Upper School
Principal's Message
Welcome to the St. Margaret's Upper School. For the past twenty-eight years, I have been a part of this institution and it is with complete confidence that I encourage you to get to know our program, our campus, our teachers and our learning environment. St. Margaret's is a school with a sense of purpose and a clear mission to educate the hearts and minds of young people for lives of learning, leadership and service. We are proud of our reputation as a school with a community of students, faculty and staff, and parents who are enthusiastic and have a deep intellectual commitment to our programs.
While the Upper School Curriculum Guide will help you understand our mission, the only way to truly appreciate the Upper School experience is to visit our classrooms, witness the creativity that is present in our arts offerings, and observe our athletic teams and other extra-curricular activities.
The Pasternack Field House and DeYoung Family Math and Science Center which completed the Upper School campus have supplemented our program in immeasurable ways. The physical plant aside, I am very proud of our program and our teachers. St. Margaret's requirements in the traditional fields of English, history, mathematics, science and foreign language are demanding, as is expected of a college preparatory school, yet the atmosphere is warm and supportive.
Beyond the basics of educational programs, St. Margaret's sense of community and its caring environment are central to our accomplishments. Our parents have identified two key factors, community and small class size which allows for a level of support and concern that assist our students to succeed, as a key to our success.
Our students and teachers share the responsibility of learning. Faculty works deliberately to make the St. Margaret's experience exciting and intellectually challenging, and our students respond by giving their best in a school climate that encourages choices and freedom.
The structured freedom that exists in our Upper School allows students to take ownership of their personal and collective experience. Through classroom discussions and the opportunity to participate in a multitude of clubs and student organizations such as Peer Counselors, Honor Committee and our student government, students grow into independent and self-assured leaders.
Interscholastic athletics are an important part of the Upper School experience for most St. Margaret's students. We offer a wide array of athletic teams and, as a result of student interest, we have recently started lacrosse, swimming, and wrestling teams. Most of the teams have a "no-cut" policy, and the teams are able to accommodate a wide range of ability levels and be successful.
Our Upper School is composed of students who are different from each other in many wonderful ways but who are all quite purposeful in their commitment to both serious academic pursuits and living honorably.
I invite you to peruse this Curriculum Guide and, more important, visit St. Margaret's to fully witness the excitement that is everywhere in the Upper School.
Sincerely,
David Boyle
Upper School Principal
Associate Headmaster