-
At the core of our middle school program is a commitment to solid academics acquired in a respectful community.
Enthusiastic teachers create opportunities for learning that match the natures of middle schoolers: energetic, excited, engaged in the culture of the time, wanting to have an impact, to be known and understood. Providing students with “windows and mirrors”, teachers construct an environment that is safe, a place to take risks and learn about self and others through shared experiences, and where there is time for adolescent issues, individual struggles and community building.
In humanities, texts drawn from across ages, cultures and genres expose students to different perspectives, providing opportunities to think critically and respond using persuasive, creative, expository, narrative, expressive styles of writing, as well as oral presentations. Math coursework develops logic and problem-solving skills, increases students’ capacities for abstraction, and equips them for high school Algebra I or Geometry and with tools to apply mathematical thinking to life. Ecology, Chemistry, Biology and Physics curriculum develops methodical thinking and analytic abilities while exposing students to the basics of lab science.
Students can excel outside the classroom as well. They discover new worlds via our technology lab, performance stage, art and music studios; become leaders by teaching conflict resolution at a local, public school; and learn cooperation through team sports like soccer, basketball and tennis. The 8th grade trip to New Mexico is a capstone experience integrating, art, science, social studies and Spanish in the culture of another locale. MPFS graduates move on to selective secondary schools thoroughly prepared, confident in both their skills and in themselves.
Sixth Grade
-
Favorite middle school music activities include guitar instruction, playing group compositions with rhythmic instruments, and experimenting with multi-track recording.
-
Sixth graders explore the environmental sciences, discovering the interconnections amongst ecosystems and their inhabitants. These encounters provide experiential learning that expands young peoples' capacity to reason.
-
Several times a year, the entire middle school spends time building community. An overnight camping trip to Bear Creek Camp in the Pocono Mountains affords a chance for students to support each other in tackling high ropes courses and playing cooperative games.
-
Sixth graders visit the art studio twice a week learning to process original ideas and establish artistic behaviors that they can carry to other areas of their lives.
-
Students are challenged to apply lessons learned from history and current events as they consider their own responsibility to family, school, community, society and the world at large.
Seventh Grade
-
Seeing their efforts make a difference in the lives of others inspires and empowers students in ways that no textbook lesson can.
-
Sixth, seventh and eighth graders choose a non-competitive or competitive sport each trimester; the Fall competitive option is soccer. Practice takes place during regularly scheduled gym class twice weekly while home and away games occur once each week.
-
Seventh graders master the fundamentals of wheel-turning -- preparing the clay, centering and raising small vessels -- throwing beautiful, one-of-a-kind creations.
-
Middle school students are highly motivated to hone conversational Spanish skills as they learn about topics relevant to their adolescent interests.
-
Seventh graders investigate the question: “What are human rights and how did they evolve from the ancient world to contemporary times?” In recreating Socrates trial, they explore how the concept of rights had expanded by the time of the early democracies of Ancient Greece and Rome.
Eighth Grade
-
The eighth grade trip to New Mexico enriches curriculum while promoting personal growth of students as individuals and as members of a group. It’s considered by most students to be the highlight of their time at MPFS.
-
During their "senior" year at MPFS, eighth graders teach conflict resolution skills, developed formally in prior grades, to local 5th grade public school students who are about to embark on their own middle school careers.
-
All middle school students can participate in the annual Middle School Play. Past productions have included Our Town, Fiddler on the Roof, School House Rock Junior, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Romeo and Juliet.
-
Centered in their own space, middle school students get to know each other well. Even lockers provide chances to express individuality.
-
Each year, in teams of two and three, middle schoolers navigate their way down the Brandywine River in canoes, with new students benefiting from the tutelage of older peers who've participated in prior years’ trips.