Signature Programs

“As our Middle School students progress through the Voyagers and Explorers programs, our hope is that they will develop a sense of ownership and personal connection to their education, with a deeper, self-driven desire to learn.”Dr. Deborah Tully, middle school head

Building on the Grade 5 Voyagers program, the Grade 6 Explorers program offers monthly inquiry-based, cross-curricular excursions that integrate classroom learning with real-world experiences to bring subjects to life. From engaging in a Mission to Mars at the Christa McAuliffe Space Center to visiting the Leventhal Map and Education Center at the Boston Public Library where students practice using cartographic tools, these immersive adventures foster critical thinking, collaboration, and a deeper understanding of how classroom knowledge applies to the real world.

All students in grades 7 and 8 present independent research projects at the annual Science and Engineering Fair. Judges include Newton Country Day alumnae, faculty, and staff with backgrounds in science, medicine, mathematics, and engineering. The top placing teams move on to the Massachusetts State Science and Engineering Fair.

The Grade 9 Experience is a year of extended orientation to the Upper School at Newton Country Day that: 

• Instills in students the mission and Goals of a Sacred Heart education
• Prepares students for the intellectual and logistical challenges of a rigorous high school curriculum
• Supports students in personal growth and skill development as self-advocates, problem-solvers, and people who prioritize self-care
• Builds a lifelong community of classmates who learn to be agents of each other’s sense of belonging 

Rooted in Goal IV, “the building of community as a Christian value,” and Goal V, “personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom,” the program is dedicated to formation, both as individuals and as a class. With the support of the Grade 9 Moderating Team, a group of faculty specialized in the Grade 9 transition, students are encouraged to “discover new abilities, cultivate strengths, learn from mistakes, develop empathy and exercise resilience in meeting challenges” (Goal V, Criterion 1). 

Signature experiences include:

• The Advisory Family Picnic, where students and their families meet with their academic advisor prior to the opening of school
• A two-night orientation trip to Cape Cod in early September, led by Senior Mentors (see below) and the Grade 9 Moderating Team 
• The Grade 9 Retreat in February, which focuses on holy companionship and friendship
• Grade-wide service opportunities that allow the class to give life to Goal III, “a social awareness which impels to action.” Key service events include a grade-wide Service Day supporting local non-profit organizations in October, the Pie in the Sky fundraiser supporting Community Servings in November, and Sophie’s Place in May, where students plan, prepare and serve a meal on campus to residents from Hearth

Throughout the year, Class Meetings and the Advisory program intentionally support the development of executive functioning, study skills, and exercise of independence in the spirit of courage and confidence. Through the Grade 9 Seminar, students endeavor to understand and cherish their belonging in the rich tradition of Sacred Heart Schools, recognize the importance of intentionally prioritizing their health and wellness, and learn how to approach and navigate life with purpose. 

The Senior Mentors program also serves as a cornerstone of the Grade 9 Experience. A coveted Grade 12 leadership position, Senior Mentors are trained specifically to work with groups of either Grade 9 or 10 students. Over the course of a full year, these students inspire students to better understand and give life to the Goals and Criteria and work to foster a sense of belonging by helping every student in the class feel known, loved, and welcomed in the school community. Mentors build and actively maintain year-long relationships with mentees, working with the Class Dean to facilitate small group discussions and activities to help students acclimate to school culture.

Through this year’s experience, students in Grade 9 are introduced to their call and journey of becoming leaders, taking initiative in the school and in the world. 

The Grade 10 Experience is dedicated to continued personal growth, encouraging students to see themselves in communion with the wider world. Over the course of the year, students are challenged to find and pursue their unique talents and passions, both inside and outside the classroom, with the goal of reinforcing the mission and Goals of a Sacred Heart education. 

