Upper School Science: Cultivating
the Partnership between Ingenuity
and Respect
By Bradford Hardie
“Creativity is a wild mind and a disciplined eye.” - Dorothy Parker
H
ow do you seize upon the freedom and spontaneity of a boy’s imagination while at the same time introducing to
him the value of convention and precept? How do we instill a sense of respect throughout the process? These are
not easy questions to answer, and yet together they drive the spirit of academic pursuit within Upper School science
at Saint David’s. By providing opportunities for boys to engage in unique hands-on exploration, creative collaboration, and
respectful discourse, Upper School science at Saint David’s is a rich learning experience that prepares them for the challenges
of tomorrow.
During signature learning experiences through partnerships with world class institutions such as the Hayden Planetarium
of the American Museum of Natural History and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory DNA Learning Center, Saint David’s boys
get a firsthand look at the product of generations of creative thinkers before them who redefined conventional wisdom. During
their Digital Universe Flight School (DUFS) unit at the Hayden Planetarium, the Sixth Grade boys’ imaginations are set on
fire by the possibilities that lie ahead in space exploration. They learn firsthand from astrophysicists about the laws that govern
18 • Saint David’s Magazine