BringingLearning to Life

“There’s something magical atWhitby. My three kids lookforward to each day andalmost skip into the building.They feel a level of respect,attention, and nurturing thathas a positive impact on howthey take ownership of theirwork and how they learn.”– WHITBY PARENT

Welcome toWhitby School!For many parents, their most cherished dreamis for their children to become the unique andamazing people they are meant to be. At Whitby,that’s our dream too.

Whitby takes an innovative, disciplined and proven approach to educatingstudents from preschool through 8th grade.We invite you to discover whyour parents value the strengths and distinctive characteristics of aWhitbyeducation – including why…

…Whitby’s powerful combination of the philosophy and principles ofMontessori and the International Baccalaureate develops each child’sunique potential while inspiring a passion to learn.

…Respecting the child’s individuality as a learner and a human beingpromotes self confidence, independence and high achievement.

…Fostering international-mindedness prepares students to becomeproductive and successful citizens in the 21st century global community.

…Whitby’s warm and engaged community creates a school that is safe forexploring and risk taking in learning while nurturing friendship, compassionand service.

…Providing a continuum of learning progressively builds the critical thinking,collaboration and communication skills that lead to post-graduationachievement and success.

As you read on, you’ll learn more about each level of the school and see whymore parents are choosingWhitby. As for the children, they love coming toschool atWhitby where they thrive on being challenged and engaged bymeaningful learning experiences every single day.

Whitby brings learning to life.1

The ScIence BehIndMonTeSSorIWhitby is the birthplace of the AmericanMonstessori Society and the oldestcontinuing Montessori school in theUnited States. The power of the Montessoriteaching approach, developed by Dr. MariaMontessori more than one hundred yearsago, has been proven by modern researchto enhance performance, interest, persist-ence, memory, and creativity in learning.

For more on Montessori, go towww.whitbyschool.org/montessori.

FAcTS ABouT TheInTernATIonALLyAccLAIMed IB progrAM

• IB is the fastest growing educationalprogram in the world, with more than3,000 IB schools in over 140 countries.

• IB offers three sequential programs: thePrimary Years Program, the Middle YearsProgram—both of which are offered atWhitby—and the Diploma Program forthe high school years.

• IB consists of four key elements: achallenging and continually evaluatedcurriculum, ongoing student assessment,faculty professional development andsupport, authorization and evaluation bythe IB Organization.

• IB schools are consistently highly ranked.Since 2007 IB schools have made up morethan one third of the Newsweek top 100high schools list.

• IB high school graduates have higheracceptance rates to top American andinternational universities and greateracademic achievement in college.

For more about IB, visitwww.whitbyschool.org/ib.

Two proven educational approaches underpina Whitby education.

The first isMontessori: Rooted in the child’s innate inclination to learn,Montessori’s activity-based methodologies are known for developingindependent learners from the earliest ages.

The second is the International Baccalaureate (IB):With an internationallyrecognized standard of excellence, the IB’s transdisciplinary curriculumgives children the intellectual tools to understand and navigate thecomplexities of today’s world. Together these complementary approachesgive structure toWhitby’s curriculum, as well as the flexibility teachersneed to accommodate students’diverse interests and learning styles.

Whitby is the only pre-K to 8th grade school in America accreditedby both the American Montessori Society and the InternationalBaccalaureate. These designations recognize the consistent high qualityof our curriculum and the high level of training and certification of ourteachers. In both philosophy and practice, Montessori and IB are anideal fit, dovetailing atWhitby in powerful ways.

BOTH MONTESSORI AND IB:• Take a holistic approach, placing students at the center of learning• Allow for individualization of curricula to meet the child’s interestsand needs• Foster curiosity and critical thinking and cultivate a passion for learning• Have been proven successful by research, college acceptance andachievement

At the heart of a Whitby education aretwo world-renowned and complementaryeducational approaches.

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“It’s amazing all the ways they are learningand they’re so happy, too!”– PARENT OF 3 WHITBY CHILDREN

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nurTurIng The WhoLe chILdWhitby understands that learning goesbeyond the classroom and offers:

• Physical Education classes, withinterscholastic athletics starting in 3rd grade.

