Beyond the Classroom
Students in the Upper School know that their education is defined by more than academics, and Chapin supports them as they explore the world beyond the classroom. With a range of arts and athletics programs, opportunities for community service and peer leadership, and chances to direct their own learning or study abroad, Chapin’s Upper School is where students can realize their full potential.
Athletics
Upper School students may participate in a wide range of individual and team sports.
Chapin believes that students' physical, intellectual and emotional lives are interconnected. This tenet serves as a steadfast guide in our approach to interscholastic athletics, fitness, and health and wellness.
Our program encourages participation for all students and offers a distinct opportunity to cultivate leadership qualities, develop essential sport skills and experience the spirit of competition. We strive for personal fulfillment, while deepening integrity, resilience and respect for oneself and others. Our athletic community celebrates and fosters a sense of belonging and a love of sport.
Chapin’s commitment to excellence through a multi-faceted approach to athletics fortifies our students' ability to thrive and lead in their lives beyond 100 East End Avenue.
Our program supports the mission of our competitive league, The Athletic Association of Independent Schools (AAIS).
As a founding member of the AAIS, Chapin competes against other league member schools: The Brearley School, Convent of the Sacred Heart, Hewitt School, Marymount School, Nightingale-Bamford School, Packer-Collegiate Institute, Saint Ann’s School and Spence School. Chapin teams have gone on to compete in postseason tournaments at the State and Federation levels.
A full listing of the team sports available to Upper School students is listed below. For further information please visit the Athletics portion of our website.
Fall
- Varsity cross country
- Varsity field hockey
- Varsity soccer
- Varsity tennis
- Varsity volleyball
- JV volleyball
- 7/8 cross country
- 7/8 soccer
- 7/8 volleyball
Winter
- Varsity basketball
- Varsity fencing
- Varsity indoor track and field
- Varsity squash
- Varsity swimming
- JV basketball
- 7/8 basketball
- 7/8 swimming
- 7/8 indoor track and field
Spring
- Varsity badminton
- Varsity lacrosse
- Varsity track and field
- Varsity softball
- Golf
- 7/8 lacrosse
- 7/8 track and field
- 7/8 softball
Berendsen Program
The Chapin School is thrilled to launch the Berendsen Program in the fall of 2025. This selective year-long course is a significant expansion and deepening of Chapin's Individual Study Program (1977-2024), through which students worked closely with a faculty advisor to pursue individually designed research in a multitude of mediums and disciplines. After nearly five decades, Chapin has renewed its commitment to this rigorous scholarship through an advanced course in which seniors develop and carry out research plans, produce in-depth deliverables and present their work to members of the broader Chapin community. The Berendsen Scholars cohort learns alongside two dedicated instructors who provide structure and support. Additionally, each Scholar is assigned a faculty member who serves as a subject-area expert.
Past Individual Study projects ranged from writing and directing an original play based on the life and work of Italian Baroque artist Artemisia Gentileschi, to examining Bulgaria’s role during the 2015 European refugee crisis, to laboratory research in molecular biology using fruit flies, to building an electric guitar. The inaugural cohort of Berendsen Scholars in the 2025-2026 academic year is continuing the tradition of pursuing wide-ranging subject matter. Some representative topics include: the genotoxic effects of sugar alcohols and non-nutritive sugars on drosophila melanogaster; the Roman Empire’s Praetorian Guard; the legacy of Japanese internment; the poetry of Mary Oliver; the philosophy of love in Broadway musicals; and the secret language of NuShu.
Upper School Speech & Debate Team
There is an ever-growing afterschool Speech and Debate program at Chapin, which offers opportunities in about 10 different events on the local and national competition circuits including Lincoln-Douglas and Public Forum Debate, Extemporaneous Speaking, Declamation, Humorous and Dramatic Interpretation, among others. (National debate tournaments allow 9th-12th graders to compete in high school competitions; Chapin’s Class 8 students have opportunities to compete in middle school tournaments.)
Beginning in Class 9, students choose which event will be their primary focus and have four years ahead of them in which to develop classic argumentation skills including the mastery of challenging topics on both sides of a contested debate where argument development with accurate and compelling evidence is buttressed by rebuttal skills. Speech events focus not only on storytelling but on character development and the use of emotion, gesture and vocal nuance to persuade and move an audience. Students compete in a wide array of local tournaments and earn invitations to the most challenging championships.
Students can participate in Model United Nations competitions as well as the National High School Ethics Bowl competition, where they encounter ethical dilemmas that require an exposure to and grasp of basic philosophical perspectives in order to convince a panel of judges that their analysis is the most insightful and thoughtful.
