Curriculum
The middle school program is designed to nurture the intellectual, ethical, social/emotional and physical development of young people during their transition from childhood to adolescence. Students experiencing the rapid growth that occurs in early adolescence flourish in an educational environment that is distinctly different from either the lower or high school models.
During Grades 5-8, students experience a dramatic shift in their cognitive abilities as they move from a concrete mode of thought to a more abstract level of thinking. To foster this growth, the curriculum is structured to guide students in making connections and seeing relationships among subject areas and with the world beyond the classroom. Instruction in critical thinking and study skills is integrated into interdisciplinary units and projects. The schedule is designed to maximize flexibility and enable the faculty to incorporate a wide variety of experiential learning and extended field studies, which make the most of the school's unique location in Great Britain.
Independence and organization are stressed throughout the program as students learn to carry out research and use a wide variety of technologies to enhance the acquisition, analysis, communication and presentation of information. Teachers meet individual student needs through a variety of teaching strategies, which emphasize active learning, a student-centered approach and utilizing a variety of assessment techniques. The goal is to promote academic excellence and provide a supportive and creative atmosphere to cultivate a lifelong love of learning.
The preadolescent's rapid intellectual growth initiates great emotional and social changes. The Middle School seeks to nurture close, trusting relationships with adults and peers to create a positive climate for personal growth, and to help students deal successfully with change and transition. Homeroom/advisor group time provides students with the opportunity to share interests and concerns, and experience the encouragement of their classmates and teachers. Students receive additional support from full-time counselors as well as health classes at each grade level. At this time in their lives, middle school students need to explore their unique talents and interests in a supportive and non-evaluative setting. The middle school After-school Program offers students an ever-changing menu of athletic, social and artistic activities.
The Middle School hopes to create a caring and supportive school community that values diversity and encourages responsible citizenship. Students have a wide variety of leadership opportunities through student government and athletic activities. The service learning program is an integral part of the life of each middle school student and helps them to grow in confidence as they participate in on- and off-campus service opportunities.
The Middle School recognizes that each student has their own unique timetable for physical development. Preadolescents often experience awkwardness and fatigue during rapid growth spurts. The physical education program is designed to address these needs and the after-school athletics program offers a wide variety of team and individual sports opportunities.
The middle school faculty is knowledgeable about and committed to the interests and needs of the young adolescent learner and recognizes that a successful middle school experience is the result of a close partnership among student, teachers and parents/guardians. The aim is to build these relationships.
Finally, the Middle School strives to value all students for their unique talents, to challenge them to their fullest potential and to enable them to achieve success.