January 18, 2021
With the start of the new semester next week, middle schoolers will have a new set of electives!
In 6th grade, students have a set roster of electives to help prepare them for success in middle school. These include a technology class with a focus on digital citizenship, an emotional health class that focuses on building healthy friendships and solving conflicts, and an executive functioning skills class to help build study and organizational skills. 6th graders also take studio art and, in normal years, try some of the performing arts.
In the 7th and 8th grade, students have many more options to choose from. This semester, these included Chinese Language and Culture, Creative Writing, STEAM Challenges, Latin Language and Classical Mythology, Studio Art, Spanish Enrichment, Chimes, and Photography.
There were many highlights for teachers and students throughout these classes. Mr. Hyden (Latin) enjoyed tackling and unpacking the themes that typically construct what makes an “epic hero” and exploring characters that deviated from this path to redefine how an audience viewed these heroes.
In Creative Writing, Ms. Morin highlighted the students’ work writing a picture book for the TK and Kindergarten classes. Our students are excited to share their work with the TK and K students over Google Meet!
One moment that impressed Mr. Spencer in Chinese Language and Culture was seeing students learn to count and recognize numbers in Chinese; they can now translate any number between 1-10,000 in English or Chinese on the spot!
Next semester, 7th graders will have some new electives, including Yearbook, Film Editing, and Drama, while 8th graders will be able to continue with Studio Art or Chimes and will also start their work on their 8th grade project.
Some anticipated highlights next semester: watching the 7th graders learn how to make use of blue screen and 3D animation in Film Editing (always with interesting results!) and seeing Chimes join with the NC Symphony and musicians around North Carolina in a program called “One State, One Score,” to produce a giant recording of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.
This year has required a pivot in our electives program, which typically involves more hands-on and collaborative activities. I’m grateful for our teachers’ flexibility and excited to hear all of the wonderful things our students have been able to accomplish!
Emily McAllister
Middle School Director
