Not every school can lay claim to nearly a century of tradition that includes top-notch instruction, a brand new STEM lab, and a beachfront location just 50 miles from New York City. But then again the Stony Brook School has long remained in a class by itself. “We have a faith-based background that informs what we do, so we’re not afraid to ask the big questions. We want to give kids the space to think, not only when it comes to our core disciplines like math, science and English, but also about why we’re here and our purpose in life,” explains Joshua Crane, Stony Brook’s head of school.
Crane’s business and education background has prepared him well to lead Stony Brook, as has his prior success at Central Christian School in St. Louis, MO, where he doubled the enrollment during his tenure. He’s also a busy dad with four daughters, two of whom are enrolled at his school.
Almost 350 students in grades 7-12 attend the Stony Brook School in three capacities: As day students, as five-day boarders who go home on weekends, or as full-time boarding students. Diversity is a hallmark, with students hailing from 17 states and more than two dozen countries. “The opportunity to learn about new cultures is built right into the school because the kids work, eat and play alongside each other every day,” Crane says.
Small classes (15-16 students) and an emphasis on mentoring guarantees an individualized approach so that each child is known in-depth. “It’s a very thoughtful community where relationships play a big role—the boarding aspect really allows for that,” Crane says. Additionally, Stony Brook believes in hard work, as demonstrated in its campus job program: Every student has a task to perform that in turn serves his or her peers and helps the school run. For example, kids might take on duties in the kitchen, clean boats for the sailing program, or help out the admissions department by meeting with prospective families. “The work is important because it teaches responsibility and humility,” Crane explains. “And these tasks are real, not token chores, so the kids really engage in the operation of the school.”
The Stony Brook School is uniquely positioned to collaborate with the renowned science faculty at SUNY Stony Brook (it’s right across the street), as well as at Brookhaven National Laboratory and the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. “Long Island is a remarkable center for science and technology, and our students are able to take full advantage by going to classes and participating in programs at these institutions. There’s even a kid this year who’s currently doing research on genetic sequencing of neuropsychic disorders—she’s part of a real team that’s actually looking for a cure now,” Crane says. The school has also prioritized a STEM initiative and just broke ground for a lab that will accommodate such activities as robotics, 3D-modeling, software development and coding.
Students are required to play two sports each year, and options include football, basketball, baseball, soccer, badminton, wrestling, and lacrosse (the less-sporty can select robotics or theater). “With academics, the work/job program and all the afterschool sports and activities, time management is critical and it’s learned early on at Stony Brook,” Crane points out. The school is particularly proud of its 40-year-old sailing program, which takes place during the fall and spring. Students can join the team and compete in regattas all over the eastern seaboard and as far away as New Orleans, or just take a dinghy out on the weekend to explore Long Island Sound.
Hard work pays off at Stony Brook, with college acceptances for their students at every Ivy League institution and numerous highly selective schools (Williams, Amherst, Duke, Johns Hopkins, and Carnegie Mellon to name a few). But before kids launch into the wider world, the school likes to focus on the concept of vocational discipleship. The goal is to give kids some insight into their talents through a variety of tests that help expose their native wiring. Figuring out what each kid is good at, and how he or she learns, is of real value. “We give our kids a portfolio of who they are so they can take it with them as they move on to the next level of education,” Crane says. A better focus and understanding of their particular talents means students can make smarter decisions. “It’s called the ‘concept of fit.’ We have the time at Stony Brook to get to know our kids—we can go that deep,” Crane says.
For more information, visit stonybrookschool.org.
Class Visiting Days: Tuesday November 11, 2014 and Monday January 19, 2015.
Open Houses: Saturday January 10, 2015 and Saturday March 21, 2015.
