"A True Middle School"

“A True Middle School” SEVENTH GRADE RETURNS TO THE LOWER SCHOOL

In October 2017, Lower School Principal Mr. Schultz emailed families with a big announcement: in 2018-19, the 7th grade class would be located on the Lower School campus for the first time since 2004. “It is clear that the K-8 model gives more opportunities for middle school students to grow and mature in a familiar environment. The longer a student stays in those learning environments, the stronger that student becomes in all areas of education,” Mr. Schultz wrote. “The middle school students are actual leaders to the younger students, and that authentic leadership experience makes a great impression on them. They go on to excel in high school because they are so well prepared.”

While parents were supportive of the move and curious about the logistics of the transition, student reactions were, if only initially, mixed. “When I heard about it last year, I was disappointed,” said 7th-grader Vincent Casal, who was eager to transition to the Upper School. “I was thinking [his older brother] Watson would take me to school.” His classmate, Brooke, on the other hand, was relieved. “To be honest, I’m scared of that campus [the Upper School]! Everyone here thinks it’s a big deal to be with seniors. I feel like I’m a baby compared to those people!”

The middle school instructional team wanted to make sure the 7th grade experience was a special one in its inaugural year. How to make it a different experience for students, rather than, say, “6th grade 2.0”? “It came down to increased independence and increased trust,” said social studies teacher John Angelle. “Particularly in the classroom, you want them to have more independence, to take control of their learning.”

That independence and trust manifested itself in a few ways:

• A 7th-grade-only outdoor patio, where students can eat lunch and spend recess.

• A new 7th-grade lounge in the IB building, with couches and vending machine

• No more single-file lines: students can move from class to class independently

• Students are also entrusted to move between classes without a teacher escort

For that new level of independence and trust to work, students had to abide by a new set of responsibilities and rules. “We introduced a new positive behavior system at the beginning of this school year,” said IB coordinator Theresa Sequeira. “We laid out all the rules at the beginning of the year, and the consequences [for breaking them]. For the most part, they handled that really well.”

Because the 7th-graders are more developmentally ready, the Lower School is also seeing new activities. “We took a field trip to Huntsville[s’ U.S. Space and Rocket Center]. That was a huge success,” said religion teacher Dana Christensen. They are also seeing new kinds of service projects. “They are more capable of going out and serving than younger students,” Ms. Christensen said. “They’ve collected hygiene kits and delivered them to homeless men and women. They’ve volunteered at the Atlanta Community Food Bank. It’s opened more doors for them in that regard.” And the 7th-graders have their first social imminently.

“I think it’s been great,” Mr. Angelle said. “It’s more appropriate to our middle school setting,” Ms. Christensen added. “We’re definitely more of a true middle school now.”