Overview

Summary: Our traditional core curriculum, enriched by hands-on projects and activities, focuses on the acquisition of solid academic skills. Small classes allow for personalized instruction that challenges each child according to their ability. NCS founder Walter Clark wrote, “This whole school was built on this thought: children need direct experience if they are to grow and learn most effectively.” Years later, our focus on direct experience remains at the heart of our program. Children learn by doing, and they grow by exploring new things, all with the guidance of caring, creative adults. In our academic program, the emphasis on experiential learning is evident in hands-on projects and lessons that focus on our location. In North Country School classes, math students learn about measurement and acquire new computer skills when they record and track the weights of newborn lambs in the barnyard. Science students study anatomy by reassembling chicken skeletons using bones from birds they harvested in the fall. Students learn the physical properties of snow pack during a winter term unit on avalanches. In English class, students write persuasive letters to elected officials about current issues they have researched; they create hand-bound, hard-cover journals of their writing and artwork. In arts electives, students paint barn murals, renovate a rowboat in disrepair, or dye wool from our sheep to use in knitting and felting projects. To help students acquire the basic and advanced skills they need in all core academic disciplines, NCS teachers employ a mix of instructional strategies. From collaborative group work to lectures to hands-on labs and projects, students experience innovative teaching strategies on a daily basis. A variety of support services is also available to meet students’ needs. Finally, North Country School embraces the use of computer technology as a critical learning tool. Homework and other class projects are posted on NCS' Google Classroom platform, facilitating student-teacher communication. The computer lab is equipped with modern video and photo editing software. While NCS keeps current with technological advances, the school takes pride in a judicious use of technology in order to minimize students' unproductive computer time.

Department Director Matthew Smith

Student/Teacher Ratio: 3:1

Average Class Size: 8

Summer Programs: Not Offered

Full Time Teachers: 25

Number of AP Courses Offered: 0

Teachers Holding Advanced Degrees: 40.0%

Number of IB Courses Offered: 0

Learning Support

• Evening Study Assistance
• Learning Center
• Learning Differences Support
• Study Skills Assistance
• Technology Center
• Writing Center
• ADD/ADHD Support

English

• Creative Writing
• Literature
• Playwriting
• Poetry

History

• United States History
• World History

Foreign Languages

Humanities / Social Sciences

• W

Sciences

• Biology
• Earth Science
• Environmental Science
• Physical Science
• Robotics

Math

• Algebra
• Calculus
• Geometry
• Trigonometry
• Pre-Calculus
• Pre-Algebra

Computer Studies

• Computer Applications
• Multimedia
• Computer Programming
• Robotics
• Digital Media

Music

• Band
• Choral Music
• Composition
• Electronic Music
• Individual Instructions
• Music Theory
• Recording
• Songwriting
• Voice
• Music Production

Performing / Visual Arts

• Acting
• Ceramics
• Design
• Drama
• Drawing
• Fiber Arts
• Film and Video
• Lighting Design
• Metal
• Painting
• Photography
• Portfolio
• Pottery
• Printmaking
• Screen-Printing
• Sculpture
• Silkscreen
• Stagecraft
• Studio Art
• Textiles
• Theater Arts
• Theater Design
• Weaving
• Woodworking
• 3-D Art
• Stage Band

Special Programs

• Community Service
• Leadership
• Outdoor Education

Dorm Life

Number of Dorms: 6

Average Students Per Dorm: 10

Number of Girls Dorms: 1

Number of Boys Dorms: 2

Dorm Amenities

• Laundry Facilities
• Lounge
• Full Kitchen

Other Dorm Amenities

Array

Student Life

Learning at NCS takes place not just in the classroom. Helping a younger housemate with math homework; packing for a weekend overnight; enjoying a Wednesday "home night" activity with housemates: these are the opportunities for recreation and sharing that round out the North Country School experience. A full weekday schedule, close-knit house life and a robust weekend program provide students with enriching experiences and help build the strong community that gives all children the vital sense that they belong. Balancing academics, arts, work and play includes making time for physical activity, socializing with friends and quiet or alone time for reading and music. We do not view students as small adults; our children need and deserve time for fun, play and invention.

