High School

 

High School Program at Marburn Academy

Some students seem to acquire effective study skills and habits intuitively. For others, the process is not automatic, and they need detailed instruction and supportive coaching to reach the goal. If you know a 9th - 12th grader who would benefit from an instructional approach which focuses on developing advanced study and organization skills, we invite you to contact us for more information about Marburn Academy’s HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM.

 

 

Statement of Educational Philosophy

Marburn Academy High School is a private, coeducational college preparatory school located in Columbus, Ohio for bright children who learn differently.

 

The mission of Marburn Academy’s High School program is to develop the student's academic skills, to build effective social interaction and problem solving techniques, and to strengthen self-image so students may successfully pursue their dreams.

 

At Marburn Academy High School we use unique, engaging inquiry activities to sound out concepts, hook students into learning, build on previous understandings, and provide a base for further exploration. Our graduates are prepared for the challenges and choices they will face as citizens of the world.

 

 

"Marburn Academy was our lifesaver when we felt our situation was hopeless. As a high school junior our son now maintains an above average GPA, has friends, and is involved in the school community. His teachers have commented on his excellent organizational skills! When our son came to Marburn, we couldn't even dream of college. Now, we eagerly look forward to finding the right college for our son.
~Comment from Marburn Academy Parent Survey

 

 

Instructional Highlights

• four-year college preparatory High School experience
• emphasizing individual learning and success
• personal growth and academic responsibility
• note taking
• outlining
• preparing for tests
• memorization techniques
• test taking skills
• organization
• time management
• writing research papers
• self-advocacy
• critical thinking through inquiry
• community service
• internship program

1-1 Laptop Program: Continues in 2011

Marburn Academy's curricular focus on "big understandings" and "essential questions" and the resulting thinking-centered approach to learning that teaches students the skills needed to thrive in the twenty-first century has resulted in an innovative High School laptop computer program. Because our students live in a digital world it is fundamentally important for us to guide them in responsible and proper use of digital tools. Each High School student receives his or her own MacBook Pro to use in and out of school. Educational goals include:

 

improved communication increased collaboration performance-based learning

 

 

 

Curriculum Overview

 

 

Marburn Academy High School offers a 4-year, multi-faceted, college preparatory curriculum.  Study skill instruction, self-awareness, service to the community, and leadership experiences along with college preparatory content in mathematics, science, social studies, and English are all included in our daily instruction.  Small class sizes and a community structure in which teachers see themselves more as coaches than lecturers create a collaborative environment in which students learn to inquire, think critically, and solve problems.

 

 

Math Class, 2010

 

Key aspects of our program:

 

High School Community
The High School faculty creates an atmosphere in which students who may have previously been unsuccessful and/or frustrated at school, feel safe and even energized. This is done overtly through our study skills, leadership, and self-awareness instruction, and subtly through the inquiry-based, critical thinking aspects of the academic content classes. Part of the focus is to increase and improve interpersonal communication in peer and group settings. The result is a very supportive community that accepts each student where he or she is, and facilitates stretching to reach the next level.
 
Individualized Student Development
The Marburn Academy High School offers total commitment to individualized student development, including growth of appropriate social and academic interactions. In addition, each student has an opportunity to experience an appropriate off-site internship.  We also offer four years of thorough post-graduation and college counseling for students and their families.

 

Faculty Advisors
Each student at Marburn Academy High School is assigned a faculty advisor.  The purpose of this advisory period is two-fold: while students have the opportunity to develop a trusting personal relationship with a faculty member, he or she can also identify and reflect upon academic, social, and personal goals. Our advisory period offers a small group setting where students and their advisor meet to discuss areas of growth, to set academic and social goals, and to develop plans for meeting these goals. Weekly hour-long meetings provide time for meaningful discussion and feedback.

This program is designed to facilitate our ability to get to know and understand each child and help him/her feel success in school.  This is exactly how we are different from other schools – we have your child in mind as we design their experiences. 
 

Student Skills Courses

 

TASK (Teaching and Assessing Study sKills)
TASK is the cornerstone of the Marburn Academy High School academic program.  Students are exposed to direct instruction of study skills and provided structured workshop time for practice.  TASK study skills are taught in a progression of units, including Organization, Note-taking, Studying, Test-Taking, Research, Self-Awareness, and Service to the Community.

