Academic Support
There are many avenues of academic support here at the Middle School, beginning with teachers and continuing through advisors and up to the Director of the Middle School.
The Learning Specialist and Academic Support Tutor are available to provide supplementary academic support and organizational support. Both work closely with Advisors to support students experiencing difficulty with the curriculum.
Advisory Program
An integral part of the Middle School experience, our Advisory program consists of two components: 1) the faculty advisor and 2) the advisory/co-curriculum program.
1) In the Middle School each student has a faculty advisor. The advisor talks with the student, the teachers and the parents, and keeps track of the student’s progress during the year. The advisor helps each student recognize strengths, weaknesses, interests, and hopes. Advisors help guide students with their academics and may also help students navigate and make sound decisions in their social lives. Students see their advisors during homeroom as well as during advisory period. The connection time is often informal and our small size allows opportunities to “check in” in different ways. Some examples would be during homeroom, break, lunch, study halls and/or before/after School. Students should feel free to seek out their advisors whenever they need them.
For seventh graders and their families, the advisory group is an important transitional step beyond the homeroom-based Lower School. In the eighth grade,
advisors help cultivate and foster a growing independence and responsibility, which leads students toward greater autonomy in the later grades.
Advising students and helping them achieve success takes teamwork. Depending on a particular advisee’s situation, the team may include: parents, the
director, teachers, psychologists, the learning specialist, tutor, and any other teacher who might have particular rapport with that student.
2) The Advisory/Co-Curriculum Program includes core programs taught by advisors on such topics as group dynamics, communication, current events, and social issues. In addition, the Advisory Program is composed of mini-courses on many diverse subjects, including an orientation to studying and the Middle School program, health education, serving others, our place in the community, sexuality and relationships, and drug and alcohol education. The goals of the two-year program are to provide students with a challenging experience that will allow them to explore personal values and become informed decision-makers; to prepare students to participate meaningfully in an increasingly complex and diverse world; to teach students how to handle conflict, ask meaningful questions, and advocate for themselves; and to prepare students for healthy living.
Student Support Groups
Groups such as the Community Service Club, Leadership Council, Diversity Discussion Group, and Affinity Lunch allow Middle School students to participate in service, diversity, and leadership opportunities.
Nurse’s Office
The School Nurse’s office is located on the ground floor of the Carriage House building.
School Counselor
The Counseling Office is located on the ground floor of the Carriage House building. Dr. John Baker, school psychologist and Ms. Krista Haskell, school counselor, welcome visits and are available to speak with students about personal, family, social, or school concerns. Students may drop in or schedule an appointment. While conversations are kept confidential, disclosures may be warranted if the health or well-being of a student is in question. Dr. Baker and Ms. Haskell also consult with administrators, teachers, advisors and parents around individual student as well as general adolescent topics and concerns.