“Excellence is born of passion, dedication, focus and tenacity; compromise any of these and you end up average.”
Robert Kurson, Shadow Divers
Academics
It is the ultimate objective of the Upper School to develop a sense of excellence in every student. The Upper School curriculum is delivered by a well educated and highly experienced faculty in modern, well equipped classrooms, complete with multimedia projectors, computers, and Internet access.
The daily schedule and course schedules are traditional in nature; students attend each of their classes for approximately 45 minutes each day, Monday through Friday. Courses are offered in half-year or full-year increments and grades are reported four times throughout the school year. Students can expect 30-45 minutes of homework in each of their classes daily.
The academic environment is one in which each boy is encouraged and expected to be astute, responsible, studious, accountable, and honorable for his academic achievement and success.
Recognizing today’s competitive college admissions environment, we offer Honors and AP courses in all disciplines. Entry into these courses is both commendable and competitive; only students who show consistent evidence of high achievement and effort are permitted to enroll.
Current Honors and AP course offerings are as follows:
| Honors | AP |
|---|---|
| Geometry | Calculus AB |
| Algebra II/Trigonometry B | Calculus BC |
| Algebra II/Trigonometry A | Statistics |
| Pre Calculus | Biology |
| Statistics | Chemistry |
| Biology | Physics |
| Chemistry | Economics |
| Physics | History |
| Spanish II, III and IV | English (Literature) |
| French IV and V | |
| Latin IV | |
| Non-Western Cultures History | |
| European History | |
| US History | |
| African American History | |
| English 9, 10, 11 & 12 |
*Note: In some cases, AP courses are offered on alternate years based on student demand and instructor availability.
CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAM
The co-curricular program offerings at Boys’ Latin include a historically strong Athletic Program and increasingly abundant offerings in Visual Arts, Musicianship, Theatre Arts, Student Government, Student Publications and student clubs.
Students are given ample opportunity in their Upper School years to participate in student government, and produce student publications. The Upper School student government runs class meetings, the Honor Board and the Disciplinary Board. The Inkwell, is the Upper School student newspaper and is the oldest, continuously published school newspaper in the State of Maryland. The Carousel is the annual publication of student literary works, and Maroon and White is the annual student yearbook publication.
Student interest clubs, such as the Chess club, Digital Photo club, Card Culture club, recycling club, Mock Trial, and the Laker Corps club meet weekly to carry out the mission of the club, giving students and faculty opportunities to interact outside of their traditional (classroom) environment and roles. The Laker Corps club is particularly popular; members of this club participate in a variety of “big brother” type activities within the Lower and Middle schools and make lasting impressions on many younger Lakers. For faculty and students alike, some of our best memories and experiences emanate from these enjoyable club involvements!
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
ADVISORY PROGRAM
Upper school students are assigned a faculty advisor who serves as the student’s academic counselor, personal mentor, and as the primary family contact. The student-advisor relationship is invaluable in creating the cherished Boys’ Latin family environment of support and accountability.
ASSEMBLY PROGRAM
Upper School Assemblies are typically held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays each week throughout the academic year. Assemblies give the upper school a time to gather as a community to discuss items of importance to the upper school community, to hear guest speakers and senior speeches, and to note faculty and student announcements.
SENIOR SPEECH PROGRAM
Rising seniors prepare a five minute speech under coaching by their English teachers. When each speech is complete and approved, it is then scheduled for public delivery. Each senior receives private coaching sessions for one week designed to enable him to carefully prepare and effectively deliver his speech to the Upper School students, faculty and administration. Each senior receives an in-depth approach to speech making by concentrating on his own personal strengths and weaknesses, body language, professional grooming, verbal tempo, articulation, projection, eye contact, and anxiety management. The expectations of this senior speech experience are for each senior to overcome his fear of speaking in front of a large group of people, to speak with confidence, to learn functional and practical presentation skills, to learn about himself as a speaker, and to feel a sense of pride and accomplishment having completed the senior speech process. The senior speakers present their speeches each Friday at a full assembly in the Gelston Athletic Center where the speeches are video taped and attended by parents and friends. An annual Senior Speech Symposium is planned in the beginning of the year to plan and support this senior speech program.
