Student Life

Student Life classes empower Madeira students to: discover and develop their individual and collective identities; learn how to make healthy choices and care for themselves and others; strengthen their ability to communicate effectively and advocate for themselves and others; and increase their awareness and understanding of cultural issues impacting local, national, and global communities

Courses

• LAUNCH – Life skills, Advocacy, Understanding, Independence, Community, Health

  2-block course; Required of all ninth graders.

  The Student Life ninth grade curriculum (LAUNCH) engages students in the examination of who they are as individuals and as community members, how they influence and are influenced by others, and how they can care for themselves and cultivate healthy and inclusive communities. Each student will develop and apply essential life skills as she builds a deeper understanding of herself and of those around her. Students will be assessed through experiential activities, inquiry-based projects, presentations, journal entries, papers, and class participation. 

  TOPICS

  Madeira 101

  Personality Type and Identity

  Body Image, Gender, & Media

  Communication Styles

  Small Talk 101

  Public Speaking

  Civil Discourse

  Healthy Relationships

  Personal Safety and Awareness

  Cyber Safety and Etiquette 

  Digital Citizenship

  Stress Management and Technology

  Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

  Exercise and the Brain

  Memory

  Mindfulness

  Nutrition and Healthy Eating

  First Aid, CPR, and AED Certification

  Organization and Preparing Your Planner

  Pathways to Learning

  Reading Strategies and Note Taking

  The Power of Sleep

  Time Management and Using Resources

  Sex Education 

  Chemical Dependency

  Car Maintenance and Safety

  Introduction to College Counseling

  FACULTY: LAUNCH is taught by faculty and staff members from various departments, giving students the opportunity to learn from community members not usually found in the classroom. These faculty and staff members bring their unique, professional perspectives to the LAUNCH curriculum. 

  Tracie Epes, Director of Counseling

  Nicole Cologne, Counselor

  Ed Hamer, Director of Facilities 

  Jim Pollack, Director of Campus Safety and Security

  Kim Newsome, Dean of Students

  Audra Krupp, Learning Specialist  

  Jeff Dayton, Director of Technology 

  Stacy Tippens, Educational Technology Specialist 

  Pilar Cabeza de Vaca, Head of School

  Matti Donkor, Director of Enrollment Management

  Hunter Southworth, Director of Residential Life

  Andre Withers, Assistant Head of School 

  Kelly Chandler, Assistant Director of Athletics 

  Peggy Sotos, Director of Nursing

  Linda Mathews, College Counselor

  Sheila Reilly, Director of College Counseling 

  Karen Joostema, Director of Communications

   

• Civil Discourse in Today's World: Why is it so hard to get along?

  1-block course; Open to grades 9, 10, 11, and 12

  Civil discourse has long been viewed as a fundamental building block of successful societies and democracies. But in today’s increasingly partisan American culture, are we losing the ability to engage and share ideas in a persuasive, spirited, informed and most importantly, respectful, way?  In this class, students will explore the foundations of successful civil discourse, active listening, and media literacy.  While examining different communication styles, students will delve into the concept of confirmation bias and how the practice of consuming our news only from sources with whom we share the same biases serves to widen the ideological divides in our society.  We will also explore what questions we should we asking to be discerning, media literate consumers in an increasingly complex information ecosystem. Throughout the course, students will research the pros and cons of a variety of issues and then, through a combination of journaling and structured conversations, they will practice the skills they have learned.

• Introduction to Coding and Microcontrollers

  1-block course; Open to grades 9-12

  This introductory coding course allows students to investigate concepts in programming and microcontrollers.    Through exploration of these topics, students will experience the critical 21st-century skills that are needed to succeed in a rapidly changing world.   To give students opportunities to practice time management and self-motivation skills, this course will be taught through a blended model, allowing for both face-to-face and online interactions with the teacher and each other. 

• Introduction to Riding

  1-block course; Open to grades 9-12

  This class is an introduction to riding, designed for students who have had minimal or no previous experience with horses.  Students will learn how to groom, lead, tack, mount and dismount.  Students will also learn the correct position and basic controls while riding a horse in the walk and trot.  The theory and practice of basic horse care will also be taught. Prerequisite: Department approval. No or limited prior riding experience. 

  Special note: This course has limited enrollment and a physical fitness requirement.

• Mindfulness and The Brain

  1-block course; Open to grades 9-12

  Mindfulness practice involves paying attention to the present moment in a specific and deliberate way without judgment. Research shows that mindfulness can have a profound impact on the way neurons fire in the brain and subsequently the way different regions in the brain, most notably the prefrontal cortex, communicate with each other. In other words, mindfulness practice can permanently influence how we think.  Through examination of the work of Daniel Siegel, Jon Kabat-Zinn, and others, students will investigate the anatomy, functions, and interconnectedness of the brain, how the brain continues to change over the lifespan, and how mindfulness practice impacts the brain's functions and by extension, one's ability to make decisions, regulate emotions, and interact with others. This course will provide each student the opportunity to explore the basic tenets of mindfulness, experience different ways to focus attention and increase awareness, and develop her own unique daily mindfulness practice.  

• Research Seminar

  1-block course; Open to grades 9-12

  Imagine you were tasked with becoming an expert on a topic. What topic would you choose? What question would you want to find the answer to? What would you want to know more about? This course is an opportunity for you to build your academic research skills. You will be asked to do research that matters to you, while at the same time developing your investigation, analysis, writing, and presenting skills. The course will explore key word searches, database research, blogging, annotated bibliographies, infographics, research writing, and elevator speeches. Your goal will be to learn, research, create, and share your findings in various formats including an info graphic, a presentation, and a paper. 

• Women's Health: Awareness and Advocacy

  1-block course; Open to grades 9-12

  This course provides a broad overview of women’s health, focusing on the connection between the areas of physical, cognitive, social, and emotional health.  Specific topics include anatomy and physiology, body image, healthy relationships, self-care, and healthy coping skills.  Students will have the opportunity to delve deeper into specific women’s health topics on local, state, national, and international levels.  Student presentations may focus on issues such as gender equity, sexual harassment, women’s empowerment, access to healthcare, and the power of media.

Requirements

Class of 2020 & beyond: 

• 3 blocks (including 2 blocks of LAUNCH in 9th grade)

Classes of 2019:

• 2 blocks ninth grade year 

2016-2017 Student Life Faculty

Student Life Curriculum is taught by faculty and staff members from various departments, giving students the opportunity to learn from community members not usually found in the classroom. These faculty and staff members bring their unique, professional perspectives to the Student Life Curriculum. 

* Outside speakers

** InnerQuest is a collaborative partner and facilities 10 class blocks of outdoor experiential education each spring.