Be confident. Be bold.
BE KNOWN. MIDDL E SCHOOL
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LETTER FROM OUR HEAD OF SCHOOL
Welcome to Agnes Irwin! For over 150 years, we have provided a place where the freedom to take risks is met with the security of a supportive community. Middle School at Agnes Irwin is a signature experience designed specifically for the way girls grow into young adulthood. As Head of School, I see the middle school years as a time of vibrant energy and intellectual awakening. We have created a space where the joy of community allows every girl to be authentically herself during these formative years. Our program is intentionally built on the science of how girls thrive. Through our Center for the Advancement of Girls, we ensure that our rigorous curriculum and social-emotional support are perfectly tuned to this age group. This is where leadership becomes personal; we ensure that every girl sees herself as a protagonist. Every club, every team, and every presentation is an opportunity for a girl to take the lead.
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We are proud to cultivate graduates who are not just ready for high school, but ready to change the world. They carry a sense of self-reliance that begins right here in our Middle School hallways. We invite your family to see firsthand how our students learn, lead, and live a legacy.
Sally Keidel SALLY KEIDEL Head of School
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THE AGNES IRWIN SCHOOL
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These are your halls. Your classmates. Your discoveries.
GET TO KNOW YOUR NEW SCHOOL. 04
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EXCELLENT EDUCATION. VISIONARY VALUES.
We’ve been guiding our students to become their best selves at Agnes Irwin for over 150 years. Since our founding in 1869, we’ve helped girls navigate the unique pressures and opportunities of their middle school years. And in that time, our focus on supporting intellectual curiosity and creating positive growth hasn’t changed.
M I S S I O N S TAT E M E N T
Nurture Passions and Well-Being
At Agnes Irwin, our mission is to empower each girl to learn, to lead, and to live a legacy.
We nurture a love of learning and academic success by cultivating our individual passions and the pursuit of our own unique paths, supporting the whole person in wellness and well-being.
C O R E VA L U E S
Lead with Character
Foster Trust and Community
We are courageous leaders who model empathy and compassion. We embody honesty, kindness, and personal integrity in all that we say and do.
We build trust through openness and understanding, fostering supportive relationships, deep connections, safe risk-taking and the space to be our authentic selves.
Strive for Excellence
Respect and Celebrate All
We encourage and support each other to tenaciously strive to be our best as we demonstrate resilience and champion greatness in all our pursuits.
We treat everyone with dignity and respect, welcoming differences in backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives. We foster an inclusive environment where diverse voices are uplifted, contributions are celebrated, and community is cherished.
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THE AGNES IRWIN SCHOOL
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WHO YOU’LL BECOME. P O R T R A I T O F A G R A D U AT E
Every aspect of an Agnes Irwin education is designed to help you thrive in whatever endeavors you pursue by refining seven essential traits. Intellectually Curious
Balanced
Globally and Community-Minded
Collaborative
They find joy in learning; make choices that support physical, mental, and emotional health; and develop selfawareness.
They think critically, ask meaningful questions, and wrestle with complex ideas and information.
They build strong interpersonal relationships, gather and empower others to work toward shared goals, and give and accept feedback in order to learn.
They make ethical decisions, act out of empathy and care for others, and seek out and learn from perspectives different from their own.
Self-Directed
Creative
They reflect on how and why they learn, set and pursue goals, and seek help and support.
They take risks, adapt to and learn from failure and challenges, and use knowledge to imagine new possibilities and address novel problems.
Brave
They communicate clearly and confidently, challenge assumptions, and advocate for themselves and others.
PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE
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THE CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF GIRLS
Where you can be anything. At Agnes Irwin, we don’t just teach girls; we advocate for them. The Center for the Advancement of Girls (CAG) is the only school-based research and advocacy hub of its kind. While other schools may have programs for girls, our Center is a pioneering institution dedicated to the science of how girls learn, lead, and thrive. The Center is at the heart of all our efforts, allowing us to anchor our every practice in the most current research in girls’ education, and to establish an environment where every girl is ready to lead, succeed, and embrace her limitless potential. Here are just a few of its benefits: •
Six girl-centered principles that shape every classroom experience.