SENIOR PROJECT PROGRAM
Qualifying seniors have the option of participating in an organized, supervised professional growth project during the final two weeks of his senior year. A small sampling of past projects includes the following companies and/or organizations: Habitat for Humanity, Smith Barney, Merrill Lynch, Legg Mason, GBMC, National Institutes of Health, Sinclair Broadcasting, The Baltimore Sun, The Maryland Historical Society, and the Baltimore Museum of Art.
SUMMER READING PROGRAM
Our Summer Reading Program has gained steady momentum over the years to include a booklist which includes both faculty and student selections. A committee of students and faculty meet throughout the year to edit the reading list, and to sample books to collectively select the schoolwide book for the upcoming summer. Unlike our peer schools, Boys’ Latin takes great pride in including an organized and graded assessment on its summer reading books, and, as a result has noted measurable improvement in the quality and quantity of books students read each summer.
SENIOR RETREAT
The Senior Retreat is a three day experience during which seniors and a group of faculty discuss, in excruciating detail and through a variety of exercises, a young man’s coming of age and coming to grips with his own worries, doubts, goals, and aspirations. Over the years, it has become a deeply meaningful right of passage and a bonding experience for the senior class, both as individuals and as a class.
SENIOR LUNCHES WITH THE HEADMASTER
Several times throughout the senior year, the Headmaster hosts luncheons with eight or so seniors to discuss their Boys’ Latin experience and their plans for the future. These lunches are revered and well attended.
PEER EDUCATION PROGRAM
The School Counselor runs the Peer Education program, a program which involves student peer educators from the Upper School who work throughout the year with Middle School students to discuss life issues, good decision making, peer pressure, what to expect in the Upper School, and other matters.
JUNIOR RECOGNITION LUNCH
The Junior Class is honored with a seated luncheon each February as their senior year approaches to reflect on their accomplishments to date and to collectively focus on the all important, if not daunting, senior year which lies ahead.
JUNIOR VS. SENIOR DEBATE
The Junior vs. Senior Debate is held annually between members of the junior and senior class. The debate is staged for the entire Upper School community, and is a serious, formal, and adjudicated highly anticipated event. Topics are controversial and weighty by definition. The 2006 debate argued the pros and cons of Gun Control Laws.
MAROON & WHITE DAY
Maroon and White Day (also celebrated in the Lower and Middle Schools) is the annual end-of-year field day competition between two equally divided groups of the Upper School student body. Maroon battles White in events that include soccer, lacrosse, flag football, tennis, chess, scrabble, track and field, tug of war, and the always popular pie eating contest. A trophy is awarded at the completion of this friendly day of competition to the highest scoring team. Tradition has it that the trophy be awarded in its heavily tarnished state from year to year!
LAKER AMBASSADORS
Laker Ambassadors serve the Admissions Office by providing guided tours to prospective students and their families, and also by hosting a prospective student throughout his “shadow” day. Laker Ambassadors also serve as tour guides for special campus visits such as Open House and AIMS Workshops. Students eagerly join the Laker Ambassadors, and are proud to introduce their beloved school to newcomers.
SCHOOLWIDE FIELDTRIPS
Periodically throughout the academic year, the Upper School departs campus, usually by grade level to various points of interests in and around Baltimore and Washington, D.C. to engage in educational activities and experiences outside the classroom. These trips broaden and articulate the academic and social experience of the Upper School, and are enjoyed by faculty as well as students. Recent destinations include The National Holocaust Museum, The Smithsonian Museum of African Art, The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, The National Aquarium, Sharpsburg Battlefield, Gettysburg Battlefield, and the premier of The Boys of Baraka documentary at the Charles Theater.
