M I D D L E S C H O O L
G ROW I N G I N D E P E N D E N C E
From fifth through eighth grade, students
broaden their perspectives, discover
new interests and take on increasing
responsibility as learners and individuals.
Middle School challenges students to think more
deeply, ask thoughtful questions and engage with
new ideas, all within a supportive community that
knows them well. Through new academic, co-
curricular and leadership experiences, students
develop the self-advocacy, resilience and
perspective that prepare them for the opportunities
and choices that await in Upper School.
Hallmarks of the Middle School
Signature Learning Opportunities
Signature learning opportunities complement classroom
learning with projects, traditions and programs that are unique
to each grade level. Whether working collaboratively, exploring
new ideas or applying what they have learned in different
settings, students gain perspectives that add depth and variety
to their Middle School years.
• Fifth-grade Self-Advocacy Passport Program
• Fifth-grade TOWER (Treat Others With Etiquette and Respect)
Homeroom Curriculum
• Sixth-grade Math ISBN Scavenger Hunt
• Seventh-grade Sheep Heart Dissection and Cardiovascular Unit
• Eighth-grade "Hands on Fire" Experiment
• Project Week, featuring outdoor education for fifth graders, the
Springfield trip for sixth graders, citywide excursions and service for
seventh graders, and the Washington, D.C., trip for eighth graders
• Interactive author visits
