Page 7 - Priorities #11 1999-October Annual Report

Foreign Languages
Priory Spanish students up through High School Level 3 are among the first anywhere to study with En Espagnol, a textbook-and-video-based course that incorporates the most current communications theories and guidelines. Merrilyn Mecham, Department Head, likes the series because it has more content and structure than the previous materials, she says.
Four years of high school language study is an advantage when applying to many colleges - just one reason why students are encouraged to pursue their studies. This year, AP Spanish Literature joined AP Spanish Language to provide both schedule flexibility and additional advanced work for students who complete their first AP in their junior year. Advanced French students are working through Independent Study arrangements. Japanese Distance Learning is again the solution for a student with a schedule conflict. Distance learning is a well- organized, interactive program of study available over the internet. It includes homework, teacher contact and even online “classmates,” says teacher Hiroko Takano.
Summer Grants
From a $50 request for whiteboard to a $26,000 request for Dreamwriter software, the summer 1999 grants touch students in this year’s classrooms. The granting committee approved 47 different project requests submitted by 28 teachers.
The summer grants program encourages faculty initiative in professional development by allowing teachers to seek funding for projects they devise. The program is supported entirely by special gifts of almost $150,000.
Most of the proposals for Summer 1999 allowed teachers to introduce new curriculum and obtain training to teach it, said Marianne Stoner, who heads the granting committee.
In every subject area, grants supported teacher workshops and classes, curriculum development, new course development, and innovative teaching. The expanded Middle School Accelerated Reading program is an example. The program helped make possible the seven new Advanced Placement courses offered this year. It brought new software to many departments, a high-power, multi-media computer system to Fine Arts, advanced training and technology to the yearbook, web, and even funded a campus bird sanctuary for Middle School science. Preparatory work for two faculty-student study tours in South America received support. A revised and updated freshman orientation program was funded. The Residential Lite staff received new handbooks and the services of a specialist in international cultures.
Teachers selected classes and workshops at Stanford and University of San Francisco locally; also in Tucson, Raleigh, North Carolina, Vermont, San Diego and Massachusetts.
Mitch Neuger made use of summer grant funding to revise Seventh Grade history curriculum, attend the Bay Area Writing Workshop for teachers, and continue studying
for an advanced degree.
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Brian Ogden, whose hats on the campus include swimmingcoach, ResidentialLifestaffandSocial Studies faculty member, used summer grant funding to prepare curriculum and teaching support for AP Economics, new this fall.
Father Pius, whose Latin instruction is still requested by students, was among the first adults to become proficient in the use of the computer when they first arrived on campus several years ago. He still can often be found at the keyboard communicating with friends all over the world.