• A strong fine and performing arts program,with music, art, and drama activities closelylinked to classroom units of inquiry.

• Healthy, organic snack foods—and theopportunity to see and taste vegetablesfrom our own organic garden, which alsoplays a role in our academic curriculum.

• Extra support for both remedial andadvanced learning through SAIL, theSpecial Assistance In Learning team.

• Enriching after school activities and summerprograms ranging from chess to golf.

Children are born with dignity, a sense ofpride, and an inquisitive nature that spursthem to wonder about their world.

AtWhitby, it is our privilege to gently and respectfully guide childrenwithout ever doing their thinking for them. Our 6:1 student to facultyratio ensures that children’s individual needs and aspirations aslearners are met, and their progress is closely monitored. Teachers atWhitby create a peaceful, warm, and respectful atmosphere thatfosters not only intellectual development, but also social, emotionaland physical growth and an overall sense of well being. In theclassrooms, on the playing fields, and in the art and music rooms,children are supported as they demonstrate poise, show respect,pursue passions, discover talents, develop self-confidence, and enjoya diversity of challenging and rewarding formative experiences.

We respect the child’s individuality as alearner and uniqueness as a human being.

“Human beings have an innate inner driveto be autonomous, self-determined, andconnected to one another. And when thatdrive is liberated, people achieve more andricher lives…Maria Montessori figured thisout a long time ago.”– DANIEL P INK ,Author of New York Timesbestsellers, AWhole NewMind andDrive: The Surprising Truth AboutWhat Motivates Us

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“We initially considered Whitby because wewere familiar with the strong academic andinternational focus of the IB program and thenafter visiting the school, we knew it would bea good fit with our family.”– WHITBY PARENT RELOCATED FROM ENGLAND

Learning about the world’s countries and cultures,people and perspectives is central to our academicas well as the IB mission.

Inherent in this mission is the study of world languages:Whitby students studySpanish from Primary (kindergarten) on up, while electives in Chinese andFrench are available starting in first grade. Middle school students (7th and 8thgrade) add another real world dimension to their transdisciplinary learning bytaking a yearly trip abroad.

This globally focused education is significantly strengthened by the ethnic andcultural diversity of our school community. Whitby families come from over 40countries, speak more than 15 languages with a third of the students speakinga second language at home. Many parents chooseWhitby expressly because itoffers true multicultural diversity and because they are excited about cross-cultural learning from family to family and classmate to classmate. Thisdiversity provides an ideal context for global learning and experiences thathave a profound effect upon a child’s emerging worldview.

Whitby fosters international-mindedness byencouraging students across the world tounderstand that other people, with theirdifferences, can also be right.

BecoMIngInTernATIonALLy MIndedThe aim of all IB programs is todevelop internationally mindedpeople who, recognizing our commonhumanity and shared guardianship ofthe planet, strive to develop these tencore characteristics which comprise theIB Learner Profile:InquirersKnowledgeableThinkersCommunicatorsPrincipledOpen-mindedCaringRisk-takersBalancedReflective 5

enrIchIng coMMunITyevenTSOur engaged parents act as hosts,organizers, and volunteers for suchmeaningful community events as:

•May Fair, a traditional celebration thatincludes maypole dancing, a parade, and avariety of fun activities for families.

• Class Picnics, a Teacher AppreciationLuncheon, and several welcoming eventsfor new families.

• An annual Shakespeare play, Café Night anda number of other student performancesand productions.

• The Annual Benefit, an exciting auctionand celebratory dinner event.

• Book Fairs and Family Night entertainment.

When new families join the Whitbycommunity of parents, students, faculty,and staff, they become part of a schoolculture that values friendship, compassion,involvement, and service.

Children atWhitby experience these community values throughvarious school endeavors, from food and clothing drives for the needyto fundraising efforts to benefit children in developing nations, fromcaring for the environment to giving musical performances for theelderly in nursing homes and hospitals. BothWhitby parents andfaculty serve as role models and resources while our parents also getinvolved with classroom learning by sharing cultural knowledge andprofessional experiences. A great many parents are active volunteersat school events that bring us together for a common cause or just forfun.Whitby families truly care about the school and each other.