Signature experiences include:

• A one-night orientation trip and outdoor education program in the Berkshires in early September, where students engage in Goal IV and Goal V by working in small groups to complete complex physical and intellectual challenges
• The Grade 10 Retreat in February, which invites students to make personal connections between Scripture and their own lives while cultivating deep communion with their peers
• The Network Exchange Program, which allows students to engage in a three- to four-week reciprocal exchange program with one of our Sacred Heart Network schools around the globe, and  in the process develop their commitment to Goal II and Goal V by exploring the wider world
• In March, students who do not travel abroad deepen their commitment to Goal II and Goal V by partaking in an interdisciplinary elective course designed to deeply explore one major topic in the contemporary world through a variety of lenses. 
• A grade-wide Service Day supporting local non-profit organizations in May, preparing students to engage wholeheartedly and authentically with Goal III in preparation for the immersive Hesed project that takes place the summer before junior year. 
• The Grade 10 Seminar engages students in data investigations of their well-being with the goal of promoting healthier lifestyle choices. The course culminates in student-led advocacy projects where they share their findings with the larger school community. 

The Grade 11 Experience is dedicated to developing students’ self-knowledge, leadership qualities, and community engagement. We ask our students to intentionally build their courage and confidence through direct service, deep connection with peers, and personal discernment of their internal lives as they strive to find their voice as emerging leaders within the school community. 

Signature experiences include:

• The New York City Service Trip in September, which engages both Goal III and Goal IV of Sacred Heart education through direct service with NYC-based non-profit organizations, experiential learning of United States History, and community building with their class
• The four-day Kairos Retreat in February, which is designed to help students come to better know and understand their relationships with self, others, and God
• A documentary film project, conducted as part of the weekly Class Meeting curriculum. Exercising Courage and Confidence, students learn and execute the process of crafting a documentary about the Goals of a Sacred Heart education and present their work to the larger community
• The Hesed Project, a key component of the Grade 11 religious studies curriculum, which requires students to engage in 40 hours of community service working directly with people in need. Students reflect on their experiences and how the principles of Catholic Social Teaching relate to their service work and the dynamics of mutual transformation. Students then give presentations to their classmates and others about how this hands-on experience provides an opportunity for deeper exploration of the dynamics of faith and justice in our world. 
• The Junior Ring Ceremony, a Sacred Heart tradition held during the celebration of the Feast of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat in May, which marks the transfer of student leadership to the junior class. 
• The Grade 11 Seminar allows students to develop essential life skills such as CPR/AED certification, financial literacy, and leadership and negotiation skills. As part of the leadership component of the course, students are invited to discern which leadership positions within the school community might best align with their strengths and sense of purpose as they look to assume formal leadership roles in their senior year. 

The Grade 12 Experience is focused on empowering seniors to become independent and self-reliant thinkers and leaders, both in the school community and in the wider world. Seniors have significant responsibilities, both as elected leaders of a variety of student organizations and as role models charged with inspiring younger students to better understand and give life to the Goals and Criteria of a Sacred Heart education. As a class, students in Grade 12 work together to plan and execute several traditions that bring the entire school community together, including Blue-Silver Induction in September and the Christmas Celebration in December. All of these leadership experiences provide students opportunities to live out Goal IV of Sacred Heart education, as students grow in taking initiative, planning, organizing and executing group activities, and developing independence. 

Signature experiences include:

• Blue-Silver Induction, in which all members of the Newton Country Day community are inducted into either the Blue or Silver team during the fall of their first year at NCDS. Seniors model and rally team enthusiasm by leading the entire school in a skit and cheers while welcoming new inductees onto their respective teams. 
• The Christmas Celebration, a gift to the whole school community from the senior class that features storytelling and Christmas carols on the last day of school in December. 
• The first semester of Grade 12 Seminar is designed to prepare students for the transition from high school to adult life by exploring key topics that are essential for maintaining a balanced and healthy lifestyle as they move toward independence. 
• New Freedoms, a day-long health and wellness program with Belmont Hill School, focuses on healthy relationships and the life skills needed for the college transition. 
• The IMPACT Program, a self-defense and empowerment course held for all Grade 12 students in April. 
• Senior Project invites students to discern, pursue, and engage in an independent professional externship during the final month of Grade 12. Throughout the process of planning, proposing, and pursuing a project, students reflect on their strengths and sense of purpose, exploring how their unique skills and interests can make a meaningful impact in the world. 
• The Grade 12 Retreat in late May sets aside time for students to reflect on their growth as individuals and as a class during their time at Newton Country Day prior to Graduation.