Press Releases
A Lifetime of Learning
By, Tony Rotondo
Curtesy of Chester County Life Magazine
On 23 acres of lush green fields and wooded groves in Southern Chester County, Upland Country Day School encourages children to be independent learners and vital members of their community. It is a school with a rich history and a unique story to tell. Donna Melton, Director of Development at Upland says, “It is exciting to wake up every morning and have another chance to capture and tell Upland’s story as it unfolds.”
The independent day school on West Street Road in Kennett Square is home away from home to over 200 students, pre-Kindergarten through 9th grade. Looking at the school now, it is hard to believe that on its very first day on September 13, 1948 there were only 22 students and four faculty members housed in a small farmhouse on Upland Road.
Upland's founding mothers - Mrs. Kerr, Mrs. Lofting, Mrs. Cocks and Mrs. Newhall- shared a vision for a school that would encourage children to think independently and to live and work well with others. Their vision became Upland Country Day School, and while people, buildings and programs have been added through the years, its values and goals have never changed. Says Melton, “The school prides itself on offering quality education, small classes and individual attention, and a well-rounded student experience.”
Walking through Upland’s classrooms and park-like campus, evidence of the School’s history and traditions are everywhere. But while Upland clearly has a rich history, it is always looking to the future. A new chapter in the Upland story is the recent arrival of new Head of School David Suter who comes from St. Luke’s School in New Canaan, Connecticut. Suter, who is excited about joining the Upland faculty, is drawn to Upland because of its focus on providing a relevant education that will serve students not only in high school and college, but their adult lives, as well. He says, “This school has a great history, a great culture, and most importantly great people working with kids.”
The educational philosophy at Upland is structured around the “Four A’s,” a concept which permeates the school’s curriculum. This alchemy of Academics, Arts, Athletics and Attitude helps students discover talents, strengths and ultimately, identity. “Watching young people learn something about themselves through the work they do in and out of the classroom speaks to the joy of participation and the joy of creativity and teamwork,” Suter says. There are no barriers between the academic classroom, the art studio or the athletic field. Lessons and values are shared across the disciplines. Gina Ralston, alumna and current English teacher at the school, says, “Learning is not confined to the classroom here; it happens anywhere and everywhere.”
The first “A,” Attitude, is about positive relationships and consideration of others and is based on the School’s motto, “Understanding, Trust and Responsibility. “It’s about being open-minded, not judgmental,” explains Suter. “We teach children to be accepting of others as they learn about their differences.”
Attitude informs the other three “A’s”- Academics, Arts and Athletics. Academics, is developmentally appropriate and sequential, and is rigorous on all levels. Upland's three divisions - Primary (Pre-Kindergarten through 1st grade), Lower School (2nd through 5th grade) and Upper School (6th through 9th grade) - focus on teaching children how to learn so that when they leave Upland they possess a clear understanding of how they learn best and how to be independent learners.
Academically, there are many aspects of Upland’s multidimensional curriculum that make an Upland education unique. For example, laboratory science begins in Kindergarten. By 2nd grade students have 40-minute science classes three times a week. Additionally, instruction in Spanish begins in Kindergarten, and by 1st grade, students have Spanish twice a week. When students get to Upper School, they take one year of Latin to further build their foundation for language, and then choose between Latin and Spanish for the remainder of Upper School.
Additionally, class trips augment the curriculum beginning in Pre-Kindergarten and multi-day curricular adventures begin in grade 5. The traveling classroom experience culminates in the Upland Overseas annual trip to Finland by 8th and 9th grade students. Begun in 1977, this program of friendship and cultural exchange is believed to be the oldest middle school international exchange program in the country. Not only do Upland students travel to Finland, but Upland hosts two or three Finnish students each year and, every three to five years, welcomes Finnish gymnastics and ice hockey teams for a similar cultural exchange.
"In athletic circles, Upland is known as 'the little engine that could,' ” explains Melton. Upland teams are known as much for their heart as their skill on the field or the ice, as the school's trophy cases will attest. Upland's coaches are teachers first, so from learning basic skills in Lower School PE classes to the interscholastic competition that begins in the Upper School, students understand that the athletic program is an extension of the classroom. Upland students play fall (soccer, field hockey), winter (ice hockey, volleyball or cross country) and spring (lacrosse) against local schools and in eagerly anticipated regional tournaments that are part of the rich athletic tradition. “Athletics is a required part of the curriculum because we believe that the playing field is one of the best places to develop character,” said Melton. "There are so many natural opportunities to teach young people about teamwork, fair play and good sportsmanship."
Responsibility and teamwork are also by-products of the fourth “A,” Art. In a time when many schools are cutting back on their art programs, Upland's is expanding! Recent studies reveal that art develops creative expression, listening, problem-solving, cognitive and fine motor skills, all of which enhance academic performance. Upland students study Music, Drama, 2-D and 3-D art during the year and participate in art shows as well as musical concerts and theatrical productions- from Shakespeare to Broadway classics. To further encourage cultural understanding and a broader view of the world, Upland hosts several visiting artists each year.
Another unique aspect of an Upland education is the 9th grade year. This is a critical and rewarding year for students because it allows them to consolidate their academic skills, to explore their own strengths, and to mature in a caring and supportive environment. While many 9th graders at larger schools are struggling at the bottom of the social heap, Upland’s 9th graders have the opportunity to assume the leadership roles that most high schools reserve for their juniors and seniors. Serving as active leaders for an entire student body at a time when they are developmentally ready for the responsibility, by the time they graduate Upland's 9th graders are armed with the confidence and skills they need to become active and vocal members of their new communities.
