Click here for more photos of the 2016 Inaugural Graduation Ceremony.
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2016 GOLF OUTING
Thank you for your support of Wolcott School's 6th Annual Golf Outing & Amazing Raffle. Your generosity helped us reach a new milestone.
The 2016 Golf Outing raised $640,000 for Wolcott School! All proceeds from this year's outing will benefit the construction of our new highly anticipated Arts & Athletics Center.
The golf extravaganza stretched over three days and across the Midwest with picture perfect weather. From the outing in Lake Forest, Illinois, to the jet trip in Arcadia, Michigan, and Evansville, Indiana - everyone had a wonderful time!
Congratulations to our Amazing Raffle winners and thank you all for making the raffle a huge success. A record 1,098 ticket sold!
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COLLEGE CORNER
Class of 2016 Acceptances & Scholarships
Our first-ever College Signing Day was cause for a celebration. Senior students were met with cheers and fanfare from the student body and faculty as they made a grand entrance into the all school assembly. Donning their new college shirts, students shared with the crowd their best advice on applying to college. Their advice: start your applications early, don't procrastinate, and don't be afraid to apply to schools to which you think you would not be admitted.
The collective list of the 63 colleges and universities that our 14 seniors were accepted in to is impressive! The schools range from small liberal arts colleges to state universities. Equally impressive is the over $1.7 million in merit scholarships that were offered. Congratulations to the Class of 2016!
Conversations on Transitioning from High School to College
The transition to college is a big step for students and their families, and is different for each student. This spring, we gathered a panel of experts to talk with families about social, academic, and logistical considerations when transitioning to college. Participating panelists were Dr. Paul V. Harris, Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Ashley Knight, DePaul University Dean of Students, and Helene Stelian, parent, writer, and life coach. For more information on the transition to college visit Transition Year and College Parent Central.
Class of 2017, Wolcott's Rising Seniors
The Class of 2017 is beginning their work on college applications and crafting essays. A full house of junior students and parents gathered for a discussion with Marybeth Kravets on Everything You Need to Know About the College Application Process. In addition, rising seniors met with Mrs. Kravets for a Common Application workshop and will continue to meet over the summer individually to explore 'good fit' colleges.
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WOLCOTT STUDENTS RECEIVE PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS
Carly Norton-Williams was awarded The Harvard Prize Book, an achievement award from the Harvard Alumni Association, given to an outstanding high school student in the next-to-graduating class who displays excellence in scholarship and high character, combined with achievements in other fields. As the recipient of the award, Carly attended the Harvard Club of Chicago Prize Book Brunch to meet with Harvard alumni and fellow Chicago area Prize Book honorees.
Devyn Feiger is the first Wolcott student to be awarded the Bryn Mawr College President's Book Award. This award is given in recognition of an intense intellectual commitment, a purposeful vision of life, and a desire to make a meaningful contribution to the world.
Congratulations to Carly and Devyn!
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COMING FALL 2017
ARTS AND ATHLETICS CENTER
At Wolcott, we mean it when we say we are 'Built Around The Strengths Of Our Students'. What better way to demonstrate our commitment to nurturing students' strengths than with our plans for a new Arts and Athletics Center!
The new Center, conveniently located two short blocks from our main campus building, will include: - Spacious gym with regulation-size basketball court and bleacher seating for 150
- Expansive stage for performances with audience seating for 350
- Increased studio space for art, music, and a maker's lab
- Urban garden
To donate and to learn about naming opportunities, please contact Kelly Ramos at (312) 610-4927 or kramos@wolcottschool.org.
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NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY
INDUCTION CEREMONY
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NEWS FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL
Wolcott's Inaugural Graduation began with a bagpipe-led procession of graduates and faculty dressed in ceremonial regalia. Commencement was a remarkable event from start to finish. When we opened our doors to our current graduates three years ago, we had big dreams. Graduation day was every minute of a dream come true for me. As I watched our faculty speak, our students sing, reflect, and recite spoken word poetry, I felt a rush of memories. I am proud of what the Wolcott community has accomplished in the past three years and am excited to hear about the future achievements of our first alumni.
Our 14 seniors were accepted into 63 colleges and received in excess of $1.7 million in merit scholarships. We celebrated their success with a school-wide college signing ceremony. Seniors entered the ceremony to their college fight song and were presented with a t-shirt of their new school. Our commitment to our graduates continues as we pair them with Wolcott faculty mentors who will help them navigate their transition into college.
