The Birch Wathen Lenox School

The Birch Wathen Lenox School
Birch Wathen Lenox School (BWL) is an elite independent college prep school located in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, catering to students from kindergarten to 12th grade. The school is divided into three sections: Lower, Middle, and Upper schools, which provide a smooth transition for students and offer modern facilities to enhance the learning experience. Birch Wathen Lenox School boasts a diverse curriculum, which includes a unique STEAM program that combines Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Math. The school also offers a range of extracurricular programs and competitive athletics.
Birch Wathen Lenox School has a distinctive mission that emphasizes a traditional, rigorous academic program while remaining open to innovation that aligns with its core values. The school is dedicated to helping each student reach their full potential by fostering intellectual, aesthetic, and ethical excellence. Birch Wathen Lenox School also places great importance on preparing its students for social responsibility by instilling values such as integrity, loyalty, and civility, which are taught throughout the Kindergarten to Grade 12 experience. The school's tradition is to build character through an unwavering commitment to educational inquiry, mutual respect, and personal growth.

Programs in The Birch Wathen Lenox School
At the Birch Wathen Lenox School, students are encouraged and challenged to grow academically in a rigorous and structured college-preparatory program, while being supported by a caring and supportive community. The curriculum, which ranges from interdisciplinary studies to extracurricular activities, utilizes the resources of New York City to enhance the learning experience. Birch Wathen Lenox School places a strong emphasis on study skills and effective learning strategies, which are developed from Kindergarten through to Senior year. Students are recognized for their academic achievements through special assemblies, award ceremonies, and Honors certificates.
The Lower School curriculum focuses on cultivating essential skills and kindling a love of learning in students from Kindergarten to Grade Five. Teachers tailor their approach to each academic discipline to match the learning styles of every student, while encouraging an age-appropriate excitement for reading, mathematics, social studies, science, physical education, and the arts. The study of World Languages begins early, with Spanish and French being introduced in Kindergarten and Japanese in Fourth Grade. Instrumental music instruction begins in Fourth Grade, and the arts program exposes students to painting, drawing, singing, dancing, and theater arts throughout their Lower School experience.
The Middle School program at Birch Wathen Lenox School is designed to meet the particular needs of students in Grades Six, Seven, and Eight, with a sophisticated core curriculum and a wide range of studies. The academic demands and expectations increase each year, with dedicated teachers and advisors helping students navigate the shift to having separate teachers in different academic disciplines. A trimester grading period and an increased emphasis on becoming an independent learner further prepare students for the challenges of the Upper School.
The Upper School program at Birch Wathen Lenox School is a rigorous college-preparatory program that guarantees guidance by a superior faculty, including the College Counseling team. Students are educated within a nurturing yet structured environment that emphasizes high achievement in academics, active social awareness, and a wide range of extracurricular activities. The curriculum consists of required coursework and offers students the chance to add electives to their timetables. Advanced Placement courses are offered to eligible students in subjects such as Biology, Physics, Calculus, English literature, and French or Spanish language or literature. Students are given the opportunity to hold positions in peer leadership and student government, as well as participate in a variety of extracurricular activities, including interscholastic athletics.
The arts program at Birch Wathen Lenox School includes instruction in visual arts, music, theater, and dance. The school has state-of-the-art facilities for each of these areas, including a dedicated art studio, music room, black box theater, and dance studio. In visual arts, students have the opportunity to explore a wide range of media, including painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, and printmaking. The school's art teachers are practicing artists themselves and provide students with personalized instruction and feedback. In terms of music, students can participate in choral and instrumental ensembles, including the school's jazz band, string ensemble, and chamber music group. The school also offers private music lessons for students who want to develop their skills further. In theater, students can participate in productions throughout the year, including a fall play, winter musical, and spring one-act festival. The Birch Wathen Lenox School black box theater provides an intimate setting for performances and allows students to gain experience in all aspects of theater production, from acting and directing to set design and lighting. During the dancing program, students can take classes in a variety of styles, including ballet, modern, jazz, and hip hop. The Birch Wathen Lenox School dance studio is equipped with a sprung floor and mirrors to provide a safe and supportive environment for students to develop their technique and performance skills.
At graduation, Birch Wathen Lenox School students leave with a comprehensive readiness for their future life endeavors, having been instilled with a love of learning and a sense of achievement throughout their academic journey.

