Upper School

Writing is the cornerstone of every Upper School English class. Through practice with a variety of writing forms and styles, our students leave GA confident in their ability to communicate their thoughts fluidly, logically, and comprehensively. In our discussion-based classes, we challenge our students to think critically and creatively as they tackle a diverse collection of stimulating texts. Projects, performances, and presentations encourage our students to develop their independent thinking skills and to read literature from different perspectives. Our program helps to develop our students’ empathy and instills an appreciation for how literature both enlarges and enlivens their world.

The Upper School math curriculum is designed to help students develop an understanding and appreciation of math, and to feel secure in their ability to meet challenges head on. We want students to develop confidence in their mathematical ability, and we take pride in teaching our students how to become creative problem solvers who look for patterns and take risks. The curriculum extends from Geometry to Multivariable Calculus. Our classes are all single sex, based on studies indicating that girls tend to take more risks and feel confident in their performance in math when placed in all-female classes.

• Our Geometry course emphasizes the traditional elements of Euclidean Geometry and the study of coordinate geometry, translations, and right triangle trigonometry. Deductive reasoning is emphasized wherein students are motivated to investigate and independently test hypotheses and draw conclusions.
• In Algebra 2, concepts established in the Algebra 1 course and Geometry are extended to more advanced topics. The development of a strong fundamental understanding and analysis of functions is the principle objective.
• In Precalculus, the girls continue the study of functions begun in Algebra 2, including polynomial, rational, trigonometric, logarithmic, and exponential functions.
• GA provides students with both AP and non-AP options for Statistics. Topics in all sections include the study of univariate and bivariate data, distribution, correlation and regression, confidence intervals, and hypotheses testing.
• In our Calculus courses, students study differential and integral calculus. Students enroll in either AB or BC level courses. A non-AP course that is an introduction into the basic concepts of calculus is also offered.
• Opportunities for students with a special interest and aptitude for math include the American Math Competition, the GA Math team, and a multivariable calculus course which is run as an independent study through Stanford University.

At GA, we think a deep understanding of history is critical to making sense of the world today. We help our students engage with the past with curiosity and an open mind. Our philosophy is inquiry based—we encourage our students to ask insightful questions, to use critical thinking to tackle problems, and to develop discussion and debate skills. 

All Group IX and X students study Modern World History and U.S. history, undertaking an extensive, monthlong research project on a top of their choosing. During the junior and senior years, students may select from a wide variety of courses, including specialized semester electives such as Modern Middle East, Debate, and Criminal Justice, and full-year AP classes including World, Art History, Human Geography, and Comparative Government. The department encompasses the social sciences as well, and many students opt to explore electives and AP classes in psychology and economics. For those particularly committed to research, we offer a yearlong Honors Humanities and Social Science Research class, focusing on methods in the fall and on the pursuit of original research in the spring, resulting in a 20-page paper. 

Complementing our rigorous and broad curriculum is a wide variety of co-curricular clubs, activities, and field trips. Students attend the Harvard Model Congress and the annual Model UN summits. Our Debate class helps prepare students for an in-house Debate team that competes with other schools. Field trips to museums, court houses, and local historical sites complement other classes. Numerous classes make use of GA’s Engineering & Design Lab as a space to design and create culminating projects. The Greenwich Academy Portal, a global classroom built into the school, enhances our department’s goal of fostering global citizenship by providing a forum for face-to-face dialogue with peers in such countries as Honduras, Iraq, and Afghanistan. 

Group IX:

The Group IX curriculum engages students in a thematic examination of world history from 1750 to 1945, focusing on core ideological concepts such as classical liberalism, nationalism, and imperialism, that define and dominate the modern era. The course is chronological, exploring recurring themes such as globalization and its impact, technology and demographic change over time, and the influence of revolution and reform movements. The class concludes with an exploration of the ways in which modern world history set the stage for such recent phenomena as African independence movements and the Cold War. 

Group X:

All sophomores take a U.S. History class that explores the pre-colonial period to the present. Students may apply to take the Advanced Placement U.S. survey. All U.S. classes consider traditionally marginalized populations, including African Americans, Native Americans, and women, and foster an understanding of the different lenses through which we view history. 

Group XI and XII:

After completion of Modern World History and U.S. History, students enroll in one of our many history and social science electives, seminars, or AP courses to complete the three year department requirement. Our semester-long electives expose students to such specialized fields as criminal justice, the history of the Middle East, environmental history, abnormal psychology, and behavioral economics. We offer numerous Advanced Placements courses that culminate in an AP exam in May, including AP Art History, AP Comparative Government, AP Economics, AP European History, AP Human Geography, AP Psychology, and AP World History. We also offer an Honors Seminar in the History of Civil Rights in the United States which includes a trip through the South during spring vacation, and an Honors Research Seminar in which students conduct original research within a designated period of history. 