Facilities

• Indoor Basketball Court
• Indoor Climbing Wall
• Technology Center
• Soccer Field
• Tennis Courts
• Waterfront
• Outdoor Climbing Wall
• Equestrian Facilities
• Cross Country Trails
• Disc Golf
• Ice Rink

Other Facilities

Clubs & Organizations

• Community Service
• Gardening Club
• Horseback Riding
• Outing Club
• Photography Club
• Skateboarding Club
• Snowboarding Club
• Theater Club
• Woodworking Club
• Yearbook
• Robotics
• Ultimate Frisbee
• GSA
• Peer Mediators
• Farming
• Outdoor Activities

Summary: ARTS: “Art every day” are words we live by at North Country School. For a school our size, we have an unusually large group of arts teachers (more than one-third of the faculty teaches an arts class) and an impressive array of course listings. All students have the equivalent of at least one art class every day, with younger students rotating through core classes in music, theatre, painting and drawing, ceramics, fiber arts, photography, and woodshop. 7th-9th graders choose from electives that provide opportunities for advanced mastery of core arts, as well as exposure to new offerings that range from documentary filmmaking to wooden boat restoration or metal shop. Students of all ages have opportunities to submit their work to juried art shows sponsored by local arts organizations. Intersession is a week in February that is dedicated to arts and crafts, and the annual spring play is a decades-old tradition that involves nearly everyone on campus. Every year the production features original sets, music, effects, and costuming that are remarkable for both their creativity and sustainability—most staging and costuming are made from recycled materials. OUTDOORS AND ATHLETICS: Taking full advantage of our spectacular mountain setting, the Outdoor Program offerings range from a walk in the woods to ambitious multi-day hiking and backpacking trips. We offer team sports: soccer, basketball, cross-country skiing and ultimate frisbee, as well as a riding program with ten horses, two riding rings and miles of mountain trails. In the winter months, we have extensive snow sport offerings: skiing and snowboarding on our own ski hill and at Whiteface Mountain, Nordic skiing, skating, and ice climbing. The outdoor program encourages students to take risks, acquire new skills, and gain confidence. All gear, except for personal clothing, is provided so that all children have the opportunity to participate in all offerings.

Arts Department Director: Sierra Grennan

Athletics Department Director: Bryan Johansmeyer

Arts

• Acting
• Ceramics
• Design
• Drama
• Drawing
• Fiber Arts
• Film and Video
• Lighting Design
• Metal
• Painting
• Photography
• Portfolio
• Pottery
• Printmaking
• Screen-Printing
• Sculpture
• Silkscreen
• Stagecraft
• Studio Art
• Textiles
• Theater Arts
• Theater Design
• Weaving
• Woodworking
• 3-D Art
• Stage Band

Interscholastic Sports

• Alpine Skiing
• Alpine Ski Racing
• Basketball
• Freestyle Skiing
• Nordic Skiing
• Snowboarding
• Soccer
• Ultimate Frisbee

Recreational Sports

• Alpine Skiing
• Basketball
• Camping
• Canoeing
• Cross Country Running
• Drill Team
• Equestrian
• Freestyle Skiing
• Hiking
• Horseback Riding
• Ice Climbing
• Ice Hockey
• Mountain Biking
• Nordic Skiing
• Nordic Ski Racing
• Outdoor Education
• Rock Climbing
• Skateboarding
• Snowboarding
• Soccer
• Table Tennis
• Ultimate Frisbee
• Cycling
• Ice Skating
• Climbing
• Skiing
• Outdoor Activities
• Trail Running
• Disc Golf
• Backpacking
• Robotics

Summary: North Country School's Secondary School Placement Program assists students in selecting an appropriate high school and supports them through the application process. The Placement Advisor works with students throughout the process. He provides coaching in SSAT test-taking strategies, application essay writing, and practice interviews.

Notable Alumni

Summary:

Department Director: Karen Culpepper