Table of Contents
Mission and Vision Statement
Key Messaging
Beyond Academic Rigor
Inquiry Based Learning
Triple Accreditation
Lifelong Learning
Academics as One Piece of the Puzzle
Passion for Learning
Low Student-Teacher Ratio
Diversity
Community Service
Written Communications
Capitalization
Commonly Troublesome Words
Grammar and Punctuation
Numbers
Email Writing Tips
Photos and Video
How to take a good photo with your phone
Where to upload to Box
Tagging Photos
Branding
Colors
Logos
Key Messaging
Beyond Academic Rigor
We provide our students with opportunities to explore real-world concepts and issues, challenge assumptions, think critically and acquire skills that they will need to apply throughout their educational and future professional journeys.
Inquiry Based Learning
Starting in the earliest years, our students are encouraged to post questions on their classroom's Wonder Board.
As they move up through the grades on their learning journey, their questions become the foundation of their inquiry and research into the world around them.
The questions spark their curiosity and then their curiosity leads to more questions.
Triple Accreditation
Whitby is recognized by three accrediting bodies — the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), the American Montessori Society (AMS), and the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools (CAIS).
Each accrediting body requires an in-depth self-study that involves most of the staff and takes the school a year to complete.
The commendations and recommendations of the self-study, when validated by the accrediting agencies, ensure we remain focused on our mission and progressive in our continued commitment to provide an exceptional learning continuum for our students.
Lifelong Learning
The "Recipe"
- Give students the freedom to explore and inquire into the world around them.
- Provide them with lots of opportunity for assessment and reflection individually, collaboratively with peers and with their teachers.
- Provide them with opportunities to share their passion for learning and take responsibility for their progress through journals, circle time, student-led parent-teacher conferences, Grade 4 Exhibition, and Grade 8 Project, just to name a few.
- Repeat these steps over-and-over for 12 years. Children will take ownership of the learning process, have a vision to chart their own course and the strength to learn whatever, whenever needed.
Academics as One Piece of the Puzzle
We provide opportunities to support our students' social, emotional, and physical needs along with their academic needs.
One highly visible example of how we achieve this is through our co-curricular program which provides students with opportunities to engage in a wide array of after-school classes that extend learning from the core subjects.
Passion for Learning
We believe learning should continue throughout your whole life, and employees are constantly encouraged to pursue new growth opportunities. Teachers that find joy in the pursuit of their own professional growth translates into the kind of passion that inspires students to reach for new heights.
Low Student-Teacher Ratio
At Whitby, our multi-teacher classrooms allow us to differentiate the instruction on a small group or even individual basis. Teachers observe, mentor, challenge, and assess, while providing their students with the freedom needed to inquire, explore, and develop a deeper love of learning.
Diversity
Whitby’s population represents 17 countries, with more than 25 languages spoken. This means that our teachers don't have to look very far to find parents willing to come in to share stories of their heritage or life journeys.
We live it every day and so our students end up being the beneficiaries of a school culture where differences in perspective are valued and contribute to the development of empathy and critical thinking skills.
Community Service
We make volunteerism a key part of our student's experience. The best part of community service is that it is a win-win situation for the students who learn to develop empathy, humility, and leadership skills, as well as the organizations the students are volunteering at as they get free labor. In turn, the people being helped by those same organizations receive the extra support.
Written Communications
Capitalization
Capitalize a person’s title in all cases — whether it appears before or after a person’s name.
E.g. Head of School Jason Anklowitz was present.
The experiment was conducted by Shelley Castro, Upper School Science Teacher.
Always capitalize a department or school level
E.g. There is was an announcement made about the Upper School by the Communications Department.
Always capitalize the word "Grade" when followed by the grade's numeric.
E.g. Grade 6, not grade 6.
Commonly Troublesome Words
cocurricular
ebook
interdisciplinary
internet
lifelong
Makerspace
T-shirt
theater
transdisciplinary
website
Wildcat
Punctuation, Grammar and Special Characters
Colon – In a sentence, capitalize the first word after the colon if what follows the colon could function alone as a complete sentence. Use a single space following the colon. Place colons outside quotation marks when used together.
Numbers – Spell out one through nine. Use numerals for the number 10 and up. Write up all numbers that begin a sentence.
E.g. There were five visitors over the span of 15 days.
More than nine students knew the answer.
Express large and very large numbers in numerals followed by million, billion, and so forth.
E.g. 2 million people
Use a numeral when referring to a grade level.
E.g. Students finished their 8th grade project.
Grade 4 students attended yesterday's field trip.
Avoid starting a sentence with a number. If you must start a sentence with a number, the number should be spelled out. Hyphens are not necessary.
E.g One hundred thirty five people attended our event.
Oxford Comma – Use the Oxford Comma before the conjunction in a series with three or more items.
E.g. Whitby students exhibited photos about fairness, equality, and change.
Teachers observe, mentor, challenge and assess, and facilitate.
Time – Always use periods between a.m. and p.m.
Leave space between minutes and a.m. and p.m. Only use the hour if at the top of the hour.
E.g. 9 a.m. not 9:00 a.m.
Photos and Videos
Tips for Taking Photos with your Phone
Focus on one subject – A strong single subject often makes a strong photo. Tap the subject on your screen for your phone to focus and adjust the lighting.
Avoid zooming in – The idea of digital zoom is great, but execution and actual results can vary. Oftentimes, photos can become grainy when using digital zoom. When possible, walk closer to your subject for a more crisp photo.
Keep flash off – Use natural light exclusively whenever possible. Without much control of the light from a flash, photos may not come the way you want them to. Flash can overexpose photos and distort colors.
Video
Orientation - Shoot all video horizontally. Vertically shot video cannot be used in any post-production materials.
If you start shooting a video vertically and rotate your phone horizontally while recording, the shot will not adjust accordingly. You must stop the current video and start recording a separate clip.
If you do mistakenly shoot video vertically, do not delete your clip. If your subject is compelling enough, we may be able to use it for social media.
Length
When publishing a finished video, we recommend keeping it to a minute or less whenever possible. Use your best judgement. When publishing, think as the viewer.
Sound - Most videos you shoot will be to capture an event or activity and you'll mostly want to capture ambient noise; in these cases you won't have to pay attention to sound too much.
However, on occasions when someone is speaking, pay close attention to the ambient noise. Good audio is just as important as good video and if a speaker/interviewee can't be heard, the video is no good.
Uploading Photos to Box
Great photos are made even better when we can access them.
The 2018-19 Photo Gallery is broken up into four categories: Events, Classroom Photos, Athletic Photos, and WECCP and Cocurriculars.
These categories are broken down further by school level, class, sport, etc. Please upload photos to the appropriate location.
Tagging System
New this year, we've created a Photo Tagging System. This is to keep track of exceptional stand-out photos among the thousands we take throughout the year.
Photos are tagged based on Topic, Age and Context. We've created a Photo Tagging Guide to help you.
Add Josh (@JoshuaAromin) to the comments of any photos you tag.
