Dear Parents,
As the 2010-2011 school year comes to a close, I have spent a great deal of time reflecting upon the many variables that contribute to the unique environment at The Agnes Irwin School. This environment, where girls are truly encouraged to try everything and supported to become anything, is supported by intentionally designed academic, athletic, artistic and social opportunities based on the developmental readiness of girls at each level of the school.
It is an environment where it is understood that young girls will learn through inquiry and play, and as girls progress through the grades and divisions, they are engaged in a carefully constructed scaffolding of experiences that will guide them as they grow into highly competent, self-aware, resilient young women.
How do we know that we are successful as we continue to refine this experience for girls? The data certainly speaks for itself when we consider the outstanding achievements of the girls. This year, 20% of the graduating class has earned recognition in the National Merit Achievement Programs; 28% of our seniors were accepted to their “far reach” school, and 66% were accepted to their “reach school” (at a time when highly selective colleges are only admitting approximately 8% of all applicants). More than $1.5 million in merit scholarship has been awarded to the Class of 2011. At the end of this letter, you will find the wonderfully diverse list of colleges and universities to which they have been accepted.
All of the seniors who wanted to be recruited by collegiate coaches were successful; nine young women engaged in compelling independent science research; 17 were Gold Summa Cum Laude National Latin Exam medalists. Our girls received nominations in five out of seven possible categories for Cappies, the critics and awards program for high school theater; winners will be named next week. And there are multiple other accomplishments too numerous to name.
None of the successes listed above are coincidental. They are a part of a carefully crafted and executed contract that each parent enters into when you trust us with your daughter. It is a contract that we take seriously, one that compels us to continue to investigate best practice in educating girls, to employ the most current research in curriculum design, to anticipate your daughter’s needs to be prepared for the rapidly changing world that will be hers in the future while also working to help her manage the digital world that she is living in today.
The fact that 90% of our Upper School girls take four or more years of science (33% taking 2 or more AP sciences) as opposed to the national norm of three years of science, should come as no surprise given that our Lower School students become proficient in scientific methods through creating original projects for the Invention Convention in Kindergarten, building electric cities in third grade and dissecting frogs in fourth grade. Next school year, we will introduce our first graders to robotics.
Our commitment to intentional design also expands to the environment essential for optimal growth and development of each of our girls. Therefore, this summer we will begin our much- anticipated Campus Improvements Project, the final portion of a 10-year campus master plan to address vitally important facility renovations that will benefit our Athletics Program and student life, creating an even more dynamic school community and educational environment.
Phase I will begin on June 13, and will primarily involve site work in areas around the Arts & Science Center and the Lower School loop, including new parking, sidewalks, landscaping and underground utility work. Once completed, we will resume normal school operations for the fall and winter of the 2011-2012 academic year.
Next spring, Phase II, the heart of the construction project, will begin with the building of the new 55,000-square-foot
Athletic Center to support the quality and breadth of the sports programs offered at Agnes Irwin today; a new 9,000-square-foot
Dining and Student Center that will not only afford a multi-functional space but also allow for greater flexibility in class scheduling; and a new
Campus Entranceway and
“Student Street,” an open and inviting interior thoroughfare that creates a communal avenue for students to transition between classes, view exhibits or simply socialize.
In the fall, we will provide full details regarding the impact of the construction on campus operations and school life. Our highest priority is to continue to provide a safe and stimulating environment for your daughters. For now, enjoy the coming summer break with your families. I hope you have time to relax, reflect and re-energize.
Warmest regards,
Mary F. Seppala, Ed.D.