Integrated STEM

Designed with girls at the forefront.

From our youngest learners through advanced courses in our Upper School, the STEM and STEAM program at GFS prepare girls to pursue different fields and areas of interest with confidence and curiosity. Designed with girls at the forefront, elements of STEM are integrated throughout our academic program and intentional, building a strong foundation that nurtures an inquisitive mind. Throughout, aspects of STEAM are incorporated at all levels to encourage creative learning across disciplines, with hands-on experiences and practical applications built-in.

THROUGHOUT THE DIVISIONS

LOWER SCHOOL

A STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) focus in class balances the empirical with the creative to offer the best possible environment in which to challenge students across the disciplines and develop the kind of skills they need for success in the 21st century
4th and 5th Grade Robotics team that competes successfully at local and state competitions
The Digital Discovery program helps girls become proficient with a wide variety of programs, making the process fun and engaging as they learn more about their own learning styles and digital citizenship.
STEAM learning is not limited to a special or project; instead, elements are worked into every aspect and every subject to create a well-rounded understanding of how STEAM principles apply across disciplines.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

RISE Program: Students partner with educators at Irvine Nature Center to design and conduct experiments, collect and evaluate models and create a product that answers their question or solves their problem.
STEM Day: In conjunction with Boys' Latin School, our 6th Grade students work to employ design thinking to create gliders, propeller cars and catapults to compete with one another.
Field trips to the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center, Maryland Science Center and Baltimore Healthy Harbor Ecotour
Digital Thinking classes focusing on building media and technology fluency in all grades
1:1 computer program ensures more access and personalization of resources to aid in learning
Media production studio with iMac computers for student work in filmmaking and editing, graphic design, and coding
Middle School Robotics team participates in regional competitions (all grades)

UPPER SCHOOL

WISE Program: The Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) program is a groundbreaking partnership between Garrison Forest and The Johns Hopkins University. We place talented GFS students in Hopkins labs three times a week for a whole semester. WISE students are carefully matched with a Hopkins mentor (professor or graduate student) for a semester and participate fully in the research focus of a Hopkins lab.
Comprehensive technology program includes laptops in the hands of every student, one digital lab, wireless data projectors in every classroom.
96% take four years of science, including Advanced Placement courses in biology, chemistry and Environmental Science.