STEM at Foxcroft
Inspiring girls to pursue 21st-century science, math, engineering, and tech skills
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In the 21st century, the STEM subjects of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) are critical. At Foxcroft, they are also fun. You might learn physics by constructing a potato cannon or improve your computer skills by creating an arcade game. Put on a hard hat and see how engineers, architects, and contractors build a new dorm. Program a drone in our STEM club.
Our STEM teachers are passionate about their subjects. They are also inspiring role models — five of our seven STEM teachers are women and one of them has a doctorate. They bring energy and enthusiasm to your class with real-life applications, inquiry-based assignments, hands-on projects, and cool technology tools. These workshops, internships, seminars and presentations with STEM professionals will open your mind.
Our STEM teachers are passionate about their subjects. They are also inspiring role models — five of our seven STEM teachers are women and one of them has a doctorate. They bring energy and enthusiasm to your class with real-life applications, inquiry-based assignments, hands-on projects, and cool technology tools. These workshops, internships, seminars and presentations with STEM professionals will open your mind.
In and out of the classroom at Foxcroft, science, technology, engineering and math are inspiring!
STEM is for Girls!
Research shows that attending an all-girls school affects students’ interest and success in STEM fields. Here’s a look at graduates of independent girls’ schools as compared to girls who graduated from coed independent schools:
List of 4 items.
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6x
more likely to
major in math,
science & technology -
3x
more likely
to consider
engineering careers -
10%
more confident
in their
computer ability -
11%
more confident
in their
mathematical ability
At Foxcroft, more than 30 percent of recent graduates chose STEM fields as their majors in college.
– Betsy ’21
“I was interested in STEM before coming to Foxcroft, and my interest has only grown with all the opportunities available here.”
– Gabriela ’15, 2nd year Computer Science major
“At Foxcroft, I learned to speak my mind and value my own voice, giving me the strength to pursue an interest in a primarily male-dominated field.”
– Carli ’16
“This extraordinary opportunity [to design the new school store’s counter] is something I will remember all my life. I never knew I had an interest in designing, but after this experience, I may consider pursuing this passion.”
News
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STEM Presents: Tamara Poles, Science Communicator
Read more >>No jargon, “in the ballpark” is okay, and use fun activities — these are the foundations for effectively communicating scientific research to diverse audiences, according to Tamara Poles, creator of a program to train scientists to effectively communicate their work to the public and last Thursday’ STEM Presents series speaker. “It’s not about dumbing down the research,” she said, “It’s about making it accessible… finding the thread in your research that people can relate to… and using that.”Poles is the community engagement specialist for the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She also created the IMPACTS (Inspiring Meaningful Programs and Communication through Science) program, through which she trains 50 scientists a year to communicate their work. -
STEM Presents: Dr. David Clark
A Report from Joy W. ’20Read more >>
Last Thursday, April 18, we welcomed Dr. David Clark (dad of Ella ’22) to talk about forensic archaeology as part of our STEM Presents series. Dr. Clark is a professional archaeologist, and a collegiate and pre-collegiate educator. He has specialized in Zooarchaeology and Osteoarchaeology of animal/human remains, and human-dietary practices.
Dr. Clark focused on one of his experiences as an archaeologist and its correlation with forensics by introducing the working opportunities in the field in the 1990s to recover missing people from WWII. -
Compassion, Innovation, and Class
Read more >>Senior Anne K. wins a provisional patent with application written for AP English Lit
Compassion and innovation are Foxcroft hallmarks and both were demonstrated in December when senior Anne K. received a provisional patent from the United States Patent Office for her “Retractable Limited Dexterity Eating Aid." Receiving a patent is an impressive accomplishment, especially for a young woman (females hold about 10 percent of all the patents in the U.S.). Writing the application for the patent as a school assignment is pretty unusual, too, but thanks to an open-minded teacher and Foxcroft’s willingness to help girls reach their individual goals, that’s just what Anne did: the long and complicated application Anne wrote to obtain the patent was her major writing project for AP English Literature.
“Last year I created an assignment in which each student gets to select her own writing project and I help to guide her through the process,” explains teacher Steve McCarty. “We talk about what the end product looks like and the criteria by which I will grade them. The idea is that they get to try writing something other than the typical English essay.”A patent grant application was indeed different and, Steve says, he learned how to write one right along with Anne. The invention worthy of a patent, however, was all Anne’s. -
STEM Presents: Dr. Paul Haefner
by Claire H. ’21Read more >>
Last Thursday, January 17, we enjoyed a special visit from Dr. Paul Haefner, who presented us with a detailed description of his career and and how he helps equestrians to reach their goals and overcome challenges. Dr. Haefner combines his passion for horses and experience in the equestrian field with his extensive knowledge of human psychology to help people raise their level of performance and conquer certain challenges of the equestrian sport. This led him to create his own company, Riding Far, through which he helps equestrians face problems such as fear, anxiety, motivation, focus, pressure, and so on. It was created with the goal of raising riders' awareness about the importance of mental skills in the equestrian world. Dr. Haefner also helps people to establish good connections with their horses and achieve their own personal growth goals. -
Soul Food: Schoolhouse Renovation Student Design Series
Read more >>Constructing or renovating a building touches on a huge variety of topics and skills, and Foxcroft’s Schoolhouse Renovation Student Design Series, a five-seminar program being offered this year, reflects that vividly. One week, the 20 participating students are choosing paint chips, fabric swatches, and flooring samples to decorate the apartment from Friends or Big Bang Theory; the next they are calculating their ecological footprint (try it yourself at www.footprintcalculator.org/) and learning about sustainable construction. In February, they will learn cost estimating in construction, and in April, they will form teams to build their own construction projects using Legos.
Contact
List of 7 members.
Math Science & Technology
Engineering
STEM
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.
