10th+Grade+-+Full+Version

“What Should I Know About Myself, About Others, and About the World around Me?” Tenth grade is the year of dating, driving, and daring! In the classroom and at home, our girls are pushing the boundaries. At school we try to respond by answering their questions, often unspoken ones, through the literature we teach and by means of the support systems we have in place. ** The SHAPE Program in Physical Education **. In addition to the traditional physical education activities, the tenth grade SHAPE curriculum equips the girls to demonstrate **individual responsibility** for personal and community health, to exhibit a healthy lifestyle, and to cultivate a **positive life attitude** from physical activities through participation in wellness/fitness classes. Each sophomore receives **CPR and First Aid certification**. Sophomore physical education includes a women’s issues discussion on topics including **smoking and drugs, exercise and nutrition**. ** Curriculum Choices in the Humanities. **  ·    The upper school humanities provide the perfect arena for discussions on **conflict resolution** and **exploration or global issues**. Careful selections by both disciplines reflect characters, both fictional and real, in conflict with one another, with their environment/society, or with themselves. A study of these individuals leads to conversations about **our own place in the world today**. At this early level, we begin talk of the **choices** we make, using the literature and history as springboards. **Project and service based learning** and **in-depth analysis** of literature and history provide the basis **open-ended discussions** of essential questions. At this level in English, the focus is on **effective communication**. A quarter-long research project, which this year centered on a **global issue**, reinforces our commitment to global awareness.  ·    The girls may take a break from history as sophomores but most take an elective. This year we offer two new ones: **Global Conflicts** and **Democracy and Citizenship in a Global World**. Also available are electives of a **philosophical/religious nature** like Theories of Knowledge and Comparative World Religions. || ** “Making Choices.” ** Facilitated by upper school counselor Sugar Wheeler, this program discusses **making healthy choices** and includes, among other items, a focus on **driving and self-defense.** ** Athletics/H period: ** H period Athletics provides a common time for all of our athletes either to practice their sport or to train. During their season, of course, our athletes “live” the ethics of individual and team performance—**sportsmanship**, **self-discipline**, **self-confidence**, **team play**. Off the court or field, these same factors are in play during H period but in a different arena. ** Upper **** School **** Assembly. ** Three times a week, the school assembles midday to “touch base.” The following are assembly activities of note: ** The Advisory System. ** Every teacher in grades 6 – 12 has a group of advisees for whom he or she is responsible. These groups meet bi-weekly in the upper school to provide opportunities for **informal conversations**. Topics already explored in the classroom oftentimes find themselves revisited during advisories. Because the group is small and the time less structured, the advisory session is perfect for **reinforcing topics introduced in other areas**. Also, during advisory time, the girls and their teachers explore **issues that are happening in the world**. The ninth grade students and faculty receive a monthly edition of the New York Times news magazine **Up Front**, from which each group is responsible for exploring a topic of interest. ** The Extracurricular Program **. The upper school Extracurricular Program is vast, giving girls many areas to explore. A full listing is available in the Blue Book, but highlights include **service-oriented** clubs like **Amnesty** and **Key Club**, “academic” programs like **Model UN** and **Spectrum**, **creative clubs** like Terpsichord, Drama, and River Review, and everything else in between! Student Council holds a Fair Day the second week of school to acquaint the student body to all the offerings. May Day provides another venue at which our clubs can shine, as they set up booths displaying their wares and often promoting a worthy cause. ** Global Ambassadors. ** Unlike the middle school O Ambassadors program, which is affiliated with a national/international organization, the upper school Global Ambassadors are twelve girls in grades 10 – 12, who have agreed to **represent the voice of the students in matters of global interest.** They meet bi-weekly and counsel the department heads in matters of curricular and extracurricular interest. Among their commitments are the following:  ·  ** To update the Global Awareness Blackboard site **, paying special attention to the country of focus.  ·   To attend meetings  ·   To be willing **to voice the direction** you would like to see global education go.  ·   To be available **to address parents, students, faculty, board**, etc., if asked. ** Lunchtime Learning ** : See description at ninth grade level. ||  ||
 * ** Girls Prepped: Tenth Grade—Passion/Compassion  ** ||
 * In the Classroom. **
 * ** Outside the Classroom.  **
 * As the girls arrive, they see a Power Point overview offering reminders on how to be more **environmentally responsible.**
 * Every Friday the History department offers an **overview of events that have occurred during the week**. **Students are in charge** of this effort: they choose the events, write the script, and make the presentation.
 * Amnesty International and other service-oriented clubs also routinely make presentations on issues of local and global concern.
 * Chapel Talks: Almost all GPS seniors present **a talk to the student body**, faculty, and guests. In the past topics have been as diverse as the importance of family and friends to the need to follow our passions. Lately, these topics have included elements of **global awareness and philanthropy**.
 * ** “Girls Prepped” Time. ** One Special Period per month will be designated “Girls Prepped” time and will be scheduled a quarter in advance. In conjunction with the Upper School guidance counselor, the advisors will conduct the first Girls Prepped session which will deal with issues of independence like driving and dating. Particularly impressive is the **DUI Simulation** that Mrs. Wheeler organizes. **Round table sessions** about topics of interest to the girls are offered also by Mrs. Wheeler. See the list on page one for other topics.