Grades 5 - 8

Grades 5 - 6

Students and faculty together build on developing higher-order thinking skills nurtured since Kindergarten. Students in the 5-6 are encouraged to observe carefully the world around them. They practice how to question and revise, reflect and analyze.

The focusing and organizing principles of integrated themes offers students a wide range of learning experiences. The goal is to encourage a balance of fundamental skills with creative expression. Growing strong independent learners and thinkers who are motivated to ask questions and continue to learn even when hurdles and difficulties are present is the important task of these important years.

The arts (fine art, music, drama, poetry), physical activity, especially through outdoor education, integrated hands-on projects, and service learning plays a large role in the life of these students.

Teaching computer skills and organizational skills takes an important place in the 5-6 curriculum. Encouraging students to make good choices and delve into their leadership potential happens during these years.

Spring Rain

The boy rests in
the spring grass,
praying together in unison
for rain.

    Reeve D.,
    Sixth Grade

Grades 7 - 8

These important middle-school years help to ground and organize our young students. Each week a central organizing question focuses the student on the integration of science, humanities (English, Literature, History and Geography), and the arts. Students are guided through the necessary study skills of organization, time management, problem-solving, research, critical thinking, independent and group-learning, note taking, crafting research papers, and mapping skills. These skills are practiced through the integrated projects that conclude their studies and illustrate the scope of their work.