Academic Excellence

One of the tenets of Calvert's program is academic precision. As a result, students make corrections to assignments completed that week during a formal period every morning. It is our philosophy that students learn from their successes, but significant learning also occurs from correcting mistakes. Beginning in Seventh Age, a full sample of students' corrected work, along with a detailed report card, is sent home monthly.

To enhance student learning and skills, we assign nightly homework that focuses on rote skills in addition to more complex challenges. At Calvert, we also believe in regular assessment of our students, including formal as well as less formal, daily evaluation of student performance.

Research and public speaking are early components of a Calvert education. It begins with student-centered inquiry in our youngest classes to thematic research in subsequent classes. Projects culminate with an interdisciplinary state report in our Tenth Age where they are expected to conduct research, write a report, present a bibliography, prepare speech notes, and use technology when presenting.

By the end of Tenth Age, our students have a strong core foundation. Our students are ready for increased opportunities for lateral thinking, content synthesis and analysis, further developing their curiosity and mastery in Middle School.

Character
Calvert students are students of character and integrity. Our formal morning handshakes are intended to serve as a model of civility and respect. Each student is expected to establish eye contact, offer a firm grip, and a clear, audible greeting. In our classrooms, teachers build on this custom through carefully planned lessons.

Our Lower School counselor meets regularly with classes to instill school values, including friendship, integrity, safety, and respect. We use literature to highlight discussions centered on character. School-wide themes and activities support the role that our students play (and should play) in the wider community.

Teachers are integral members of the Calvert community. We strive to hire faculty members who are excellent educators and superlative role models for our boys and girls. As such, our teachers contribute to our community and students' lives in both tangible and intangible ways. Not surprisingly, Calvert teachers build lasting bonds with their students forged through instruction, coaching, and daily personal interactions with students and their parents.

Calvert teachers often make phone calls just to check in to see how things are going. Calvert teachers, as well as administrators, contact parents when they have good news to share. We are intentional in our efforts to make meaningful connections with students and their families because together we are the Calvert community.

Community
Calvert is located within the confines of Baltimore City in a residential community. As such, we have a responsibility to be exemplary neighbors. Students participate in outreach activities that benefit our local Baltimore community, including preparing food for the less fortunate, creating crafts, engaging in school-wide recycling efforts, and sprucing up the surrounding neighborhood.

Communications and Partnerships
Parents are our partners in educating our students. A hallmark of the Calvert Way is effective communication between teachers and parents. Faculty members send weekly emails to the parents informing them about the current topics under study and those on the horizon.

In addition, many teachers maintain classroom blogs to let parents, grandparents, and friends get a glimpse into the daily life of the students. This technology has allowed our families to explore Calvert classrooms from afar.

In order to see the classrooms up close and personal, we also offer classroom observations on Calvert in Action Days. On these days, families can register to spend part of a normal school day observing their children and teachers in action.

Calvert School has active parent volunteers who assist classroom teachers in many facets of the school program. Parents volunteer to assist with specific homeroom-based activities (preparing outreach materials and chaperoning field trips) to assisting in special subjects such as library and art.