Curriculum Overview 

A primary goal of the English curriculum is to nurture a classroom of lifelong readers and writers while improving a student comprehension, vocabulary, and writing skills.

5th & 6th Grade - students read books written over a broad range of time that feature themes of acceptance, hope, change, and belonging. In writing, Fifth and Sixth graders work through the writing process (brainstorm, draft, revise, proofread) to craft analytical and creative pieces.

7th & 8th Grade - students are exposed to novels, vignettes, poetry, short stories, and Shakespeare. In writing, Seventh and Eighth graders focus on developing persuasive writing skills. 

As of the 2023-2024 school year, Computer Science is a required course for each year of Middle School starting with the class of 2031. 

5th Grade - Computer science tackles the basics of computational thinking and coding concepts. The course starts by discussing digital citizenship, responsible use, and how to spot and use algorithms in everyday life. Using Hummingbird electronics kits, and MakeCode block coding, the course culminates with students designing their own robotic petting zoo.

6th Grade - Students begin their journey into line coding in 6th grade. Through the Trinket coding interface, students start to learn the basics of linear imperative coding in Python. Students also learn how to use and construct their own operators to streamline basic construction of geometric shapes, simple drawings, and larger pictures. 

5th Grade - students embark on a time-traveling adventure through three pivotal ancient civilizations: Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Greece. They develop key analytical and research skills, and learn to interpret maps and timelines to contextualize historical events. 

6th Grade - students examine the history of the Middle East and Europe between the years of 500 CE and 1400 CE to explore the important influence and events that shaped the Medieval period. 

7th Grade - students dig into questions about world culture and what happens as cultures connect, collide, and change. In the process of unpacking these questions, student study the culture of Mongol and Ming China, Eastern and Central African, the Americans, and Western Europe during the Renaissance and Age of Exploration in the centuries between 1300 and 1600 CE. 

8th Grade - students explore American history spanning from the colonial period through modern times, guided by big questions such as "Who gets to write history?" Students will delve into the causes of the American Revolution, the significance of the Civil war, and America's rise to becoming a global power.

5th Grade - students study Spanish, French, and Latin for a quarter of the year. These classes are designed to stimulate excitement for the language and culture. 

6th Grade - students will take French, Spanish, or Latin for the whole year. The objective of these courses is to expose students to real-life experiences and to practice the three modes of communication --- interpersonal, interpretative, and presentational. 

7th Grade - in their second year of their chosen language, students will continue to interpret and express themselves while learning to communicate and interact with cultural awareness. Students will continue to build their vocabulary and communication skills through speaking activities, listening practice, written work, and reading texts.

8th Grade - Students will continue to study their chosen language, further expanding their vocabulary and reading comprehension skills. Honors courses are offered in 8th Grade Spanish and French. 

5th Grade -  math is designed to guide students towards mastery of skills and concepts used when working with whole numbers. During the year, the students will expand their knowledge to all types of positive numbers as they are introduced to both decimal and fraction concepts. There are two levels in Fifth Grade math. 

6th Grade - math focuses on the student of basic geometry, ratios, proportions and percent, in addition to learning how to analyze a set of data. There are two levels in Sixth Grade math.

7th Grade - math consists of three levels -- Pre-Algebra, Algebra I Part I, and Honors Algebra I. Students in Pre-Algebra are focused on setting the stage for working with equations, inequalities, and functions. Students in Algebra I Part I learn to solve multi-step equations including proportions, inequalities, and absolute value. Honors Algebra I is designed to give students a solid foundation for all advanced math courses. In addition to solving equations and inequalities, students will receive an introduction to linear and quadratic functions, exponents, polynomials and factoring, and radical expressions and equations. 

8th Grade - math consists of three levels -- Algebra IA, Algebra I Part II, and Honors Geometry. Algebra IA is the first half of a two-year study of Algebra I while Algebra I Part II is the second half of a two year study of Algebra I. Geometry Honors is a study of Euclidean Geometry concentrating on deductive reasoning. Student will write direct, indirect, and paragraph proofs to prove theorems. Students will solve problems using the Pythagorean Theorem and right triangle trigonometry. 

5th Grade - Science continues to build on student's interest and enthusiasm of various science and engineering concepts. Students learn to apply the Scientific Method and the Engineering Design Process. Students also study forms of energy, renewable/nonrenewable sources, and the transfer of energy. Each student concludes the ear with a Science 5 Digital Portfolio that displays and communicates their science experience.

6th Grade - science covers Health and the Human Body System and includes hands-on labs involving microscope usage and pig heart and sheep pluck dissections. 

7th Grade - science is an introduction to biology and chemistry. In both semesters an emphasis is placed on laboratory activities that help illustrate concepts including DNA extraction, Punnett squares, density determination, separation of mixtures, and the identification of unknowns. Students complete a lab practical at the end of the year to demonstrate their mastery of these skills. 

8th Grade - science, also known as Earth & Beyond, explores the workings of our planet and solar system. Students explore astronomy, geology, climate, ecology, and sustainability through laboratory activities, student-centered investigations, and project-based learning pedagogies. The year culminates with the students designing their own environmental sustainability projects to enhance a chosen aspect of the school campus. 

Each year of Middle School, students study music, visual arts, and theater. By 7th and 8th grade, students can choose to audition for the 7th and 8th grade musical or join the stage crew. Students may also choose to participate in our Middle School choir, known as Grace Notes. This choir is open to all Middle Schoolers. 

5th Grade - 5th Grade Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) culminates in the 5th grade musical. In Music, students learn to sing in 3 part canons in multiple languages and play the West African drums through the World Music Drumming curriculum. In Art, through individual and collaborative assignments, students create, discover, and explore using a variety of materials and techniques. In Theater, students focus on the storyteller and storytelling -- the first form of theater. 

6th Grade - In Music, students begin to build their sight singing skills and learn to play the recorder. In Art, students are challenged to learn, evaluate, and think about how and what they wish to communicate through their art. In Theater, students explore three main units: set design, sound design and costume design, and explore how these design and production elements help to tell a story on stage.

7th Grade - In Music, students focus on learning piano skills and music theory in our piano lab. In Art, students pick up the camera and explore composition, light, perspective, and story. In Theater, they study public speaking. Students write and present three different speeches: one to inform, one to persuade, and one "I Believe" speech. 

8th Grade - In Music, students continue developing their music theory and piano skills and are introduced to Jazz. In Art, students learn a new medium, sculpting. In Theater, students audition, rehearse, and perform one-act plays of their choosing.

5th Grade - Students engage in meaningful discussion about understanding and expressing complex emotions, learn how body systems function and work together, explore how bodies change and grow through puberty, and learn the basics of nutrition and personal safety. 

6th Grade - Students learn about the health risk factors, explore differences between infectious and non-infectious disease, expand their knowledge of nutrition, and are introduced to concepts related to consumer and financial wellness. 

7th Grade - In addition to continuing to explore topics such as nutrition and healthy lifestyles, students engage in discussions on healthy decision making, the role of morals, values, and ethics in adolescent development, navigating social media, goal setting, and relationships. 

8th Grade - This curriculum expands students' knowledge of components of the Wellness Wheel. Unites explore each of the following: social, emotional, intellectual, financial, physical, environmental, and occupational wellness.