Middle School Newsletter - February 1, 2023

A big part of educating, like parenting, is balancing the need to meet kids where they are while also preparing them for next steps in their journey. In advance of key transition points — to middle school, to upper school, to college — we need to incrementally raise expectations while giving them opportunities to practice necessary skills and build confidence that they are prepared to meet those expectations.

For our eighth graders, the start of the second semester is an important juncture in this process. I met with the class yesterday to get them excited about their last four months of middle school and outline the adjustments they will see (and are ready for!) as we prepare them for ninth grade.

• Academic — while the amount of work shouldn’t change, we are increasing the complexity and expectation of analysis and synthesis (e.g. a research paper in history). 

• Independence/Responsibility — they will have more flexibility during their afternoon Advisory Study Hall to choose how they spend their time, similar to the way free periods work in the Upper School. We will also be doing less nagging and reminding about missing work, retake opportunities, etc.

• Accountability — we will begin implementing some of the accountability structures they will see next year. Academically, we will now use late penalties to encourage timely submission of work. The specific deduction may vary by department. Behaviorally, we will use detention as a consequence for minor infractions of respect, dress guidelines, etc. At the middle school level, detention will involve a student spending their 15-minute morning break in my office rather than with friends.

The transition to ninth grade is happening for parents as well. I hope you were able to attend the virtual Upper School Preview event last night, and please mark your calendars for the Upper School Academic Planning Coffee on Wednesday, March 1 at 8:30 a.m.