The Maybeck High School IT ’ S ALL ABOUT INCLUSION
cuss the situation. Our goal is to engage students in a conversation about the school’s expectations and their commitment to the standards and goals of the school. A student who cannot demonstrate a commit- ment to the community may be dis- missed. Our respect for the role of stu- dents in the school community is reflected in the composition of the Rules Committee: it is made up of two teachers, who serve on a rotat- ing basis, and two students, who are elected by their peers for the academic year. The students and teachers have equal votes in the decisions of the Rules Committee. As a teacher-run school, Maybeck places great emphasis on the autonomy of its teachers within the classroom. We believe that when teachers are encour- aged to shape their lessons freely, they invest themselves fully in their teaching and engage their students most effec- tively. Our teachers hold credentials, masters, and PhDs in their respective fields. We also encourage our staff to pursue outside interests and continue to develop professionally throughout the school year and summer. Maybeck welcomes students of all backgrounds and provides a safe envi- ronment where they can explore their self-expression and be themselves. We do not tolerate discrimination or harass- ment in any form. Approximately 43% of our students identity as people of color. We also have a supportive LGBTQ community. At Maybeck, we hold high expecta- tions and we expect our students to be responsible and personally invested in their education. Maybeck graduates are well-rounded young people and accept- ed by a wide range of universities, col- leges, and professional schools. Our advanced academic electives resemble college seminars, and graduates regular- ly tell us how well Maybeck prepared them for college.
Maybeck, established in 1972, is a vibrant community dedicated to learning, where all forms of diversi- ty can flourish amid mutual sup- port, respect, and responsibility. It was founded by a group of educa- tors 40 years ago who set out to cre- ate a school where scholarship, inde- pendence, and curiosity were shared by faculty and students alike. The school was shaped as a community of teachers who wanted to share in the work of defining the school structure as well as the work of lead- ing classrooms. Today we value that same inclusion. Maybeck is a teacher- run school where the staff asks of them- selves the same things we ask of our stu- dents; to question, to listen, to lead, and to strive for excellence. Through our small classes, high expectations, acade- mic excellence, and programs outside the school, students prepare for college and acquire the tools to engage actively and creatively in the wider world. Our small classes of 10-18 students foster close relationships between stu- dents and the faculty; student-teacher dialogue frequently extends outside of the classroom. We currently have a 4:1 teacher-student ratio. Students forge life-long friendships with each other as well as with faculty members. The sem- inar-style classes encourage students to be fully present in the classroom. Our faculty believes in discovering and not telling, labs not power-points, experi- ences not worksheets. All students have a contact teacher whom they can consult about any issue, and our counselor works closely with students up to and throughout the college application process. We begin and end each year with a whole-school camping trip that encour- ages students to work as a community and spend time together by rivers, on hikes and under the stars. Students lis- ten to lectures given by faculty and take classes on benches under trees on a vari- ety of subjects. We experience learning out-of-doors to complement and enrich
our studies at Maybeck. We reserve two weeks each spring for Special Programs, during which students intensely pursue a specialized activity. Local programs have included bicycling, mural and oil painting, botany, pottery, desert wild flowers, and photography. Travel pro- grams have taken students to China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Egypt, France, Mexico, Spain, Italy, Turkey, and Vietnam. We hold sports days and film festivals, sponsor student plays, host an annual Film and Arts Night, and take trips to local theatrical productions. Classes meet four times per week, each for three 50-minute sessions and one 100-minute session. A full load for most students at Maybeck is five acade- mic courses per semester, though some may take six classes with the permission of the academic counselor. Freshmen are required to take an additional seminar focusing on development of academic and study skills. Our approach to discipline is non- punitive. We do not have detentions and rarely suspend students. Students who do not meet our behavioral expectations meet with the Rules Committee to dis- At Maybeck, we hold high expectations and we expect our students to be responsible and personally invested in their education.
70 indiaparentmagazine.org
School Special 2017
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker