Middle School: Beyond the Classroom
Advisory and Social and Emotional Learning:
- Each year, students are assigned an Advisor and an Advisory Group consisting of 7-10 students. The advisory team assures the social emotional needs of students are met through implementation of goals and practices under the Social Emotional Learning curriculum. The Advisor also supports students with meeting academic and behavior expectations. Students meet with their Advisory Group once a week.
- Parent-Teacher Conferences are also held with the student’s advisor. The mid-year conference takes the form of a student-led conference.
- While homework is still part of the Middle School vocabulary, we are leaning more and more towards the concept of "learning beyond the classroom" which promotes a student growth mindset. Homework is often an extension of project-based learning, skills development or differentiated learning activities. Students are encouraged to address areas for improvement through additional practice and study. We understand that students learn at different paces. We also strive to respect the following: Grade 6: up to 1 hour of learning beyond the classroom; Grade 7: Up to 70 minutes of learning beyond the classroom; Grade 8: Up to 80 minutes of learning beyond the classroom
- Learning beyond the classroom also implies that student interests and activities from outside FASPS can find a place for expression within the classroom.
Service Learning:
- Through a comprehensive community service program the school aims to help students develop an understanding of community, know how to extend compassionate responses to the needs of others, and to cultivate a desire for life-long engagement in service learning.
- We prepare our students to participate in service learning at a variety of levels: Within the Middle School community (lunch room duties, helping organize special events); For the FASPS community (tour leaders, planning special assemblies for younger students, science day guides, mentors for elementary, garden care); For local communities (food bank, visiting community centers, Toys for Tots); Global communities (gathering funds for special relief, participating in global programs)
Student Leadership:
- Student Council: Each class has two representatives to serve on the Student Council. Student Council meets once a week to plan special events, to discuss middle school issues and needs, and to coordinate with the elementary Student Council. Student Council Coalition is the expansion of Student Council through invitation to assure the necessary help is attained to complete projects and meet the goals established through the Student Council.
- Student Led Assemblies: Students assemble once a month for a student-led assembly. Each advisory provides the leadership for these events.
- Student Diversity Leadership Retreat: The school supports student participation in events such as the NWAIS student diversity workshop held bi-annually.
Sports:
- All Middle School students have the opportunity to participate in the following after school sports: Fall (Soccer, Cross Country); Winter (Basketball, Volleyball); Spring (Track & Field)
Four-by-Four:
- Students can be preregistered for after-school programming, called Four-by-Four at the Middle School, by their parent or guardian on a trimester basis. Four options are offered: 1) clubs; 2) a bilingual study and support workshop; 3) indoor / outdoor activities with peers; and 4) athletics as proposed.
Learning Times Within the School Day
- Grades 6, 7, and 8 have learning and support times built into their week. These times have several teachers available to achieve a variety of options: individual or small-group time with teachers, peer-to-peer collaboration on learning initiatives, independent learning time for assignment completion and/or time to make up a missed assignment or activity.
