In cooperation with leaders at the National Association of Independent Schools and members from all of our constituencies, this fall we took a deep look at who we are, what we are uniquely positioned to do for our students, and what the world of education needs most. 5th Day is our answer: it will better prepare Crossroads students for college and the world beyond.
5th Day will be integrated into the traditional school week and synergize with core academic courses. The heart of 5th Day is extended periods — 3 or more hours long — that enable courses to travel off campus, take deep dives into complex topics, or immerse in meaningful, large-scale projects many of which will be student-initiated and student-driven.
While the schedule is still being developed, picture a Wednesday like this:
Different grades would use the 8:30 a.m. time differently; clubs and activities would use the 9:40 a.m. time to their needs. However, we would all choose from a range of classes and projects starting at 12:30 p.m. that are …
- an educational laboratory for innovation for students and teachers
- the home of immersive – often transdisciplinary – explorations
- student-directed and student-centered
- focused on problem-solving, independence, and leadership in the city and on campus
- based on educational research and in the best tradition of constructivist education (Go John Dewey!)
- at the heart of what it means to be Crossroadian
The future does not have a textbook; the problems our graduates will tackle are complex and nuanced. 5th Day provides new learning spaces where students can develop the skills and mindsets they will need; we can prepare them to lead the way.
We are launching 5th Day in August 2023 as we approach our 50th Anniversary. In creating 5th Day, we are proud to be innovators and risk-takers alongside our students. 5th Day at Crossroads College Prep is an essential addition to what Crossroads has always strived to be: a community in which every student is seen, supported, known, and needed as a learner, a thinker, and a person.
Look for more on the 5th Day in future communications and at an upcoming town hall for current and prospective families on Wednesday, March 8 at 6:00 p.m.
Mark & Sarah