Word about Wolcott is spreading rapidly as our students participate in national and local competitions. For the first time, we inducted students into the National Honor Society and honored recipients of the Harvard Prize Book and Bryn Mawr College President's Book Awards. Our Robotics Team was chosen to speak at the FIRST Robotics National Championship Conference in St. Louis. At the conference, the team was inspired by their meeting with the founder and surprised to learn that he has dyslexia.
Our faculty is continuously recognized locally, regionally, and nationally for their expertise, including a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant with the University of Chicago Outlier Research and Evaluation, Golden Apple Finalist Award, as well as 'It Takes a Village Award' Nomination from Everyone Reading Illinois. Speaking engagements include Professionals in Learning Disabilities, Museum of Contemporary Art Teacher Institute, Learning Disabilities Association of America International Conference in Orlando, National Council of Teachers of English Convention in Atlanta, Computer Science Teachers Association National Conference in San Diego, Independent School Association of the Central States (ISACS) Annual Conference (Spanish) in Columbus, and National Association of Independent Schools Conference (NAIS) in San Francisco, among others.
Our curricular and extra-curricular offerings continue to expand. The seniors participated in our first service trip abroad to a coffee farm in Guatemala and we have partnered with Loyola University Chicago on a dual credit college level Spanish course. Students are making movies, planting gardens, and building prototypes as part of our mission to build on students' strengths and develop interests that enrich learning. Summer basketball and volleyball camps are preparing our student athletes for our second year in the IHSA.
Thank you to the entire Wolcott community for dreaming big with us and helping us achieve so very much. Congratulations to our Class of 2016. May their pioneering spirit contribute to their success in college and beyond. Happy summer.
Dr. Miriam Pike
Head of School
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FROM THE ADMISSIONS OFFICE
Congratulations Wolcott Class of 2016!
Welcome Wolcott Class of 2020!
As I reflect on the admissions process, I realize that there are questions I am frequently asked. Here are a few:
What schools do Wolcott students come from?
As we welcome our largest freshman class next year, it is interesting to note that the students come in equal number from public, private, and parochial schools. We are very intentional about the diversity of our student body and take pride in the fact that our students come to Wolcott from a variety of schooling experiences.
How far do students travel to attend Wolcott?
Our families live within a 35-mile radius of Wolcott. From Kenwood to Wilmette, Western Springs to Calumet City, students commonly commute together on the METRA and meet up with Wolcott's private bus that transports them from downtown train stations to school.
Every year, we have a student or two who moves to the Chicagoland area to attend Wolcott School. This trend continues as we welcome our first student from Southern California in the fall.
Does Wolcott accept transfer students?
We welcome 9th, 10th, and 11th grade transfer students into our community. Our transfer students are motivated learners who join us with an understanding of how they learn and a desire for an environment that teaches to their strengths.
I am extremely excited for our freshmen and transfer students to begin their Wolcott experience. Thank you Wolcott parents for understanding how the right school can make a difference.
If you are interested in joining our community, limited space is still available. Application materials for the 2016 - 2017 school year are available at wolcottschool.org.
Applications for the 2017-18 Academic Year will be available in early September. Email Rachel Spiro, Director of Admissions, at rspiro@wolcottschool.org to learn more about Wolcott or to schedule a tour of the school.
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SENIOR SERVICE TRIP TO GUATEMALA
Seniors described their week in Guatemala as life-changing. Highlights included working alongside coffee bean farmers, constructing a wall for a local family, practicing Spanish with neighbors, and spending quality time together in the casona (house). What an incredible experience!
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THE JAMES TYREE CENTER PRESENTS
The James Tyree Center offers community programming throughout the year for professionals and families. This year, we ran many programs including our most recent presentation by best selling author and New York Times columnist, Frank Bruni. Mr. Bruni addressed a standing room only crowd as he talked about his best selling book, Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania.
Save the Dates:
Friday, September 23rd
8:30am - 3:30pm
Dr. Stephen Krashen and Haiyun Lu
Second-Language Acquisition:
How Comprehensible Input Aligns with Brain Research and Promotes Success in Second-Language Acquisition
An all day professional workshop. Details and registration information to follow.
Wednesday, November 9th
7:00pm
Dr. Lisa Damour
Untangled: Guiding Teenagers through the Seven Transitions Into Adulthood
An evening program free and open to the public. Details and registration information to follow.
The James Tyree Center provides outreach programming on adolescent development, educational practices, and learning differences.
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