This committee includes the student's advisor and parents or guardians, and at least one other faculty member. Importantly, students must pass the junior-year review to obtain senior status and begin working on their Senior Exhibition. International Program The New School offers an English for Speakers of Other Languages Program for international students who are at a low level of English and hold a F-1 student VISA. All first year international students must attend an orientation program for two weeks. Students may be exempted from the program if they pass the English language proficiency test administered during the orientation program. The International Orientation Program is divided into two one-week sessions. During the first week, students are introduced to the layout of the school, the student handbook, and the daily schedule. In addition, all required office documentation will be completed. Introductions to the staff, teachers, and administration will also be done during this week. Students will take a math placement test, select classes for their school year, and have their photos taken for school ID cards. During the second week of orientation, students will be instructed to practice English and be assessed after teaching with writing, reading, speaking, and listening methods, and each student’s performance on these, as well as their overall interaction and participation during the week, will be used to decide in which level of English the student will enroll. In addition to English instruction, students will continue to be introduced to the school and other students. Arts and Drama The Art Department is run by the school's artist-in-residence, Ted Ramsey. Jonathan Rushbrook is the current theater director. Before the completion of the John Swayze black box theater in 2007, The New School's productions were very small and limited. The theater houses student and professional productions every year. Student life If a student is interested in a topic, one can easily form a club and set up a schedule for meetings. The student-teacher dynamic is collegial at The New School. Students may refer to teachers by their first name: students and teachers are encouraged to interact as equals. Sports The New School has four varsity sports teams: co-ed soccer, girls' volleyball, co-ed basketball, and co-ed softball. These teams compete with other local private schools. Awards The New School of Northern Virginia was named one of the Washington area's top 10 schools by The Washington Post in April 2005. References External