Middle School
In Middle School, we foster academic and social maturity in a variety of ways, chief among them our Advisory Program. Every student is assigned an adult advisor and automatically becomes part of an advisory group that meets every morning, and for a longer period once a week. This small, grade-level group provides a familiar and supportive forum and focuses on issues that relate to students’ roles as people, learners, and members of the community.
Our rigorous curriculum is the backbone of this, providing numerous opportunities to explore, question, discuss, and apply what’s being learned. The 8th-grade Quebec trip gives students a real-life chance to test and deepen their understanding of the French language and culture. Students use the pond on school grounds to learn about environmental and physical science and apply math skills. And our students don’t simply study other cultures, they create a model United Nations and experience what it means to be a citizen of the world. Interscholastic sports and the study of drama help break down social barriers and promote teamwork. And in keeping with our commitment of service to others, Middle School students play a critical role in our annual all-school holiday project: they buy gifts for the families their advisory groups “adopt.”
It’s all designed to help preadolescents become increasingly confident and articulate students who are fully prepared to advance to Upper School and beyond.
