At OSS, we are all learners and all teachers. We believe in nurturing the brilliance of each individual and harnessing her and her family’s strengths. We challenge each student to reach her full potential by developing academic proficiency, emotional intelligence, cultural competence, intellectual curiosity, agency, integrity and hope.

As part of the Creative Suite, the Arts Department is a core component of the OSS curriculum and includes creative and visual arts, music, dance and theater. Students are encouraged to discover and develop their personal creative outlets through diverse exposure and practice of many modes and media.

The OSS vision emphasizes building ties between the School and the community. Over the years, the School has developed and expanded the concept of Community as Campus to include educational and experiential relationships. Some of our community partners include Community Boating Center, The Buttonwood Park Zoo, New Bedford Whaling Museum, and Lloyd Center for the Environment.

We are proud to be a Community Core School, where our commitment to our Core Values of Excellence, Community, Civic Engagement, and Leadership guide daily life at the School.

The overaching goal of our physical fitness program is to expose each student to the fundamentals of making positive health choices and pursuing personal wellness. We aim to inspire all students such that these habits and mindsets will stay with them and grow over the course of their lives.

Health class meets weekly and incorporates a holistic approach that focuses on the body, mind, spirit, and community.

Humanities combines English, Language Arts, and Social Studies. Students read, write, speak, and listen; they think critically about literature, film, music, performance, and visual art; they research current events and historical topics; and they sharpen their knowledge of geography.

The mathematics curriculum at OSS encourages students to work together while thinking critically about various mathematical topics. Students are challenged to work individually and in teams to discover relationships, make connections, figure out strategies, and communicate their thinking and reasoning. Our classes are heterogeneously grouped, not by readiness or ability.

In collaboration with Community Boating Center of New Bedford, our students apply advanced science and design concepts through weekly hands-on, experiential learning planned in close collaboration with our own science and STEAM instructors. They develop not only a deeper appreciation for Buzzards Bay and our local marine heritage, but also for each other and their own sense of agency.

At OSS, students become educated citizens of the world through dynamic science courses offered to all grades. Our literacy-rich approach, combined with hands-on experiences, is guided by the Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering Standards. This means that content knowledge, science and engineering practices, and learning strategies are introduced and consistently practiced in a logical progression over the years, making it easier for students to develop an understanding of the connected nature of science.

STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. As part of our Creative Suite, the STEAM Lab is a projects-based course that pushes students to create and develop projects or design challenges that reflect real-world issues. Students delve into several different disciplines including, but not limited to: computer coding; electricity and circuits; video production and animation; engineering; design thinking and making.

Sustained Silent Reading (SSR) is a vital part of our daily routine, offering a dedicated 45-minute block for independent pleasure reading. During this time, we not only enhance our reading skills but also contribute to nurturing a culture of literacy at OSS. The more we engage in reading for pleasure and enjoyment, the more proficient readers we become.