Curriculum Highlights

Faith and academics—integrated

Dock seeks to inspire and equip each student to serve with a global perspective by integrating faith, academic excellence and life-enriching opportunities in a Christ-centered community.

Dock's Building Community curriculum is an integral part of achieving our academic goals, providing opportunities to build healthy relationships within the school community, and exposing students to service opportunities in the broader community and the world.

Building Community at Dock

Grade 9 : Freshman Orientation

Ninth grade students gather for orientation shortly after the school year begins. Coordinated by faculty and upperclassmen, this time provides an opportunity to learn about Dock and build community with classmates. The following week, ninth graders gather for a class meeting when class elections are held, student questions are addressed, and photos from orientation are shared.

Grade 10: Exploring Historic Philadelphia

Tenth grade students visit historical sites in Philadelphia through a day-trip in conjunction with U.S. History and American Lit. classes. An independent service project is incorporated into the sophomore Bible class. Throughout the year, guidance counselors coordinate activities in a variety of settings, share information about upcoming PSAT and SAT tests, and implement a career survey.

Grade 11: Tackling Tough Social Issues

The junior year includes a required Social Studies class called Social Issues. This class examines current social problems and challenges the students to develop a personal sense of responsibility that translates into social action. Included in the course is a three-day, off-campus experience in Washington, D.C., which includes one morning working in community service. Throughout the year, guidance counselors coordinate activities in a variety of settings, helping students as they develop values, a sense of the larger community, and how their own gifts and interests might be best developed after high school. Specific information about the PSAT and SAT tests is reviewed.

Grade 12: Senior Experience

In their senior year, students develop a proposal for a weeklong independent service/job-shadowing project at the end of semester one. The project is a component of the senior-level Bible class called Kingdom Living. Students are required to keep a journal during their experience. following the service experience/job shadowing, seniors spend two days in a retreat setting to reconnect, fellowship, and reflect on their service/job shadowing experiences. A culminating senior public presentation, part of the required “communications” class, is made during the final week of the year in which seniors demonstrate their academic, spiritual, and lifestyle development. In addition, seniors reflect on their high school experience and project future plans. Throughout the year, guidance counselors coordinate activities in a variety of settings, helping seniors as they plan for their senior experience week and make specific college and career decisions.