Upper School Philosophy & Approach

As the world transforms at an unprecedented pace, Wakefield offers the foundational skills and the flexibility to provide for our students now and in the future.

Our Upper School education is not a fixed path but a dynamic compass navigating students towards their educational goals and passions. Instilled with curiosity and a self-driven approach to learning, Wakefield students become adaptable thinkers, primed to make meaningful contributions to the world around them.

 

Character

Character Lies at the Heart of Wakefield's Ethos, Informing Our Curriculum and Way of Life

 A Wakefield education extends far beyond textbooks and exams. It's about self-discovery and a deep connection to our community.

 

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Character

Character Lies at the Heart of Wakefield's Ethos, Informing Our Curriculum and Way of Life

 A Wakefield education extends far beyond textbooks and exams. It's about self-discovery and a deep connection to our community.

Ownership of learning demands higher levels of engagement, accountability, and service from Wakefield students from which character development naturally ensues. Living the Wakefield Way underpins academic life: respect and civility which ensures that Wakefield is a place for all students to pursue their interests and find purpose in a place where they are valued and respected as diverse individuals.

Our Advisory program ensures that each student is supported in their academic and personal growth while building strong connections between students and faculty. Through the bonds forged in daily advisory sessions, we lay a foundation for respectful interactions in our community, encouraging leadership skills and lasting connections.

At Wakefield we believe character development isn't just about personal growth; it's also about serving others. Active participation in our student-led Community Council offers our Upper School students valuable opportunities to develop decision-making, collaboration, and responsible leadership skills, as they shape our school community. With programs like the Green Initiative and MyImpact Challenge that cultivate environmental stewardship and drive civic engagement, promoting initiative, exploration, and a deep awareness of service to others, our students take the time to identify and address the societal and environmental needs of our greater community. 

 

upper school students reading to a lower school student

student and teacher working on an assignment

 

Curiosity

A Wakefield Education Fosters Student-Initiated Inquiries Into New Fields of Study Shaped by the Energy of Students' Own Interests and Passions.

Curiosity is the driving force behind learning in our Upper School. Our community offers students a safe environment to take risks and explore their interests, whether in the classroom, on the stage, or on the field.

 

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Curiosity

A Wakefield Education Fosters Student-Initiated Inquiries Into New Fields of Study Shaped by the Energy of Students' Own Interests and Passions.

Curiosity is the driving force behind learning in our Upper School. Our community offers students a safe environment to take risks and explore their interests, whether in the classroom, on the stage, or on the field. With nearly 90% athletics participation and over half the student body actively engaged in both athletics and performing arts, international trips to broaden thirst for discovery, and a rural hilltop campus offering the perfect setting to study the biodiversity of an old-growth forest, our students are doing just that. 

At Wakefield, students have the agency to determine what their interests are and how to pursue them, as we provide avenues for independent study, and empower students to create opportunities that align with their passions. If a student's interest isn't already represented at Wakefield, we encourage them to take the lead–in their academics and their student life. 

The Wakefield Senior Capstone affords students the opportunity to take ownership of their education. This unique year-long, intellectual journey culminates in a product of their own design. Students, charged to “create something that satisfies intellectual curiosity,” present their research about a topic of which they are passionate in a medium best suited to their study –  traditional research papers, documentary films, architectural designs, prototype engineering, staged original plays, guidebooks, and more. 

Some take this opportunity to research a field that falls in line with their professional aspirations while others take the opportunity to study a topic of interest that they will never have the time and structure to pursue in the future.

 

 

Clear Voices

Students are Challenged to Stretch Themselves Both Intellectually and Creatively to Communicate with Confidence and Clarity.

Founded on studious inquiry, encouraged by supportive faculty, and reinforced by the Wakefield Way students develop the confidence to express themselves through various means inside and outside of the classroom.

 

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Clear Voices

Students are Challenged to Stretch Themselves Both Intellectually and Creatively to Communicate with Confidence and Clarity.

Founded on studious inquiry, encouraged by supportive faculty, and reinforced by the Wakefield Way students develop the confidence to express themselves through various means inside and outside of the classroom. Clear voices enable students to work effectively with others and impact their world through skillful articulation of thoughts and ideas.

Small group discussions allow students to engage one another through debate and discussion, encouraging vital skills such as active listening and inquiry while fostering a commitment to the idea that all voices and perspectives are heard and welcomed. Before becoming contributing citizens in the “real world,” our students first learn to be contributing citizens of their classrooms.

The teaching of writing and research as a separate course in the curriculum remains at the center of the Wakefield experience. This separation reflects the fact that effective writing and communication is the most interdisciplinary skill a student can acquire. Students develop the ability to think critically and to communicate effectively and creatively while learning proper research techniques that enable them to craft well-structured arguments.

Wakefield's Upper School balances its strengths in focused and in-depth academics with a committed, close-knit community dedicated to supporting one another and celebrating each individual's accomplishments, whether they occur inside the classroom or without. The Wakefield Courtesies form the backbone of our academic life, guiding us with standards of civility that make our school a safe and healthy place to find our voices and pursue our passions, whatever they may be.

 

two students getting ready for graduation ceremony

Curriculum Guide

By ensuring that students both pursue their already-existing passions and also uncover and develop new and unanticipated interests and potential, the Wakefield course of study is designed to fulfill Wakefield’s vision of developing capable, ethical, and articulate citizens who feel empowered to take ownership of their unique learning experiences. 

Upper School Course Catalog

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school courtyard in autumn