The Pennington School

• Founded: in 1838
• Location: Pennington, New Jersey, USA
• Age of the pupils: from 6 Up to 18 years old
• Total number of students: 487 people (approximately 60 people are foreign students, more than 125 people choose boarding training)
• Residence type: boarding house from the age of 13
• Type of training: mixed
• Language of instruction: English.

Initially, The Pennington School was founded in 1838 as a Methodist Episcopal School for Boys, teaching young people in preparatory classes. Already in 1854, girls began to study all the programs: this tradition was changed in 1910, but in 1972 the institution returned to the mixed training scheme.

Long-standing spiritual traditions, friendliness to foreign students (they were able to study here since the end of the 19th century), rich academic programs and excellent conditions for living and staying - all this helps Pennington School to constantly enter In the national American top boarding schools.

Much attention is paid to public works, which are held throughout the year. For example, you can help junior students in Trenton-Cheek, decorate interior and personal items for a special program "Eating on Wheels," help the elderly, raise funds for charity events, fairs and other events. The pupils of the school help local farmers on their lands, they participate in the large project "Empty bowl" (creation and sale of ceramics, which help the starving and needy) from the spring.

The Pennington School continues to support the traditions of the Methodist Church, reinforcing the disciples' character and morality, fostering honor, humility and virtue. In the school chapel, services are regularly held, some of which are conducted by the chaplain, in the city of the Presbyterian Church of Pennington, services are devoted to talks about life, love, friendship, the collective sense of the shoulder, the dignity of each religion and its place in the modern world community. Representatives of the most diverse religions and beliefs can study at school: Christianity (including Orthodoxy), Quakerism, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism.

International students are given places in common school residences, as well as full board meals (three meals a day in a common spacious dining room). There is a separate extensive salad bar and pizza bar, Asian dishes are often served, and later brunch and dinner are planned on weekends. Mondays are allotted for general dinners: strict uniform, mandatory presence of all students and teachers, birthdays, celebration of general and individual achievements, important announcement about school life and upcoming events. Additionally, all students have access to vending machines with snacks (located in the Student Center), can visit nearby cafes, restaurants, coffee shops, supermarkets.

Subject list: algebra, biology, chemistry, computer techologies, economics, French literature, Geometry, German literature, history, music, organic chemistry, physics, politics, Spanish Literature

The annual curriculum of schoolchildren necessarily includes events dedicated to art, creativity, sports and social work - the Department of Art is in charge of extra-curricular activities. Items such as drama, music and visual arts are necessarily included in the curriculum of high school students, students can attend advanced courses in these disciplines and earn credits on them.

Courses of dramatic and theatrical, actor's art help to develop in different performing directions: the skill of playing on stage, technical equipment of the theater, monologues, improvisation, plastic, stage crafts, the history of theater and drama in literature, Direction and Handling writer. In general, the duration of the advanced course for high school students takes 1 academic year. Many graduates in the future continue their studies and enter the profile educational institutions:

• Barnard College;
• University of Syracuse;
• New York University;
• University of Cincinnati;
• Ithaca's College;
• Carnegie Mellon University and Others.

The drama community for students has been working since 1995, Continuously developed and managed by the students themselves - today it includes about 40 people. At the indispensable autumn production (early November), international students show the audience a variety of performances, mainly from the classical repertoire: "A Midsummer Night's Dream", "Romeo and Juliet", "Laramie Project". Every year the drama studio travels to Bucks and Mercer, demonstrates its performances in regional theaters.

The musical school is not far behind: Here you can develop vocal skills (singing in the choir or solo), playing musical instruments (keyboards, percussion, etc.), learning a musical instrument or composition. Senior students are available advanced level programs: studying music theory, keyboard instruments, playing in a variety of school ensembles, studying contemporary popular music in the USA. Among the profile universities in which the students of The Pennington School continue their musical education, you can note:

• Peabody Institute (part of the Johns Hopkins University);
• Northwestern University;
• University of New York;
• University Temple and others.

Especially it is worth noting the successes the school choir that regularly performs on campus (services in a local chapel, a December ceremony with candles, a Spring Festival of Art), and beyond. Choristers participate in dramatic productions, musicals; They give concerts in the homes of the elderly, at the meetings of the graduates (New York, Washington), in the spring they go on a more national tour.

Among the instrumental groups working on the basis of the school, there are representatives of different directions: jazz bands, blues teams, pop- groups, rock bands, drummers, a separate recording group. Students participate in religious services, in the Spring Festival of Arts, at the annual Battle of the Bands: the latter is held in the winter, and the winners perform at the big May festival together with solo performers.

