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Students at Indian Creek School have enjoyed returning to a campus with significant enhancements this year. After last school year where students had the option to attend virtually, in-person, or in a hybrid format, the college-preparatory school opened 100% in person last August on a unified and augmented campus, providing students in Pre-K through grade 12 with a premiere education, while delivering distinctive Lower, Middle, and Upper School experiences.
The school’s unification from two separate campuses onto its wooded 114-acre location in Crownsville fulfilled Indian Creek's longtime goal to bring all students, Pre-K-12, together to create a more convenient school environment for families and provide state-of-the-art learning and community spaces. The years-long project began with the construction of a $2.14 million Eagles Athletics Complex, featuring two turf fields with lights, a baseball field, six tennis courts and more. The next phase of the project created Eagle Dome - a dynamic facility, containing 27,000 additional square feet of indoor space to be used for athletics and community events. Finally, last spring Indian Creek embarked on a major addition and renovation project to the school building, which added 12,000 sq. ft. of academic and gathering space, including a state-of-the-art Academic Resource Center, a new Lower School Library, an expansion to the cafeteria, as well as newly designed classrooms, an upgrade to the School's auditorium, and revitalization to the entire building.
The school is organized into distinct “neighborhoods” for each age level so that the Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools can have separate classroom and community spaces, while larger shared spaces (such as the Vos Family Academic Resource Center and the Jack and Nancy Becker Center for Performing Arts) may be utilized by the entire community. This structure benefits students and faculty by allowing top-notch resources that would typically be reserved for older students to be enjoyed by all grades. For example, third grade STEM classes have utilized the Upper School Hydroponics lab to grow and observe seedlings throughout the fall, and Middle School athletes are benefiting from dedicated training time in the high school Fitness Center and competing on the turf fields.
The enhanced facilities are one reason why Indian Creek students are grateful to be able to attend school in person, but it is their connections with teachers and classmates that they most enjoy. “The ways our teachers stay connected with students makes a big difference in our learning. My teachers work hard to make the material engaging. I feel very safe being on campus due to excellent health and safety protocols. As a senior, I am really enjoying having the entire school full of Creek students. I am having a great senior year with a true sense of community,” explains senior Sarah Martin.
Older students have enjoyed opportunities to mentor younger peers, while Lower and Middle School students look up to the Upper School students, cheering for their accomplishments and visualizing what’s next for them. Junior Julian Sherrod has embraced high school life, but also enjoys working with the younger students occasionally. This year he has enjoyed being part of the basketball and lacrosse teams as well as a member of the tech crew for the fall play. “Reading books in Spanish to Kindergarten students earlier this year was one of my favorite activities.”
Senior Mia Putzi agrees. “I really enjoy having the younger students here. It is fun for our Student Government to work with students of all ages to plan fun school spirit events.”
This “one school” structure highlights Indian Creek’s philosophy of developmental, student-centered education, relationship-building, and partnerships with families. Indian Creek alumna and parent Anne Crossman Engles ’97 explains, “As a ‘family school’ known for our vibrant community and culture of belonging, this feels just right.”
While the school takes pride in its one school culture, creating distinct experiences for students at each age level is a priority. Lower, Middle, and Upper School programs are cultivated to each contain hallmark components appropriate for students in each grade level. The Lower School calendar is filled with immersion days, family events, and class parties, while Middle School emphasizes team-building trips and confidence-building initiatives. Upper School students enjoy a focus on trademark high school experiences such as Friday Night Lights athletics events, thesis defenses, and more.
Coordinating enriched programming for an entire community of students of all ages and interests can be challenging, but it is an endeavor the Indian Creek faculty embraces. As Director of Campus Programs Tyler Larkin explains, “Our days are full, but this is just what school should feel like – vibrant, engaging, and jam-packed with excitement and learning!”
Indian Creek School 1130 Anne Chambers Way Crownsville, MD 21032 410-849-5151 www.indiancreekschool.org
