Middlesex School Viewbook by Middlesex School

ONE THING I WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT MIDDLESEX IS...

“At Middlesex, you will be seen, you will be heard, you will be supported and cared for... there is no other community like it.” Aarav Mehta ‘23 Littleton, MA 4

Therese Ejiofor ‘24 “It is a place where you can grow. You will come here and grow in ways you didn’t even think were possible. You will surprise yourself. You will become a better person here.”

MIDDLESEX AT A GLANCE

Founded in

Grades

1901

9-12

410

350

students

acre campus

70% 30% 12%

Boarding

states represented

faculty dogs on campus

Day

International

countries represented

miles from Boston and Logan Airport

“Middlesex students are kind, smart, and talented. They are eager to learn more about themselves and each other, stretching outside of their comfort zones while pursuing exist ing and new areas of interest in academics, arts, and athletics.”

Doug Price Dean of Admissions & Financial Aid

FIND YOUR PROMISE Middlesex School, both in the present and in the past, has preferred capacity in many areas to specialization in one. We believe a transparent and familiar community is an ethi cal community. We believe in our students. From the start, Frederick Winsor’s mission was to “find the promise that lies hidden” in every student, and that message of individu ality, hope, and possibility guides us today. Our campus, designed by the Olmsted Brothers firm, remains centered on its iconic circle. We are fortunate to live in a beautiful setting that naturally brings our paths and our lives together. Radiating from a common sense of place and purpose, Middlesex continues to prepare its students for a changing world. 7

“At Middlesex, I have learned that I don’t have to put myself into a box. I don’t need to have my interests predetermined. I don’t need to be labeled as one thing.” Avery Taylor ‘24 Andover, MA Artwork by Angela Bi ‘21

Ella McTeague, ‘23 “The community here is so strong; you immediately feel like you’re at home. It really fosters your ability to become the person you want to be.”

Freddy Bancroft ‘22 “I love Mr. Hirsch’s English class. The way we talk about thematic elements of literature is really interesting. Middlesex helped me learn how much I love English and writing—it is easily the class that I enjoy the most.”

COMPUTER SCIENCE The Computer Science Department aims to edu cate students about the principles of computer science and advance the problem solving abilities of its students through courses that emphasize the development and implementation of creative algorithms. While higher level programming courses primarily focus on Java, students will develop an intuitive understanding of programming language structure and object-oriented programming, which allows them to learn new languages with ease.

ExPRT CERTIFICATES Students may earn a certificate for completing an Experience with Problem-solving, Reasoning, and Technology (ExPRT) through designated courses. Each ExPRT consists of open-ended problems that require students to perform research and analyze data, as well as provide students with a variety of opportunities to incorp orate technology. Each ExPRT requires collaboration and culminates with students presenting their solutions in both oral and written form. Past ExPRTs include: Bacteriocins; Data Science and Machine Learning; Nanoparticles

STEM & ExPRT The Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Division is made up of the Mathematics, Science, and Computer Science departments. STEM courses at Middlesex emphasize not only subject-specific knowledge, but also critical thinking, problem solving, and effective communication of ideas.

SCIENCE Hands-on activities and laboratory investigations illustrate both the concepts and process of problem solving, while technology allows students to see principles in action. In most cases, students begin their lab science courses with biology, then chemistry, then physics, after which students may choose an area of interest for further exploration.

MATH Through courses ranging from the traditional— algebra, geometry, calculus—to our advanced topics offerings, students are encouraged to think in a quantitative fashion in order to model aspects of their experience and the world around them. Students should learn how to approach problems by integrating mathematical modeling, creative thought, and previous experience to find their way to a solution.

WRITING WORKSHOP Required as part of the Class III curriculum, the weekly Writing Workshop program carefully develops students into confident writers with exceptional command of the craft. Through weekly writing assignments, interactive plenary sessions, and one-on-one feedback, our students learn how to compose carefully constructed paragraphs that form the basis of eloquent, organized essays. With emphasis on skills such as abstraction, argument, purposeful punctuation, and accurate diction, we provide students with the necessary tools to transfer complex ideas from mind to paper. We introduce these skills with our freshmen, reinforce them most rigorously with our sophomores through the Writing Workshop Program, and capitalize on them as we move through the junior and senior years. It is our fundamental belief that each student can learn to write in a clear and fluid style well suited to the nature of their own mind. The writing program ensures that our students acquire a strong foundation in writing that they will rely on at Middlesex and beyond.

“Everyone who graduates from Middlesex feels accomplished as a writer.” John Hirsch, Director of Writing Program

ACADEMICS AT MIDDLESEX

Of the 615 AP tests taken by 235 Middlesex students in 2020:

91%

70%

were a 3 or higher

were a 4 or higher

700 & 710 mean SAT Evidence-Based Reading & Writing and Math scores of 2021 graduating class

CLASS REQUIREMENTS Departmental requirements consist of specific courses which aim to develop in all students such fundamental skills as insightful reading, critical thinking, coherent writing, probing research and accurate calculating. Required subjects include: English, Mathematics, Science, Foreign Language, History, and the Arts.

INDEPENDENT STUDY What happens when a student completes AP Physics C before senior year? At Middlesex, the student accelerates by taking a self-designed course in quantum mechanics, replacing textbooks with the work of Stephen Hawking. This top-end academic flexibility is a signature feature of our Independent Study Program (ISP), in which seniors work with faculty sponsors in a collaborative effort that allows the pursuit of every passion, no matter how advanced, creative, or esoteric. Examples of past ISPs include: Aviation Design and Innovation South African Language and Culture Music Theory and Its Application Architectural Design of Disney Theme Parks

The classroom journey at Middlesex begins with a comprehensive progression through the academic divisions, departments, and disciplines. This core, along with signature programs like Writing Workshop and our 4-course rotation in the fine arts, provides our students with the confidence, creativity, and capacity to experience the academic program to its fullest. Ever wanted to write your own song? Try our Composition and Music Theory course. Learn Chinese? It’s one of our 5 language offerings. Willing to go from the 21st century to the 12th and back in 20 minutes? A Smartboard and a smart teacher will guide you. At Middlesex, you will stretch your academic limits under the caring tutelage of a whole faculty, whose enthusiasm for their disciplines is surpassed only by their passionate commitment to their students.

4:1

Students per class on average

Student-to-Faculty ratio

71%

AP courses

Teaching Faculty with Advanced Degrees

TOP 10 COLLEGES ATTENDED BY MX GRADUATES IN THE LAST YEAR: Boston College Bowdoin College Colby College Dartmouth College Georgetown University

Harvard University New York University Trinity College Tufts University University of Chicago

“There are so many opportunities here, and so many things you can try no matter where you are from or your level of prior experience. Everyone is rooting for you.” M’Kenzi Thompson ‘23 Kingston, Jamaica Artwork by Jillian Robertson ‘21

Romy Ahn ‘23 “The volleyball team is a really close group of girls and I instantly felt connected. We are a competitive team but really supportive. It is a great environment.”

Rex Mabbs ‘22 “Having the opportunity to be a part of a team has been a great way to get to know some of the older students—to learn from them and to grow, not only within the sport but as a person as well.”

ATHLETICS AT MIDDLESEX

Middlesex athletes go places. They move from the classroom to the field, woods, court, rink, river or slope. Many ascend from JV to Varsity. They travel together as teams, whether the rival is minutes or hours away. Others bring home New England Championships, reach the summit as All-Americans, or journey on to play at some of the elite college programs in the country. With over fifty interscholastic teams spanning all skill levels, each student finds an athletic experience suited to their talents and goals. Some students develop as athletes as they sharpen their skills on 3rds and JV teams, while others immediately compete for positions at the varsity level. Our experienced coaches get the most out of their players and prepare them for the next level of competition. For some the next level is varsity. For others the next step is playing for a Division-I college program. We count on every student for enthusiastic participation in our athletic community—a place where classmates become teammates, teachers become coaches, and fifty teams become one.

FALL Cross Country | Field Hockey Football | Soccer | Volleyball

WINTER Alpine Skiing | Basketball | Dance Ice Hockey | Nordic Skiing Wrestling | Squash

SPRING 18

Athletes recruited to colleges in 2021

Faculty coaches

Between 2017-2021 school years:

139

All-Leagues

All-New Englands

“I’ve become much more focused on what actually makes me happy and what I’m passionate about, rather than what I think will make other people happy.” Cooper Austen ‘22 Concord, MA Artwork by Nisha Pedda ‘21

Antonia Baylor ‘22 “I was never a theater kid before Middlesex, but I got here and said ‘why not?’ And three years later, I signed up for every class that Tom Kane teaches. I love theater—I would have never guessed.”