Physical Education
In the Birch Wathen Lenox School, students in Grades K-2 have weekly physical education classes and outdoor recess on the rooftop playground to develop their physical coordination, play, discovery, active listening, and cooperative learning skills. These skills are aligned with the school's core philosophy of Integrity, Loyalty, and Civility. In Grades 3-5, the program builds on students' physical fitness and agility, while introducing competitive sports and emphasizing teamwork, creative thinking, and goal-setting. All grades participate in Field Day, an outdoor event that celebrates the school's spirit, showcases student abilities, and builds community engagement.
In Grades 5-6, students are introduced to an after-school intramural program that offers various sports to explore and develop sportsmanship, skill sets, and interest in competitive sports. In Grades 6-8, Middle School students of Birch Wathen Lenox School have Physical Education classes that meet three times a week, focusing on enhancing their athletic growth through flexibility and dexterity exercises, coordination improvement, and discipline. Students are also encouraged to participate in after-school tournaments, competitions, and activities to interact with friends and faculty and build camaraderie and school spirit.
For more competitive students in Grades 7 and 8, interscholastic competition is offered through the Independent School Association League (ISAL) in various sports. Finally, in Grades 9-12, PE classes focus on leading a healthy lifestyle by teaching cardiovascular health, weight-training, and other everyday activities that can improve motor skills, endurance, and strength. The goal is to encourage positive habits and physical behavior that students can maintain for a lifetime.

Accommodation
Birch Wathen Lenox School does not offer accommodation for its students. It is a day school, which means that students are expected to commute to and from school each day. The school is located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City, which is a well-connected area with easy access to public transportation.
For international students who require accommodation, there are several options available on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. One popular option for international students who study at Birch Wathen Lenox School is homestay, where students live with a local family in their home. This provides a unique cultural experience and allows students to practice their English language skills. The cost of homestay varies depending on the location and services provided but typically ranges from $1,200 USD to $1,800 USD per month, including meals.
Another option for international students is to rent an apartment or room in a shared apartment. The cost of renting an apartment on the Upper East Side varies depending on the location and size of the apartment, but it typically ranges from $2,000 USD to $4,000 USD per month. Renting a room in a shared apartment can be more affordable, with prices ranging from $1,000 USD to $2,000 USD per month.

Future Prospects
Upon graduation from Birch Wathen Lenox School, students have a variety of options available to them, both in terms of continuing their education and seeking employment.
For international students, one important consideration is post-graduate work permit options. The most common post-graduate work permit option for international students in the United States is Optional Practical Training (OPT), which allows students to work in the United States for up to 12 months after graduation. Some students may also be eligible for a 24-month extension of OPT if they have a degree in a STEM field (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics).
In terms of continuing their education, many Berkeley Carroll graduates go on to attend highly-regarded colleges and universities in the United States and abroad. Some of the most popular choices for Berkeley Carroll graduates include Ivy League universities such as Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, as well as other highly-ranked institutions like Stanford, MIT, and Columbia.
For international students who wish to stay in the United States after graduation, obtaining permanent residence or American citizenship may be a goal. Permanent residence, also known as a green card, allows individuals to live and work permanently in the United States. There are several ways to obtain permanent residence, including employment-based immigration, family-based immigration, and the Diversity Visa Lottery.
American citizenship, which can be obtained after a period of lawful permanent residence, offers additional benefits such as the ability to vote and access to certain government programs. To become a citizen, individuals must meet certain eligibility requirements and pass a citizenship test.

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