Shady Hill School

Dear Friend,

178 Coolidge Hill Cambridge, MA 02138 Admission Office: 617-520-5200 www.shs.org

Greetings from Shady Hill School! A friend has asked you to write a personal reference on behalf of their child who is an applicant to our school. As a person who knows the family well, your impressions of this child and his or her parents are helpful to the Admission Committee as we determine whether Shady Hill can provide the best educational experience to match the needs of the child and family. The Committee would appreciate any observations you wish to make. Please send your comments to us by January 15. If you are not familiar with Shady Hill, a brief overview of our school may be of interest. Shady Hill is a Beginners (age 4) through Grade Eight day school with approximately 500 students, located on an 11-acre campus in Cambridge. Since our founding in 1915, we have been committed to creating an environment where children are joyful, active learners who become confident and ethical citizens. We honor the individual character of each child; create a safe setting which allows children to be curious and to take risks; encourage learning through exploration, discovery, and collaboration; value intellectual discipline and mastery of skills; and emphasize contact with primary sources. Subjects are often integrated so that students become aware of relationships which exist between topics and disciplines. In particular, each grades humanities curriculum builds on a Central Subject which is a year-long study of a topic through the lens of history, literature, geography and writing. This rigorous approach to learning turns even young students into scholars and researchers. Sample Central Subjects include: Whales and Whaling, Ancient Greece, Ancient China, Africa, and Colonial America. Our science program is designed to nurture a childs natural curiosity about the world and to introduce scientific methods. As students move through the curriculum, they develop an increasingly formalized approach to science while sustaining a delight in inquiry and exploration. Shady Hills math program utilizes a standards-based curriculum which emphasizes learning through discovery. This approach enables students to develop a deep conceptual understanding of mathematical topics and to become excellent problem solvers. Our physical education program includes movement classes for our youngest students, group game skills and strategies during the elementary years, and a competitive inter-scholastic sports program in Middle School. Shady Hill believes that a diverse student body is an educational imperative. The school enrolls children from a range of socio-economic, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, as well as family configurations. Our graduates are confident learners and independent thinkers who excel in their secondary school and college careers. We are aware of the time and thought a personal reference requires and thank you for sharing your perspective. Sincerely,

Cassie Firenze Director of Admission and Financial Aid

Shady Hill School

RequeSt foR PeRSonal RefeRence
To the Applicant Family:

178 coolidge Hill cambridge, Ma 02138 admission office: 617-520-5200 www.shs.org

Please give this form and cover letter, along with a stamped envelope addressed to Shady Hill School, to an individual who knows both you and your child well. the friend who completes this personal reference should submit the form to the Shady Hill admission office by January 15. Student Name: _____________________________________________________ Applying for Grade: ________________

To the Friend:
the above-named student has submitted an application for admission to Shady Hill. the family has asked you to write a reference on behalf of their child. Please complete this form and return it to the Shady Hill admission office by January 15.
Your Name: __________________________________________________________________ Date: ________________________________ Your Address: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Your E-Mail Address: _______________________________________________________________________________________________ How long and in what context have you known this child and his or her parents? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Please use the space below and the reverse side for your comments and observations.