Conference Blocks
We have four, hour-long blocks each week at 10:45AM. These conference blocks allow time for student-teacher meetings, collaborations on projects, extra help sessions, student study groups and individual homework time. Seminars, music lessons, tutoring, health appointments and college meetings are also scheduled during conference blocks.
The Center for Teaching and Learning
The “CTL” is a resource for all students and teachers. It provides academic support, organizational help, study skills and math workshops. The director and experienced tutors are available for students with specific challenges meeting the demands of their academic work. We do not treat those with learning differences as “other”; we understand that students have a variety of learning styles, capacities and strengths.
Library
At Putney, students gain varied and authentic experience using the library. Because of the project-oriented nature of much of the curriculum, students are required to develop research strategies and make informed decisions about the types and quality of resources used. The faculty expect students to be able to understand and use a variety of resources: the library’s online catalog, database subscriptions, high quality Internet sources, as well as book and periodical collections.
College Counseling
The Putney School offers a comprehensive college counseling program that begins formally in the 11th grade. We believe, as Frank Sachs writes, that “College is a match to be made, not a prize to be won.” We actively assist students as they research colleges, investigate careers and begin to make decisions about where they would like their lives to head after graduating. We offer individual meetings with students and parents, a weekly College Planning seminar for juniors, a weekly College Applications seminar for seniors, online accounts to access Naviance—a nationally recognized college counseling software resource, email updates to parents with reminders about the application process timeline, campus visits from representatives of more than 60 colleges and universities, financial aid and scholarship workshops, and all PSAT, ACT, TOEFL, AP and SAT registration and testing.
Instructional Technology Center
Technology is an increasingly integral part of what we do here at Putney. From Google Apps for Education, to robotics, geographic information systems, and science lab data collection, technology provides opportunities for project-based and hands-on learning. The Instructional Technology Center (ITC) is where teachers and students learn new technologies, improve their skills and get help from the technology staff. A wide variety of resources are available, including video production equipment, digital video cameras, digital still cameras, MIDI controllers and music composition applications, ProTools based digital recording equipment, scanners, and printers. ITC computers have a variety of software titles for video production, web page design, graphics, digital photography, video conferencing, document scanning and desktop publishing.
English for Speakers of Other Languages Program
The English for Speakers of Other Languages Program (ESOL) is designed for international students who want to achieve a high level of English proficiency for academic work. Classes develop a variety of language skills—speaking, listening, reading and writing. They also develop capacities necessary for success in an American high school, such as the ability to communicate clearly, work independently, think critically, act cooperatively and effectively contribute to discussions. Students must have an intermediate knowledge of English in order to enter the program. Typically, there are six full-credit courses at two levels, with gradual mainstreaming into non-ESOL courses. Also included in the ESOL program are specific courses in English Composition and US History, and a support section for Humans in the Natural World.