In the Middle and Upper Schools, a formal advisory program is in place.  Upon a student’s enrollment, they are paired with a faculty advisor who remains that student’s advisor for the duration of the student’s time in the division.  In the Upper School, advisory activities are the result of collaborative efforts by grade-level deans and the Dean of Students. Themes, such as individuality, community, and social justice drive the program. Often, advisory programming supports larger division efforts, such as the bi-annual symposium. Fostering healthy relationships, managing stress, developing a positive self-image, and building community are all integral aspects of Upper School advisory.

SIXTH GRADE: FROST VALLEY

Sixth Grade students have a unique educational experience during the first part of their school year.  In the early fall, students and their teachers enjoy a four-day trip to Frost Valley Environmental Camp in upstate New York.  They travel to Frost Valley to create a living-learning community that integrates academic experiences with the social development of the community. This experience takes an interdisciplinary approach, using the natural environment as a main theme.  Each student participates in outdoor activities such as orienteering, observing the night sky, traversing obstacle courses, learning about sustainability practices, and exploring pond ecology.  These activities are coupled with a variety of team-building opportunities providing the foundation for their Middle School years.

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SEVENTH GRADE: WILLIAMSBURG

The Williamsburg Trip during the Seventh Grade year allows the students to experience first-hand what life was like for the early colonists of North America.  An extension of the Seventh Grade History Curriculum, this trip to Colonial Williamsburg immerses students in the daily life of that era.  Students learn about the role of the apprentice in the various trades of the time period. The trip also includes tours of Yorktown and Jamestown. Seventh Graders experience the culture, language, government, food, entertainment through living the period of American History they study in their classrooms.

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EIGHTH GRADE: WASHINGTON, D.C.

The Washington, D.C. Trip is traditionally taken during the second half of the Eighth Grade year.  Each Spring, the Eighth Graders spend four days in our nation’s capital.  The trip integrates material studied in classes across the disciplines.  This extension of our curriculum is enriched with guided tours of many museums, monuments, and government buildings in the Capital. Students also have the opportunity to meet with members of Congress on Capitol Hill, attend a special performance at the Kennedy Center, and visit particular sights of interest such as several of the Smithsonian Museums and the Holocaust Memorial Museum. 

The Athletic Program at Wardlaw+Hartridge offers a diverse range of opportunities to our students, with 18 different sports offered on the Varsity level, supported by a host of JV and Middle School teams.   Our coaches are skilled at preparing their team to succeed, while also introducing some students, new to the sport, to the fundamentals.   We are proud of our championship teams, but we are equally proud that a high percentage of W+H students are able to achieve personal bests as Ram athletes. 

LEARN MORE

The Wardlaw+Hartridge Upper School provides a variety of clubs. activities and extracurricular opportunities to its students. Some clubs and activities are offered every year, while others will be offered in a given year depending on interest. New clubs may be formed if approved by the Dean of Students.

Students participate and take leadership roles in publications such as the yearbook and Beacon newspaper. They are also actively involved in others including Active Minds, Anime & Animation, Competitive Business & Economics. Computer Science & Electronics Club, Mindfulness, Model UN, Service Leadership Team and Spoken Word.

Current club offerings also include a robust list of affinity groups: Asian-American Pacific-Islander, Black Student Alliance, Desi Club, Genders & Sexualities Alliance, and Hispanic Latinx Alliance.

We are excited to pilot a new program that has potential to broaden and deepen our curriculum offerings in Upper School, and to some degree in Middle School. We have chosen to begin a partnership with Global Online Academy (GOA) beginning in January 2022.  In our mission, we state that we prepare students for a world of global interconnection, and this partnership will support that mission. 

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Our goal for W+H music students is to develop a life-long love of music, encouraging musical enjoyment and participation long after the students leave the school.  They broaden their appreciation for the power and importance of music through not only the academic coursework they complete, but also through their participation in authentic performance experiences within a wide-range of musical styles and contexts.

Middle School musicians experience a performance-based curriculum during the school day, designed to enhance music literacy skills while in an ensemble setting.  Students focus on developing their performance technique while playing band instruments and singing together.  Outside of the Middle School required curriculum, Middle School students have a variety of opportunities to stretch their performance abilities even further through the following: 

• Middle School Jazz Band

• Middle School Musical 

• Emelyn & Leal Choirs

• Creative Movement Dance Class*

• Private Music Lesson Program*

*In the Fall of 2017, the W+H Performing Arts Department began a partnership with Rutgers Community Arts, a division of the Mason Gross School of the Arts.  We offer private music instruction and a dance class through this partnership, and these classes are taught by the Rugters Community Arts Faculty.

 

Service learning is a cornerstone of the Wardlaw+Hartridge program. It further supports our mission “to prepare students to lead and succeed in a world of global interconnection” by cultivating a sense of civic engagement and responsibility for one another. The Service Learning Program allows students to engage in active service locally and across the world through myriad activities large and small. A feature of this program is learning about the causes and consequences of actions that precipitate a need. Lower School students hold collections for children of their age with items such as clothing and school supplies to allow them to develop understanding and empathy for others.  Middle School students learn about food insecurity and the causes of poverty in their work at a nearby food bank. The Wardlaw+Hartridge Upper School Service Learning Program involves both local and travel initiatives.  Students engaged in these programs take part in pre, ongoing, and post learning activities to help further develop their learning, engagement, and connection to their experience and the experiences of those they serve. Many of our Global Scholar candidates develop a strong commitment to specific areas of service outreach during their W+H years, some continuing their efforts after graduation and while in college. Our Global Scholars graduates often note that their service experiences and opportunities to travel through school sponsored cross cultural experiences have been a primary highlight of their time in Upper School. Travel opportunities are planned and provided through the Director of Global Experiences. In recent years, students have traveled to China, Spain, the US/Mexican border, and Peru.