO

Our community portrait includes information about our programs and resources, our values and our mission. On the pages that follow, you’ll find a portfolio of all that Fay offers to families and students.

The Academic Program

Course and Program Guide in pdf format

Our academic program takes as its starting point the motto of the School: Poteris Modo Velis (You can if you will). We ask students to extend themselves; to set meaningful goals and work steadily toward them; to reach one horizon, then set out for another.

Our rigorous curriculum features more than 200 courses. We offer classes in traditional disciplines - English, history, mathematics, science, and foreign languages - at multiple levels, plus a full slate of courses in art and music, an innovative series of courses in leadership, and honors-level classes in the upper grades. Our flexible, rotating schedule includes longer, “doubleblock” class periods designed to encourage sustained exploration and innovative instruction. Small classes allow teachers to work closely with students, adapting to their strengths and weaknesses, their goals and ambitions. Throughout the curriculum, we emphasize specific skills and broad habits of mind: critical thinking and creative problem-solving, effective communication and independent inquiry, moral and aesthetic awareness, technological fluency, and - crucially - a joyful, spirited approach to learning.

Our sixty-five full-time faculty members serve as mentors and advisors, counselors and dorm parents - and dedicated, deeply experienced instructors. Many have made their career at Fay, a sign of their commitment to the School and their seasoned understanding of young students. Many are experts in their field who serve as resources for educators at peer institutions.

Every Fay teacher works with parents, students, and administrators to help students reach their potential. We ask our faculty to know the current educational theory, and, when appropriate, to apply it thoughtfully in the classroom.

Fay’s effort system is unique among independent schools. Every two weeks, students receive a grade in each of their classes that assesses the effort they’ve put forward in the class - the risks they’ve taken, the questions they’ve asked, the level of intensity they’ve brought to their work. Effort grades supplement the standard letter grades that measure academic performance. For parents, they’re a vital source of information about the student’s motivation. For teachers, they’re an invaluable developmental tool. For students, they’re an incentive to work hard, an acknowledgement of their intellectual courage, and a source of pride.

Our parents are an essential part of our academic program. We see education as a collaborative effort, the result of an open exchange between parents, students, and members of the School’s staff - teachers and advisors, coaches and administrators. We urge parents to join the School community - to attend recitals and athletic matches, to volunteer for School organizations and committees, to take an active interest in the shape and scope of their
child’s education. We also offer programs and events - including a speakers series and regular workshops - dedicated to the work we do together: raising thoughtful, responsible children and young adults.

We use technology as an educational tool. Every classroom allows for the use of the most current technology; and students have access to more than 90 computers across campus, including stations in four multimedia rooms and three computer labs. Students can also use wireless internet service in the Root Academic Center and video conferencing technology that allows boarding families to stay in close touch with their children. Our comprehensive technology program grounds students in essential skills, including programming, graphics, and information literacy.

Fay’s student body is an international community; roughly 15% of our students come from countries around the world: England and Russia, China and Nigeria, Mexico and Thailand. For students with limited proficiency in English, our International Student Program (ISP) offers specialized classes, academic support, and assistance with travel arrangements, secondary school placement, and communication with their families. Classes emphasize grammar, composition, reading comprehension, and academic skills; as students become more proficient, they gradually join classes in the larger Fay curriculum. The program also serves as a resource for Fay’s domestic students; the ISP offers field trips, dances, dinners, and other events that celebrate the world’s cultures.

Fay School is committed to educating the whole child to his/her fullest potential in preparation for a productive and fulfilled life.

Fay School admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion or creed to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin, religion or creed in administration of its educational policies, scholarships and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.