Mercersburg Academy

Established 1893

Quentin McDowellGWID: 35555244EDUC 6234: Site Based Leadership: K-12Sustained Internship #2 – Vision PowerPoint

School Mission Mercersburg Academy prepares young men and

women from diverse backgrounds for college and for life in a global community. Students

at Mercersburg pursue a rigorous and dynamic curriculum while learning to live

together harmoniously in a supportive residential environment.

Mercersburg’s talented faculty instills in students the value of hard work and the

importance of character community. These talented instructors teach students to think for themselves, to approach life thoughtfully

and creatively, to thrive physically, to act morally, to value the spiritual dimension of

human existence, and to serve others.

School Vision Core Elements

1. Authenticity The school must always conduct itself in a fashion

that is true to its personality, spirit and character.

2. Relevance The school will strive to ensure all endeavors have

social, cultural or intellectual relevance.

3. Distinction The school will set itself apart from peer

institutions by providing a unique, supportive and challenging learning environment.

4. Student Centered The school will always take a student-centered

approach .

School VisionStrategic Statements

Mercersburg believes1…1. it is important to “meet students where they

are” when they arrive to most effectively and efficiently help them develop skills they have and acquire skills they need.

2. all planning and implementation of programs should take into deliberate consideration the developmental stages of adolescence.

3. in a dynamic curriculum that responds intelligently and creatively to the challenges of a rapidly changing world.

4. in the inherent educational value of an interdisciplinary project-based experience.

5. technology skills should be integrated throughout the curriculum to foster student-centered learning and enhance communication, collaboration, organization, and production in all classes.

6. in field study and experiential opportunities that include integrated local, regional, national and international experiences.

7. adequate time in the schedule for faculty to plan, collaborate, and reflect.

8. in the importance of inspiring students, faculty and staff to be involved and invested in the school community.

9. that a relationship with parents that maximizes and emphasizes a sense of partnership with the school.

School VisionDiversity

• A continued focus on diversity is one way the school can remain relevant, authentic and distinguish itself.– Diversity of Origins

– Approx. 430 students each year» 22% international students» 30 states and 34 countries represented

– Diversity of Race/Ethnicity/Gender– 18% students of color– 50% female/50% male (approx.)

– Diversity of Interests– 167 course offerings– 24 varsity level sports– 4 vocal ensembles– 3 instrumental groups– Theatre company– Dance company– Outdoor Education

School VisionAcademics

• Academics must remain and the forefront of the school and must be distinct and relevant.– 167 academic courses– 40+ AP and Advanced level

courses• Student to faculty ratio of

5:1• Average class size of 12

students• 71% of 101 faculty hold

advanced degrees

Unique Academic Offerings

• Robotics I, II & III• Applied Human Anatomy & Physiology• Introduction to Film Studies• Introduction to Journalism• History of the Modern Middle East• Buddhism• The History of Music• Evolution of Vertebrates• Physics of Theater• Astronomy• The Nature and Meaning of the Universe• Digital Video Art• Sculpture• Mandarin Chinese

School VisionExtracurricular Activities

“To provide the student body with a balanced program and activities for

relaxation, age and high school appropriate entertainment, and education. That needs to include

intellectually, spiritually, artistically, athletically stimulating activities and

performances. The main objective should be to add and provide balance

to our rigorous and challenging academic curriculum and residential

life.2”

School VisionExtracurricular – Fine Arts

• Fine arts (performance and visual) have broad benefits to students and students at Mercersburg should be provided with ample opportunities to explore the arts.• Fine arts should be required for a minimum of 2 terms in the 9th and

10th grades• Course offerings currently include drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture,

computer graphics, digital video, acting, speech, etc.• Performance groups must be widely varied in nature and opportunity

• Currently there are 7 musical performance groups (instrumental and choral), dance and the Stony Batter Troupe (est. 1894)

• Opportunities must exist for students to share and observe peer work• Annual Student Film Festival• Student Art Exhibits• Modern Dance and Ballet Performances

• The school needs to arrange for private music instruction for students that request it

School VisionExtracurricular – Athletics

Students at Mercersburg should engage in some form of athletic endeavor during their tenure at the school. Athletics can offer students a physical outlet (allowing for positive releases of energy), they provide opportunities for socialization and they promote a healthy mind, body and spirit. In addition, athletics can teach students the value of hard work, preparation, commitment, dedication, integrity, success and failure.

School VisionResidential Life

Residential life is an essential component of boarding school life.

At Mercersburg, students will…

1. board for at least one year.

2. have advisors that work in their residence hall.

3. live with students of a similar age, grade and developmental level.

4. learn to take on leadership roles.

5. acquire life skills in formal and informal settings.

6. learn to live in community with others.

7. Discover appropriate an inappropriate social interaction.

8. Learn to make healthy decisions.

School VisionInternational Programs

• Students at Mercersburg will be required to travel internationally at least once while at Mercersburg.• Students will…

• Receive guidance in the importance of inter-cultural competence.

• Prepare appropriately, journal during and debrief following any international experience.

• Mercersburg will…• Continue to offer a diverse slate of programs for faculty

and students to attend.• Be provided with the financial support necessary to attend

one of many language or culture based programs.

School VisionFinance & Operations

Mercersburg Academy currently has a $193 million endowment. This endowment, along with substantial giving (approx. $7.5 million for the 2010-2011 year) allow for great stability for the school. In order to maintain that stability, Mercersburg will…1. Continue to make efforts to grow the endowment and

increase the annual fund giving through active cultivation of relationships with an alumni base of nearly 9,000 worldwide.

2. Make cautious, yet proactive decisions regarding investments, construction and programming.

3. Recruit and retain highly talented faculty, or staff, in the Business Office, Alumni & Development, the Admission Office and other key positions (e.g. Head of School).

School VisionCampus

Mercersburg will continue to maintain and improve its campus in order to provide students with state of the art physical spaces for students and teachers to learn/live

in.

• Over 300 acre campus• $26 million Burgin Center for the Arts, $9 million renovations to Nolde

Gymnasium• 50,000 volume Lenfest Library

• 47 classrooms and labs• 30 school buildings and 10 playing fields

School VisionFaculty

Mercersburg understands that the key to a successful school is through the work of competent, skilled and inspiring faculty.

With this in mind, Mercersburg will…1. Encourage and support (through time and money)

opportunities for professional development.2. Develop a yearly schedule that affords faculty time for

planning, preparation and collaboration.3. Provide opportunities for internal development through

workshops, guest speakers, observations, etc. 4. Compensate faculty well and continue to provide housing,

tuition remission for faculty children, adequate benefits and compensation for graduate degree expenses.

5. Make time at the beginning, end and during the year, for faculty training in technology, curriculum, teaching methodologies, etc.

www.mercersburg.edu