Co-Curricular Activities

The Southport School art program fosters individuality in the Daniel E. Offutt III Creative Arts Classroom where students are encouraged to take risks when approaching new projects and tackling assignments. Our goal is to nurture students' confidence as they explore and recognize their talents and strengths through art.

The visual arts are such a crucial area for our students to explore, practice, and study. I think it’s a wonderful way for children to express themselves without words, cope with their feelings, and help with their mindset. Process over product is emphasized and the journey is always more important than the final piece. The tools and skills learned in the art studio can carry over to many academic areas and executive functioning skills.
SARAH CRUPI, ART TEACHER 

Using a materials based curriculum, students are introduced to a range of media while encompassing various eras, cultures, styles, and techniques. Art appreciation is woven into the curriculum, exposing students to renowned artworks spanning historical masters to local contemporary artists.

The Southport School employs a multi-sensory approach to instrumental and vocal education. Formal music instruction classes take place in the Ferguson Family Music & Movement Classroom and include music appreciation, performance, movement, and creative development.  

Our music program draws from the collective research, knowledge, and collaboration between The Southport School and Boston Children's Hospital/Harvard Medical School specialist Dr. Jenny Zuk.

Rooted in the field of neuromusic, the approach aims to  further develop cross-disciplinary connections in areas of literacy and executive function.  Our teaching environment prioritizes independence, adaptability, and flexibility to create the best learning experiences for students.

Research has shown that children with musical training show enhanced neural activation during phonological processing in brain regions that are typically characterized by reduced activation among children with dyslexia. These findings suggest that engagement of these brain regions through musical training may underlie the previously reported positive effects of music on reading development.

Jennifer Zuk, Ph.D., Boston Children's Hospital/Harvard Medical SchooL 

Physical Education at The Southport School is about developing the relationship between students’ physical and mental well-being, teamwork, personal growth, setting and achieving new goals, and above all, fun!

Our PE program is structured around sports based units that each span three to four-weeks. Students are introduced to diverse sports, including basketball, cricket, floor hockey, handball, rounders, rugby, soccer, Ultimate Frisbee, and volleyball. Students learn sport-specific skills and participate in an intramural game at the end of each unit. These games are viewed as a learning experience—the competition is secondary.  The aim is to encourage a lifelong love of physical activity in whatever form that may take.

Core development and sensory practices are further emphasized using approaches and tools such as resistance bands, Bosu balls, yoga-based flow practices while strength training are used to improve mindset, regulation, motor skills, and coordination.

Interscholastic After-School Club Sport for Cross Country

Upper School students are eligible to compete in cross-country during the fall and spring seasons with area independent schools as part of the Middle School Fairchester Athletic Association. This after-school Interscholastic Club Sport allows students to participate in cross country meets in surrounding communities within Westchester and Fairfield County.  

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) touches on important areas that improve our students' growth and well-being and promotes a culture of acceptance, belonging, and tolerance by addressing the child and community as a whole. The Building Blocks for Learning research model and The Social Justice Standards provide frameworks for concepts covered in SEL classes including, healthy development, mindset for self and school, identity, perseverance, empathy, diversity, justice, independence and action.

SEL core competencies are developed in small class settings through multi-modal activities including self regulation, self awareness, social awareness, relationship skills, responsible decision making, and building a personal and academic growth mindset and global citizenship. Students use their experiences, strengths, and knowledge to collaborate on tasks and participate in small group discussions and hands on projects, including community outreach.