Kent Place School

Infobox School
name = Kent Place School


motto = "With wisdom she lights the way."
established = 1894
type = Private, Single-Sex
head of school = Susan C. Bosland
address = 42 Norwood Avenue
city = Summit
state = NJ
zipcode = 07901
country = USA
grades = PreK - 12
enrollment = 582 (in K-12, as of 2005-06)
faculty = 72.6 (on FTE basis)
ratio = 8.0
nickname = Dragons
conference = Colonial Hills Conference
colors =
information = 908-273-0900
website = [http://www.kentplace.org School website] The Kent Place School is a private all-girls nursery through 12 independent college-preparatory day school (with a coeducational nursery and pre-kindergarten) in Summit, Union County, New Jersey, United States.

As of the 2005-06 school year, the school had an enrollment of 582 students (in grades K-12, plus 51 students in PreK) and 72.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student-teacher ratio of 8.0. [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3409660&ID=340966001104 Kent Place School] , National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed August 15, 2008.]

The Primary, Middle, and Upper Schools each include science labs, art studios, and a computer lab. The Arts Center features a 260-seat theater, an art gallery, a dance studio, and practice rooms. Athletic facilities include a field house (gymnasium and weight room), three playing fields, and five tennis courts.

Advanced Placement Program (AP) courses offered at the school include AP Art History, AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Chemistry, AP Computer Science, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Environmental Science, AP European History, AP French Language, AP French Literature, AP Latin Literature, , AP Macroeconomics, AP Music Theory, AP Physics B, AP Spanish Language, AP Spanish Literature, AP Statistics, AP Studio Art and AP United States History.

Kent Place School is a member of the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools. [ [http://www.njais.org/listing.html School Search] , New Jersey Association of Independent Schools. Accessed July 29, 2008.] In late 2007, the Wall Street Journal listed Kent Place School as one of the world's top 50 schools for its success in preparing students to enter top American universities.cite web|url=http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/info-COLLEGE0711-sort.html|title=How the Schools Stack Up|publisher="The Wall Street Journal"|date=2007-12-28|author=Staff writer|accessdate=2008-07-25]

Mission statement

Kent Place is an independent, nonsectarian college-preparatory day school which, for over 100 years, has provided a superior education for young women who demonstrate strong scholastic and creative ability. Its mission is to offer students of diverse backgrounds, in nursery school through grade twelve, an academically rigorous curriculum in a caring atmosphere; to encourage them to contribute to and find success in this challenging program; to inspire young women to leadership; and to strengthen moral awareness. Committed to a liberal arts education that combines tradition and innovation, Kent Place provides the stimulus for each student to achieve her full academic, physical, and creative potential; to love learning; to gain confidence; to live responsibly; and to develop respect for herself and others in the global community. [ [http://www.kentplace.org/about.cfm Kent Place School:About Kent Place School - Our Mission] , Kent Place School : We Believe in the Concept of Excellence Individually Defined. Accessed March 24, 2008.]

Athletics

The Upper School offers teams in basketball, cross country, field hockey, squash, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track (indoor and outdoor), and volleyball. It also has a fencing club, which hasn't reached team status; Middle School teams are available in basketball, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. There are also new turf fields. Physical Education classes are also offered in Middle and Upper School in place of a sport. Physical Education is required in the Primary School.

The Kent Place School Dragons compete in the Colonial Hills Conference which includes public and parochial high schools covering Essex County, Morris County and Somerset County in west central New Jersey, under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA). [ [http://www.colonialhillsconference.com/ Home page] , Colonial Hills Conference. Accessed August 15, 2008.]

The soccer team won the 1999 North II, Group I sectional championship, defeating Pingry School, 1-0. [ [http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=62&tclass=North%20II%2C%20Group%20I State Semifinals - North II, Group I] , NJSIAA. Accessed May 26, 2007.]

Train

Many students take the train to Summit, and a Kent Place van will pick them up and take them to school. The Summit train station is about five minutes from the school. This transportation is available only to students grades 6-12. The primary schoolers will simply have to take the bus.

Construction

Kent Place is undertaking a huge responsibility by expanding on their learning space. Kent Place is planning on adding on a new wing to their middle and upper school buildings. This new wing will have all new classrooms, lockers, science and math labs, and lounges for students. After the new wing is complete, Kent Place plans on renovating its main building. This project is a multi-million dollar project that Kent Place has funded through generous donations from parents, alumni and other generous people in the community. Kent Place recently had its ground breaking ceremony on April 9th, 2007, which all of the students attended. Many other members of the community attended. Head of School Sue Bosland welcomed the crowd and introduced Honorary Chair of the Campaign, Emily Meschter ’60 who briefly spoke, as did President of the Board of Trustees, Neale Trangucci. Chair of the Campaign Michael Bird as well as the Mayor of Summit, New Jersey, Jordan Glatt, past Head of School Dori Dillon and numerous alumnae and parents were also in attendance. The Upper School flute ensemble and Chamber Singers entertained the crowd.

The master plan includes a new 45,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility which will house a new library, technologically equipped classrooms, computer labs, a long-distance learning hall, science and math labs, music facilities and more. The New Academic Center is designed with the intention of becoming a LEED certified building. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. An integrated sustainable educational program and the utilization of the building as a learning tool will be explored.The building is planned to be completed for the fall of 2008.

In addition to the bricks and mortar piece of the Campaign for Kent Place, there is an endowment portion for financial aid and faculty/staff compensation, as well as for sustaining additional facilities. [ [http://kentplace.org/campaign/ Inspiring Tomorrow's Leaders] , Campaign Overview : The Campaign for Kent Place School. Accessed April 20, 2008.]

“This is an historical day at Kent Place. We are about to embark on a spectacular building project - a state-of-the-art facility - that will look one hundred years old! We are all working together to continue the legacy that was started in 1894; to sustain a top educational community for girls and young women,” remarked Head of School Sue Bosland at the ceremony.

Notable alumni

*Peggy Bacon, (1895–1987), Painter, illustrator and writer. [cite web
last = Cummings
first = Paul
authorlink =
title = Interview with Peggy Bacon
publisher = Smithsonian Archives of American Art
date = 1973-05-08
url = http://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/oralhistories/transcripts/bacon73.htm
accessdate = ] [McQuiston, John T. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DEEDD1030F934A35752C0A961948260 "PEGGY BACON, 91, ILLUSTRATOR AND AUTHOR OF GENTLE SATIRES"] , "The New York Times", January 7, 1987. Accessed August 15, 2008.]
*Gabrielle Stanton, (born 1968), television writer and producer best known for her work on the series "Grey's Anatomy" and "Ugly Betty".Fact|date=March 2008

References

External links

* [http://www.kentplace.org School website]
* [http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/privateschoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&SchoolID=00869149&ID=00869149 Data for Kent Place School] , National Center for Education Statistics