A Current Events Forum for Class 6-12 students, faculty and staff is offered weekly at 7:30 a.m. The Forum exposes students to themes of national and international significance, nurturing their enthusiasm and confidence in asking salient questions and hearing diverse perspectives on complex topics.
Performances & Art
Whether they define themselves as painters, dancers, singers, actors or all of them at once, all students in Chapin’s Upper School have a chance to express themselves creatively outside of the classroom. Each arts department — art, dance, drama and music — provides multiple opportunities for students to perform or exhibit their work. Some performances are by audition only, while others are open to any student who wishes to participate. Listed below are performance opportunities by department.
Dance
- Upper School Dance Club - student choreography
- Dance Ensemble - faculty choreography, open by audition, open through FOCUS course registration
Drama
- Fall play
- Winter play
- Spring play or musical
Music
- Choral Club
- Instrumental Chamber Ensemble
- Holiday Handbell Ensemble
- The Kilts Rock Band
- Symphons — Classes 8 and 9 a cappella group
- Alleppaca — Classes 10, 11 and 12 a cappella group
ART
- Advanced Art Studio with spring exhibition (open through FOCUS course registration)
Club Nights
Club nights are evening events for the Upper School, ranging from performances to holiday celebrations. These programs are fun and provide an enjoyable way for the entire Upper School community to come together. Attendance is not mandatory, however, to encourage participation, no homework is assigned for the day after these events.
Following is a list of the Club Nights:
- First Night - This event happens during the second full week of the school year. Students come together and play games, participate in talent contests, etc. It is a "Welcome Back to School" for returning students and a "Welcome to the Upper School" for Class 8 and new students. Dinner is provided.
- Halloween Club - This event includes a costume contest, scary movie, faculty skit, etc. It is one of the highlights of the year! Dinner is provided.
- Holiday Concert - This event happens just before Winter Recess and includes various performances of a wide range of music. It is a joyful way to usher in the holidays and the break! Parents are welcomed.
- Dance Club - Members of the Dance Club perform student- and faculty-choreographed pieces. Performances include a wide array of dance and music genres. Parents are welcomed.
- Drama Production - There is one mainstage Drama production per term in the Upper School. Productions range from plays to musicals to student-directed one acts. Parents are welcomed.
- 12th Night - This event happens in June. It is a time when seniors make speeches, say goodbye to the community and thank the people who have been integral to their lives at Chapin. Snacks are provided.
Student Life
Chapin’s Upper School Office of Student Life (OSL) manages the enriching programming that occurs during the school day and after school. The purpose of student life programming at Chapin is to provide our students with programming that allows them to explore and cultivate their interests with like-minded peers. Our programming falls into three categories: Clubs, Affinity/Education Groups and Extracurriculars.
CLUBS
Clubs in the Upper School provide students an opportunity to develop their leadership and communication skills, foster creative thinking and build community with peers dedicated to a common interest or activity.
OSL supports the organization and leadership for clubs in the US. Students propose, organize and facilitate clubs during the school day that are open to anyone to attend. Chapin’s clubs reflect fun with a purpose. Clubs for the 2025-2026 school year include:
- Architecture Club
- Art Club
- Bioethics Club
- Cha-Pod (podcasting)
- Chess Club
- Choral Club
- Coding Club
- Community Supported Agriculture Program (CSA)
- Drama Club
- Entrepreneur Club
- Ethics Bowl Team
- Film Club
- Investment Club
- Martial Arts Club
- Math Club
- Medical Club
- Pickleball Club
- Psychology Club
- PULSE (percussion club)
- SAVE (environmental organization)
- Students Demand Action (SDA)
- SHOFCO (Shining Hope for Our Communities club)
- Spectrum (politics club)
- Students for Animal Welfare
- Sustainable Fashion
- WISE (Women in Science & Engineering)
- Women in Industry
- YARTS (yarn arts)
UPPER SCHOOL AFFINITY AND EDUCATION GROUPS
In the Upper School, affinity groups focus on the empowerment of all students. Aligned with the overarching vision articulated by NAIS (National Association of Independent Schools), our affinity group work provides a safe space for all participants to explore, unpack and engage in conversation on the various interpersonal dynamics, beliefs and thoughts that shape our experiences as members of a community. Students arrive ready to share and learn, allowing them to connect more deeply and support one another.
Affinity groups for the 2025-2026 school year are:
- Asian American Affinity Group
- BLAC
- La Familia
- MENSCH
- Middle Eastern Affinity Group
- Multiracial Affinity Group
In addition to Affinity Groups, the Upper School also supports Education Groups that gather students in alliance. In the 2025-2026 school year we have two active Education Groups:
- Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA)
- Muslim Student Association (MSA)
Extracurriculars
Extracurriculars at Chapin offer our students programming that allows them to explore and cultivate their interests in athletics, ensembles, performing arts, publications and academic competitions with their peers.
