How Might We Foster Connection Across Campuses? For many years Mount Vernon has had an end-of-year tradition known as the Senior Salute, where on the eve of baccalaureate, graduating seniors dressed in their caps and gowns parade through the Lower Campus to cheers and high fives from younger Mustangs. Starting in August, as a way…
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What if students could choose what they learned about? What if students could explore their passions and curiosities at school? What if students could be in collaborative groups with teachers and students with similar interests? What if we entrusted them to befriend how they learn, to navigate certain questions on their own, and to find…
Read More from iProject Mini Makes Its Debut On Lower Campus
Grade 5 is starting the year with a Project-Based Learning (PBL) unit on playground design. Have you or your child ever seen a playground and wondered why it was built the way it was or how it could be improved? This unit encourages students to ask those same questions but this time with the intention…
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This story was contributed by Brad Droke, Director of Innovation Diploma and was featured in the Spring 2022 SAIS Newsletter. In the spring of 2014, Mount Vernon Ventures at The Mount Vernon School hosted an event called the Council on Innovation, where several groups of students were assembled to engage in a design sprint with local…
Last year, Mount Vernon shared its vision for three distinct Upper School pathways: Inquiry College Prep, Innovation featuring the Innovation Diploma program, and Impact, which includes the newly launched Global Impact Diploma (GiD). Rising Grade 9 students were invited to explore which pathway best aligned with their passions and interests, setting the stage for a…
Read More from Mount Vernon & Texas Tech Costa Rica – A Partnership to Global Impact
At Mount Vernon, the way we teach is designed to support every learner, encouraging curiosity, creativity, and confidence through hands-on, inquiry-based experiences. This approach not only benefits all students but also naturally aligns with the strengths of dyslexic learners, who thrive in environments that value innovation, collaboration, and big-picture thinking. Through our growing partnership with…
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…
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
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”
When you arrive at Mustang Rally 2025, you’ll notice something new: the sounds of live music, the buzz of performances in full swing, and the energy of a true festival atmosphere. It’s all happening at The Rally Stage, a brand-new addition to Mustang Rally’s lineup—and it’s shaping up to be one of the most exciting…
Read More from Student Talent Takes the Spotlight in Mustang Rally’s Newest Feature