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Faculty trained in the science of how girls learn best.
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Research-backed decisions designed specifically for girls’ success.
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A signature Upper School leadership experience that builds confident change-makers.
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A powerful mentorship network that connects girls with alumnae, professionals, and role models at every stage.
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An exclusive Morgan Stanley partnership that delivers real-world financial literacy and access to women leaders in finance.
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The elevated courses to know
YOU CAN TAKE ON ANY CHALLENGE.
In the Middle School, learning comes alive through unique academic experiences. Students engage in interdisciplinary, inquiry-driven work that builds critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills, while challenging them to think deeply, ask questions, and take ownership of their learning.
Grade 5: We use a scaffolded approach to help students master essential executivefunctioning skills, while igniting their curiosity. It is a year of building the foundational confidence every girl needs to see herself as a capable, independent scholar. Grade 6: In a year of emerging agency, students are encouraged to lean into their interests and find their unique voices. The experience shifts from teacher-led discovery to studentdriven ownership of their learning journey.
Grade 7: A higher level of intellectual and global perspective is the hallmark of the curriculum. We elevate academic rigor with formal benchmarks like final exams, while simultaneously empowering students to advocate for their own growth. Grade 8: In their final year of Middle School, 8th grade students serve as role models for their younger peers. The program provides a sophisticated bridge to the Upper School, challenging girls with high-level coursework and leadership opportunities.
EDUCATION
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Showing girls what’s possible in STEM.
For the last 25 years, Katie Cooper has been teaching, guiding, and coaching Agnes Irwin’s Middle School girls in almost too many roles to count. And she’s never stopped evolving her practice. “Teaching science is different from when I first began in 2001,” she says. “Advances in technology have created so many additional ways to teach science. Plus, current events in STEM allow us to see women highlighted in these fields. STEM careers are for everyone, and it’s easy to prove.” That belief in each girl, and in the possibility for their lives and careers, is a cornerstone of her teaching: “I love that AIS students are passionate about their endeavors, and their love for the school and care for one another creates a warm and welcoming environment.” This passionate and warm environment is the ideal launchpad for the joy of discovery and exploration. Each year, Ms. Cooper has watched students learn about themselves firsthand by working with classmates to lay the foundation for the years ahead.
Katie Cooper Science Teacher Parent ’21
5th Grade Robot Petting Zoo
6th Grade Medieval Day
7th and 8th Grade Electives
Computer Science culminates in our Robot Petting Zoo, where students follow the engineering design process to prototype, test, and create final projects.
Our curriculum integrates history with the arts, and builds towards our Medieval Day performance that showcases a year-long endeavor to broaden student perspectives.
These interest-based courses include offerings such as Zoology, History of Food, and TED Talks for Teens that allow students to explore topics they are passionate about.
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THE AGNES IRWIN SCHOOL
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The learning experiences to know
YOU CAN MASTER ANY SKILL.
At Agnes Irwin, you’ll explore all that makes you unique — your questions, your passions, your inspirations — but you won’t do it just from a classroom. Here, you’ll live your education. Our experiential learning labs and signature programs are research-based and rigorous opportunities that build critical skills and a mindset of curiosity, resilience, and purpose. Ellis Island Simulation Students have the chance to explore the historical and cultural context that shaped the experiences of more than 12 million immigrants — on the very same U.S. soil where those immigrants first set foot.
Stock Market Game In a 10-week national online program that simulates the New York Stock Exchange in real time, our students divide themselves into teams, and together they study research and gain literacy about investing well.
Field Trips Whether it’s a trip to the Penn Museum to see Classical studies in the flesh, or an exclusive glimpse into the lives and perspectives of leading women in finance at Morgan Stanley, our students see their education come to life.
EXPERIENCE
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Create original artwork each year. Own the spotlight in our Dance Motion showcase.
Play drums, ukulele, and piano. Perform in school assemblies.
Build confidence through public speaking.
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Take the stage in the 7th
andAGNES 8th grade THE IRWINmusical. SCHOOL
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The competitive spirit to
HONE YOUR POTENTIAL.
