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School Level

Department

Upper School Humanities

Department Philosophy

The Humanities curriculum is designed to inspire students to appreciate studying the human experience throughout time. Students learn to think, read, write, and converse like historians and are guided to develop a sense of historical empathy. Critical thinking and practical problem solving are integral to understanding how our past conditions brought us to the present. Students are challenged to effectively convey what they have learned through written and oral communication. Humanities students acquire the factual grounding to make informed judgments. The Humanities program empowers and motivates our students to know they can make a difference.

The focus of the CCA Upper School Humanities Department is for our students to develop historical thinking skills. Thus, the approach to teaching is to frame courses around effective pedagogical lenses, specifically big ideas and questions as well as comparison over time emphasizing both continuity and change. Students will learn to interact with primary and secondary sources, which are the fundamental building blocks of the historian’s work. To read well students need to develop close-reading, historiographical awareness, evaluative, analytical, and interpretative skills. Additionally, students will be exposed to and practice various modes of analytical writing, develop their narrative and argumentative voices, utilize source evidence, and properly format their writing. Students will practice discussing, debating, and deliberating as various communication models. It is the desire of the Humanities Department that students develop a sense of historical empathy and become engaged citizens.

Honors Option

Students in grades 9 through 11 who wish to earn honors credit in Humanities courses must (1) maintain an A or A- average for the year in the regular course work and (2) do additional assignments as required by the teacher. This often entails reading extra books and may require the student to produce a final paper or project. The purpose of honors work is to provide further challenge for students who demonstrate mastery of the basic requirements of the course and wish to engage with the subject on a more sophisticated and in-depth level. Depending on the teacher and grade level, honors work may involve interdisciplinary work that connects the Humanities and English curricula.

Our Faculty

Scott Andrews

Upper School Humanities, Middle School Humanities

Humanities Faculty & Humanities Curriculum Coordinator

508-428-5400

University of Maryland - B.A.
St. John's College - M.A.

sandrews@capecodacademy.org

1996
Bio
Scott earned his BA at the University of Maryland and his MA at St. John's College. He has been teaching for 22 years at CCA and is currently the CCA Humanities Chair. Mr. Andrews teaches 6th grade World Culture, 11th grade American Literature, and 12th grade Contemporary Issues. He began teaching while living in Japan, then transitioned to secondary education upon his return by teaching at Emerson Preparatory School in Washington, D.C. for several years. He was hired by Cape Cod Academy and moved here in 1996. In addition to having led a variety of clubs and activities, Scott coached soccer for thirteen seasons and golf for five. His wife is a physical therapist and their son attends CCA's middle school. They live in Centerville with their dog and many, many books.
Philip Kenney

Upper School Course Lists by Grade, Upper School Humanities

Director of Student Accountability & Humanities Faculty

508-428-5400 x 221

Boston College - B.A.
Boston University - M.A.

pkenney@capecodacademy.org

1996
Bio
Mr. Kenney has been teaching at CCA for over 20 years. His current courses include AP Microeconomics, AP U.S. History and Western Civilization. He holds a BA in History from Boston College and MA in History from Boston University. Prior to CCA, Mr. Kenney was a history teacher and coach at The Morristown-Beard School.
Keith Lewison

Upper School Course Lists by Grade, Upper School Humanities, Middle School Humanities

Humanities Faculty

5084285400

Providence College - B.A., M.A.
Sandwich High School

klewison@capecodacademy.org

2008
Bio
Keith is a Cape Cod native who came home to teach at Cape Cod Academy after working at independent schools in both the Connecticut and Boston areas. He received both a B.A. in history and an M.A. in Religious Studies from Providence College. Currently he teaches several history courses at the Upper School level, advises the Environmental Club, coordinates the senior service learning project, and helps coach the boys and girls cross country teams, among other things. He lives in Sandwich with his family.

Cape Cod Academy

50 Osterville-West Barnstable Road
Osterville, MA 02655
P: 508-428-5400
www.capecodacademy.org

Cape Cod Academy is one of the only independent, co-educational, college preparatory schools serving students from kindergarten to grade 12 on Cape Cod.