Whitby’s community of families is warm,welcoming, and meaningfully engaged inthe school and greater community.

“My son said he found Whitby to be veryfriendly. He told me the school has awelcoming committee—and everyone’s on it!”– PARENT OF A NEW WHITBY STUDENT

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From the Children’s House to the 8th grade,a Whitby education provides great continuityand coherence.

Starting in preschool, children are exposed to inquiry-based learning,examining topics and ideas frommultiple perspectives, and constructingmeaning from doing the work themselves. Our mixed-age classrooms(for example, grades 1 and 2 learn together) provide not only continuitybut also such academic and social advantages as progressing at one’sown pace and developmental timeline. Spending two years with thesame teacher or teachers results in more effective and efficient learning,plus each student alternates frommodeling the behavior of older peersto being a mentor and leader. From toddler to 8th grade graduate,Whitby students progressively build their thinking and learning skills,sense of social responsibility, and self-motivation. It’s no wonder twothirds of our students qualify for the prestigious John Hopkins TalentSearch and that our graduates find success in both acceptance rates andachievement at highly competitive secondary schools.

A Whitby education provides an unparalleledcontinuum of growth and learning.

LeArn More ABouTour dIvISIonS:The children’s houseAges 14 months–6 years page 10

elementaryGrades 1–4 page 14

Middle SchoolGrades 5–8 page 18

“My 12 years at Whitby gave me not only a greatacademic foundation for high school but also theconfidence to step right in – from participating inclass, landing the lead role in the school play tobeing elected Freshman class President.”– WHITBY GRADUATE

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children’s house

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The Children’s House is the section of the schooldedicated to educating our youngest learners. Themotto here is “Follow the Child.” In well-ordered,developmentally appropriate classrooms, under thesupervision of expertly trained, experienced andcaring teachers, children’s own love of explorationallows them to take the lead in their learning.

dIFFerenTIATed LeArnIngEach multi-age classroom has two or more teachers, enabling children toengage in a variety of individual and small group learning activities. AsMontessori and IB trained instructors, Whitby’s teachers respect thedevelopmental timeline of each individual child. No child is rushed, nor isany child held back to keep pace with peers. This is differentiated learning atits best, when children are encouraged to go as far as their natural curiositytakes them.

The prepAred envIronMenTEach room in the Children’s House is designed to foster social and cognitivedevelopment and to lay the foundation for learning in different academicareas. In various parts of the room, children explore practical life activities,sensorial experiences, math, language, culture, and science. Appealing,hands-on learning materials encourage concentration and focus, and enablestudents to self-correct and derive fulfillment from their own success. In theMontessori environment, materials on shelves are organized from left toright, top to bottom, and simple to complex, imprinting an ordered way oflooking at the world and preparing the mind for reading, understandingnumbers systems, and perceiving patterns.

“I chose Whitby for two simple but very importantreasons. One, the opportunity to teach what I and mypeers recognize as a superior educational approach andtwo, it was clearly the best school for my own child.”–WHITBY CHILDREN’S HOUSE TEACHER

THE FORMATIVE YEARSMore than 100 years ago, Dr. Maria Montessori recognized what currentresearch confirms: early experiences are critical to a child’s braindevelopment.Whitby creates an environment where children enjoyand learn from positive interactions with other children and teachers.This gentle, noncompetitive social context instills respect for others,respect for work and for the materials of the classroom, and a sense ofthe rewards of discovery.

VARIED LEARNING EXPERIENCESChildren in the Stepping Stones classrooms benefit from a very low5:1 student to teacher ratio and from a cohesive, thematically basedcurriculum that addresses language development, mathematics, science,sensory development, and cultural learning. A playground for eachclassroom provides for gross motor development. Enrichment activitiesinclude music, dance, and exploration of the natural world via theWhitbycampus and the school’s organic garden.

First Steps & Stepping Stones14–18 months & 18months–3 years

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HANDS-ON LEARNINGAt the Primary level, children continue to learn through interaction witha carefully prepared environment.Whether they are serving water withceramic pitchers and real glasses in the practical life area, or manipulatingcolored bead chains that teach skip counting and multiplication, childrenare developing fine motor control. Each time they take something off theshelf where it belongs, use it at an appropriate table, and return it to theshelf for the next child to use, they are reinforcing their respect for materials,sense of order, and genuine ownership over their learning.