Athletics at Agnes Irwin is about more than the scoreboard. It’s a proud tradition of girls showing up for one another, playing with heart, and finding confidence through commitment, grit, and growth. Join a community where the excitement is real, the sidelines are loud, and every cheer reminds you that you belong here. In 7th and 8th grade, girls participate in three seasons of sports or fitness. In 6th grade, students are encouraged to join the excitement early by trying out for our competitive school teams. Fall
Winter
Spring
Cross Country Field Hockey Fitness Soccer Tennis Volleyball
Basketball Fitness Squash Swimming Dance
Fitness Lacrosse Learn-to-Row (8th grade only) Run Club Softball Developmental Squash
ATHLETICS
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THE AGNES IRWIN SCHOOL
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The community to
KNOW YOU’RE SEEN. Creating a place for girls to forge trusting and nurturing relationships has been the heart of our work since 1869. And in all that time, our focus on knowing each girl hasn’t changed: We live it in the way our teachers interact with each student, the way our coaches show up, and the way each of our schools centers on leadership as a way to create opportunity. Character Strong A program designed to support middle school girls as they navigate the social and emotional challenges of the tween and early teen years, by teaching essential skills like empathy, stress management, and personal responsibility.
Win at Social An interactive program that equips girls to tackle the complexities of social media and digital technology with confidence and integrity. It empowers girls to make highcharacter decisions online.
Parliament Named after a group of Owls — our mascot — these daily homeroom advisory periods allow students to check in with their dedicated Parliamentors, prepare for the day, and strengthen their core values.
COMMUNITY
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The support to know you’ll thrive.
The world often paints middle school as a “survival phase” — a landscape of social hardships and lost confidence, defined by awkwardness and a lack of belonging. At Agnes Irwin, we prove that the exact opposite can be true. We are the best at what we do because we refuse to accept the narrative of middle school “growing pains.” Instead, we work proactively to create a culture that supports every girl, replacing the typical isolation with the profound comfort of being truly known. This is the foundation for a community where girls feel safe to take risks as they navigate their middle school years.
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“When you’re feeling upset, there are so many people here to support you.I look up to my teachers so much because of how deeply they care. When a teacher asks if you’re okay, it means a lot — but AIS teachers take it to the next step by asking, ‘What can I do?’ and genuinely meaning it.”
— ARIA BIJLANI, 8TH GRADE
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Agency Leaders know what they can control and use their skills and abilities to positively impact their communities.
Inclusivity
Leadership Keys
Leaders accept, celebrate, and make space for all people and new ideas.
In this signature Middle School program at Agnes Irwin, Leadership Keys are woven into the fabric of daily life, shaping how students learn, lead, and engage with one another. Through assemblies, discussions, and classroom experiences, girls build the skills to use their voices with confidence and purpose, while internalizing the mindsets and behaviors that define effective leadership. IMPACT
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Confidence Leaders know their strengths and are driven by a sense of purpose.
Empathy Leaders push themselves to take on the perspectives of others and find ways to be supportive.
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And there’s so much more to come. Every experience prepares us for the next. Our Middle School students arrive on their first day of Upper School excited and capable of pursuing everything that comes next.
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THE AGNES IRWIN SCHOOL
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The Agnes Irwin School knows girls. AND WE’RE READY TO KNOW YOU. On your first day of Middle School at Agnes Irwin, you’ll truly start to know who you are and all that you’re capable of — surrounded by girls who are as curious and creative as you. This is the time in your education for you to get to be you: to be challenged, to dream with confidence, and to create habits that will help you learn and grow. Agnes Irwin students are known for rising to any challenge, while supporting each other and having fun in the process. You never know what you can accomplish until you try — and our teachers are here to ensure that you feel known while you embark on the journey. Full of joy. Full of potential. Fully known.
Feel like you know us yet? We’d love the chance to get to know you. 275 South Ithan Avenue | Rosemont, PA 19010 610-801-1869 | admission@agnesirwin.org agnesirwin.org 18
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WHAT WILL YOU BE
known for?
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