Bullis School Viewbook

10601 FALLS ROAD, POTOMAC, MD 20854301-299-8500 | www.bullis.org

Achieve EXCELLENCETHROUGH Balance

Bullis is an independent, diverse, co-educational college preparatory day school for boys and girls in grades 3-12.

AchieveEXCELLENCETHROUGHBalance

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AT B U L L I S , W E B E L I E V E T H ATT H E B E S T E D U C AT I O N I SAC H I E V E D T H RO U G H B A L A N C E .Here, students learn and grow, discover academic and

extra-curricular passions, value community, develop

lifelong skills and are happier and more confident

because of the balance we provide.



» our missionBullis School provides a student-centered balancedexperience in academics, athletics, the arts andcommunity service. Bullis uniquely prepares allstudents to become caring citizens and creative, criticalthinkers who will thrive in tomorrow’s world.

High school should be aplace to explore. Bullis fostersyour creative spirit to tackle newthings and to not be afraid to trysomething unfamiliar.Brooke Gutschick, 10th grade

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ACADEM ICS , ARTS & ATHLET ICS

At Bullis, a balance between academics, arts and athletics is ourfoundation. From a challenging college preparatory education to a fullarray of performing groups and athletic teams, Bullis provides studentsthe chance to learn in the classroom and art studio, and on the playingfield and stage. Rather than specializing, our students experience it all.

Every Bullis student is guided to discover his or her own unique successes in school. Students areencouraged — in fact, expected — to explore many areas. In the process, they learn to appreciatethe value of succeeding in some areas while facing challenges in others

By graduation, Bullis students are well-rounded and have gained confidence from achievementsthat are defined as much by high grades as strong effort.They have learned the satisfaction ofconquering the unknown, and have become an integral part of a community that heralds bothleaders and learners.

Here at Bullis I didn’t have to choosebetween dance or tennis. I can do both thingsI love.Dylan Owens, 9th grade


Student GovernmentCo-President

Kamar Saint-Louis, 12th gradeKamar Saint-Louis has balanced academics with athleticsand other extra-curriculars to stay active and get the mostout of school. A varsity soccer midfielder for three years,he also was on the It’s Academic team, played trombone inthe Concert Band and Jazz Ensemble, served as a studenttutor and was elected student government co-president forhis senior year. Being involved in many activities, Kamar hasbecome friends with a wide range of students:“When youdiscover common interests, it’s easier to communicatewith others.”

You will run into plenty ofchallenges in life. The more you’vebeen exposed to different things now,the easier it will be to handle whatevercomes your way in the future.


ACADEMICS

Lower School — Grades 3-5: Safe, welcoming classroom communities create afertile environment for learning. In the Lower School, two small classes in each gradelevel provide a cozy atmosphere that allows teachers to know their students wellboth academically and socially.Teachers often develop special projects across academicdisciplines in order to bring lessons to life. Students develop academic skillsindependently and in small groups, and an emphasis is placed on “learning how I learn.”

Middle School — Grades 6-8: Middle School is a favorite entry point for manyBullis students.The combination of a small class environment within a larger schooloffering a complete range of opportunities, athletics and facilities is ideally suited toadolescent growth, needs and interests. Children in these years are beginning tounderstand themselves as people and as learners and need freedom to comfortablytry new things while learning to work through challenges. Middle schoolers want tolaugh and have fun — and also to be taken seriously. Bullis cultivates an environmentwhere students can develop responsibility for themselves and their education.

Upper School — Grades 9-12: A rigorous college preparatory programprovides students with a full range of on-level, honors and AP courses. Using astudent-centered approach, teachers emphasize quality rather than quantity incoursework and use technology and other resources to make learning moremeaningful and relevant to students today. Upper School students work hard andkeep busy, successfully juggling academic demands with athletics, arts and otherextracurriculars.

While preparing students for college, the Upper School also cultivates personalgrowth and helps students to develop interests and passions. Bullis graduates areprepared not just academically — they gain the strength of character and confidenceto succeed in college and beyond.

CommunicationCritical ThinkingCreativityCollaborationResourcefulness

» our coreacademic values:


National History DayWinner

There’s no limit towhat you can do,and Bullis broke thebarrier for me to doso many things.

Cami Uechi, 11th gradeCami Uechi prefers to be busy, and Bullis offersplenty of opportunities to fill her days. Alongwith a rigorous load of advanced classes toplaying varsity soccer and performing with theJazzWorkshop, Cami has also tried musicaltheater — “I never thought I could dance orsing or act!”— and started running track.Among all her activities, though, academicscome first for Cami: she has won numerousacademic awards and is a National History Daywinner for the state of Maryland.


International Student

In China, we haveto choose one activityto focus on, but herewe can try manydifferent things.

