The Principia

It's been a great year at the School! See some of the highlights.

Connecting students to their local environment and community is an effective way to infuse learning with immediacy, relevance, and an expanded sense of possibilities. Principia School has incorporated multiple such opportunities for “place-based learning” across the curriculum over the past year.

Experiential learning weeks—or “spring intensives”—that helped the freshman ...

The Upper School Panthers have represented Principia especially well over the last several months—both on the scoreboard and in their practice of sportsmanship. Before noting the winter and spring season sporting achievements, we’d like to share an anecdote attesting to the value of Principia athletics—not just to our students but ...

Fourth graders took interdisciplinary learning to new heights in the spring—improving and applying research, writing, art, and oral presentation skills during a multi-week social studies unit on Missouri history.

Each student chose a famous Show-Me State figure and, during five weeks of research, learned about the individual’s life and ...

From the west coast of North America to the east coast of Africa—and many places in between—members of the Class of 2017 took part recently in a range of self-guided adventures in discovery and learning (otherwise known as Senior Projects).

For three weeks each spring, every Upper School senior ...

The Class of 2017 received a rousing sendoff on Graduation Day, June 3, 2017. McCalmont Gym rang with loud, heartfelt applause—for the 66 seniors as well as for keynote speaker Dean Emeritus Bill Simon (US’54), who received two standing ovations.

Simon’s message reinforced the ceremony’s opening readings: “Beloved children, ...

The introduction of the House system at Principia School provides rich opportunities for student leadership, community, and friendly competition. See our Upper School Houses in action.

A food-waste reduction campaign implemented by the Upper School Sustainability class recently won second place (tied with Jennings High School) in a statewide competition! At last Friday’s morning meeting, Principia received a trophy and cash award of $250 from a representative of Green Schools Quest.

Initiated a few ...

Last month in Principia News , we shared some of the many ways students and teachers put our beautiful “outdoor classroom” to use in hands-on science study. (See Outdoor Learning Takes Root .) This month, we share how Upper School art students practice working en plein air around our 360-acre ...

Since the introduction of the new Entrepreneurship class for freshmen this year, a spirit of innovation has been flourishing at the Upper School. As students identify and set up both for-profit and social enterprises, they are developing a range of skills that will benefit them in all areas of life, ...