Transfer as a Goal

At Agnes Irwin, we prioritize deep understanding and the ability to transfer knowledge, preparing students to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Our curriculum cultivates essential skills and mindsets that empower students to tackle complex, real-world challenges with confidence, creativity, and purpose.

By focusing on transfer, students draw from a versatile toolkit of knowledge and skills, approaching new situations with curiosity, adaptability, and resourcefulness. This approach reflects our mission: “to learn, to lead, and to live a legacy.”

Portrait of an AIS Graduate

Our school-wide transdisciplinary goals define the skills and mindsets we nurture in every student:

• Intellectually Curious: Thinks critically, asks meaningful questions, and engages deeply with complex ideas.
• Balanced: Finds joy in learning and makes choices that support physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
• Collaborative: Builds relationships, empowers others, and values feedback for growth.
• Globally & Community Minded: Acts ethically, shows empathy, and seeks diverse perspectives.
• Self-Directed: Reflects on learning, sets goals, and pursues growth independently.
• Creative: Takes risks, learns from challenges, and uses knowledge to imagine new possibilities.
• Brave: Communicates confidently, challenges assumptions, and advocates for self and others.

Disciplinary Learning & Transfer

Each academic discipline builds on these school-wide goals with its own guiding philosophy and transfer goals, fostering deep understanding and application from PreK through Grade 12. Teachers collaborate to address key questions:

• What do we believe about teaching and learning in this discipline?
• What core skills and practices must students master?
• How can students apply their learning independently in real-world contexts?

This framework ensures a cohesive, mission-driven curriculum that cultivates student agency, creativity, and lifelong learning. Disciplinary philosophies and long-term transfer goals guide instruction, curriculum design, and student growth across all grade levels.