Three Foxcroft students attend Governor's Schools
Foxcroft School students Savannah '07, Sarah '07, and Shannon '07, attended 2006 Summer Governor’s Schools, highly-selective institutes for gifted students held at university campuses in Virginia. Savannah and Sarah studied languages while Shannon participated in a math, science and technology program.
In addition, Foxcroft Math teacher Laura Berdine was named an Outstanding Educator by the Governor’s School for Mathematics, Science and Technology at Lynchburg College after being nominated by Shannon.
The Virginia’s Governor’s Schools Program, sponsored by the state department of education, offers gifted students a range of intensive educational experiences.
Savannah and Sarah both spent three weeks (June 25-July 16) at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond attending Governor's Foreign Language Academies, in French and Japanese, respectively. Savannah, winner of Foxcroft’s 2006 French Prize, says she learned to love French last year in Mme. Janice Brown’s class but she became comfortable speaking it during the total-immersion academy.
“The absolute best thing was that I learned to speak and understand the language incredibly well, and to work around words that I didn't know,” she says, noting that she nows chatters en francais not only in class, but while riding. “Plus there was a library at the academy, so while the immersion program took a lot of the time I had intended to spend on the English classics, I ended up reading a bunch of French classics that I never would have otherwise. (Sartre! Yay!)”
Sarah, on the other hand, had no previous knowledge of the language she studied. An abiding fascination with the Far East drew her to the school. “My initial interest in Japanese, came from my love of Chinese language and culture,” says Sarah, who spent a month studying in Shanghai before her junior year. “In China, everything is different from the food to the social climate to the politics to the religion. This uniqueness attracts me.
“Before Governor's School, I expected Japan to be similar to China; however, I soon found that Japan was its own country, just as unique,” she continues. “And I learned the equivalent of one year of high school Japanese in three weeks. The work was rigorous, but rewarding. I loved every minute of it.”
At the Governor's School for Math, Science, and Technology, held July 2-31 at Lynchburg College, Shannon had a rather different experience. “I was in the ‘Blood & Guts’ class, an anatomy class,” she explains “And it was great. Although we had homework, tests, quizzes and a paper/presentation, it was sooo much fun! We did dissections almost every day; I got to dissect a pig, turtle, mink, shark, fish and pigeon. We also went to a necropsy (animal autopsy) lab. I'm considering being a biology major on a pre-med track in college, and the Governor’s School gave me some background and experience with a scapel.”
Shannon also had an opportunity to recognize Foxcroft’s contribution to her education. “There was a teacher appreciation night,” Shannon says. “I nominated Ms. (math teacher Laura) Berdine, and she drove down so I could take her to some classes and a special banquet.”
Virginia Governor’s Schools are offered in visual and performing arts; humanities; mathematics, science and technology; agriculture; life sciences and medicine; and seven foreign languages. Only juniors and seniors are eligible and they must be nominated by their school. For more information, check out the Governor’s Schools website.
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Sarah, on the other hand, had no previous knowledge of the language she studied. An abiding fascination with the Far East drew her to the school. “My initial interest in Japanese, came from my love of Chinese language and culture,” says Sarah, who spent a month studying in Shanghai before her junior year. “In China, everything is different from the food to the social climate to the politics to the religion. This uniqueness attracts me.
“Before Governor's School, I expected Japan to be similar to China; however, I soon found that Japan was its own country, just as unique,” she continues. “And I learned the equivalent of one year of high school Japanese in three weeks. The work was rigorous, but rewarding. I loved every minute of it.”
At the Governor's School for Math, Science, and Technology, held July 2-31 at Lynchburg College, Shannon had a rather different experience. “I was in the ‘Blood & Guts’ class, an anatomy class,” she explains “And it was great. Although we had homework, tests, quizzes and a paper/presentation, it was sooo much fun! We did dissections almost every day; I got to dissect a pig, turtle, mink, shark, fish and pigeon. We also went to a necropsy (animal autopsy) lab. I'm considering being a biology major on a pre-med track in college, and the Governor’s School gave me some background and experience with a scapel.”
Shannon also had an opportunity to recognize Foxcroft’s contribution to her education. “There was a teacher appreciation night,” Shannon says. “I nominated Ms. (math teacher Laura) Berdine, and she drove down so I could take her to some classes and a special banquet.”
Virginia Governor’s Schools are offered in visual and performing arts; humanities; mathematics, science and technology; agriculture; life sciences and medicine; and seven foreign languages. Only juniors and seniors are eligible and they must be nominated by their school. For more information, check out the Governor’s Schools website.
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An all-girls boarding and day school in Northern Virginia, Foxcroft prepares young women in grades 9-12 for success in college and in life. Our outstanding academic program offers challenging courses, including Advanced Placement classes and an innovative STEM program. Our premiere equestrian program is nationally recognized, and our athletic teams have won conference and state championships. Experience the best in girls' boarding schools: visit Foxcroft.
