Middle School (6-8)

In Middle School, students are still exploring who they are and what fires their imagination. We offer a range of subjects, challenges, and experiences to spark their interests and uncover their promise. Building on the solid Lower School foundation, students stretch their minds and grow. They try new things, meet new people, and take more demanding classes. They learn how to study while also mastering and applying the skills and concepts they learn in each discipline. All of this prepares them for the Upper School challenges ahead.

Academically, sixth graders are at a sweet spot, because they are able to grapple with some complex and interesting ideas, yet their sense of wonder and curiosity is delightfully intact - Middle School Teacher.

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Teaching and Advising

Middle School teachers encourage creativity, critical thinking and problem solving. They inspire students by using the most advanced educational technology, including a new Exploratory Design program, maker spaces, and robotics. Advisory groups help busy Middle School students prioritize their new responsibilities. Every morning students check in, discussing plans for the day, weekly projects, and upcoming events. Many kids say it’s the best part of their day!

Exploratory Design 7

Imagine a class where you design and construct a garden that grows in the air. Our Middle School students are doing just that. Why? Because it’s the best way to teach them about real-world design and engineering challenges. Other Exploratory Design classes might create an educational online game, build an outdoor pollution detector or construct a model of an earthquake-proof structure. Working in teams, students develop skills in project planning, self-reflection and oral presentation. They also learn about programming, 3D design and fabrication, and video production and editing.

Exploratory Design 8

In this new course, students tackle real-world design and engineering challenges linked to topics covered in their core classes. On project teams, they develop skills in design thinking, project planning, listening, self-reflection,

and oral presentation. To complete hands-on projects, they get a taste of programming and electrical engineering with Arduino and Raspberry Pi, Minecraft using Java, Eclipse and Gimp, robotics, 3D design and animation, digital presentation tools, and video production and editing.