Our Core Values are the essence of our community and the code by which we live — the principles upon which we make our decisions. They are the heart and soul of The Agnes Irwin School.
LEAD WITH CHARACTER
We are courageous leaders who model empathy and compassion. We embody honesty, kindness, and personal integrity in all that we say and do.
FOSTER TRUST AND COMMUNITY
We build trust through openness and understanding fostering supportive relationships, deep connections, safe risk-taking, and the space to be our best selves.
STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE
We encourage and support each other to tenaciously reach our fullest potential as we demonstrate resilience and champion greatness in all our pursuits.
NURTURE PASSIONS AND WELLBEING
We nurture a love of learning and academic success by cultivating individual passions and the pursuit of our own unique path, supporting the whole person in wellness and wellbeing.
RESPECT AND CELEBRATE ALL
We treat all with dignity and respect, welcoming differences in backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives. We foster an inclusive environment where everyone is valued, contributions are celebrated, and community is cherished.
GET TO KNOW
The Director of the Middle School
COREY WILLINGHAM has dedicated a decade to middle school learners. She began her teaching career with Teach for at Mastery Charter School Thomas Campus in South Philadelphia, where she taught Composition and Ancient History to middle schoolers and Advanced Placement Comparative Government to juniors and seniors. Corey holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Education from Elon University and a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Pennsylvania. She joined the middle school history faculty at Agnes Irwin in 2016 and was named 7th and 8th Grade Dean of Students in 2018. Corey is the mother of two beautiful kids, Benjamin and Emma.
When we think of what our Middle School girls are known for, more than one word comes to mind.
Energy. Joy. Curiosity. Excitement. It’s a cheerful, supportive environment where the love of learning is palpable. This transformative time is carefully fostered by an engaging and intellectually stimulating academic program that gets Middle School girls thinking, asking, and growing. They interact with each other and their environment in deeper and more meaningful ways, starting to understand their world — and getting to know themselves — on a level that helps them mature into responsible and self-assured young women.
MIDDLE
What to expect in The Middle School is known for MIDDLE SCHOOL INTELLECTUAL GROWTH
HIGHLIGHTS OF A MIDDLE SCHOOL DAY
Students begin to arrive at 7:45 a.m.
Parliament begins at 8 a.m. During the week, each student participates in MS Assembly, a grade-level class meeting, a values-based lesson, and other activities.
Mid-morning break. Research shows girls learn best when they can have a snack at this time of day. This break also allows time to meet with teachers.
Study hall. During the school day, Middle School students are offered study hall time to connect and collaborate with teachers and peers.
School day ends at 3:30 p.m. Students who play sports will have practices or games that extend beyond the school day.
After School Study. For families who need to pick up their daughters after 4 p.m., 5th, 6th, and 7th graders who are still on campus attend “After School Study,” a study hall monitored by a member of our staff until 6 p.m. Girls in 8th grade may stay on campus, and have the freedom to choose between After School Study and the Lenox Lobby.
PARLIAMENT
Did you know a group of owls is called a Parliament? Led by a faculty member called a “ParliaMentor,” small groups of our Middle School students meet every morning to check in and organize themselves for the day ahead. In Parliament, we intentionally teach the core values of our school and explore Middle School themes such as positive relationships, kindness, and intellectual curiosity.
joy
DIGITAL OWNERSHIP
Living in an increasingly technology-based society, we work to prepare our students to be safe, thoughtful navigators of the digital world. Through personal responsibility and classroom work, we help our students develop the skills to work confidently with various forms of technology. iPads are provided for all students.
ATHLETICS IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL
All 7th and 8th graders are expected to participate in three seasons of a school sport or fitness activity.
Fall: Cross Country, Field Hockey, Soccer, Tennis, Volleyball
Winter: Basketball, Squash, Swimming, Dance
Spring: Lacrosse, Learn to Row (8th grade only), Run Club, Softball, Developmental Squash
SCHOOL LEADERSHIP KEYS
AGENCY
Leaders know what they can control and use their skills and abilities to positively impact their communities.
