Springside School
Encyclopedia
Springside School is a private, all-girls school (pre-K through 12th grade) in the Chestnut Hill
neighborhood, in the Northwest section of Philadelphia in the United States. Founded in 1879, Springside is the oldest girls' school in Philadelphia.
Springside is attached to Chestnut Hill Academy
(CHA) with whom it shares classes, resources, and student activities.
classes. Upper school classes run on a rotating block schedule. Each major class meets five out of every seven days of the cycle, while minor classes usually meet three days in a cycle.
Life Issues is required for freshmen. College counseling is required for every senior and second semester junior. Each spring, seniors leave school for the final month of their high school career and participate in service projects or internships.
, an all-boys school close by. Beginning in middle school, the two schools share social events and a drama program. The coordinate academic program begins in 9th grade. By 11th grade, almost all classes are co-ed. The close collaboration between Springside and CHA gives students of both schools access to over 100 courses, doubled academic, athletic, and arts facilities, and the largest combined independent school library collection in the area.
. Teams include cross-country, field hockey, soccer, tennis, basketball, squash, volleyball, track and field, lacrosse, golf, rowing, and swimming, all of which are offered at varsity and junior varsity levels.
The Vare Field House, a 52000 square feet (4,831 m²) athletic facility, was completed in 2005. The field house contains basketball, volleyball, and squash courts, a rowing tank, a weight and fitness center, a dance studio, and a classroom.
Springside's colors are gold and blue, and the school mascot is a lioness.
Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Chestnut Hill is a neighborhood in the Northwest Philadelphia section of the United States city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-Boundaries:Chestnut Hill is bounded as follows:...
neighborhood, in the Northwest section of Philadelphia in the United States. Founded in 1879, Springside is the oldest girls' school in Philadelphia.
Springside is attached to Chestnut Hill Academy
Chestnut Hill Academy
Chestnut Hill Academy, commonly referred to as CHA, is a Pre-K to 12 all-male independent college preparatory school located in northwest Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
(CHA) with whom it shares classes, resources, and student activities.
Upper School
While in Upper School, students must take four English courses, three math courses, three courses in the same foreign language (French, Spanish, Latin, or Chinese), three history courses, and three science courses. Students may also choose from a wide range of elective courses in computer science, video production, art, music, science, and history. Upper School classes are sectioned into CP (college prep) classes, Honors classes, and APAdvanced Placement Program
The Advanced Placement program is a curriculum in the United States and Canada sponsored by the College Board which offers standardized courses to high school students that are generally recognized to be equivalent to undergraduate courses in college...
classes. Upper school classes run on a rotating block schedule. Each major class meets five out of every seven days of the cycle, while minor classes usually meet three days in a cycle.
Life Issues is required for freshmen. College counseling is required for every senior and second semester junior. Each spring, seniors leave school for the final month of their high school career and participate in service projects or internships.
Coordinate Program with Chestnut Hill Academy
Springside School is closely affiliated with Chestnut Hill AcademyChestnut Hill Academy
Chestnut Hill Academy, commonly referred to as CHA, is a Pre-K to 12 all-male independent college preparatory school located in northwest Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
, an all-boys school close by. Beginning in middle school, the two schools share social events and a drama program. The coordinate academic program begins in 9th grade. By 11th grade, almost all classes are co-ed. The close collaboration between Springside and CHA gives students of both schools access to over 100 courses, doubled academic, athletic, and arts facilities, and the largest combined independent school library collection in the area.
Athletics
Springside competes in the Inter-Academic (inter-ac) LeagueInter-Academic League
The Inter-Academic League is an inter-scholastic athletic conference. The high school sports league consists of selective private schools in the Philadelphia area and surrounding suburbs...
. Teams include cross-country, field hockey, soccer, tennis, basketball, squash, volleyball, track and field, lacrosse, golf, rowing, and swimming, all of which are offered at varsity and junior varsity levels.
The Vare Field House, a 52000 square feet (4,831 m²) athletic facility, was completed in 2005. The field house contains basketball, volleyball, and squash courts, a rowing tank, a weight and fitness center, a dance studio, and a classroom.
Springside's colors are gold and blue, and the school mascot is a lioness.
Extracuricular Activities
Springside students participate in many different clubs, activities, and publications. Every board has one or more elected student leaders and a faculty advisor. Most boards are open to participation by all students; a few boards select members through an audition or application process. Springside's clubs and boards include:- Assembly Board
- Athletic Association
- Cultural Awareness for Everyone (CAFE)
- Eco Club
- Fashion Club
- Gay-Straight Alliance
- iSite
- Japan Club
- Language Clubs including: French Club, Latin Club, Spanish Club, Italian Club and Chinese Club
- Literary Magazine (The Pub)
- Model United Nations
- Newspaper
- Performing Arts Board
- Players
- Service Board
- Student Activities
- Student Government
- Student Guides
- Visual Arts Club
- Yearbook
Notable alumnae
- Melissa FitzgeraldMelissa FitzgeraldMelissa Fitzgerald is an American actress best known for her role on the TV program The West Wing as Carol Fitzpatrick, assistant to C. J. Cregg....
was featured on several seasons of The West WingThe West Wing (TV series)The West Wing is an American television serial drama created by Aaron Sorkin that was originally broadcast on NBC from September 22, 1999 to May 14, 2006...
as CJ's assistant, Carol Fitzpatrick.
- Diana Chapman Walsh, class of 1962, Wellesley College's twelfth president.
- Elizabeth Brode, class of 1991, second all-time scorer at Lehigh University with 222 points scored and third in all-time goals scored with 166. Now the Lehigh women's lacrosse coach she was the 2006 Patriot League Coach of the Year.
- Amy BanseAmy BanseAmy Banse is president of Comcast Interactive Media , a division of Comcast formed in 2005. She joined Comcast in 1991.Banse graduated from Springside School in 1977, Harvard University in 1982, and Temple Law School in 1987....
, class of 1977, President of Comcast Interactive MediaComcast Interactive MediaComcast Interactive Media is a division of Comcast focusing on online media. CIM was created in 2005 and is headed by President, Amy Banse, and Executive Vice President, Samuel Schwartz...
.
- Bobbie Morris Turman, class of 1922, Golf star, then became athletics director. Created Springside's Blue and Gold Day.
- Victoria Chapman, class of 1980, producer/writer for the BET network.
- Emily Lloyd, class of 1962, executive vice president of Columbia University.
- Leah Smith, class of 1984, director of communications/external affairs at the University of Pennsylvania.
- Phoebe Wetzel Griswold, class of 1958, wife of the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church and the 2002 Humanitarian of the Year.
- Sally Deaver Murray, class of 1951, member of the US Women's Ski Team, national champion in Women's Giant Slolem and Women's Slolem, and world silver medalist in Women's Giant Slolem.
- Amber-Joi Watkins, class of 2003, Miss Pennsylvania 2011.