Head of School's Message: Sept. 8

Following the secondary school application meeting at Middle School Back-to-School night, an eighth grade parent lamented, tongue-in-cheekily, “If Chandler had a high school we wouldn’t have to go through this.” Chandler High is not on the horizon. The secondary school placement process led by Assistant Head of School Anneke Emerson matches graduates with approximately 17 secondary schools, from Webb in Claremont to Harvard-Westlake in Studio City. It’s an important part of our program that eighth-graders and their parents experience together.  
 
Chandler’s identity as a K-8 school is established. Whether your child is continuing in our program from a previous year, embarking on a nine-year experience by starting in kindergarten or joining us for a two- or three-year Middle School experience, we believe there are compelling reasons why the K-8 configuration works so well.
Chandler Prepares
 
Students can experience a continuing commitment in a program that meets their academic, social and emotional needs each year.
 
Chandler faculty are experts in understanding and challenging the K-8 learner. One third of our faculty holds advanced degrees. The average tenure of a Chandler faculty member is nine years.
 
Chandler provides age appropriate boundaries for the K-8 learner. Chandler’s Middle School does not imitate high school, but prepares for high school.
 
Chandler allows time for students to discover themselves, their aptitudes and their talents before they (with their parents' guidance) make informed decisions about the high school that best fits them.
 
Chandler students fulfill their academic potential in a challenging, focused, nine-, three-, or two-year high school preparatory program.
 
Because of the strength of their preparation, Chandler graduates are sought after by selective secondary schools.
 
Chandler Develops Leaders
 
Younger children view older students as role models. Their teachers hold high expectations for their character and their example. Students respond accordingly. The responsibilities vested in our seventh- and eighth-graders give them a taste of authentic leadership and help them develop the self-confidence needed in high school.
 
Leadership skills are developed at each grade level through participation in athletics, the arts, student government and public speaking.
 
Chandler Builds Community
 
Chandler is a young person’s territory. The campus is cohesive, secure and designed for the exclusive use of the K-8 learner. Two libraries and four science labs have been customized to serve our community. Exterior and interior spaces have been designed for students to gather together. Desks and tables can be rearranged quickly for different teaching purposes.
 
 
Chandler faculty have a continuity of knowledge of each student. P.E., art and music teachers work with the entire student body. All students and their families are well known by faculty across grade levels. Faculty in both divisions share with each other their understanding and insights about student learning.
 
Parents enroll siblings ensuring a continuity of community from kindergarten through eighth grade.
 
There are no high school distractions, no public displays of affection and no student drivers.
 
Chandler Instills Values
 
The Six Pillars of Character and The Chandler Code are consistently reinforced throughout the school community, creating an atmosphere of mutual respect, fair play and self-discipline. Our graduates are equipped to make good choices that determine the course of their lives in high school and beyond.
 
Some of these points about preparation, leadership, community and values may help your elevator pitch or Vons check out line speeches to the curious who ask about Chandler and our K-8 configuration.
 
Watching the K-2 students crossing the field with their Middle School buddies en route to last Friday’s assembly is obvious and symbolic evidence that the K-8 configuration works best for our community. Thanks for choosing Chandler.
 
This week I am accompanying the eighth grade class on their backpacking trip to the Jennie Lakes Wilderness in the Sierras. I will be back in school next Monday.
 
Most sincerely,

 
John Finch
Head of School
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