Students of the school are taught to use art (especially visual art) as a special visual language: here you can get design skills, create and replenish the portfolio, explore various concepts, techniques and approaches. Freedom of self-expression and initiative are encouraged in every way, critical thinking and creativity thinking, healthy risk, the possibility of unconventionally and quickly solving emerging problems. The pupils have the most diverse opportunities for self-expression in the visual arts:

• Photograph (own laboratory - digital and analog - with five professional photo-enlargers);
• Drawing, painting and graphics;
• Ceramics (there is an electrical and coal burning oven, a separate workshop with potter's wheels and other equipment).

In addition, students study the theory of art, develop skills of analysis and critical thinking - and for Cheniks who plan to build a career in these areas, there are special courses for advanced students.

The best work of the pupils is regularly placed throughout the campus on Special stands and walls, in the library room along with the works of local artists, gifted teachers and parents; Can be published in a special art magazine, exhibited outside the school - for example, at city exhibitions, in cafes and restaurants. At the annual Spring Festival of Arts the best works are demonstrated at the stands of photography, ceramics, painting and drawing. Special excursions are organized for the best museums, art galleries, famous artists' workshops, trips to the Philadelphia Art Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Under the guidance of experienced teachers and masters, students prepare and supplement a personal portfolio - it helps them to enter the best universities and higher schools throughout the country:

• School of American Crafts, Rochester Technological University;
• School of the Arts Chicago Institute;
• School of Fine Arts and Rhode Island School of Design;
• The Ceramics College of the University of Alfred and others.

Physical development and education of schoolchildren also is considered to be one of the main priorities in education Pennington School - it helps to unleash the full potential of each student, his leadership skills, learn how to effectively work independently and in teams. It is worth noting the great center for water sports named after Michael T. Martin - more than 80 swimmer students participate in regional and national competitions, win and take prizes. Also among the popular sports and outdoor activities you can note the following options:

• Field hockey;
• Baseball;
• American football;
• Football (soccer);
• Cross-country run;
• Basketball;
• Ice hockey;
• Water polo;
• Softball;
• Golf;
• Tennis;
• Lacrosse.

Free time students can spend in one of the many clubs and circles of interests is the best way to make new acquaintances, find friends and like-minded people, develop their unique abilities and talents:

• Bowling;
• German club;
• Public works and charity;
• Model UN;
• Chess Club;
• Technology circle;
• Environmental club;
• French club;
• Vocal ensemble of the girls;
• Chamber ensemble;
• Orchestra;
• Math Club;
• The Singers' Team;
• Historical club, etc.

On weekends and in the evenings, a variety of entertaining activities are organized on the campus, which can be held outside the school. For example, student groups can go to the cinema, to a sports match, to do shopping; Arranged excursions to New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Hershey Park.

The Pennington School campus is located in the same city in New Jersey and occupies 54 acres (22 hectares): it is a cozy, green and quiet countryside with a huge number of parks, shady forest groves and a small clean lake. Distance to Princeton is 10 miles, to New York and Philadelphia - 60 and 40 miles respectively.

Located within walking distance Pennington has all the necessary facilities of the city infrastructure: shopping and entertainment centers, cafes and restaurants, ice cream parlors, banks and pharmacies, beauty salons and hairdressers, flower shops and dry cleaning, even a home appliances store, not to mention supermarkets and clothing stores.

The cost of the program varies depending on the chosen training course and the student's age.

Some services are paid additionally to tuition fee:

• Registration fee;
• Deposit confirming the place on the course;
• Examination fee;
• Deposit in the school store;
• Additional academic and language classes (optional);
• Additional leisure activities and excursions (optional);
• Guardianship (registration with the agency + guardian services);
• Air tickets;
• Transfer in both directions;
• Mandatory health insurance;
• Personal pocket expenses;
• Visa fees and services, translation and certification of documents;
• Consular fee (payable at the Embassy).

Extras:

• Registration fee (for a programme/course) 235 USD
• Deposit on accommodation 1865 USD
• Deposit for a course/programme 23100 USD
• Pocket money 425 USD

Applicants must submit to the admissions committee the results of the general SSAT test (can be replaced by the results of the Admission exam taken by the Association of Boarding Schools), the results of language testing in English (TOEFL is welcomed), and Also a characteristic and a report card with grades from the previous place of study (for the last 2-3 years). All applicants for a place in the school are interviewed-in person or by Skype.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision