Focus on Well-being

Preserving Girls’ Mental and Emotional Health

The faculty and staff form a support network of trusted adults committed to guiding students on a path of self-advocacy, curiosity, and a willingness to take risks.  Staff participate in regular professional development, and frequent collaboration to discuss the success of students on both a class and individual level. We value the ample opportunities to get to know each student academically and personally throughout her four years here, Our WIN program is, a curriculum that focuses on connection, openness, resilience, and engagement. Each grade’s homeroom teachers focus on a set of developmentally-aligned skills coupled with hands-on practice. 

Mental health and self-care lessons are woven throughout health class, and a school counselor provides counseling opportunities for girls. To keep students primed to learn, the school day includes recess and breaks every day, as well as predictable, scheduled unstructured time for girls to take their learning into their own hands and pursue what they need from teachers and classmates. All classes balance creative assignments, group projects, and a variety of ways to demonstrate learning.

Supporting Girls’ Physical Health

Students participate in physical education twice each week, with daily recess. Sports teams for all grades are offered every season, and students are actively encouraged to participate, with no tryouts necessary. The health curriculum includes units on nutrition, exercise, and general physical wellbeing. In addition, teachers use every opportunity to guide students on an exploration of Richmond and all it has to offer through field trips on foot.

Navigating Healthy Relationships and Social Wellbeing

Central to the Orchard House culture is daily active participation in community building, both through whole-school social-emotional programming and grade-based homeroom programming. Twice weekly whole-school Morning Meetings allow time for expression of gratitude, and small-group meetings provide practice for conflict resolution and self-advocacy. Students are also able to participate in affinity groups that cultivate and enhance student belonging.

Establishing a sense of meaning and purpose 

Learning is more impactful and lasting when it is tied to a sense of purpose, so leadership opportunities are integral to our programming. Each grade has a specific leadership project they can expect —the 5th grade partnership with local organization The Virginia Home, the 6th grade yearlong environmental conservation program, 7th grade roles welcoming new and prospective families, 8th grade-led Base Group projects, and other avenues for service in and beyond the school walls. With sports teams, student-led clubs, a different arts discipline to explore each quarter, and treasured school traditions, our girls are able to see themselves as part of something bigger than academics and bigger than themselves.