Welcome to The Cathedral School

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Front Porch

Tour stop audio transcript

Surrounded by historic Gothic architecture, gardens and green space, The Cathedral School of St. John the Divine is a 13-acre educational oasis in the middle of one of the busiest cities in the world, a safe and encouraging place that shapes each child's natural curiosity and wonder. Every morning, arriving with their families, Lower School students gather with their homerooms on the school's front porch, excited to see their teachers and friends, ready for another day of learning at The Cathedral School. Before we get started, let me explain the many ways you can explore our beautiful space. You can click on the forward-facing arrow to start walking around. You can jump to the next stop by clicking on the "Next" button. Now, if you already know where you want to go, you can select any location by using the list or by clicking directly on the map. Lastly, remember that you can explore any particular location in more detail by clicking the supplemental icons..

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Kindergarten Center

Tour stop audio transcript

Comprised of two classrooms, a learning center and an outdoor terrace, The Kindergarten Center is a special space just for our youngest Cathedral School students. With a head and associate teacher in each classroom, plus individual and small-group support from our Lower School math, reading, and science specialists, our structured, nurturing curriculum helps children grow as independent, curious lovers of learning. Our kindergarteners are a vital component of the Cathedral community, with front-row seats at every Lower School Assembly and a place of honor at our back-to-school Convocation, processing down the aisle, hand-in-hand, with our 8th grade students—true partners in learning.

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Outdoor Learning

Tour stop audio transcript

The Cathedral School campus and neighborhood provide students with dynamic opportunities for hands-on learning right outside our doors, from our 1st Grade field study around Morningside Heights to our 8th Grade Physics Olympics on the Cathedral campus. With more than 50 field trips each year, the world-class resources of Columbia University, Central Park, and New York City are easily leveraged from our beautiful Manhattan location—a truly dynamic space to support our dynamic community.

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Library and Media Center

Tour stop audio transcript

The 2,700 square foot Library and Media Center is the cornerstone of the school's Expansion, completed in 2019, with space for over 6,000 books. Inside, students can read on the window seats located between three large arched windows or in nooks throughout the room. The modular tables can be constantly reconfigured to accommodate class groups, STEAM projects, or larger gatherings. The Center also includes a breakout space that houses state-of-the-art video and photography equipment and a green screen for student-directed video projects. Here, the 6th grade participates in an Equity and Justice class, just one part of the school's nationally recognized Equity, Inclusion and Community Engagement Program. Through this program, Lower School students focus on self-discovery and the intentional building of community. In the Upper School, students learn to think critically and challenge assumptions about equity and bias within society, thereby becoming engaged civic leaders through the process.

Innovation Lab and Mathematics

Tour stop audio transcript

Across the hall from the Library and Media Center is the Innovation Lab, where students can use high-tech and analog tools for coding, design, construction, and prototyping. These include 3D printers, LEGO Robotics, Dash and Dot robots, sewing machines, air-dry clay, and more. The flexible space encourages collaboration and gives students the opportunity to pursue long-term STEAM projects over the duration of a school year. Much like our Innovation Lab, our Upper School math classrooms are equipped with moveable desks and whiteboard walls that facilitate independent and collaborative conceptual problem solving. Our Lower School mathematics program emphasizes the acquisition of skills in a problem-solving context, developing the four basic operations of arithmetic throughout all grades. The Upper-School study of Mathematics progresses to include the in-depth study of Algebra, Geometry, and more. Students in the 6th-8th grades use the Exeter method, a student-driven, problem-based approach that lays the foundation for higher-level mathematics. For more information about our Math program, please navigate to the supplementary materials within this tour stop.

Common Room and Dining Room

Tour stop audio transcript

No Lower School tradition is more beloved than our Friday morning Assembly, where teachers, students, and families gather to share curricular projects, news, songs, talents, and more. We begin each Assembly with our anthem–Oh, What a Day!–which perfectly captures the spirit of camaraderie and passion for learning we prize here. In the Upper School, 33 electives, clubs, and affinity groups keep common spaces alive with learning throughout the day.

Morningside Room

Tour stop audio transcript

Adjacent to the Common and Dining Rooms, the Morningside Room is a multipurpose space with breathtaking floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto expansive views of Morningside Park. The room provides a light-filled and dynamic community space, not only for our family-style lunches but also assemblies, parent and family meetings, after-school programming, extra-curricular activities, community events, and so much more.

