Ethel Walker School
At Walker’s, learning is a vigorous journey where students and educators challenge one another to grow intellectually.
Students learn to identify real-world challenges and create solutions while developing the skills that are essential for college, career, and global citizenship. Our learners take intellectual risks through persistence and resilience which helps them improve and grow as life-long learners. Ultimately, wisdom is gained through experience, mastery, and reflection.
We recognize that learning is greatly impacted by social interaction so central to teaching and learning at Walker’s is the development of deep and lasting relationships within the community. Social connections, formed within a culture of respect and trust, enable students’ individual growth and enhance our students’ understanding of their potential to affect those around them — and themselves.
At Walker’s, we believe that demonstrable skills are the best measure of learning including literacy, critical thinking, a global perspective, taking initiative, leadership, collaboration, communication, and creativity.
Knowledge will always be important, but what you do with that knowledge is even more important. Walker’s high academic standards stretch students to the place where they are motivated to direct their own learning. Our faculty guide students as they develop essential skills to meet challenges and opportunities today — and in the future — in whatever areas of interest they choose to pursue.
At The Ethel Walker Middle School, we place girls at the center of our educational design process. Girls thrive in our classrooms because they are afforded a sense of agency and a platform where they develop their voices and learn how to use them effectively to have a say in their own education. Math, science, history, English, creative arts, and world languages (Latin, Spanish, or French) are the core of the Walker’s Middle School curriculum.
Earlier this year, Walker’s juniors participated in the Harvard Alumni for Global Women’s Empowerment annual essay contest which invites students to think critically about the status and rights of women. Students…
On Sunday, May 16, 14 Walker’s students were inducted into The Ethel Walker School chapter of the Cum Laude Society, an organization that recognizes academic achievement in secondary schools for…
Added to: Academics, All School
Article by Claire Garceau The Visiting Writer Seminar at Walker’s is a course where students dive deep into studying a specific author for one semester. During the semester, we get…
Shermya Dover-John ’21 has earned the title of Poetry Out Loud Connecticut State Champion following her virtual performance at the regional competition on February 26. While Walker’s has had several…
Added to: Academics, English, Upper School
Walker’s advisory program recognizes that a strong faculty-student relationship is an essential component of growth and development for every student. Through academic and social conversations throughout their time at Walker’s, advisors become transformative adults in the lives of our students.
Each Walker’s student in our Upper and Middle School is placed in a small advisory group composed of peers in grades 9–12 or in grades 6–8. Led by a Walker’s faculty member or administrator, these groups are units in which a student receives academic advice, learns about other cultures and forms lifelong friendships.
Advisors work with each of their advisees to form an academic plan and to sign up for courses. Serving as liaisons between students, families, and faculty members, advisors communicate frequently with families to provide updates on academic and social progress. When necessary, advisors take the lead on setting up academic support for advisees, whether in the form of extra help, peer tutoring, or professional tutors. Advisors also often serve as social support, ensuring that each advisee feels cared for and comfortable in classes, residence halls or on teams.
Through the advisory program, Walker’s recognizes that each student is an individual with their own goals and possibilities. While encouraging self-advocacy, advisors support students in the achievement of these goals.
There is a great relationship between the advisor and student, but also between the advisor and parent. We don’t allow any child to fall through the cracks.
—Suzanne Piela P’22, Science Department Chair
