usn admissions viewbook

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University School of Nashville Innovation and Excellence since 1915

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University School of Nashville Admissions Viewbook

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Page 1: USN Admissions Viewbook

University School of NashvilleInnovation and Excellence since 1915

Page 2: USN Admissions Viewbook

University School of NashvilleInnovation and Excellence since 1915

A non-sectarian, independent college preparatory co-educational day school located in the

heart of Nashville’s university area

Founded in 1915 as Peabody Demonstration School

1,030 students in kindergarten through twelfth grades

Page 3: USN Admissions Viewbook

When you visit us, you’ll notice that USN is no ordinary school. First you’ll see that our campus is surrounded by a university.Our proximity to Vanderbilt University and Peabody College for Teachers reminds us every day of our 100-year-old roots inthe demonstration school culture of innovation and educational best practices. Our home also places us squarely in theuniversity community of inquiry and intellectual life, a boon to our students and teachers.

Page 4: USN Admissions Viewbook

Every day at USN, students come first. The kindergarten child contributing ideas as the class agrees upon rules for their community, the eighth grader researching a Change Project, the sophomore starting a new club—all know that what they say matters to the adults around them.

Page 5: USN Admissions Viewbook

Came to USN in 2009

Grew up in Murfreesboro and went toVanderbilt

Though most of her interests come fromher work, Christy is learning mindfulness,meditation, and yoga. Loves reading andwalking in cities or forests with no particular destination

Grew up on a small farm, so childhoodmemories include helping pull a calf whenits mother was having a difficult delivery

What does she love most about teaching at USN? “Working with people who arepassionate about the work we do every dayand committed to getting it right. I lovebeing part of a community where it is safeto take risks as a learner, whether you are astudent or a teacher. I love knowing thatmy kindergartners will be in the buildingfor 12 more years, growing up around me.”

Christy Plummerkindergarten teacher

Page 6: USN Admissions Viewbook

Came to USN in 2002

“From the deep South of two countries”—Ontario, Canada and Jackson, Mississippi

Coach of the middle school Mathleticsteam, former coach of the middle schoolbaseball team

Bass player and sometime session musician,recording engineer, and humor writer

Developer of a pre-algebra curriculum appthat replaced the old textbook weighingdown seventh grade backpacks

Predators fan and season ticket holder

Decided to major in math while waiting inline at the registrar’s office to declare anothermajor

What does he love about teaching at USN?“Daily interaction with some of the coolestseventh graders I could possibly imagine.”

Joel Bezaireseventh grade pre-algebra teacher

Page 7: USN Admissions Viewbook

Come to USN to see an independent school that doesn’t fit the stereotype of independent schools. University School’s hallways and classrooms are filled with a remarkable diversity. We’re a school with a long history of embracing the benefitsof a community where not everyone looks and thinks alike.

Page 8: USN Admissions Viewbook

Came to USN in fifth grade

Born in Chicago and has lived in Nashvillesince he was five

A captain of the soccer team, he hasplayed on two state championship soccer

teams, his travel team and USN’s

Loves helping younger kids through USN--as a Lower School Aide at USN, as a BigBrother to a student at Carter LawrenceSchool, as a member of the Writing and

Service class that goes to Cameron Middle School

Likes collecting urban sneakers, listeningto music, disc jockeying, and trying new

kinds of food

What does he love most about USN? “I love the freedom. There is something for everyone, and the diversity here is

incredible. No one stands above or below.Everyone wants to see the best you’ve got.”

Donald Hardin

Page 9: USN Admissions Viewbook

Came to USN in fifth grade

Lived in Italy and France until she was ten,attending French schools before

she came to USN

Is in Show Choir and on the Dance Team, performed in four drama productions this

year, and plays center on the lacrosse team

Considers herself a former Cub Scout sinceshe went to all her brothers’ meetings and

camp-outs when they lived in France

Runs a day camp for lower school children ather house in the summer

What does she love most about USN? “WhenI came to USN in fifth grade, I wrote in myjournal, ‘Why is everyone so nice?’ New kidswho come here and make fun of others learnpretty quickly that that’s not the way we dothings at USN. Before USN, I wasn’t a dancerand never thought about studying law, but I

tried a dance class and joined Mock Trial, andnow I’ve found two new activities that I love.”

Elizabeth Dossett

Page 10: USN Admissions Viewbook

Our culture of achievement means that USN students expect each other to work hard and do well. It goes beyond suchexternal measurements as SAT and AP scores and college admissions, proud as we are of those benchmarks. Nor is itmerely top-down. This culture encourages students to take pride in their own good work and that of their classmates.

