Ever wonder what happens on a Late Start Day? When Mount Vernon students arrive a little later on Late Start Days, something exciting is happening behind the scenes. While learners ease into their morning, our faculty and staff are already designing experiences that will shape the School for years to come. Mount Vernon is more…
Read More from Behind the Scenes: How Mount Vernon Teachers Design the Future of Learning
On November 7, 2025, Mount Vernon School hosted its Council on Innovation (COI), a dynamic convergence of thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and students collaborating to design what’s next. Guided by Chief Innovation Officer Jared Colley, the day invited participants to look beyond the horizon through signal scanning and scenario design, exploring a series of plausible futures…
Read More from Designing What’s Next: Council on Innovation 2025
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…
The Journey of Purpose—central to Mount Vernon’s 10-year strategic plan—encourages students to explore who they are and where they are headed. This vision is brought to life in Mount Vernon Studios, the School’s innovative Arts program, through the department’s annual theme of Personal Geographies, which invites students to navigate self-discovery through creativity. In Upper School,…
Read More from Personal Geographies: Blending Innovation, Design, and Purpose
As part of a transdisciplinary, grade-wide exploration, Grade 7 is starting a multifaceted project-based learning (PBL) journey exploring the possibilities of mobility in design. The end goal? Construct a mini-golf experience for the entire school community and debut it at Mustang Rally 2025. Over the next 8 months, this learning experience will help students see…
Read More from Exploring the Possibilities of Mobility in Design: Grade 7 Mini Golf Design Project
At Mount Vernon, innovation isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a daily part of life and learning. For the second consecutive year, Grade 8 students in Impact Design Lab (IDL) are taking on the challenge of reimagining the field games for Mustang Rally, our beloved annual spring carnival. This year’s project, much like the ones before…
Read More from Designing the Future of Fun: Inside the Design Process for Mustang Rally
[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.19.1″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″ da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.19.1″ _module_preset=”default” width=”90%” width_tablet=”100%” width_phone=”100%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]Grade 8 embarked on a 9-week journey to deepen their understanding of global issues and design a public product that…
Ryan Welch was selected to speak at the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) conference in February to share his insights on Impact Design Lab, the innovative Mount Vernon signature Middle School program he co-creates and co-teaches with Kevin Day, and Dr. Todd Wass. The Grade 8 program focuses on developing students’ people-centered problem-solving skills…
Read More from National Recognition of Middle School Impact Design Program
[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.19.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_video _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_video][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”] Design Thinking is a problem-solving method that emphasizes empathy and creativity. It helps individuals and teams approach problems from different perspectives and find innovative solutions. Grade 5 students recently put their…
Read More from Grade 5 Product Design Challenge to Benefit Kindergarten Learning
Introducing Impact Design Lab (IDL), a Mount Vernon Middle School designed class where students are taught to find problems and ask “How can I fix this?” instead of “I wish this was different”. Over the summer, we sat down with the three educational designers: Todd Wass, Ryan Welch, and Kevin Day to learn what this…