As students move through the Upper School, we challenge them to think their own thoughts, to analyze information and hone their thinking skills. To varying degrees, this is outside their comfort zone. Often they want to be told “the answers,” so that they know what to write on the test or paper. We, however, want them to take the information they’ve been given and to figure out the answers on their own, or even to generate new questions.

When a student is able to do this—to analyze and synthesize, to answer a question in a way that shows depth of thinking and creativity—we want to recognize him or her. Thus, we created the Outside the Box award. Faculty can nominate students at any time and every week we will announce new winners in chapel. Every six weeks or so, we will have a special lunch in honor of Outside the Box nominees. At the end of the year, during our awards ceremony, we will recognize one or more students who have exhibited the essence of Outside the Box thinking throughout the year.

You can view all nominees and their work by clicking here.