The creation of Madison Country Day School’s Upper School (grades 9 through 12) brings the promise of an exciting educational opportunity to Dane County. The Upper School is a natural progression that builds on a successful foundation begun in 1997 when the school opened with five grades and twenty-two children. Today, with over two hundred seventy students, we stand strong with a continued commitment to provide a first class education—an education that is grounded in a stellar curriculum and the belief that young women and men have a boundless capacity to learn.

Recently accredited as an International Baccalaureate World School, MCDS is currently updating this portion of the website.  It will be completed in the summer of 2008.

Curriculum Overview

ENGLISH: During Upper School, students develop first-hand knowledge of the best of Western literature and the means to express themselves in a variety of contexts. They move through the reading list within the Socratic Seminar format, reading such works as Homer’s The Odyssey, Sophocles’ Oedipus trilogy, and Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. Students also build their fundamental writing skills by practicing the four primary types of writing: narration, description, exposition, and persuasion. As a result, students become more versatile writers and more skilled in choosing the appropriate method for expressing themselves and their ideas. In addition to writing, they also practice speech.

MATHEMATICS:  Algebra and Geometry
Like all mathematics at MCDS, this course emphasizes the ability to “see” mathematics both algebraically and geometrically. Square roots introduce the irrational numbers; we prove the square root of two is irrational, compute rational approximations, and work with radicals. Students factor polynomials. They solve quadratic equations by factoring, by completing the square, and by the quadratic formula, which we derive. We build general understanding of functions by working with specific functions. Geometry includes the circle, similarity of plane figures and of solids, and the theorem of Pythagoras which students apply to plane figures and solids. Some combinatorics, probability, and statistics are included. Through lecture, discussion and purposeful practice, students in this course develop the knowledge, skills, intuitive sense and confidence necessary for continued success in mathematics.

SCIENCE: Chemistry  
By its very nature, this subject is considered to be the central science. From the materials that make up a high-tech computer chip to the DNA that carries the genetic makeup of our bodies, chemistry provides the basis for further scientific studies. Students in this course learn the principles of structure, matter-energy relationships, thermodynamics and chemical equilibrium. They study the vocabulary of chemistry as well as the processes involved in chemical change in a lab setting. Specific topics include matter, atomic structure, the periodic table, chemical formulas, chemical reactions, molecular structure, kinetic theory, liquids, gases and solids, acids, bases and salts, electrochemistry, nuclear chemistry and the basics of biochemistry.

HISTORY:  Students cultivate the necessary skills to read history objectively by studying ancient civilizations and important non-Western cultures. The course focuses upon ancient Greece and Rome, the study of early society in the British Isles and the history of such non-Western cultures as East Asia, South Asia and the Middle East. Special emphasis is placed upon the history of Japan, consistent with the study of Japanese language and culture in the Middle School curriculum. The knowledge of world history and fundamental historical skills provides students the foundation to undertake more advanced work in history.

SPANISH: This course is taught entirely in Spanish with emphasis upon communication skills. A student’s proficiency with the language determines class placement. Students refine their narration skills using past, present and future while learning to express oneself using the subjunctive. Class discussion, oral presentations and cultural exploration form an integral part of the course. Students also read Spanish language literature. During 9th grade, students and their families host students from our sister school in Santiago, Chile for a two-week stay.

JAPANESE:  This course is taught mostly in Japanese except for grammatical explanations. It accommodates both students who are new to the language and those with varying degrees of proficiency. Students develop four primary skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Ninth grade Japanese emphasizes communication through conversational skills. Students learn verb conjugations such as potential and volitional forms, and add transitivity pairs to their knowledge. Students may begin communicating in Japanese with students from a sister school in Japan. They will learn thirty more Kanji as well as extending their use of Hiragana and Katakana. Throughout Upper School, students deepen their understanding of Japanese culture through field trips, movies and crafts, by reading authors like Shiga Naoya and by participating in Japanese celebrations.

MUSIC: During Upper School, students are expected to be proficient with a major instrument (or voice) and may add a second instrument (or voice). Classes cover music history with particular emphasis on the mature baroque period. The course integrates aural, sight-singing, written, composition and analytical skills in the development of the student’s approach. Building on this foundation, the course progresses to include composition of a bass line for a given melody and the realization of a Roman numeral progression. The class uses the ABRSM curriculum as the basis for theory instruction and for preparation for practical exams. Throughout their Upper School career, students are also expected to play an important role in the various instrumental and vocal performing ensembles and are given the opportunity to participate in musical and dramatic productions, concerts, master-classes and monthly recitals.

ART: Studio Art I
Drawing is taught using an atelier approach as a core skill throughout the course. This course is an opportunity for students to build a foundation in the elements and principles of art and design. Students practice and learn the discipline of drawing, then alternate between the disciplines of drawing, painting and sculpting. Media used includes: pencil, charcoal, pastel and conte crayons; watercolors as well as acrylic and mixed media; and, clay, foam and wood. At the end of the year the students may choose to specialize in one of the three disciplines for the remainder of the course. The final term is devoted to the examination project, which is taken within a discipline of the student’s choice.

TECHNOLOGY: Upper School students receive instruction in information technology and computer use. Technology retains its supplemental role during Upper School. Building on knowledge gained in Middle School (particularly in the fields of word processing, spreadsheet use and presentation software applications), students learn to use technology to present information. Finally, students develop the ability to collect information using academic databases. These skills enable them to confidently pursue independent academic projects.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION: The PE program is made up of specific units, many of which coincide with the sports seasons offered in our competitive sports program. The year begins with a water sports unit during which students enjoy the Yahara River by canoeing and kayaking. Other units throughout the year include fitness conditioning and assessment, soccer, flag football, volleyball, basketball, team handball, floor hockey, softball, archery, cross country and track and field. Events enjoyed on our state-of-the-art track and field facility include 50- and 100-meter dashes, mile runs, long and high jump, hurdles, relays, shot put, discus, and javelin.

Students develop the confidence and motivation to participate in organized and individual physical activities. Classes emphasize lifelong fitness, leadership, teamwork, sportsmanship and strategy in both team and individual sports.

Optional school-sponsored, after-school, competitive sports for Upper School students include boys and girls crew. Additional sports will be added in the coming years based on student interest.