Simon's Rock College Of Bard

School Notes Overview:

In the summer of 1983 Simon's Rock began offering a three-week writing workshop for high school students modeled after the innovative three-week Workshop in Language and Thinking required of all entering students at Bard College. We are now part of the National Writing and Thinking Network, the largest consortium of summer writing programs in the country. Each year 70-80 academically motivated students are chosen to participate in the Simon's Rock program. Former participants have gone on to such colleges as Amherst, Bard, Harvard, Haverford, Kenyon, Princeton, Simon's Rock, Smith, Williams, and Yale......

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School Overview:

County Berkshire County, MA
Program Name Simon's Rock College of Bard Young Writers Workshop
Program Type Academic and cultural enrichment
Number of Students 80 students
Student Body Type Coeducational
Grades 9 - 12
Ages Accepted Age 14 - Age 18
First Session Start Date June 26
First Session End Date July 16
First Program Weeks 3 weeks
Program Director Dr. Jamie Hutchinson
Campus Area 275 acres
Founding Year 1982
Application Date 5/0/2024

School Notes:

  • In the summer of 1983 Simon's Rock began offering a three-week writing workshop for high school students modeled after the innovative three-week Workshop in Language and Thinking required of all entering students at Bard College. We are now part of the National Writing and Thinking Network, the largest consortium of summer writing programs in the country. Each year 70-80 academically motivated students are chosen to participate in the Simon's Rock program. Former participants have gone on to such colleges as Amherst, Bard, Harvard, Haverford, Kenyon, Princeton, Simon's Rock, Smith, Williams, and Yale.
  • The workshop sections are small (12-13 students). This allows for individual attention to each student and helps to foster the sense of belonging to a supportive learning community in which students can feel comfortable exploring new directions in their writing and thinking. Trusting one's own language and voice, learning to think for oneself and in collaboration with others — these are the qualities and skills that the workshop strives to develop.
  • Each week students develop a portfolio of works in progress and then meet individually with their workshop leader to discuss what they have written. Rather than evaluation, these meetings focus on what the writer is trying to do in his or her writing and how best to accomplish these goals. By becoming more conscious of their choices and strategies, students develop the intellectual autonomy expected of them as they prepare for college.
  • Students live on campus in the college's dormitories, along with adults who are members of the Simon's Rock student life staff. Aside from quiet hours and a curfew, students are free to organize their time in ways that fit their particular needs, whether that means preparing for the next day's class, socializing with friends, participating in a recreational activity, or attending an off-campus cultural event.
  • All faculty are experienced teachers and writers with a special interest in the theory and practice of the nationally recognized Bard College Institute for Writing and Thinking. They are selected for the Simon's Rock workshop because of their record of teaching excellence and their familiarity with the needs and abilities of younger writers.

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Note: Data has been gathered from several government and commercial data sources. School data reflects years 2002-04 statistics (most recent years available). Area and demographic data reflects year 2000 statistics. Public School Review does not ensure the timeliness or accuracy of the information on this site.