TESSERACT SCHOOL’S FIRST SENIOR CLASS
PARADISE VALLEY, ARIZONA—August 25, 2011—This year the first day of school for Tesseract students saw another first—the start of the school year for Tesseract School’s first senior class.
“This being the first school year with a senior class makes it a very special one for all of us,” noted Nigel Taplin, head of Tesseract School. “It is a wonderful experience to see the board’s vision of offering a preschool through 12th-grade program come to fruition, thanks to the commitment and generosity of our trustees, parents, donors, volunteers, faculty and staff.”
While Tesseract has been educating Valley students in preschool through eighth-grade since 1988, its high school opened just three years ago. Taplin noted the high school was part of the school’s strategic plan for many years and had been stimulated by Tesseract families wishing the school’s outstanding, innovative curriculum and student-centered approach extended through high school. In early 2007 the capital campaign to raise funds to build a new campus for Tesseract’s middle school and the new high school was launched. Later that year Chris LaBonte, Tesseract’s founding director of high school, was brought on board to lead the high school and develop a curriculum that was a natural extension of the school’s mission and philosophies and taught the skills required for a 21st century education, preparing students for the challenges of a more interconnected and complex world.
“It has been, and continues to be, an amazing experience to be involved from the ground up in developing a high school program for Tesseract,” said LaBonte. “Tesseract has such a strong curricular foundation; we all wanted to create a rich, deep program that further promoted the development of intellectual curiosity and critical thinking, as well as prepared students to excel in college and beyond, in a thoughtful and meaningful way that the students could truly connect with as individuals.”
For Tesseract students, connecting with the school’s curriculum includes connecting with peers and educators. To further these connections, Tesseract’s seniors will start the year with their “All Work and All Play College Prep Retreat.” The retreat, hosted by Prescott College, is designed to acknowledge their upcoming inaugural senior year and strengthen their senior-class bond, as well continue to guide them through some final steps in the college admissions process such as writing college essays, refining résumés, checking the status of college applications and continuing to work toward their senior-year goals.
On his way to the senior retreat, Sam A., a Tesseract 12th-grader who has attended Tesseract since preschool, noted, "Being part of the inaugural high school class has been a powerful experience, especially looking back and seeing all we have accomplished. During my entire experience at Tesseract I have learned what it means to truly be a part of, and participate in, a unique and caring community with an amazing global perspective."
Upon returning from their retreat, Tesseract’s senior class will be recognized at the all-school convocation August 29 as well as at a special event in October.
About Tesseract:
A leader in education in the Valley, Tesseract School prepares students to excel in college and beyond, lead lives of purpose, and become ethical and compassionate citizens with a global perspective. Tesseract’s innovative educational approach engages students in learning, enabling them to master the basics and become critical thinkers. As a non-profit, independent private school for students in preschool through grade 12, resources are directed to recruit and retain outstanding educators and continually enhance the school’s two campuses in Phoenix and Paradise Valley. For information visit www.tesseractschool.org or call 480.991.1770.
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