 

LEAD  (Leadership Experience and Apprenticeship Design)
LEAD courses prepare students for life after Marburn Academy.  Leadership skills are modeled and practiced in real-world applications.  Organization and responsibility are emphasized as students plan and implement extra-curricular activities for the larger Marburn Academy community.  Students are also encouraged to identify and develop their own affinities by completing an internship/apprenticeship during their senior year.  Additionally, students work directly on ACT/SAT, college entrance, and placement test preparation, and on building their resumes. The college search and application process is also structured.  Students explore life skills, such as budgeting monthly income and monthly expenditures, how to rent an apartment, buy insurance, and even lease a car.

 

Advisory
At Marburn Academy High School our advisory period is a small group setting where students and their advisor meet to discuss areas of growth and set academic and social goals, develop a plan for meeting these goals, and meet weekly for meaningful feedback and discussion.
This program is designed to facilitate our ability to get to know and understand each child and help him/her feel success in school.  This is exactly how we are different from other schools – we have your child in mind as we design their experiences. 

 

 

Marburn Academy High School Faculty
Mrs. Mindy Bixel, Head of High School	Mindy Bixel graduated from Wittenberg University with a B.A. in Biology, and has an M.A. in Environmental Science from The Ohio State University.  She spent 1985-1986 in the Peace Corps, in Freshwater Fisheries in the Philippines.  With over 20 years of teaching experience, including positions as Marburn Academy’s High School Science Faculty and Program Coordinator, Columbus Jewish Day School Middle School Science Faculty, and Worthington High School Science Faculty, Mindy brings a wealth of knowledge to Marburn’s High School Program.
Mrs. Gina Bishop, High School Academic Specialist	Gina Bishop returns to Marburn after a 10 year hiatus, spent raising her young family. While away from Marburn she continued to use her Orton-Gillingham and math training by tutoring children of all ages. Mrs. Bishop sings opera, directs a choir group, and is working towards her Master's degree in adult religion and pastoral studies. Here at school, she will be working with High School students one-on-one and in small groups during their study halls, and will be available to work with students after school to provide consistent assistance with academic content and student skills.
Mr. Ben Burwinkel, Mathematics Teacher	Ben Burwinkel graduated from Ohio University with a B.S. in Integrated Mathematics, where he was awarded the Marie T. Ausenheimer Education Scholarship from 2008-2010. He is a game show aficionado and was the treasurer and software operator for the Game Show Appreciation Society while at OU. Ben is also a runner, and coached cross country this year at Marburn.
Mr. Matthew Misener, Science Teacher	Matt Misener received a B.S. in Molecular Biology and a M. Ed. in Adolescent and Young Adult Integrated Science from the University of Toledo. He has recently moved from the Toledo area to Columbus, and is ready for school to start. Mr. Misener will be teaching Physical Science, Biology, Environmental Chemistry, and LEAD I. He is the advisor for the Junior Class.
Mrs. Ruth Rubin, Social Studies Teacher	Ruth Rubin received her B.A., cum laude, from Wellesley College, in political science and history. Her focus and areas of expertise are Middle-Eastern studies, world history, comparative politics, and economics.  Ms. Rubin loves to spend time telling knock-knock jokes, cycling, playing soccer and Frisbee badly, and watching the big trucks at local construction projects with her family.
Ms. Susan Schenk, English Teacher	Susan Schenk received a B.A. in Journalism and a B.A. in French from The Ohio State University, and completed the Post Baccalaureate Teacher Licensure Program at Otterbein College, where she received the 2008 “Joining Hands Award for Excellence in Student Teaching in the Language Arts.”  She is an inductee of the Kappa Delta Pi education honor society and an active member of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).  Prior to joining the Marburn Academy faculty, Ms. Schenk spent 20 years working as a business writer and marketing specialist in the corporate sector.

 

 

 

For more information, please call Scott Burton, Director of Admission, at 614-433-0822.

 

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For additional information, please e-mail us.