The Miami Valley School
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The Miami Valley School |
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| Motto: Small classes and a world of opportunity. | |
| Established | 1964 |
| Type | Prepatory secondary, primary |
| Founder | Citizens of Dayton, Ohio |
| Headmaster | Peter B. Benedict II |
| Students | Approx. 500 students |
| Grades | Pre-K through 12th |
| Location | 5151 Denise Drive Dayton, Ohio United States of America |
| Oversight | Independent |
| Accreditation | Independent School Association of the Central States [1] |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Colors | Red and Blue |
| Mascot | Ram |
| Newspaper | Phloem and Xylem (Upper School) |
| Website | http://www.mvschool.com |
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The Miami Valley School (MVS) is Dayton, Ohio's only independent college preparatory school for grades Pre-K through 12. A 9:1 student to teacher ratio and an experiential learning curriculum have created a unique learning environment. Approximately 190 students comprise grades nine through twelve. The Upper School is staffed by 28 faculty members, 23 of whom hold master's degrees and two of whom hold Ph.Ds. The student population represents 16 communities within a 35-mile radius. [2]
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[edit] Foundation
The Miami Valley School is an Independent Day School founded in 1964 by citizens of Dayton, Ohio looking for an alternative education.
[edit] Academic Units
MVS eschews traditional labels for two of its three academic units. Only the 6th through 8th academic unit has the traditional Middle School title. The Early Childhood through 5th grade academic unit is titled the Lower School, instead of the more common Elementary School. Similarly the 9th through 12th grade academic unit is titled the Upper School, instead of the more common High School.
[edit] Experiential Learning Programs
The Miami Valley School puts great emphasis on taking students out of traditional education environments in order to learn through experience.
[edit] Experiential Program
In Lower School, students participate in various experiential learning programs that in length based, topic, and time of year based on grade level.
- Kindergarden — Study of nutrition, and food preparation.
- 1st Grade — Cave Study, simulated cave experience.
- 2nd Grade — Geography, Country-Specific Projects, Newport Aquarium and reef study.
- 3rd Grade — Astronomy, overnight at The Boonshoft Museum of Discovery in Dayton, Ohio.
- 4th Grade — Pioneer study, typical pioneer school day experience.
- 5th Grade — United States history, class trip to Colonial Williamsburg.
[edit] Project Period
In Middle School, students participate in experiential learning programs based on their grade level. Traditionally, Project period takes place during the last two weeks of the academic year.
- 6th Grade — Study of ancient Egyptian civilization at Miami University.
- 7th Grade — Study of Appalachian culture at Berea College.
- 8th Grade — Study of Amish, Quakers, and Shakers culminating in a trip to the regions in which these people live.
[edit] Immersion
in the Immersion Program, students exclusively study one subject of their choice for an entire month. Unlike in Middle and Lower School where students participate in experiential learning programs based on their grade, students in Upper School split up into multi-grade experiential classes. During this time, students are free from the confines of the traditional 8:00 to 3:00, Monday through Friday school schedule, as well as free from the school campus. This allows them to study their topic as much as possible, and in the best places. As a result, Astronomy students might work with telescopes from 8:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. out in the country, and theater students might study in New York City. Traditionally, Immersion takes place during the last two weeks of February and the first two weeks of March.
[edit] Local
Students can study cooking, take a photography class or a theater class, learn how to build a computer, study criminal justice, or do one of many other programs that are offered.
[edit] Travel
Travel programs include a swamp study in the Florida Everglades, building Habitat for Humanity houses somewhere in the United States, studying Civil Rights, Southern American Literature, Indian Reservations and Literature, or even creative writing in Vermont and New York. International programs have been held across most of Europe, Asia (including India, China, and Japan), as well as Central and South America (most recently Peru and Costa Rica). Students are immersed in the topics that they study, be they cultural, religious, linguistic, musical, or scientific.
[edit] Independent
A student who wishes to pursue and interest outside the realm of the offered programs is welcome to create a proposal that is then evaluated by the independent immersion committee. Past independent immersions have included working with high-ranking political figures, Nobel Prize winning scientists, and journeys through Outward Bound and Earthwatch. Students proposals are usually in one of these categories: interests or passion, and career exploration.
[edit] Notable Alumni
- Ming Tsai, noted chef and television personality, was a member of the class of 1984 from The Miami Valley School.
- Allison Janney also attended The Miami Valley School, noted for her roles on television and in movies, especially in the top-rated TV series The West Wing.
- Jeff Williams, member of class of 1975 from The Miami Valley School was aboard Comair Flight 5191 when it crashed in Lexington, Kentucky.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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- Satellite image from WikiMapia, Google Maps or Windows Live Local
- Street map from MapQuest or Google Maps
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image from TerraServer-USA