CONFIDENCE
Leaders know their strengths and are driven by a sense of purpose.
INCLUSIVITY
Leaders accept, celebrate, and make space for all people and new ideas.
EMPATHY
Leaders push themselves to take on someone else’s perspective and find ways to be supportive.
LEADERSHIP KEYS
The Center for the Advancement of Girls partnered with Middle School faculty and staff to create the Leadership Keys Curriculum. This signature program for Agnes Irwin students focuses on the development of agency, confidence, empathy, and inclusivity as necessary attributes of successful leaders. Our girls engage in discussions and activities that aim to engrain the definitions, mindsets, and behaviors associated with the four keys.
MIDDLE SCHOOL EXPERIENCES
5th Grade
6th Grade
Each day, each girl gets a new chance to cultivate a new part of her mind — from basic skills like problemsolving, reading comprehension, and verbal skills, to learning to express who she is through writing, art, her views on the world around her, and how she relates to her community.
As we get to know each student, we prioritize and elevate every opportunity for her to shine in her element — creatively, academically, socially, and often all three. Research shows us girls especially thrive well with an interdisciplinary approach to learning, so we complement her traditional coursework with an abundance of enrichment through the arts, humanities, sciences, and math, keeping her well-rounded and familiar with all facets of the educational experience
COURAGE TO BE ME CURRICULUM
Courage To Be Me is a part of our life skills and character education program. Designed to ease the transition to middle school for our 5th graders, the class is taught by our Middle School counselor. Through activity-based learning, our girls develop their emotional and social intelligence, including empathy, which is strongly related to success in life.
CURRICULUM OVERVIEW
GRADE 5
Plot and Characters
English
History
Math
INSIDE OUTSIDE CURRICULUM
A self-discovery program specifically designed for the middle school years, the Inside Outside curriculum teaches girls what it means to be resilient, how to increase self-esteem and self-awareness, and promotes emotional health and positive peer relationships. The program enhances the internal resources needed as part of a healthy adolescent development.
7TH & 8TH GRADE WELLNESS CURRICULUM
Wellness classes cover a wide variety of topics centered on the healthy physical and emotional development of girls and young women. Each year, topics covered include relationship skills, personal health practices, individual well-being, self-advocacy, and good decisionmaking.
energy
Science
Languages & Computer Science (CS)*
Ancient History
Numbers, Expressions, and Equations
Grade Level and Accelerated
Physical Science, Engineering
French, Spanish, Latin (Beginning with Class of 2031: French, Spanish, Latin, CS)
8th Grade
7th Grade
Visual and Performing Arts
Physical Education
Art, Music, and Theater**, Chorus (optional)
PE/Wellness 4x/week
GRADE 6
Role of Setting
Medieval History
Basic Geometry, Units of Measure, Ratios, Rates and Proportions, Analyzing Data
Grade Level and Accelerated
Human Biology
French, Spanish, or Latin (Beginning with Class of 2031: one language plus CS)
GRADE 7
Themes, Figurative Language
World History 1300-1600
Pre-Algebra, Algebra Part 1, Algebra I
Human Biology, Chemistry, and Chemical Engineering
French or Spanish and Latin (Beginning with Class of 2031: one language plus CS)
Art, Music, and Theater**, Chorus (optional)
PE/Wellness 4x/week, can try out for school teams
Interdisciplinary Programming
Fifth Grade Performance
MAYdieval Day
Art, Music, and Public Speaking**, Chorus (optional)
Expected to participate in three seasons of school teams or fitness
Washington, D.C. trip
GRADE 8
Tone, Irony, Dialect, Allusion U.S. History
Algebra IA, Algebra Part 2, Geometry Honors
Earth Systems (Geology, Astronomy) and Natural Resources
French I, French 8, French 8 Honors, Spanish I, Spanish 8, Spanish 8 Honors, Latin I, Latin 8 (Beginning with Class of 2031: one language plus CS)
Art, Music, and Theater**, Chorus (optional)
Expected to participate in school teams or fitness