Page 11: USN Admissions Viewbook

Came to USN in 2007

Grew up in Chicago

Teaches middle school theater, includingimprovisation, scene work, and auditionpreparation

Coaches the high school cheerleadingsquad and directs the middle school musical and middle school play

Acts in shows at the Tennessee RepertoryTheatre and other local theaters

Plays trombone in the high school bandand loves creating, whether acting, singing,dancing, directing, choreographing, ordesigning posters

In college, he was a drum major

What does he love most about teachingat USN? “The people, the people, thepeople! We are a family.”

Bakari Kingtheater teacher

Page 12: USN Admissions Viewbook

While academics hold top priority at USN, our students also excel as athletes, artists, actors, and musicians. We don’thave a cookie cutter. Students feel encouraged to discover what interests them and then to pursue those interests, on oroff campus. Some walk across the street to Vanderbilt for a class, some head down the street to one of our partner publicschools to work with children.

Page 13: USN Admissions Viewbook

Kindergarten through twelfth grade students use our 80-acre River Campus, fifteen minutes from Edgehill Avenue, for fieldsports and outdoor environmental education. USN students begin interscholastic competition in fifth grade, with 20 teamsin middle school and 27 in high school. The River Campus includes a wetland used for science and environmental study.

photo by Aerial Innovations

Page 14: USN Admissions Viewbook

Students find joy in learning at USN. This joy may lie in the quiet pleasure of intellectual discovery in a classroom, inchallenges met on the athletic field, in visions realized in the studio, or in new skills acquired in the outdoors program.

Page 15: USN Admissions Viewbook

Came to USN in 1989

From York, Pennsylvania and “still a Yankee”after more than 40 years here

Has taught Western Civilization, AP Art History,Social Conscience, Italian, and many historyindependent studies, but it’s her AP EuropeanHistory course that has become a legend

Paints in oils at every opportunity; has lovedcooking northern Italian food since shelearned it while living in Bologna in college

Fluent in Italian, reads French and German

Has taken 13 trips to Italy, one to Japan, andone along the Great War’s Western Front

Worked in two political campaigns and wasGovernor Alexander’s ombudsman and staff aide

What does she love most about teaching atUSN? “The level of intellectual curiosity andthe variety of experiences that students bringto my classes.”

Marc Lavinehigh school history teacher

Page 16: USN Admissions Viewbook

Came to USN in 9th grade

Born in Nashville

Plays Ultimate Frisbee and belongs to theAmerican Cancer Society Club, the Fly-fishingClub, and Student Council

Plays the trombone in the Pep, Concert, andJazz Bands, competes in the Science Olympiad,and writes for the school newspaper

Loves fishing, swimming, and baking, alsoplaying pickup soccer, basketball, and videogames

Enjoyed hiking Cold Mountain in the Smokieson the sophomore retreat

What does he love most about USN? “Myfriends. I only came to school here last year,but I’ve already made best friends with someof the people who have been going to USNsince kindergarten. It’s a very welcoming andfriendly environment.”

Hayden Roche

Page 17: USN Admissions Viewbook

Our students feel valued and inspired at USN, partly because we have such exceptional teachers. Students, alumni, andcurrent parents consistently rank our faculty as USN’s greatest strength. In a recent survey by the National Associationof Independent Schools, an amazing 99% of our high school students agreed with the statement, “I feel supported byteachers at this school.”

Page 18: USN Admissions Viewbook

From our nurturing and joyous kindergarten to our high school preparing young adults for the challenges of college,USN is a journey toward maturity. Dedicated teachers foster the skills and strengths that students need to becomeincreasingly independent and critical thinkers. Our alumni say that they are exceedingly well prepared for the demandsof college, and not merely the academic ones.

n Typically a third of the senior class receives recognition in the National Merit Scholarship competition.

n More than two-thirds of the seniors at USN are offered merit scholarships to college.

n In recent years the average Advanced Placement score has been 4 and the most frequent 5, the highest possible score.

n Nine out of ten seniors take at least one AP exam.

Page 19: USN Admissions Viewbook

Our Mission: University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that representsthe cultural and ethnic composition of greater Nashville,

USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative

expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.

University School of Nashville2000 Edgehill Avenue

Nashville, Tennessee 37212615/321-8000

www.usn.org

Photography by Kimberly Manz, except where indicated

Page 20: USN Admissions Viewbook

University School of Nashville2000 Edgehill AvenueNashville, Tennessee 37212615/321-8000www.usn.org