White Mountain School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The White Mountain School |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Location | |
|
,
|
|
| Information | |
| Type | Private, boarding and coeducational |
| Motto | Levavi Oculos In Montes |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Episcopalian |
| Established | 1886 |
| Head of School (interim) | Donald Ball |
| Teaching staff | 21.1 (on a FTE basis) |
| Enrollment | 140 (2021) |
| Student to teacher ratio | 5.5 |
| Campus | Rural 250 acres (100 ha) |
| Color(s) | Blue, White |
| Endowment | $2 million |
| Website | www.whitemountain.org |
The White Mountain School, also known as WMS, was a private school for boys and girls in Bethlehem, New Hampshire. Students could live at the school, which is called a boarding school. It was founded in 1886 and was known for its beautiful location near the White Mountains.
The school was a special place where students learned both in the classroom and in the great outdoors. Sadly, the school had to close in 2024 because of money problems.
Contents
The School's Long History
The White Mountain School started in 1886 in Concord, New Hampshire. Back then, it was an all-girls school called St. Mary's School.
In 1935, the head of the school, Dorothy McLane, moved it north to the White Mountains area. First, it was in a town called Sugar Hill. The school's name was changed to St. Mary's-in-the-Mountains. A year later, in 1936, the school moved one last time to a large property in Bethlehem.
Over the years, the school grew bigger. It added more buildings for students to live in and new classrooms. But in 1964, a big fire burned down the main building. A new one was built the next year to replace it.
In 1970, the school started letting boys attend as day students. By 1972, it became fully co-educational, meaning both boys and girls could enroll as students who lived there. That's when it got its final name: The White Mountain School.
After many years, the school faced challenges with not having enough students. It closed after the 2023-2024 school year.
What Was Learning Like at WMS?
The school offered a wide variety of classes in subjects like English, history, math, and science. To graduate, students had to take classes in many different areas, including world languages, art, and even philosophy. WMS was the first high school in the United States to have a department for Sustainability Studies, which is the study of how to protect the environment.
Field Courses
A unique part of WMS was its Field Courses. Twice a year, students would spend a week outside the classroom. They would travel to different places to learn about a topic in the real world.
Some cool Field Course examples were:
- Learning about art and nature in the Adirondack Mountains of New York.
- Studying how to predict avalanches in Wyoming and Idaho.
- Exploring women's rights and politics in Washington, DC.
- Serving communities in the Dominican Republic.
LASR Projects
Older students also had to complete a special project called a LASR Project. LASR stood for Leadership, Arts, Service, and Research. Students could choose a topic they were passionate about. They could do deep research, create a portfolio of their artwork, or lead a Field Course for other students.
Life on Campus
The school was on a big, 250-acre campus on a hilltop. It had amazing views of the White Mountains. Students learned in modern classrooms and science labs. The library had over 7,000 books and could even borrow books from big universities like Dartmouth College.
For students who loved art, there were studios for dance, visual arts, and music.
Fun and Activities
The campus had a lot to do outside of class. There was a huge indoor climbing wall, a gym, and two sports fields. The school also had its own farm with a garden, a chicken coop, and a large trail system for hiking and biking.
Students who lived at the school stayed in buildings called dorms. Teachers and their families also lived in the dorms, creating a friendly community. On weekends, teachers would plan fun trips and activities. These included hiking, skiing, going shopping, or just baking cookies in a teacher's kitchen.
Sports and Outdoor Adventures
The White Mountain School was famous for its outdoor sports. It was part of the Lakes Region Athletic League and competed against other schools in New England.
Adventure Sports
- Skiing and snowboarding on mountains
- Ice climbing
- Mountain biking
- Rock climbing
- Kayaking in rivers
Team Sports
- Cross-country running
- Cycling
- Lacrosse
- Soccer
The school's rock climbing program was one of the best in the country. It was the first high school program to be approved by the American Mountain Guides Association. Students learned how to climb safely and explore nature without harming it.
Notable Alumni
Several famous people graduated from The White Mountain School.
- Lucy Nettie Fletcher, a nurse who served in World War I.
- Lucile Wheeler, an Olympic skier who was the first North American to win a world championship in downhill skiing.
- Audrey Thomas, a famous Canadian writer of novels and short stories.
- Will Gadd, a world-famous ice climber and paraglider pilot.
- Parker Croft, an actor and writer known for the movie Falling Overnight and the TV show Once Upon a Time.
