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Challenging bright
students to explore
new horizons
SOUND
LEARNING
SUMMER
PROGRAM
A residential program from July 13 – July 26
The intelligent alternative to summer camp, Sound Learning provides an
exciting, fun and stimulating experience that combines a diverse and dynamic
academic curriculum with a choice of hands-on electives, daily sailing, beach
excursions, and cultural experiences in New York City. Geared for bright,
self-motivated young men and women who are entering grades 6–11, and
supervised by highly qualified and nurturing instructors, Sound Learning
provides the ideal introduction to the comprehensive college preparatory
education offered at The Stony Brook School. This two-week residential
experience acclimates students to boarding school life and motivates students
of all faiths to set higher academic goals, develop new skills, make new friends,
and grow physically, intellectually and spiritually.
Taught by master teacher Anne Mitchell Hanchett, this course draws students into a deeper immersion, i.e. love for and the practice of the arts of writing and reading. Through daily creative writing exercises, the students develop in their writing greater ease, fluency, and imagination. As physical exercise tones and strengthens muscles, so cre-ative writing exercises nourish the desire and sharpen the ability to express life in language – elegantly and eloquently. Several days are spent on each of the three genres – essay, story, poetry – with literary examples -- some from students, others from published and known writ-ers – read aloud carefully and studied more for appreciation and inspiration rather than analysis. Word choice and sentence structure are especially noted and discussed. When sharing works
Discovering the lost art of writing
Refining the writer’s fire
In this workshop, taught by master teacher Mark Owen Hanchett, students experience the craft and art of writing through: daily creative exercises, sometimes indoors, sometimes outside; reading models of literature (poems, short stories, essays) aloud to absorb the power and beauty of the written word when spoken; keeping a Commonplace Book (with journal entries and copying
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of literary passages); learning poetry “by heart” to have it always, savor it often; carrying a journal everywhere to culti-vate the habit of jotting down things seen, heard, read, or thought of in the moment. The students are taught and encouraged to love words and their meanings, to use words accurately and imaginatively, to appreciate and use variety in sentence formation for vivid and graceful effect, to continue the enjoyment and cultivation of an ear for language, a taste for good literature, and a personal desire to continue a lifelong practice of the human art of writing, whether for scholastic purposes, warm human communication, or artistic expression, or powerful persuasion. Finally, they read aloud their best work in a presentation for their parents on the final morning.
aloud to each other, students are taught and encouraged to read expressively. Occasionally, the students will be writing on the beach or watching an art or documentary film followed by general discussion. The constant theme is the interlacing of writing and life. At the end these students will have written twenty to twenty-five
artistic compositions in the three genres, as well as reviews and essays about paintings, which are assembled – polished, edited, and typed. On the last day they have the joy of presenting to their parents a series of expressive readings of their best work.
classroom assignments, students learn about local ecosystems, environmental stewardship, and the wonders of the sea.
Theater Arts
Through the development of acting and public-speak-ing skills, the Theater Arts elective instills greater self-confidence. Students discover their emotional and physical range of expression and learn interpretive and improvisational skills by exploring a range of roles and situations. This developmental process culminates in a one act improvisational production.The entire Sound Learning group also travels to New York City to visit a museum and attend a Broadway production.
Marine Biology
Students learn safe and humane ways to collect marine life from Long Island Sound, studying specimens in salt water aquaria set up in the School’s state-of-the-art marine lab. Through daily wetland hikes and boat trips, hands-on activities and
Visual Arts
This multimedia visual art elective involves numerous drawing and paint-ing projects that develop new skills for beginners and creative expression for experienced artists. Students have fun producing two-dimensional designs and exploring the use of line, shape, and color to represent the beauty of the natural world around campus and nearby seashores.
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Sunset sails, ocean beaches
Following dinner most weekday, the entire Sound Learning group participates in sail training aboard the School’s fleet of 30-foot cruising sailboats. Here, students of all sailing abilities enhance their skills under the supervision of licensed captains George Linzee and Jean Linzee. Students bond together as they cruise and race, while improving their seamanship and communication skills. The entire group also travels to beautiful coastal beaches, where students are free to explore marine environments, have fun in the surf and sun, and enjoy ocean beach BBQs that create memories for a lifetime.
The Sound Learning program takes full advantage of The Stony Brook School’s proximity to New York City and its numerous cultural offerings. As part of the Sound Learning experi-ence, one weekend day is devoted to a fun-filled excursion to Manhattan, complete with a visit to a world-famous museum, a wonderful dining experience, and a performance of a Broadway show. At all times, students remain under the careful supervision
of the experienced Sound Learning staff, enjoying unique cultural experi-ences designed to broaden horizons.
This 2-week residential program introduces students to the life-changing and character-building experiences of The Stony Brook
School. Sound Learning students develop valuable life skills as they take personal responsibility for their own living areas, and enjoy meals in cam-pus dining facilities as well as in the on-campus homes of faculty members. Sound Learning students prepare for independent living through daily experiences that stress self-reliance, integrity, personal responsibility and the maintenance of an active and healthy lifestyle. This approach promotes greater maturity by providing a moral compass to help ensure that responsible choices are made later in life.
The Stony Brook School is a coed college preparatory day and boarding school, grades 7–12. A Stony Brook education stresses “Character Before Career,” utilizing every aspect of a student’s daily experiences to strengthen character and develop lead-ership qualities. Surrounding students with a community of faith based on Christian values, the School encour-ages students to grow spiritually
as well as academically, developing sound moral judgment and respect for others. The faculty serves as positive role models, with
Discover the Stony Brook experience
Sound Learning accepts candidates without regard to religious or ethnic background. Tuition is $3,200, including all educational expenses. Candidates must submit an application form and a copy of a recent transcript. Openings are extremely limited, so apply early. For more information on Sound Learning, call 631-751-1800 ext. 537/595, or e-mail
How to register for
Sound Learning
A home away from home
caring, mature, gifted and passionate teachers who are interested in each student’s success. The Sound Learning program is led by George and Jean Linzee, master teachers who have inspired generations of “Brookers.”
P hotography b y G eorge Linz ee and Anna M acD onald 11
Non Profit Org. U.S, Postage
PAID Permit #64 Stony Brook, NY
11790
Sound Learning Summer Program The Stony Brook School
1 Chapman Parkway Stony Brook, NY 11790 631-751-1800 ext. 595 fax: 631-751-7944
