For Lower School Science teacher Eileen Fennelly, the outdoors is more than a classroom extension—it’s a catalyst for deeper learning, self-regulation, and community connection. This year, she has launched a series of grade-specific recurring expeditions designed to immerse students in Atlanta’s parks while cultivating their skills as scientists, observers, and problem-solvers. “I’ve wanted to create…
Each spring, Mount Vernon Grade 8 students take part in one of the most transformative milestones of their Middle School years: the Grade 8 Summit. While Grade 5 students launch their Journey of Purpose by hiking Kennesaw Mountain and drafting their first purpose statements, Grade 8 students return to this work with more maturity, perspective,…
Read More from Iterating Toward Purpose: The Intentional Design of the Grade 8 Summit
At Mount Vernon, learning is not confined to textbooks or classrooms—it is designed with purpose, for people. Our students are taught to ask questions, uncover needs, and create solutions that make experiences better. This is the heart of design thinking: designing for the user. That mindset is alive this MOD as Upper School students step…
Read More from Student Interns Powering Campus Collaboration
When students in Mr. Hawkins’ Anatomy: Surgery & Salad class stepped into Intuitive Surgical earlier this month, they weren’t just on an expedition — they were stepping into the future of medicine. The course title itself gives context to their learning journey: “Surgery” represents the exploration of the body’s systems and functions, while “Salad” symbolizes…
Read More from Future Surgeons in Training: Anatomy Students Go Hands-On with Robotic Surgery
Designing Strong Foundations Through Content, Context, and Care Last week, Mount Vernon welcomed families into the heart of our Lower Campus classrooms for Curriculum Mornings, an opportunity to experience what makes learning here so innovative, engaging, and deeply personal. Each session was thoughtfully led by Shelley Searcy, Head of Lower Campus; Kate Canady, Director of…
At Mount Vernon School, safety is more than a protocol; it’s a culture built on relationships, trust, and foresight. In recent years, the School has developed a security model unlike any other in Sandy Springs, one that thrives on the strength of its connections. Under the leadership of Director of Safety and Security Russ Malsnee,…
Read More from Rapid Response, Real Relationships: A New Standard in School Security
At Mount Vernon, innovation begins with people at the center. Every design choice, from curriculum to community spaces, is rooted in empathy. Our goal is to create a culture of belonging where students feel valued, seen, and empowered. When belonging is present, learning does not just happen; it thrives. Research consistently shows that when students…
Read More from Belonging First: The Foundation of Learning at Mount Vernon
For the first time in Mount Vernon’s history, Commencement was truly a global event. On Saturday, May 17, as the Mount Vernon community gathered in Atlanta to celebrate the graduating Class of 2025, families and friends around the world were able to participate in the ceremony—thanks to a live-stream broadcast designed to connect the entire…
Read More from Designing a Better World: The Class of 2025 Leads with Purpose
In the fall of 2020, in the midst of a global pandemic and a radically reimagined learning environment, a spark of curiosity ignited in an AP U.S. History class in the Upper School. Seated six feet apart in single desks, masked and unsure of what the year might bring, students and faculty alike felt the…
Read More from How Student Agency Launched “The Big Questions”
In a powerful alignment of purpose and possibility, Mount Vernon’s Innovation Diploma (iD) program has formed a strategic new partnership with Furman University’s Hill Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. This collaboration marks a milestone for both institutions—each committed to developing entrepreneurial thinkers who thrive in uncertainty, lead with empathy, and design for real-world impact. The…