Middle School Programs

New Middle School Programs for 2008/9

This school year, the students in grades 6,7 and 8 are participating in two new experiential-education initiatives. Both of these programs are designed to bring about more hands-on and project-based learning to the students while also offering them an element of elective or choice that they are ready for in these grades.

The first one is what we are calling "Main Lesson Enhancement". This occurs every Friday beginning in the second week of school. Students complete their regular main lesson at 9:35, and then go to an enhancement activity of their choice for the last 30 min. of the main lesson. For each of the 3 terms, students choose a different enhancement activity. Different teachers host the enhancement activities, and here are some examples: choir, eurythmy, sports, archery, guitar, practical and fine arts, circus arts, dance, etc.

We are excited to be starting these programs this year as a pilot initiative, with the goal of eventually expanding the program into two project weeks, and of bringing more project-based learning throughout the school.

If any parents have a skill that they would be willing to put toward hosting a workshop in, please contact the school with information.

Main Lesson Enhancement Update

Since September 12th, students in grade 6, 7 and 8 have been taking part in "electives" every Friday morning for 30 min. The program was designed to provide students in the upper grades the experience of choice in their curriculum, while also deepening of some of the curricular and extra-curricular choices that enhance various forms of movement and the arts. Currently, students are in either creative writing, modern dance, basketball, or ping pong. Students were given a form for the year on which they selected their first, second, and third choices for each of the 3 semesters. The current sessions will be completed at the Winter Break and a new session will start in January.

So far the program has been wonderful for both students and teachers. The mix of grades provides all an opportunity to join with others who they do not have classes with at any other time. During the sessions there is a genuine enthusiasm for the extra focus they can experience in their area of choice. We look forward to continuing this successful program into the future.

Project Week—Nov 3-7

This week the students of Class 6, 7 and 8 participated in Project Week—a new Middle School initiative at NWS. The students took a week break from their typical lessons that occur after Main Lesson to participate in two workshops of their choice. The workshops offered were taught by Class Teachers, Specialty Teachers, Parents and Community members. They included drumming, guitar, piano duets, rock and roll acrobatics, lazuring, fine metal work, basketry, wet felting, blacksmithing, marionette making, outdoor education, bookbinding and printmaking. Some students participated in a morning workshop Monday-Thursday during periods 1 and 2 and an entirely different type of workshop Monday-Thursday during periods 3 and 4. Other students participated in a Monday/Tuesday full day workshop and a different full day workshop for Wednesday/Thursday.

Parents, Family and Friends were welcomed to the all-school project week assembly on Friday November 7th in the Silver King Hall/Gym. This included musical performances, presentations, and displays of student projects.

I am struck by the fact that the more slowly trees grow at first, the sounder they are at the core, and I think that the same is true of human beings. We do not wish to see children precocious, making great strides in their early years like sprouts, producing soft and perishable timber, but better if they expand slowly at first, as if contending with difficulties, and so are solidified and perfected. Such trees continue to expand with nearly equal rapidity to an extreme old age.

Henry David Thoreau