our Core Virtue of the Month is "Love of Country". What does love of country look like in action, and how can we go about loving our country by a means that promotes justice, peace, and well-being to all?

Eastern Philosophy

In this course, students will explore various tenets of four of the major philosophical traditions of the East, and use them to analyze and address issues in their own lives. They will learn the story of the Buddha and apply the Four Noble Truths to their own lives, will read Lao Tzu's Taoist text the "Tao Te Ching", will discuss the "Analects" of Confucius, and will determine how their interpretations of the "Bhagavad Gita" can serve them in thinking about their own path from a new perspective.

We just finished our unit on Buddhism, and will now be studying Taosim for the remainder of Quarter 3

Senior Thesis

Our seniors are working hard on the first drafts of their Senior Thesis Papers! Students are busy researching and crafting theses on a wide variety of topics, from the ethics of gene editing, to the prison-industrial complex, to the philosophy of nothingness. We are now beginning to explore how to create an effective presentation, so that students can synthesize all their research into a coherent and compelling talk on their thesis subjects.

8th Grade Grammar and Writing

Students have just completed their argumentative essay drafts, and are working on revisions. They will soon switch gears and begin learning about all the tools and tricks that go into creating an effective narrative!

7-12 Philosophy & Grammar/Writing

Mr. McAree

I grew up in Ithaca, New York, where I received my BA in English at Ithaca College. After college, I taught English in Indonesia on a Fulbright grant, then moved around the US for a number of years doing a variety of different jobs, including farming in Ohio, cheesemaking in Montana, tutoring and subbing in Texas and South Carolina, and assistant teaching in Louisiana. Before coming to Vanguard, I worked at Eagle Rock School in Estes Park, where I taught courses ranging from astronomy, to hip-hop history, to journalism. I love helping students tell their stories, and discover new things to wonder over. When I'm not working, I'm probably camping, playing board games, trying to publish children's books, or tossing a baseball around with my partner Sara and her dog Champ.

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