In the beginning of the 2008-2009 school year, the entire faculty of St. Andrew’s Episcopal School went through an exercise called ‘The Portrait of the Graduate.’ We spent a day discussing the attributes, attitudes, skills, and knowledge we wanted our graduates to have when they leave St. Andrew’s. The results listed below guide our curriculum and are present in every facet of the school day in grades 1-12.

The ideal St. Andrew’s graduate …

HAS these attitudes and attributes:

• She is compassionate and caring.

• He is open-minded and tolerant.
• She is optimistic and confident.
• He possesses a sense of humor.
• She is curious.
• He is independent and self-motivated.
• She is responsible and hard-working.
• He perseveres and is resilient.
• She possesses integrity and a strong moral compass.
• He is humble and respectful.
• She is self-aware and balanced.
• He is engaged with the world.

HAS these skills:
• She thinks critically and creatively, and she solves problems.
• He knows how to learn independently.
• She communicates effectively.
• He is organized and manages time well.
• She reads critically and writes skillfully.
• He can compute and reason mathematically.
• She uses technology effectively.
• He has skills to maintain health and fitness.
• She has strong interpersonal and leadership skills.
• He has life skills which enable him to apply what he knows.

ACQUIRES this knowledge:
• He has studied world and U.S. history, acquiring perspective and cultural awareness as well as facts. 
• She has learned about systems of government, uses of power, and current events. 
• He has studied geography.
• She has read western and world literature that exposes her to a range of cultures and perspectives. 
• He understands the English language and speaks and writes with fluency and clarity.
• She knows the scientific method, and scientific discovery excites her. 
• He has studied biology, chemistry and physics, and he understands what it means to be a good steward of our environment.
• She has studied mathematics. She understands the beauty of its structure and has acquired proficiency with modern calculations and operations.
• He has learned a second language and has studied its culture.
• She appreciates the fine arts.  She has studied art, music, and drama, and she has participated in their expression.
• He has studied the Bible and read other fundamental texts of world religions.
• She uses technology with competence.