Class of 2025: Welcome to the Upper School!

We cannot wait for you to join our dynamic community, and we are eager to share our academic program with you. The Upper School offers a wide array of programs, research opportunities, and community and student organizations. With this in mind, we have developed a process specifically designed for our Ninth Graders to guide and support your entrance to our community. Over the next few months, you will have a range of opportunities to:

• Build Connections: Ninth Graders will be paired with a current student who will offer a personal connection to our community and serve as a guiding resource for questions. Over the summer, you will also meet your academic advisor, who will support you throughout your first year in the Upper School.

• Learn About the Academic Program: Our 2021-2022 Academic Catalog will open to rising Ninth Graders on April 30, and you will be able to view our course offerings and signature programs for the upcoming school year. In addition, on May 24, we will host a webinar tailored specifically for Ninth Graders and their families. You will meet your teaching team, Dean, and program directors for next year, and we will provide plenty of time for questions and introductions.

• Get Ready: In addition to course registration, the summer will bring access to our online bookstore, as well as information for Pre-Season Athletics (August 23 - September 3) and New Student Orientation (September 1-3).

As you review the academic registration information below, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions. All of us on the Upper School Faculty look forward to an exciting year ahead!

Dr. Andrew Ruoss

Upper School Academic Dean

e: andrew.ruoss@gcds.net

p: 203-542-0033

Grade 9 Registration Checklist

• Each student has 8 course periods in their schedule. A student must be registered for 7 courses in order to be considered a fully registered student in good standing. We recommend that Ninth Grade students register for 7 courses, along with a study hall (proctored in 9th and 10th grades). Only in rare cases do we support a Ninth Grader's enrollment in 8 courses. Please contact the Academic Dean with questions.

• Ninth Grade students enroll in a core sequence of courses, outlined below. We encourage Ninth Grade students to use their elective course opening to explore Arts courses. This provides important early exposure to our expansive Arts program, and it also covers graduation requirements so that there are no surprises later on. In addition, students may also register for courses in Computer Science and Engineering, as well as for 9/10 Elective Courses. Ninth Graders will be paired with their academic advisor later this summer. In the interim, please contact the Academic Dean with any questions.

• Ninth Grade students will have the opportunity to elect Honors in their History, English, and Science courses during the first 3 weeks of the school year.

• Students may add or drop a course (or Honors designation) prior to the Add/Drop Date: Sept 30, 2021 (Semester 1); February 23, 2022 (Semester II)

• Students will register for Intersession 2022 during the fall semester.

• Students will be automatically registered for the Seminar course for their grade.

• Please mark your calendars for the evening of Monday, May 24. The Upper School Faculty will host a webinar for rising Ninth Grade students. This will include an overview of our Academic Program, as well as an introduction to our Ninth Grade Faculty. In addition, the evening will include conversations with our Community Life team and information sessions for our five Diploma Programs. More information to come soon!

• From May 25 - May 28, Ninth Grade students will have the opportunity to indicate their preferences for elective courses through an Upper School registration portal. You will receive more information on this process in mid-May.

Grade 9 Academic Registration

• History 9: Global History*

9th Grade Global History is team-taught with our Global Literature course to synthesize the foundational skills of a global humanities curriculum.

Honors Option Available

• English 9: Global Literature *

Honors Option Available

• Biology *

Honors Option Available

• Math *

Level Recommended by Math Faculty - Placement will be established on May 13 and 14 for Old Church Road students, and on May 15 for students new to GCDS.

• World Language *

Level Recommended by World Languages Faculty - Placement will be established on May 13 and 14 for Old Church Road students, and on May 15 for students new to GCDS.

• Seminar 9: The Design Process *

Seminar is a required annual course within the Upper School's program, and it takes on a different role for each grade. In Ninth Grade, Seminar focuses on the core skills of project design and collaborative problem-solving, and it supports the grade-level theme of identity.

• Elective/Arts

We encourage 9th grade students to explore electives in the Arts, as well as in Computer Science, Sustainability, and Journalism.

• Study Hall/Elective

While most 9th graders will include a Study Hall in their schedule, students should discuss the potential of an eighth course with their Advisor

and with the Academic Dean.

* Required Course

Graduation Requirements

Our Graduation Requirements are designed to ensure maximum flexibility for our students, encouraging their greatest ambition in the pursuit of their learning. These requirements serve as broad guardrails, and do not represent the total academic experience of any of our students. For example, more than 90% of our students pursue 4 years of one or more world languages. All students must be enrolled in at least 7 courses each semester.

Humanities (English, History/Social Science): 7 credits (Required 4 years of English and at least 3 years of Social Science)

STEM (Science, Computer Science, Engineering, Math): 6 credits with a minimal completion of Algebra II in Math (Recommended at least 3 years of Math and Science, including Biology, Chemistry, and Physics)

Seminar: 4 credits

World Language: Minimum of 2 credits in target language with demonstrated proficiency at a Level III course required (A three year minimum recommended sequence)

Arts (visual or performing): 1 credit

Team & Fitness: 2 seasons team and 2 seasons fitness per year***

Intersession Experience: 4 years (passing grade)

Junior Thesis: (passing grade)

Presentation of Learning: 4 years (passing grade)

*A full-year course earns one credit, a semester course earns ½ credit.

**In the case of a cross-listed course, a student may count the course only once toward their graduation requirements.

***Every student is required to participate in two (2) team activities and two (2) fitness activities annually. Participation on a sports team, whether interscholastic or club, will count for one team activity and one fitness activity. Other examples of team activities can be co-curricular clubs (robotics team, Model UN, debate club, etc) and performing arts options (fall musical, jazz band, acapella groups, etc). Obtaining a fitness requirement, other than participating in interscholastic and intramural teams, could include partaking in a school offered fitness program (strength and conditioning, spin class, yoga, etc ) for 90 minutes a week through the fall or spring term.