Humanities

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In the Upper School Seminar Room and in dynamic learning spaces throughout the building, The Cathedral School's approach to the Humanities blends individualized instruction and group discussion to help students—at all levels—not only speak, write, and think clearly but also listen and learn together. From exploring concepts of local community and neighborhoods to studying American and World History, our Social Studies program teaches students how to be thoughtful, informed, and engaged citizens in an increasingly global world. Cathedral School students learn to examine, research, and interpret primary sources and scholarly texts, even presenting their findings on Renaissance Paintings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 7th grade. Similarly, the study of Language Arts, Reading, and English helps students grow from group storytime into avid, passionate readers; sophisticated interpreters of modern and classic literature; and gifted writers, capable of conveying complex, creative ideas in clear, graceful prose.

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Science

Tour stop audio transcript

From the beginning of their time at The Cathedral School, students are taught to think of themselves as scientists. As they progress through our rigorous curriculum, students apply principles of the Scientific Method to the study of biology, chemistry, earth science, and physics, while also considering ethics and sustainability. Additionally, STEAM is an organic part of our daily curriculum. Students develop STEAM skills through collaborative learning across a variety of disciplines, including coding, digital arts, robotics, and woodworking. The Cathedral School's STEAM curriculum builds a foundation of creativity and critical thinking that will serve our students well beyond the walls of the classroom.

World Language

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The Cathedral School's language program is emblematic of the community's dedication to world culture and classics. Students begin studying modern language in Kindergarten, exploring fundamentals of language, vocabulary, and culture, before specializing in one modern language as they move into the Upper School. In 6th grade, students add Latin to their curriculum, bringing their daily number of core academic classes to six, a unique aspect of the Cathedral School experience and a true testament to the academic rigor of our program.

Music Education

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Our music program introduces students to vocal and instrumental music, cultivating an appreciation of the performing arts as both an audience member and participant. Students practice sight-reading and experience a wide range of musical genres, composers, and history. Violin is another distinguishing facet of the Cathedral experience. Available for all 1st through 8th graders, students learn violin technique and have the opportunity to perform at assemblies and all-school Evensongs.

Fine Art

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The Cathedral School's vibrant, interdisciplinary art program balances traditional visual art instruction with an innovative STEAM-related approach. Lower School students are introduced to the elements and principles of art through a wide variety of materials suitable to their age and motor-skill development. Upper School students explore art history and delve deeper into painting, sculpture, ceramics, and more. At Cathedral, art connects to different areas of the curriculum in every grade through science, math, social justice, social studies, and even language and reading. All students' art is displayed in the gallery, a celebration of process over product to encourage students' creativity.

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Outdoor Play

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Cathedral School families are secure in the knowledge that our children have a safe place to not only learn but also play on the school's lush 13-acre campus. Sheltered by both the Cathedral and the school building, the Kit Wallace Playground has an incredible array of equipment, guaranteed to please and challenge any Cathedral student. Overlooking the 30-acre expanse of Morningside Park, the playground is open before and after school, in addition to its use as a year-round recess destination. Equally enjoyable is the Nave Playground, running along the south side of the Cathedral and featuring climbing equipment and space for basketball and other games.

Physical Education and Athletics

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Physical fitness is another key component of The Cathedral School experience, building motor skills, confidence, communication, and teamwork. In one of two gymnasiums on campus, students practice skills individually and collectively, embracing physical activity and movement as essential components of growing into happy, healthy individuals. Cathedral also has an active athletics program, with 19 interscholastic sports teams and 90% of Upper School students participating in at least one sport throughout the year.

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The Cathedral

Tour stop audio transcript

At The Cathedral School—a welcoming environment for students of all faiths—young people study a wide range of traditions and beliefs to gain a better understanding of themselves and the world around them. Led by our chaplain, students gather regularly for Chapel and Evensong in the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, a rich trove of humanitarian history and heritage for our students to explore, a unifying center of light and leadership. The Cathedral hosts many civic and cultural events throughout the year, including concerts, exhibitions, lectures, and more—a world-class resource for Cathedral School families.

Choristers

Tour stop audio transcript

The Chorister program represents a unique partnership between The Cathedral School and The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine. Founded in 1901 as a boarding school for boys who sang in the Cathedral's choir, the School continues to partner with this prestigious choral program. Rehearsing, singing for services, and preparing for special events provide a comprehensive music education, enabling the Choristers to learn a repertoire of sacred music under world-class choral instructors and perform in top venues around the world, including Carnegie Hall, Dublin's Christ Church Cathedral, and London's Westminster Abbey.

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