Message from Carl Cooper, Head of School

Upper Campus, September 24, 2012

The school's philosophy states clearly that the education of the whole child is at the center of our mission. In just the first three weeks of the school year, we have started with the introduction of a rigorous academic program, including many Advanced Placement courses. As a college preparatory school it is essential that students take the most challenging academic load they can manage.

Equally important are the co-curricular activities in which they choose to participate - camping, sports, performing arts and community service all engage students in activities that demand good behavior, leadership, integrity, and cooperation.

But beyond the lessons learned through those activities, we want students to develop the knowledge and strength of character to make sound judgments in their personal lives.

One of the programs we incorporate into the curriculum at Upper Campus is a series of student empowerment workshops lead by Ms. Tobi Green that focus on a range of issues, including human sexuality, gender identity, sexual assault, pit falls of the cyber world, building healthy relationships and communication skills, and more.

Perhaps the most important message to our Upper Campus students is that they must own the decisions they make. They are asked to use their understanding of the schools boundaries both in reality and figuratively speaking to guide their behavior.

Tobi engages the students in stimulating conversation that requires both respect for self and the larger community of the school. Just as I ask parents to focus beyond grades, I ask each student about the substance of his or her classroom learning experience. I do hope parents will inquire as to the topics of Tobi’s program (details here) and the impact it is having on their child as well as other students.

In building character, it is important to build a solid foundation of behavior that will support individuals in those times when they have free choice and the moral responsibility to do what is right. These empowerment workshops touch on the most common areas of concern for adolescents as they strive to find their way into and become part of the adult world.


Carl S. Cooper (L64, U68)
Head of School, Upper Campus