By Carol P. Bartold

Mar. 2, 2016:  In a presentation to the Bronxville Board of Education at its February 25 meeting, high school principal Ann Meyer discussed results of a 2013 survey of graduates and how the district has used those results to shape educational opportunities for students within the dispositions of The Bronxville Promise.

To meet 21st-century demands and opportunities, the district adopted The Bronxville Promise to give all students and faculty members the clear vision of the knowledge and skills needed to innovate ("To innovate, discover, and create. To make something new from what you know"), lead ("To find your voice and communicate clearly in order to lead with passion and persistence"), think critically ("To think critically, explore nature, history, and culture. To gain the understanding and courage to change"), and engage in the world ("To collaborate and serve. To engage in the world around you and make it a better place"). For a full statement of The Bronxville Promise, go to http://www.bronxvilleschool.org/about/bronxville-promise1/.

The survey of graduates in the classes of 2000 through 2013 was conducted in the fall of 2013 and generated 143 responses. The responses were received mostly from graduates in the more recent classes and were split almost evenly between male and female respondents.

The survey results indicated that the respondents experienced a welcome, nurturing environment at Bronxville High School, where they were recognized as individuals. The respondents felt that the school provided meaningful learning experiences as well as strong positive interactions between faculty and students.

In assessing their preparation for college, graduates stated that they were better prepared in reading, critical thinking, and problem-solving and less prepared in research, writing, and technology skills.

The district has worked in the areas of instruction, curriculum, assessment, and technology to realize the dispositions of The Bronxville Promise. 

Meyer noted that high school students are being offered choices in what they study and how they learn, as well as more opportunities to investigate within a strong process of research. "Providing students a choice of what they research engages them in the topic," she said. "How they present it allows us to build other kinds of skills into the process." Students have presented their research in performance, through websites they designed, in documentary films they have made, in displays, and in research papers.

Through independent study, students work individually with faculty members to continue pursuing topics of interest and following up on material acquired in courses.

In the high school curriculum, Meyer said, the goal is to incorporate more areas of depth of inquiry throughout the curriculum and give students an opportunity to apply knowledge across courses and allow teachers more freedom in their curricular choices.

"Over the last few years, we've been able to provide multiple models of excellence, not just the Advanced Placement program," she said. The humanities research seminar taught in conjunction with Sarah Lawrence College, a course in advanced topics in physics, and a course called Waves for ninth-graders, which deals with topics across all disciplines of science, exemplify curriculum changes that facilitate depth of inquiry rather than breadth of knowledge.

"We want to incorporate the voice of students as we chart our progress," Meyer stated. The members of this year's ninth-grade class have begun an individual online portfolio where they will be posting their work throughout their high school years. Students will also use their portfolios to reflect on their growth as learners within the four areas of The Bronxville Promise. "This will also give them something to speak about in interviews for college, grounded in academic work," Meyer said.

As the students track their learning in their online portfolios, Meyer said, the district will be able to assess where and how The Bronxville Promise is being addressed in the curriculum and where gaps might exist.

The Bronxville School made a significant change this year by embedding technology into the classrooms. Technology work is now happening in classrooms where learning is happening, Meyer noted. Students interact with each other and their teachers online.

The school has added a help desk staffed by seven students. In addition to solving problems throughout the school, the students conduct workshops to teach programs and will maintain a blog.

Meyer indicated that the district intends to continue surveying graduates on a regular, although not a yearly, basis. "The idea is to incorporate ideas from the promise into the survey so we can hear from students about how that has helped them in college, or where we might improve what's missing," she said.

Pictured here:  Dan Carlin, assistant superintendent for business, and Dr. Rachel Kelly, assistant superintendent for human resources and pupil services.

Photo by N. Bower