Program Description

Founded in 1886 as St. Mary's School, The White Mountain School is an independent boarding and day school located in Bethlehem, New Hampshire. WMS is dedicated to preparing young people for college and beyond. Its robust curriculum and interactive classes allow students in grades 9-12/PG to own their education and become responsible and innovative young adults. Extensive community service, sustainability studies, performing and fine arts, and outdoor learning programs are integral parts of the school's curriculum.

The challenging academic program at WMS is supported by a caring faculty determined to help students achieve their best. At WMS education is not about memorization and "teaching to a test." We write across the curriculum. Classrooms are discussion-based and grading at WMS is an evaluation of the student's ability to think, not memorize.

White Mountain educational strategies produce tangible results as WMS students find acceptance at a wide range of colleges. WMS graduates attend competitive colleges well prepared to succeed.

International Student Program and ESL

The White Mountain School is known as a community where all students know each other and are interested in each other's backgrounds. We are intentionally small in order to assure that all students learn from each other. This is a tremendous advantage for international students, as they work with American students and students from other countries around the globe on a regular basis. International and domestic students work together in all settings -- in the dormitory, in sports, on field courses, and in all non-ESL classes.

Additionally, the personal, caring and committed relationships that faculty have with all students, and particularly with our international students, makes The White Mountain School unique.

In addition to English as a Second Language support, The White Mountain School provides the following for all international students.

• International Student Orientation
• Wednesday Night Seminar (during first term and is an extension of orientation)
• International Support and Opportunity
• Cultural Exchange
• School Vacations
• College Counseling
• Admission/Immigration Support

Learning Center

The White Mountain School has been at the forefront of the educational movement that recognizes how every student learns differently. As a small school we are committed to both challenging and supporting each and every student. We value the diverse perspectives and strengths that our students bring to the community. We also recognize that each student needs a different kind of support to reach his/her fullest potential. Our Learning Center works hosts both writing and math labs. For extra cost students can receive Academic Guidance, Semi-Private Tutorial, or Private Tutorial.

Faculty and Advisers

Each WMS faculty member has the remarkable ability to challenge and support kids simultaneously. Individual attention is a basic part of the WMS approach to education. Students and faculty are on a first name basis, living and learning in a community of respect. Many are certified as teacher as well as Wilderness First Responders or Wilderness EMTs.

Facilities

McLane is the school's main building which houses the classroom wing, Linda McGoldrick library, multimedia lab, 2 computer labs, a student center and extensive studio art facilities.

The Linda McGoldrick library contains 7,000 volumes, plus an online catalog, several online databases, and inter-library loan with Dartmouth College and the University of New Hampshire.

White Mountain's art studios include a photo lab, ceramics lab, drawing room, printmaking facilities, and a music room.

Completed in Fall 2006, the new Fred Steele Science Center provides an academic facility equal to White Mountain's outstanding instruction in chemistry, biology, physics, earth science, and sustainability studies. These large science labs, fully equipped with state-of-the-art SMART Board interactive whiteboards, allow for multi-day experiments encourage students to go beyond the book.

The White Mountain 3000 square foot indoor climbing wall and fitness center is outfitted with 12 belay stations, a bouldering area, Nautilus, free weights, and aerobic equipment. The campus grounds also include two athletic fields, Edge Field and Solar Field, for lacrosse and soccer.

Athletics

Our philosophy is simple: The White Mountain School believes that athletics and healthy outdoor activities are essential parts of the development of our students. Our teams are open to all and everyone has the opportunity to participate. We take pride in our ability to build strong bonds, help individuals gain strengths, skills and confidence and maintain a healthy, supportive and extremely safe atmosphere on the playing field and in the outdoors.

All students participate in sports or afternoon activities during all three seasons. We have a very diverse group of offerings that allows students great flexibility to focus in an area of particular interest or take on some new challenges. Our coaches are incredibly dedicated and professionally at the top of their fields. Our low student to faculty ratio allows us to keep our teams and groups intentionally small. WMS is a place, not just where everyone plays or participates, but where every student becomes an integral part of their team, group or activity. Sports offerings are as follows:

Fall

• Boys Soccer
• Girls Soccer
• Rock Climbing
• Intro to Rock and Kayak
• Mountain Biking
• Theater

Winter

• Freestyle Ski Team
• Snowboard Team
• Alpine Racing Team
• Backcountry skiing and snowboarding
• Recreational skiing and snowboarding
• Ski Patrol
• Winter Fitness
• Theater
• Yoga
• Community Service
• Dance

Spring

• Boys’ Lacrosse
• Girls’ Lacrosse
• Whitewater Kayaking
• Rock Climbing
• Cycling
• Hiking and Fitness
• Farm and Forest.

Community Service

WMS has received local, state and national recognition for its Community Service Program. It has three components: local and national service opportunities and Community Service Odysseys, which have taken place as far a field as Haiti, Honduras, Peru, and Nicaragua. In 2007, the National Association of Boarding Schools honored White Mountain's Community Service Odysseys successes with a Global Sustainability Award.

WMS is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and is a member of the Secondary School Admission Test Board, the National Honor Society, the Independent Schools Association of Northern

Signature Programs

Field Courses

Field Courses are five-day learning experiences that allow our students to immerse themselves in a specific discipline. These courses are off-campus and include activities such as rock-climbing in Joshua Tree National Park while studying the water rights issues of the Southwest, exploring the many museums of New York City, or volunteering with local communities in the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua.

Leadership for Global Sustainability

The LGS program allows students to be exposed to the growing field of global sustainability through theory and action based courses at WMS. Students who chose the Leadership for Global Sustainability concentration their junior year will attend leadership seminars and a summer internship.

Outdoor Leadership

The outdoors is a unique extension of the WMS classroom experience. Field courses, weekend trips, and outdoor sports will proved you the opportunities for experiential learning and adventure. Students may also choose to focus their studies in our Outdoor Leadership concentration during their junior and senior years.

Fine & Performing Arts

Students can explore and develop their creative abilities through our Fine and Performing Arts offerings including 2-D drawing, ceramics, theater, music, dance and photography. Students can enter competitions, exhibit their work, and build portfolios for preparation for further study.

Farm & Forest

Students can chose Farm & Forest for their fall or spring afternoon activity, working four afternoons a week on land stewardship and farming on WMS’s own organic farm. Weekend skills workshops are open to all students, covering topics such as sustainable firewood production, knitting, timber framing, and maple sugaring.