High School (15-18 years old)
This is the time to take the work done during middle school to the next level.
The second phase of adolescence starts with a shift of horizons. High school teens no longer see themselves as coming from childhood. Now they look ahead toward adulthood. Preparation for the next step after graduation takes the center of their attention. Above all, they ask “what am I going to do in my life?” Answering this question goes much deeper than just applying for college, trade school or jobs. For high schoolers, this is the first opportunity to imagine themselves as independent young adults.
Our primary goal during high school is to help our students make their vision a reality.
We offer academic classes and seminars in which students build strong intellectual capabilities. Our high schoolers analyze primary historical sources, translate texts from Latin into English, conduct experiments in a real science lab, work on the development of a catalog at the historical collection of the regional public library, participate in collaborative research with a local university, write literary and critical essays, design and build projects at a makerspace, create and appreciate art.
The students also start exploring their individual interests outside school. They are encouraged to take dual enrollment community college classes (one community college campus is adjacent to our school building). They may also attend college classes at any of Hampton Roads’ excellent universities. Students can earn professional experience in their fields of interest with apprenticeship, internship and job positions. Some recent examples of professional experiences of our students include at a Downtown Norfolk boutique hotel, the fertility and reproduction lab of Eastern Virginia Medical School, the backstage of a theater show at the Virginia Stage Company, a video production team for the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, and a Montessori professional workshop.
Building on their executive skills, our high school students become the leaders of their own work. They also take greater responsibilities in our work-study projects as well as in our communal engagement. Our high schoolers are reliable ushers for the entire student matinee season of the Virginia Stage Company. They conduct primary historical research and write wiki-pages for public history projects at the regional public library. They also design and build furniture for school. Additionally, our students hold after-school clubs, organize holiday events, and create school merchandise.
Not less importantly, as is common to Montessori schools, our high schoolers mentor their younger peers. They present a role model of how to lead an inclusive community in which each student feels valued and empowered.