Our Program
Learning That Moves with the world
At Shady Side Academy, learning is movement—active, relevant, and purposeful. This is both philosophical and physical for us, woven through everything from the academic curriculum to extracurricular activities.
In classrooms, this might involve students shifting from traditional desk work to collaborative project-based learning, moving freely between disciplines, or taking learning outside. It’s not unusual to see younger students gathering in small groups in immersive settings or older students debating global issues with faculty in outdoor discussions.
It could also be the sound of students brainstorming new solutions in a design lab, a classroom buzzing with the energy of a lively debate, or the quiet focus as they work through a complex scientific problem in a fully equipped lab. In these spaces, learning doesn’t stay in one place; it flows, grows, and adapts, encouraging students to do the same.
It’s an approach that’s visible in my classroom, felt in the hallways, and experienced across our campuses. It builds momentum in ways that ignite young minds and nurture resilient spirits ready to embrace every challenge and opportunity the world has to offer.
Ways our students move...
...literally and figuratively.
Uncover Intellectual Movement
In the classroom
Discover Emotional & Social Movement
In action
Explore How Physical Movement
Builds lifelong well-being
Engage With Experiential Movement
Through hands-on learning
Through this concept of movement, Shady Side Academy empowers students to explore, grow, and flourish in ways that inspire lifelong learning and adaptability. It’s a dynamic approach that sees learning as a journey—one that doesn’t just move students forward but also prepares them to move with the world.
Set Your Child's Learning in Motion