Extracurricular:

• The Brunswick & Greenwich Academy Magazine of History is an in-house writing journal that provides students the opportunity to have their research and analytical writing published. The journal was started in 2005.
• Students may also submit to Artemis: Journal of Humanities and Social Science Research, an online publication featuring scholarly research papers from the GA/Brunswick community and from outside schools. 

Science in the Upper School means risk-taking, independent and collaborative thinking, and personal growth and discovery. It also means our teachers are invested in the success of each of our students, as we emphasize student-teacher collaboration. Because whether they’re completing core requirements in biology, chemistry, and physics, or diving into electives like AP Biology or Astronomy, GA students are engaged and excited about understanding the natural world better through a scientific lens. Laboratory work is core to all of our courses, because we believe students learn science best by doing science. We also aim to foster a sense of curiosity, build problem-solving skills, and emphasize the relevance of science in our daily lives. 

Biology:

• We aim to develop an appreciation and understanding of the complexity and diversity of living systems
• Freshman honors biology students have the option of taking an expedition course in which they participate in authentic research as a group outside of school. 
• Our biotechnology curriculum is cutting edge, as freshmen gain hands-on experience with techniques such as PCR, gel electrophoresis, and bacterial transformation.  
• Inquiry-based experimentation promotes creative problem solving skills

Chemistry:

• Develop conceptual understanding of the principles governing matter at the particle level
• Engages students in the hands-on exploration of matter’s interactions through frequent laboratory experiences
• Emphasizes inferential reasoning 
• Employs the quantitative analysis of data sets that support theoretical principles

AP & Electives:

• Honors research seminar in collaboration with Small World Initiative/Tiny Earth- students gain authentic research experience while helping to solve the global issue of antibiotic resistance.
• Exciting diversity of elective offerings including AP level and non-AP courses
• Emphasis on student-teacher collaboration
• Inquiry-based curricula
• Rigorous standards
• Variety of research methodologies  

Extracurricular:

• STEM Interest groups meet regularly to explore concepts of interest in greater detail

• GAINS Network/GAINS Conference 

• Independent study opportunities working closely with a faculty mentor

• Summer student research opportunities in industry and academia
   

Computing touches every aspect of our daily lives in the 21st century. Whether a student has been building and coding through Lower and Middle School or has decided to become more than a computer user, we have a course for them. Our Engineering & Computer Science courses instill strong problem-solving skills and computational thinking while promoting both collaborative work and independent resourcefulness. While the content of our courses develops new toolsets in our students, they will also develop resilience and emerge as better thinkers.

Entry-level:

• Engineering & Design I (cross-listed in Arts)
• Introduction to Computer Science

Advanced:

• Engineering & Design II (cross-listed in Arts)
• Engineering Principles & Computation
• AP Computer Science Principles
• AP Computer Science A
• Honors Eng. & CS Seminar: Applications

Co-curricular:

• Coding Club
• STEM groups
• Girls Advancing in STEM (GAINS) Initiative 
• Robotics team

At Greenwich Academy, learning a second language is a means to understanding world cultures. Teachers focus on developing their students’ communication skills in order to think critically about their own culture, while delving into those of the language they study. Whether learning a modern or ancient language, students think globally about their place in the world and learn empathy as they engage in immersive experiences. All courses strive to present and discuss topics using authentic materials, developing students’ ability to speak, read, write, and listen in the target language.

• Experiential learning is encouraged with courses that offer real-time, practical contact with native speakers through trips, community work, and digital media.
• GA sponsors a variety of international study options including full immersion homestay programs in Argentina, France, and Spain.
• Course offerings include Arabic, Chinese, French, Italian, Spanish, Latin, and Greek.
• Language students may participate in the Global Scholars program which provides opportunities to develop cultural competency skills in order to gain a better understanding of the challenges facing their generation.

We believe that good health results from the integration of physical, psychological, social, and emotional well-being. Our Health & Wellness program, which includes guest speakers, advisory activities, and supplemental programs, promotes self-respect and respect for others, and aims to provide students with the information and skills necessary to support healthy decision-making, relationships, and living. Through discussion and interactive class activities, the group IX and X curriculum is carefully planned, and includes developmentally appropriate materials covering health, wellness and life skills. Topics include:

• Substance use/abuse
• Adolescent development
• Sexuality 
• Body Image 
• Healthy relationships 
• High-risk behaviors and decision-making 
• Stress management

Student-centered and supportive, GA’s college counseling program is a team effort. Starting families with the engagement and expertise that culminate in a rewarding experience. 

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In addition to unparalleled core academics, GA offers a slate of signature programs in STEM, the arts, global learning, communications, civic leadership, and other spheres. 

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Student interest and enthusiasm drives extracurriculars across all three divisions, and by Upper School students can pick from more than 70 clubs and organizations—or start one of their own.

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