Performing Arts
- Alleppaca (a capella singing group)
- Dance Club
- Instrumental Chamber Ensemble
- The Kilts (Rock Band)
Publications
- La Lima (World Languages literary magazine)
- Limelight (school newspaper)
- Polaris (STEAM publication)
- The Wheel (school literary magazine)
-
The Emerald (Yearbook)
Academic Programs
- Speech & Debate
- Model UN
- Robotics
Robotics
Chapin's Upper School students have participated in FIRST (For Innovation and Recognition of Science Technology) Robotics for more than 12 years.
FIRST is a non-profit organization that promotes STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) through various robotics programs across the nation and internationally. Participating in FIRST Robotics is an exciting opportunity for many of our students who are passionate about STEM and robotics. Click HERE for more information on FRC.
Upper School Robotics is an after-school program that runs throughout the school year. The team works together to build a robot and then competes in the annual local FIRST Robotics competition, usually in the first week of April, with a unique and exciting theme and challenge that changes each year. The Robotics season is divided into three segments:
- Pre-season (September to December): Veteran members of the team, under adult supervision, take on a leadership role by introducing the new members to FIRST Robotics and training them to use the various tools and equipment. The team also builds different parts of a robot and modifies the previous year's robot by augmenting its functionalities.
- Build Season (January to February): The team picks up a kit of parts on the day of the challenge reveal and has six weeks to build their robot, program it and test it. Then, the team "bags and tags" the finished robot, and team members are not allowed to open the seal until the day of competition. During this process, the students work closely with adult mentors and coaches, most with a strong background in engineering, programming, and team building.
- Post-season (April to June): The team completes a debriefing and analysis of the build season and competition. They continue work on their robot, begin planning for next season and fine-tune their designs and computer programs.
Building a robot that meets certain specifications is a challenging, exciting and rewarding experience that allows our students to use their knowledge of physics and math to solve real problems with tangible results. FIRST's motto is "gracious professionalism," which means that all teams cooperate and compete at the same time. For example, any FRC team can reach out to other FRC teams for advice and help during the build season or even during competition. Working with a large group of people is a priceless skill that Upper School Robotics students acquire in the process. There is also ample opportunity for team members to hone their leadership skills, including acting as captains or co-captains of the team.
Health & Wellness
"Who am I and how do I thrive?" is the over-arching question our Upper School students ask themselves in the Health & Wellness (formerly “Life Skills”) program. By exploring their identities, our world and the very definition of health and wellness, they learn to articulate their values and to stand up for themselves. As our students move through the Upper School, they develop the decision-making skills and emotional resilience needed to face the challenges of our dynamic world, both during their time at Chapin and beyond.
The Upper School Health & Wellness program is diverse and intimate, organized by our health educator and US counselor with support from the class deans and various other members of our community. During each academic term, students meet in small groups with Chapin faculty and expert consultants to discuss issues that range from sexuality and drug abuse to public speaking and writing resumes. Meetings take place during common times carved out during the school day. Additionally, both the health educator and counselor are available for student conversation and questions as needed, and nine students serve as Health & Wellness representatives in student Self-Government.
It is important that our Health & Wellness program be sequential and systemic in nature (guided by the National Health Education Standards) while still being responsive to the needs of our students. Frequent surveys of each class and conversations with the Health & Wellness reps, deans, and athletics teams help inform the direction of the program. This causes the curriculum to look slightly different for each class as they move through the Upper School, though a few staples remain. For example, throughout all five years of Upper School, students participate in a program which teaches students how to assess and ensure their physical safety using self-advocacy and self-defense techniques. Each year, the content builds on what students have learned in the past.
Exchanges, Internships & Partnerships
Upper School students may also participate in several language and culture-based travel and exchange programs, which in recent years have taken place in Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Spain and Switzerland. During school breaks, the students travel with a small group of Chapin teachers to augment their language skills and to gain a better understanding of world cultures. In addition, Chapin has two student exchange programs: St. Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls in Perth, Australia, and Northlands in Buenos Aires, Argentina, which are open to students in Class 10.
Chapin students also engage in elective internships year-round, including remote positions with teams based in other parts of the world. Students work with Chapin's Coordinator of Internships to evaluate and pursue available positions in a range of professional fields. In addition, all Class 12 students immerse in a weeklong intensive internship as part of their senior spring.
Our partnerships with other schools, institutes and universities further enhance learning and enable our scholars to gain practical experience. Partners include the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cooper Union School of Architecture, Gilder-Lehrman Institute of American History, Hospital for Special Surgery Sports Medicine Institute, Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO), Stanford University's Stan-X, Yale School of Public Health, the World Leadership School and Chapin’s past and present Scholars in Residence, among many others.