Curriculum/Structure - Middle School
In our middle school, there are three teams: one 6th grade team and two teams that have 7th and 8th graders mixed.
6th Grade Team
Sixth graders have integrated homeroom/social studies, literacy block (2 periods per day), science/computer applications (one semester each) and one exploratory class.
- Located in own section of building
- Homeroom focused on homework planning, organization and life skills
- Non-letter grades/assessment
- Integrated Language Arts/Social Studies two-period block
7th-8th Grade Teams
Seventh and eighth graders are on one of two 7th-8th teams, Sam/Anna's Team or Melanie/Janet’s Team. Each student has the same teacher for first period for two years, and rotates among the other teachers on that team for core classes (social studies, language arts, science). 7/8 team curriculum is on a two-year cycle. Each student has a daily math class, P.E. and an exploratory class. Exploratory classes include world language, art, band, marimba,, student government, and drama.
- All classes multi-age (7/8) except math
- Culminating 8th grade project is high school level work
- Leadership opportunities
- Increased academic rigor
Important elements of alternative education at the middle school level include a strong emphasis on project based learning, and the social and emotional growth of our students. Through the Winter Enrichment Program we offer our students a chance to try new activities and learn outside the classroom. We also emphasize independent, student led-learning, which culminates in an 8th grade project conceived and created by each individual student.