Along with leadership development, Upland’s 9th grade year includes a highly personalized secondary school placement program. With a Director of Secondary School Placement coordinating a personalized search process designed to help each student find the right fit for their next school, many Upland graduates choose one of the fine area independent day schools; many are accepted into some of the East coast’s most prestigious boarding schools; and some choose their local public schools. Gina Ralston finds that her own education at Upland made her own transition seamless. “Certainly my high school was so much bigger, but I left Upland with confidence that I could find my niche. And I did, not just because I had confidence, but because I had social and academic skills as well. When I was a kid, this was a great place to learn. Now that I’m an adult, I find it’s a great place to teach.”
Upland Country Day School - A Lifetime Of Learning Begins At Upland. in the unique elements of the curriculum, the full participation philosophy - on the beautiful country campus, in the small classes and through the dedicated faculty who care deeply about children. Upland educates the whole child with the belief that a bright future cannot rest on an incomplete foundation- there is a great deal of caring and trust that stays with students long after they have graduated. Each year, Upland hosts an annual alumni ice hockey and volleyball tournament on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Amazingly for a small junior school, approximately 250 alums return each year to catch-up with old friends and teachers, to take to the ice or the court with former teammates and to reminisce. “It’s home,” said Ralston, “And people want to come home.”
Upland Greets New Head of School
David Suter never thought he wanted to be head of school. But, here he is, quite delighted to be the new head of Upland Country Day School.
Although he had been building a resume well suited to the position, it was not at all his goal. But, when the position opened up and word reached him in Connecticut that there was a school in Kennett Square, Pa. whose head of school was retiring, he decided to check it out.
Upland’s mission and philosophy are very similar to the schools where he had worked previously. The school emphasizes the “four As” – academics, arts, athletics and attitude. It is a private school with a current student population of 210 children and requires participation in all aspects of school life. All the children are involved not only in classroom activities, they also create art, participate in theatrical and musical productions and play sports.
The-kindergarten through grade 9 school attracted Suter right away. “It has a fantastic little campus. I was really taken with the faculty members who have given so much of their own lives to work here. It has a staff of less than 40, but 12 of them have been here more than 20 years. Combining that with the enthusiasm of younger alums who have come back to teach, makes for a wonderful blend of faculty. The enthusiasm when people spoke of the place was infectious. The things I heard about the place – that kids can be kids here longer than they would otherwise and there is a real, genuine emphasis on character in education – spoke to me. It was very appealing.”
Suter and his wife Liza moved to Kennett Square with their three small children from Connecticut. Much like the students, staff members at many independent schools wear numerous hats and Suter was no exception. At St. Luke’s School In New Canaan he was director of admissions and financial aid, a coach of various sports and an English teacher. Before that he worked at two boarding schools, Oxford Academy and Cheshire Academy, where he said he adapted the educational philosophy of educating the whole child.
He explained that small academic communities such as Upland and his previous schools afford faculty and staff “the luxury” of truly knowing their students, beyond the 40 minutes they spend in class every day. They get to see them on the playing fields, on the stage, on field trips, in the classroom and with their families.
“By getting to know who that whole child is, you’re not just teaching a class, you’re teaching the child,” Suter said.
Upon his arrival as head he sent out an appeal to alumni from the almost 40-year-old school, asking them to write him with their fondest memories and any input they were willing to share. He has received “a flood” of responses and they keep coming. He said the majority expressed sincere gratitude not only for the great education, but also for the positive mentoring of teachers who helped them grow up and become good people.
When assessing the school Suter said he found it in good shape and knew he had big shoes to fill. Former headmaster Rusty MacMullan had retired, leaving the school in good stead. Suter said he tried to slip right into MacMullan’s footprints and had no intention of being “an agent of change,” nor did he find big changes in need of making.
“The school has solid traditions, good financial health and a solid faculty,” Suter said.
Technology at the school is on the upswing with the faculty all receiving new lap top computers. A new and improved Website has debuted, improving communication within and with out the Upland community.
The school is celebrating the 30th year of the Finnish exchange program begun by Upland’s first headmaster Dr. Jack Cleveland. Each year at least one boy and girl from Finland come to spend the school year as members of Upland’s 9th grade class and live with Upland families. As an exchange of sorts Upland sends 8th and 9th graders to Finland during spring break to stay with families, play ice hockey and volleyball and learn about the country’s history and culture. Since 1977, 66 Finnish students have been hosted by Upland. In December, as part of the 30th anniversary celebration, girls from the Finnish Lahjan Tytot gymnastics club and boys from the TPS ice hockey club will come to Upland for a week of performances, ice hockey and friendship.
When Suter started breaking the news to his Connecticut friends and colleagues that he would be moving to Pennsylvania to take the head job at a school there, Upland’s reputation had preceded him. For many years Upland coach and teacher Court Dunn has been taking ice hockey teams to New Canaan and Greenwich to play games in January and have made many friends throughout the area.
The Upland community acted as an unofficial “welcome wagon” as soon as the Suter family moved into their new Kennett Square home. They came not knowing a soul and had no local connections outside of Upland. But, families brought them food, maps, lists and things to see and do, offering help in all sorts of ways.
As it turned out the Upland was everything Suter had hoped. “The school did a really good job in truth in advertising. People are very honest and kid-centered. It’s a very lively place. It’s the kind of program that I love.”
-Prue Osborn for the Kennett Paper and Daily Local News