INTEGRATING THE IB CURRICULUMEach year in Primary, children explore different Units of Inquiry that arethematically related to the academic areas. For example, under the IBtransdisciplinary theme of “WhoWe Are” is Primary’s “All about Me”unit.With the central idea that examining our identities helps us connect toourselves and others in the world, children might study the geographyof their origins, make graphs or do other math-based activities withinformation they collect, learn about the literary genre of biography, andwrite and present their own autobiographies.

Ages 3–6 Kindergarten—called Primary 3at Whitby —is one of the mostimportant learning experiencesin a person’s life. Supportingevidence continues to mount:a 2010 New York Times articlediscussed the research of Harvardeconomist Raj Chetty, statingthat not only can “good earlyeducation impart skills that lasta lifetime — patience, discipline,manners, perseverance” but that“students who had learnedmuch more in kindergarten weremore likely to go to college thanstudents with otherwise similarbackgrounds and perhaps moststriking, they were earning more.”

KIndergArTen IS Keyprimary

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Mixed-age classes of grades 1 and 2 are referredto as Lower Elementary, while mixed classes ofgrades 3 and 4 are known as Middle Elementary.Children thus spend two full years with the sameteachers—who come to know each childextremely well—resulting in a more secureand comfortable learning environment.

As a consequence, the enthusiasm for learning is enhanced and studentsmore concretely build the fundamental skills that will be the basis of theirfuture academic accomplishments.

TrAnSdIScIpLInAry unITSIn accordance with the Montessori-IB curriculum, elementary studentsgain knowledge and develop skills in such areas as English, math, andscience by delving into conceptually based units. For example, under thetransdisciplinary theme of “WhereWe Are in Time and Place”, studentsmight explore the central idea of how architecture reflects the function,beauty, spiritual significance, and power of a culture. About 60 to 70percent of their daily work—whether in math or music—will relate to theunit. Whitby students thus learn to approach and understand conceptsand phenomena from a variety of perspectives.

noT coverIng—dIScoverIng!Active learning is a major feature of theWhitby experience, as studentsderive knowledge not from what the teacher tells them, but from whatthe teacher asks them and from the work they do themselves. In atransportation-focused unit, for example, students conducted sciencelabs on aerodynamics, buoyancy, and friction. They studied and displayedfindings on important milestones in transportation history, and they drewand wrote creatively about their own make-believe mode of transportation.

Grades 1–4

elementary

“It’s just so much more fun to learn at Whitby. Atmy old school I waited for my teacher to ask mequestions. At Whitby, I really feel like I’m part ofthe class and it’s OK to ask questions.”– WHITBY 4TH GRADE STUDENT 13

TEACHING A WAY OF THINKINGWhitby elementary students begin learning how to effectively gather andsynthesize information. For example, a unit covering economics includedreading books about child entrepreneurs, managing their own virtualchecking account, questioning guest experts, and operating a class store todonating to an organization that gives microloans to small business people.These activities also emphasize a way of thinking that includes how toanalyze, problem solve and then take action.

Whitby seeks to develop the type of student who understands that mathis something to be applied to the world, and that history is not aboutmemorizing dates but about figuring out why things happen.

ARTS AND ENRICHMENTAlong with math, English, science, Spanish and cultural studies, theelementary education incorporates Information CommunicationsTechnology which engages students in the process of design, developsskill with using the design cycle and provides experiential learning throughhands-on activities and problem solving opportunities. Whitby alsointegrates the visual and performing arts. In addition to weekly art andmusic classes, students have the opportunity to participate in the chorusand band ensembles. Additionally, each grade stages its own play ordramatic performance–one that has been written or specially chosen tomeaningfully relate to themes and ideas explored in the classroom. Theseperformances are among many opportunities students have to hone theirpublic speaking, presentation, and communication skills.

