15 Reasons To Come To Thayer

All ninth graders travel to Camp Bournedale in Plymouth for an outdoor bonding experience before the start of school. The students participate in a series of team-building exercises and even write letters to themselves detailing their hopes for their Thayer experiences. These letters are kept by faculty until the students open them just before graduation. Camp Bournedale is the place where strangers become classmates, and the senior peer advisors leading the new students often refer to the experience as a “full-circle moment” for them.

On Wednesday mornings during the school year, Upper School students gather in the CFA’s Hale Theater to listen to a student, faculty member, or staff member deliver a 10- to 15- minute talk on a topic of personal significance. Topics have included the magic of improv, how life changes after the loss of a loved one, the power of compound interest, and the importance of role models. The simplicity of the format combined with the bravery of the speakers creates an atmosphere of true community. One goal of TA Talks is to build empathy and relationships among the Thayer community as part of the Academy’s commitment to civil discourse.

A Middle School tradition, 6th graders apply their knowledge of Greek mythology to design personalized masks which, after weeks of cold reading and rehearsal, they use to perform plays before parents and guardians in Thompson Hall. The making of the masks is part of an interdisciplinary curriculum in the humanities where students study ancient Greek history in social studies classes, read Greek mythology in their English classes, and perform the Greek plays in their drama classes. Intricate and highly individualized, the Greek masks often become cherished mementos of students’ Middle School experiences.

The Thayer Global Speaker Series brings thought leaders, innovators, and difference-makers to the Thayer campus to engage the community in issues that matter to the world. On topics as wide-ranging as the future of civil discourse and artificial intelligence to Broadway stagecraft and the exploration of the cosmos, the Global Speaker Series offers students the opportunity to be inspired by those at the forefronts of their fields.

Under the supervision of English and history department faculty, several Upper School students receive training to become fellows of the Benelli Writing Center, a peer-led writing lab which supports students at any stage of the writing process across all disciplines. These BWC fellows are trained to assist other students in any class and for any project (literary essays, poetry, fiction, nonfiction, history research papers, college essays, lab reports, etc.). The program amplifies classroom learning and nurtures a cross-curricular approach to writing as a process.

The Independent Science Research (ISR) program introduces students to primary research opportunities in scientific laboratories to prepare them for summer internships in lab settings. Students meet twice weekly in classes to review and present current research from published works and to develop their own research projects. Students also visit Boston-area facilities to develop insight into a variety of studies, settings, and protocols. Students are supported through the internship application process and participate in an extensive summer internship between eleventh and twelfth grades to fulfill the course requirement. Beneath The Waves, a nonprofit dedicated to marine research, enjoys a longstanding relation with the ISR program and its students.

Thayer’s Scholars in Residence program brings to campus thought leaders from academia and a range of professional disciplines to enrich student learning experiences. Resident scholars teach classes, participate in research work with students, lead discussion groups, hold office hours, design events that enrich the entire Thayer community, and serve as a resource to students and teachers. Resident scholars have included award-winning poets, Ivy League professors, acclaimed musical directors, and renowned artists, all adding to the intellectual and creative lifeblood of the Academy. 

Thayer offers a sequenced array of curricular opportunities focused on the development of effective communication skills. Students are taught not only practical public presentation skills but also the important art of storytelling, connecting with multiple audiences and articulating ideas and values in ways that are impactful. Beginning with Declamation at the Middle School, students are given rhetorical challenges at each grade level, culminating in the Words that Changed the World competition in 12th grade. The Art of Communication, a recently developed course, is an increasingly popular senior elective.

In both the Middle and Upper Schools, students and adults meet regularly to share an understanding of common values and similar experiences based on a part of their identity and to celebrate their connections. Alliance groups bring together community members who have a common commitment to an identifier group, e.g. race, gender, religion, family status, etc. and who want to support and stand in solidarity with that group. There are over 25 affinity and alliance groups across both divisions of the school.

In the Middle School, 5th grade students use Sphero robots and engage in an iterative design process to build their own “chariots,” which they then race in a friendly grade-wide competition. In the 7th grade, students gain a comprehensive understanding of simple machines, apply that knowledge to build their own Rube Goldberg machines, and then make a study of robotics. They work in small groups to build a SeaPerch ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) to compete in a variety of challenges which take place in Thayer’s swimming pools. After that hands-on experience, the students have the opportunity to hear from a scientist from Beneath The Ways to learn how the nonprofit uses ROVs in its marine science research. In the Upper School, the Robotics Club allows like-minded students to follow their interests in the field.

An Upper School tradition, five days in February are designated for Winter Wars, a time when students begin each day with a little friendly competition among the grade levels. The “events” are fun and spirited physical challenges coupled with awards for best class spirit and a food drive for local nonprofits. Students dress up in that day’s theme in bursts of creativity and good humor. Students take pride in a Winter Wars championship, and this or that winning season is often a topic of discussion at Homecoming and reunions. Faculty and staff get into the act as well, either as referees, volunteers, or participants.

Vitality and variety mark both Upper School and Middle School arts programs at the Academy.  

The Upper School and Middle School boast nine and four main stage productions per year, respectively, and students from both divisions are encouraged to join the all-school orchestra. Upper School students can choose from 10 arts electives ranging from visual arts to theater to music to dance. At the Middle School, the new IDEA (Innovate, Design & Explore Arts) Department facilitates teamwork among faculty members and gives Middle School students more access points to pursue their creative interests. The Middle School schedule also includes a dedicated arts elective time built into the school day.

A celebration for all (students, families, faculty/staff and graduates), Homecoming is a joyful event filled with spirited athletic competitions featuring our fall sports teams and a carnival-like atmosphere with food, games for all ages and the latest Thayer spirit-wear. The event brings hundreds of Thayer community members together to celebrate and cheer on the Tigers at this can't-miss annual event.  

Thayer offers robust opportunities to travel the world with peers and teachers to explore and experience cultures, contextualize history, perform service, deepen language skills, and engage with individuals and communities across the globe. These experiences not only help our students develop their own worldviews, but offer life-changing growth opportunities and create extraordinary memories. 

TATV — short for “Thayer Academy Television” — is a student-led community media project in the Middle School. In this activity, students create and produce an array of video sketches that are broadcast school-wide. Students in this activity write, film, edit, and act, all while learning the skills of communication and production, and entertaining the community.