Yanbing Yang, 10th gradeYanbing likes to paint and draw to creatively challengeherself. Since coming to Bullis from her native China to livewith a host family, she played soccer for the first time andenjoyed the openness and freedom to ask questions andwork on fun projects in her math class. She also hopes toexplore swimming, tutoring, volunteering and serving as anambassador for prospective students.“Every new activityhas been enjoyable and interesting, and I can try manythings to develop current interests and find new ones.”


ARTS

The Blair Family Center for the Arts provides a state-of-the-art home for

a robust arts program that engages students in a full range of offerings

including music, theater, dance, drawing, ceramics and digital media.

A talented and dedicated faculty brings artistic excellence and commitment to theclassroom,music room and stage, guiding and challenging students to discoversomething exciting for every skill level.

From the computer music class to the dance studio and full-scale productions in the750-seat Howard Auditorium, every day at Blair buzzes with activity. Students developskills and talents, explore new avenues and discover new passions.Whether studentsare future artists or performers, or just trying something new, the Bullis Arts programinstills an appreciation of the arts and the understanding that effort and engagementare more important than ability.

ATHLETICS

Bullis has 25 athletic teams, many of which compete in the IAC (boys) or

ISL (girls) leagues for local area independent schools.

Our teams are highly accomplished, yet Bullis believes that all students — no mattertheir skill level — should have the opportunity to participate.We believe thatteamwork, sportsmanship, school spirit and learning to win and lose gracefully areparamount life skills.

Students take physical education in the Lower School, participate in interscholasticcompetitive teams in the Middle School, and can play junior varsity or varsity sports inthe Upper School. Participation requirements ensure that every student develops skillsand appreciation for athletics and nearly every student plays on a team all the way tograduation.With 63 interscholastic teams competing in 14 different sports at Bullis,there is a place for every student.

Jazz Café, student musicals and plays, choralevents, art shows, Festival of Light, potteryclasses, dance showcases…and more.

» Every day is busy at Blair...

» Athletic FacilitiesKline Alumni Stadium: 2,000seats, artificial-turf field,8-lane all-weather track

Athletic Center: 1,000-seatgym, 3 basketball courts, wrestlinggym, strength and fitness center

Tennis: 7 outdoor and4 indoor courts

Playing Fields For: football,soccer, lacrosse, field hockey,baseball and softball

Outdoor basketball courts


AP calculus teacher Stacey Roshanhad a problem. The pace of the APcurriculum did not provide enough timefor students to ask questions or getspecial help. When she learned aboutnew software that would allow her torecord her lectures for playback viaiTunes, the “Backwards Classrooom”was created. Students now listen toMs. Roshan’s lectures for homework,

and then do “homework” problems in class while she works with them individually.After only one year, AP scores jumped — 78% of students received 4s or 5s.

» The Backwards Classroom

TEACHERS WHO CHALLENGE & NURTURE

Ninety-five dedicated teachers and administrators put student needs first when

developing curriculum and classroom activities, ensuring success for each student.

Bullis teachers combine high expectations with flexibility, and students and parents

often praise the true caring that teachers show for their students both inside and

outside the classroom.

Bullis teachers adeptly juggle the progression of the class with the needs of individual students, and useinnovative and creative lessons to combine fun with learning, so that the focus is on the material andthe development of skills rather than simply assessing grades.

Teachers arealwaysincorporatingnew technologyto make itinteresting andmorefun for us to learn.Brian Mitchell, 9th grade


Teachers are connected to students andreally care about them. They go above andbeyond to help us reach our goals. They challengeus, but want us to succeed and will always help usget there.KevinTenenbaum, 12th grade


COMMUN ITY BASED IN D IVERS I TY

Diversity is the strength behind our united community. Students come from a wide

range of backgrounds — racial, ethnic, geographic, socio-economic — and have differing

learning styles, abilities and interests. This wealth of diversity continually enriches the

campus experience for everyone.

Because of participation requirements that place students in athletics or arts programs they may notgravitate toward naturally, students learn to appreciate the skills and abilities of others and developfriendships throughout the student body. Finding a common bond in a shared interest or activity —or even bonding over a lack of ability! — is often a source of lasting friendships forged at Bullis.

Community is based on what we share — school pride, along with equal appreciation for effort,achievement and hard work.We also celebrate our differences in class and a variety of special events,giving students windows through which they can learn about the experiences of others.

Everyone has a connection throughsomething at Bullis — whether it’s a class,a sport, a club, peer mentors, senior buddies orother things. It makes the whole school feel closer,and is one of the things I love about Bullis.Dazia Hall, 10th grade


Community OrganizerMargot McKelvie, 11th gradeMargot McKelvie had never played field hockey beforecoming to Bullis in 7th grade, yet for her senior year she hasbeen voted co-captain of the team. Still, her interests go farbeyond the field. Margot has also excelled in advanced studioart and helped establish the Gay-Straight Alliance, whichparticipated in National Day of Silence in the club’s first yearto support those students who feel they do not have a voice.