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“It is a real testament tothe quality, training anddedication of the Whitbyfaculty to see the results ofa recent school-wide parentperception survey thatrevealed remarkably strongratings of both the facultyand academic program.”– WHITBY BOARD MEMBER

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Whitby’s 5th and 6th graders learn together,providing for a smoother transition to the in-depthsubject, discipline-based academic challenges ofmiddle school. Role models and school leaders,students in 7th and 8th grade solidify theirknowledge, critical thinking skills, independenceand self confidence as unique individuals, whiledemonstrating a commitment to others—all ofwhich are needed for success at the secondarylevel and beyond.

IB For MIddLe SchooL STudenTSIn grades 5–8,Whitby students pursue an IB curriculum called theMiddleYearsProgram (MYP). The overriding ideas that bind subject areas together andserve as the themes for interdisciplinary units are: Approaches to Learning(emphasizing learning skills and knowledge of learning styles); Community andService (cultivating active contributors to the community); Human Ingenuity(exploring thinking, inventing, and creating); Environments (including social,political, economic, and cultural factors); and Health and Social Education(focusing on healthy life decisions and personal responsibility).

TechnoLogy AT WhITByWhitby capitalizes on the best innovative technologies that enhanceteaching and learning. For example, in pre-algebra and algebra, middleschool students use a web-based, artificially intelligent assessment andlearning system that works like an online tutor. Whitby leverages the use ofSmartboards and a wide variety of software and online applications from thefull suite of Google Apps to Diigo and Glogster. Whitby also systematicallyfosters the growth of students’ technology skills through class work. In designtechnology classes, for example, students study media in order to raise theirawareness of howmedia affects them, to identify the various uses of media,how to use media safely and as an effective form of communication fortheir own ideas.

Grades 5–8

Middle School

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A CULMINATING EXPERIENCEA trip outside the United States each spring is an exciting, culminatingeducational experience for 7th and 8th graders. Academic work throughoutthe year prepares students to fully appreciate and learn from the places theyvisit. For example, as part of their interdisciplinary study of the Renaissance,students visited Venice, Florence, Assisi, and Rome. The trip tied in to theirculture studies exploration of the meaning of a “Renaissance person”(historically and now), their unit on travel writing, their study of Italian opera(they also wrote, performed, and recorded their own operas), and theirperformance of two Shakespeare plays set in Italy--The Merchant of Veniceand Julius Caesar.

SECONDARY SCHOOL SUCCESSWhitby is committed to having the region’s strongest Secondary Schoolplacement program. Our goal is to ensure each graduate will continue his orher education at a secondary school that is an optimal match based theirstrengths, interests and needs. Overseen by the Director of Secondary SchoolPlacement, this collaborative program assists and supports each studentthrough every step of the process—including standardized test preparation,mock interviews, essay writing, an annual secondary school fair, applicationcompletion and insightful letters of recommendation. The result isWhitbygraduates attend a variety of highly selective secondary schools with ninetypercent accepted at their first choice of high school.

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WhITBy deveLopSLIFeLong SKILLS

Whitby graduates possess poise,confidence, and communicationskills—and all are on displayduring the 8th grade graduationceremony. Demonstrating theskills they began to developback in their Primary class-rooms, where they wrote andpresented their autobiographies,Whitby 8th graders all writeand articulately deliver theirown graduation speeches for theentire school community.

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Founded in 1958—America’s oldestexisting Montessori School

375 students in preschool–8th grade

Only U.S. school accredited by boththe American Montessori Society andthe International Baccalaureate forpre-K to grade 8

Recognized for a proven, exemplaryacademic program and staff excellence

Low 6:1 student-faculty ratio

Diverse student body with40 countries represented

Modern facilities on beautiful25-acre campus

Two thirds of students qualify for theprestigious Johns Hopkins Talent Search

90% of Whitby grads accepted at theirfirst choice of high school

At a glance

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DesignandPhotography:©PeapodDesign,NewCanaan,CT

CAIS

The MissionBuilding upon the principles of the Montessori philosophy andthe International Baccalaureate Programs, Whitby Schoolinspires academic excellence, independence and a passion forlearning while motivating our students to confidently take actionas contributing members of a diverse global community.

AMontessori IBWorld School

969 Lake AvenueGreenwich, CT 06831203.869.8464www.whitbyschool.org