The Learning Loop: Curricular Highlights at Chatham Hall

In my role as Director of Teaching, Learning, and Research, I oversee all aspects of teaching and learning within the traditional academic setting. As I settled into this role this summer, I was delighted by our unique and vast course offerings, and I wanted to share some highlights from my perspective. Having spent my career at other independent schools, I have a sense of what courses are typically offered to high school students. 

First, our English department offers seniors the opportunity to examine specific topics in place of a survey course. This year, seniors are taking courses such as “Literature and History of the Meiji Restoration 1868-1912” and “The Foodies: Modern Gastronomy, Art, Culture, & Literature.” Classes like these enable students to connect the discipline of English—its skills, in particular—to other subject areas and aspects of their lives, allowing them to derive deeper meanings. 

Our science department offers elective courses to students who have completed the Physics, Chemistry, and Biology sequence, reflecting both the teachers’ and students’ passions. This year, our electives include semester-long courses such as Anatomy and Physiology, Neurobiology, Earth Science, Forensics, and Equine Science. Students taking these classes have shared with me that they find these classes helpful in previewing what they want to pursue in college. 

Our math program is designed to support and challenge all students, meeting them where they are in their current math skills. This year, I have worked closely with our math department to add classes to the schedule that best fit our students’ needs, including adding a course that helps students transition from Algebra II to Pre-Calculus. We’re also excited to have students in Multivariable Calculus this year and support their work in advanced math. Finally, we offer an Advanced Computer Science Coding class that counts as a math class for our students, providing them with multiple pathways to excel in advanced math. 

In social studies, we have opportunities similar to those offered in specific topics in English, as well as unique electives such as those in the science department. Our juniors take a U.S. history class, and unlike schools that offer a survey of U.S. history, we provide students with a foundation to understand U.S. history in the fall semester. In the spring, students explore U.S. history through a specific lens. This year, spring semester course options include: "History by Hollywood," an examination of U.S. history through film; "African American Making History"; and "Boom to Bust to Boom," which examines key turning points in the twentieth century. In addition to our U.S. history classes, our dynamic offerings include electives such as International Relations, Psychology, Economics, and our signature global programs, including Global Scholars and Global Entrepreneurship. These courses, combined, reflect our intent to have students explore the many disciplines within social studies, rather than focusing solely on history.

Finally, in the arts, we offer a well-rounded program that allows students to participate in the arts in a manner fitting to them. In both the visual arts and photography, we offer a five-course sequence that culminates in a portfolio that students can share in their college applications. Our choir class allows students the opportunity several times a week to perform in front of an audience in Chapel. Our music program also offers private piano lessons, taught by our choir director. Our student-led yearbook class allows students to learn about the creative and publishing processes. We offer design-thinking courses such as Makerspace and CAD/CAM, supporting our mission for a student-centered and innovative experience for students at Chatham Hall. Ultimately, our dance instructor leverages her extensive knowledge of dance and dance history to offer a multidisciplinary dance experience for students.

As a whole, our academic program provides students with the foundation they need to be successful in college while also offering them opportunities to pursue their diverse passions. We want our students to feel excited about their learning, and these classes are certainly helping us achieve that!