Being well-roundedand getting involved inmany experiences buildscharacter, and makes youmore open and understandingof other people. It breaks downbarriers, builds your confidenceand allows you to meet peopleacross grades and from differentbackgrounds and perspectives.


Martial ArtistClark Tyra, 12th gradeClarkTyra started at Bullis in 6th grade.Throughout hismiddle and upper school years, the supportive atmosphereencouraged him to get involved in many activities. Clarkhas sung in all three Bullis choirs (often in this tuxedo!)and was on the varsity soccer and wrestling teams forfour years. He also studied martial arts and served foodat a local women’s shelter every Monday evening.“Bullistaught me to learn in many ways, to handle lots of things,become multi-dimensional, and be able to handlewhatever comes next.”

» Read more stories ofstudents who achieveexcellence through balance.To read the QR tag, download a QR tagreader application on your mobile deviceor visit www.bullis.org/studentprofiles

Trying new things is the bestway to learn — not just what youlike and don’t like, but also how tohandle things that are unfamiliarand become comfortable knowingyou can manage whatever comesnext. If you don’t try in life, whatis there?


TRADIT IONAL MEETS PROGRESS IVE

At Bullis, we have a strong sense of who we are. Uniforms and a structured schedule

harken back to traditional roots. And while we adhere to the School's core values —

integrity, respect, diversity, service and responsibility — change is the most important

tradition at Bullis. From our commitment to discovering the best ways to use technology

for learning and our insistence that our students become global citizens, a Bullis

education is both relevant and enduring.

Watching a Chinese-American chorus do taichi to prepare for a performance, musicteacher Stephanie Mayer-Sattin wanted toexplore the connection between the two.After studying with Master Yuan Xiu Gangin China, she asked the Parent Associationfor a grant to bring him to Bullis for a week.Master Yuan taught tai chi and qigong tohelp students access balance and a peaceful

state of mind to more easily switch from academics to arts, be more creative andprepare for performance.

» A Unique MusicalWarm-upMy math classwas the firsttime I ever hada teacher say‘take out yourcell phones!’Olivia Holmes, 11th grade


SPACE TO EXPLORE, WITHOUT GETTING LOST

With a 102-acre campus and a variety of buildings and facilities, a school of our size

might seem overwhelming for some students. But at Bullis, the average class size is only

15 students. All-school assemblies every week bring the youngest and oldest students

together to celebrate school news and student achievements. Senior class “buddies” work

with Lower School students throughout the year. Peer mentors guide younger students

with transitions and decisions. Third graders are welcomed in a special ceremony each

year by the 12th grade “Lifers” who have been at Bullis since 3rd grade.

Every day, in so many ways, our student body comes together — our big school is actually a tightcommunity. The beautiful campus, which students enjoy every day walking between classes and to thelibrary, arts center or athletic center, gives them a chance to get fresh air, enjoy a break and have adifferent experience than traditional school hallways provide.

The kids here are really friendly.When I first came, right away I felt like Iwas part of a family.Nailah Shaw, 8th grade


Fifth graders put their economics studies intoaction last fall. After learning about small businessdevelopment, each student created a micro-enterprise to raise money for a local non-profitorganization. They were even offered small businessloans of $20 each from the School’s businessoffice to help finance their start-ups — after firstcompleting a formal loan application.

Finally, the students opened for business at a one-day Entrepreneur Fair. Businesses represented awide range of commercial enterprises selling servicesand goods from home-baked goodies to tattoos,face painting to comic strips, games of chance andeven “Starr’s Advice Booth.” After accounting forexpenses, the students generated nearly $1000 inprofit, all of which they donated to the local humanesociety. Then they began contemplating what theycould do for the national debt…

» Micro-Entrepreneurs OpenShop to Help Others


Balance provides the perfect atmosphere for students to learn and grow totheir highest potential. Caring, challenging and community are more thanjust buzzwords at Bullis. These concepts are the very foundation of theSchool and help to define our success.

Bullis students develop the best tools to succeed in college and beyond.The multi-level education they receive at Bullis equips them to become globalcitizens who enthusiastically embrace challenge, demonstrate strongpositive character and cultivate community.

Bullis helps you discover what you’regood at — and makes sure you know that you are.Jason Roth, 12th grade


10601 FALLS ROAD, POTOMAC, MD 20854301-299-8500 | www.bullis.org


Bullis is an independent, diverse, co-educational college preparatory day school for boys and girls in grades 3-12.

AchieveEXCELLENCETHROUGHBalance


Bullis School Viewbook

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