Beyond Books: How WRA Opens Doors to Learning Outside the Classroom

Albert Einstein said in reference to higher education, “The value of an education…is not the learning of many facts, but the training of the mind to think something that cannot be learned from textbooks.” As a college preparatory institution, we couldn’t agree more. 

Our curriculum is purposeful, guiding students toward intellectual discourse that is nuanced and responsive to an ever-changing world and student curiosity. Students at WRA are prepared to not only perform well on assessments but also to apply their learning beyond the classroom. The ultimate goal is understanding how to think. Check out some recent and upcoming opportunities available to WRA students as they apply understanding in and out of the classroom.

  • Students in College Level Frederick Douglass had the opportunity to speak with CUNY Graduate Center Professor James Oakes via Zoom. The Topic of discussion was Oakes' 2008 Lincoln Prize winning book, The Radical and the Republican: Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln, and the Triumph of Antislavery Politics.

 

  • In celebration of the life and work of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., rich experiences for extension and understanding have been planned all week by the WRA Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. 

 

  • Professional music producer Joel Freck offered individual time all the way from Nova Scotia with senior Ike Nabuife. The Masterclass focused on mixing techniques and sound creation while working on audio mastering, and Ike worked all semester to integrate the techniques into a digital song presented to Mr. Freck via Zoom! Stay tuned for more information about this collaboration.

 

  • Mike White of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette will be virtually visiting with Storytelling and Sports students.  Mr. White has been the editor of the high school sports section of the Post Gazette for more than 30 years.  He will be talking about some of the basics to sports writing and sports journalism.

 

  • Model UN Club is hosting a simulation on our campus for area schools this weekend and invites any curious individual to join the experience! Topics of discussion include climate change, decolonization, the refugee crisis and more. 

 

  • Students in College Level Shakespeare will have the opportunity to engage with an academic from Cambridge University in February. The topic of discussion will be the boy player, young male actors who performed on the stage in early modern London.

 

  • Ancient Greece and Rome will come alive for students in Exploring Global Foundations during their visit to the Cleveland Museum of Art in February.

 

  • Boarding students have had the opportunity to collaborate with Counseling & Psychological Services on Sundays to support mental wellness. Topics of discussion have included homesickness, relationships, friendship, balance and more. This essential work builds resiliency and positively impacts a student's entire Reserve experience.

 

  • From student to alumnus, the learning never ends! Nathaniel Adams ’92 released a book entitled The Tragedy of Madagascar: An Island Nation Confronts the 21st Century after extraordinary research and study in the country.

 

  • CL French students enjoyed a live performance of Les Miserables at Playhouse Square to support their understanding of L’Etranger, concepts of justice and the death penalty debate in different countries.