Norwood campus consists of 38 beautiful acres in Bethesda, Maryland, about 1-mile from I-495, River Road exit. Four main buildings provide space for classrooms in addition to an all-purpose gym and a two-court athletic center, 2 libraries, 4 art studios, and 5 science labs. Our outdoor space offers plenty of room for 2 playgrounds, separate softball and baseball fields, 2 soccer fields and numerous nooks for outdoor classrooms. Please enjoy the following video tour, led by Jaclyn '16, to get an idea of our extensive campus offerings and facilities.
Norwood will host an Virtual Experiential Open House on Saturday, November 7, 2019 from 1:00 until 3:00 p.m. Prospective families are invited to virtually tour the School, sample classes, and talk with faculty, parents, and students about the program and community. Reservations are required. Children are welcome!
The anticipated schedule for the afternoon is as follows:
1:00 Opening and Norwood Trivia 1:15 Welcome from the Head of School 1:30 Student/Teacher-facilitated breakout sessions in 20-minute sessions with faculty (Sample activity + Q&A) 2:30 Optional sessions with lower and middle school division heads 3:00 End of Experience Norwood
Please register for our Virtual Open House via the Ravenna-Hub.
Offered several times throughout the year, a "Morning with Matthew" coffee offers prospective parents the opportunity to meet with our head of school, Matthew Gould, in an informal and intimate setting. By limiting the number of participants, parents are able to engage with Matthew in conversations about program philosophy, strategic initiatives, and other topics of interest.
2020-2021 Dates: All coffee times are from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. Quick facility tours are available after the discussion. Tuesday, November 19 Wednesday, December 9 Tuesday, January 12: Parents of Student of Color Admission Gathering Tuesday, February 9
Reservations are required; Registration is available through the Ravenna-Hub.
An individual virtual tour combined with a parent conversation provide families with the opportunity to see Norwood students and teachers in action and allow the admission team an opportunity to get to know your family better and help to bring your child's application to life. Additionally, they provide parents with time to ask questions and share information specific to their family and child.
A lower school tour and parent conversation (grades PK-4) last about up to 75 minutes and are for adults only. A middle school tour and parent conversation (grades 5-8) also lasts up to 75 minutes but students are welcome to join.
Although required as a component of the application process, this tour and conversation can be scheduled prior to submitting an application. Virtual tours are available throughout the year. If there is not an available or convenient slot when scheduling online, please call our office and we will work with you to figure something out!
The link to schedule your virtual visit via the Ravenna-Hub.
Offered several times throughout the year, "Meet the Academic Leaders" offers prospective parents the opportunity to learn more about our school program with a focus on Lower or Middle School in a virtual informal and intimate setting. By limiting the number of participants, parents are able to engage with Ryann Williams Berry, Director of Curriculum and Instruction along with Michele Claeys, Head of Middle School, or Mike Risen, Head of Lower School, in conversations about teaching and learning, extracurricular programs, and other topics of interest.
Please log into the Ravenna-Hub to register for one of these events.
Students applying to pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and first grade participate in virtual playdates with an admissions staff member. Applicants to all other grades get a feel for what it is like to be a Norwood student by virtually visiting for a partial day. Applicants shadow a student ambassador and are encouraged to fully participate in the day's activities.
Student virtual playdates and visits are required as a part of the admission process and can only be scheduled once an application is submitted. After applying, we will send out a list of playdates for families.
Welcome to the Norwood School Virtual Visit. Given current social distancing guidelines, we are offering virtual tours of Norwood's beautiful campus. We have also worked to capture the spirit and heart of Norwood for prospective families on this page. In addition to viewing the videos and slideshows, we encourage you to sign up for our Open House or another personal event via the Ravenna-hub or to peruse our web site where you will find curriculum and program information in addition to more detailed admission information.
Our 2021-2022 application is open and we encourage you to apply. If you would like to receive email once our application is open, please request more information.We hope to hear from you.
Norwood School is one of many DC-area independent schools that have partnered with Ravenna to manage the application process. Ravenna, an online module, helps families coordinate and complete the various steps required to apply to Norwood. Through Norwood's Ravenna hub, families can register for admission events (including our open house, individual tours and conversations, and Mornings with Matthew), submit an application, electronically request teacher recommendations, track the application process, and view your decision notification.
At various points on our website, you will be directed to Ravenna and asked to create an account or login into a previously created account. If you are ready to create an account right now, click here.
"Norwood is not a quiet school. When you walk the halls, the hum of learning is tangible. As you explore this page, imagine excited voices, exclamations of wonder, and lot and lots of laughter."
COMMITMENT TO SELF & OTHERS (PK-8)
Values/Character
How You Lead Your Life Matters
Community Service
Portrait of a Graduate
FOUNDATIONS OF LEARNING (PK-4)
Leadership
Public Speaking
Teacher Connections
Transitions and Specials
Cross-curricular Learning
BE KNOWN (PK-4)
Differentiated Instruction
Stretch and Support
Social Emotional Growth and Tending
Parent Involvement
Power of Being Seen
GROWTH & INDEPENDENCE (5-8)
Advisory
Grades
Student-Led Conferences
Lunch
Lockers
Athletics
Exams
Special Projects
LEADERSHIP & INITIATIVE (5-8)
PK-8 Community
Life Skills
Buddy Program
Choice
Clubs
Collaboration
Public Speaking
Intersession
COMMITMENT TO SELF & OTHERS (PK-8)
Values/Character
How You Lead Your Life Matters
Community Service
Portrait of a Graduate
Located in Bethesda, MD, Norwood School develops students in grades PK-8 into confident lifelong learners who have the academic, character, and leadership skills to succeed in high school and beyond. Recognizing that children are multi-faceted, Norwood provides many opportunities for safe risk-taking, exploration, discovery, and growth in a nurturing, supportive, and inclusive school community.