THE ARTS AT MIDDLESEX

In the Art Department at Middlesex, we start with exposure: a four-course rotation through music, drama, art history, and drawing in which our freshmen and sophomores deepen knowledge and confidence in the Arts while discovering new passions. From there students can refine and master their skills through an array of electives and extracurricular pursuits. From A.P. Studio Art to student-directed one act plays to one of our three a cappella groups, students at Middlesex turn practice into performance. We ensure that everybody has the appropriate facilities, faculty support, and schedule flexibility to become fully engaged in the Arts—to stretch, create, and experience fully the life of the heart and of the mind. We want our students making art, not just talking about it or passing it by. After all, what is intelligence and discipline without creativity, expression, and a sense of the sublime?

MUSIC Advanced Studio Music | Jazz Ensemble Chamber Orchestra | Steel Pan Ensemble Digital Music | AP Music Theory

THEATRE Approaches to Acting | Technical Theater Theater Design | Movie Making for Actors Projects in Theater: Playwrights

RECENT PRODUCTIONS 24

The Addams Family | Spring Awakening She Kills Monsters | The Visit | Kiss Me Kate

PLAQUE CARVING Honoring one of the most powerful traditions of the School, each graduate of Middlesex creates a wooden plaque that is displayed with those of their classmates along the halls of the school.

110

main stage productions a year

students taking music lessons

Proximity to nearby museums:

17 min to Decordova Sculpture Park & Museum

30 min 40 min to Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

4,375

plaques installed in the halls of Middlesex

to Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston

students involved in chorus

“Everyone here is so different but we all get along so well. I’ve learned so much about myself from different people. I see who I want to be through the people I look up to.” Grace Millett, ‘22 Vail, CO Photograph by Andrew Harris ‘21

Aarav Mehta ‘23 “At Middlesex, it is such a small, tight knit group. Here, everyone wants to be your friend. You can be friends with anyone. I never see people just sticking with their own friend group— people want to branch out, people want to connect.”

Avery Taylor ‘24 “I wasn’t expecting to be friends with Juniors and Seniors, but through the dorm and my teams, I got to know older kids. It is so fun to have them to rely on.”

MINDFULNESS Mindfulness can be summed up as “inner education.” Mindfulness practice helps us to be a scientist of our own experience. At Middlesex, we have a full-time faculty member dedicated to supporting our entire school community (students, faculty, staff, parents, and alumni) in mindfulness practice. In all the mindfulness programs, the decision to practice mindfulness is always an invitation. All new students at Middlesex participate in an Introduction to Mindfulness course in the fall semester. Feedback from students has been overwhelmingly positive; 97% of those surveyed would recommend the course to others. Students report that the course helped them sleep better, concentrate on schoolwork, reduce stress, focus in sports, and improve relationships with themselves and others.

“Mindfulness practice is a laboratory for the human experience that we’re all try ing to figure out together.” Doug Worthen, Director Mindfulness

ADVISING PROGRAM Advisors at Middlesex are prepared to tackle the really big questions—like what classes to take, how to handle a conflict with a friend, where to go for extra math help, and which outfit to wear to Casino Night. But they’re also there to lend a hand when you lose your calculator or need to get a haircut, they provide a shoulder to cry on if you bomb a quiz, and they’re ready with high-fives when you make the team.

“The advising program at Middlesex cultivates a relationship that extends beyond the classroom. My advisor is someone I can talk to about any con cern, interest, or event. They push me to think inwardly about my Middlesex experience, to stretch my mind aca demically, give my all athletically, and have an open mind socially.” Stuart McCallum ‘21, Lexington, MA

New students are assigned a faculty advisor before they arrive on campus. Most students stay with one advisor throughout their years at Middlesex, though students may select a different advisor at the end of each year—or after the first semester, for freshmen. Each advising group has a maximum of six students per advisor; students meet formally with their advisors at least once a week, but informally much more often. Advisors also play an important role for parents as the primary liaison between parents and the School. Advisors and parents meet on Family Weekend in the fall, and advisors are in regular contact with parents throughout the school year.

STUDENT LIFE AT MIDDLESEX

STUDENT ACTIVITIES Daily Shuttle Bus into Concord Square Dance Field Day Football Game “Under the Lights” Bus to Burlington Mall Senior Cruise Random Dance Bus to Boston & Cambridge Freedom of Speech St. George’s Day Movie & Make-Your-Own Sundaes Halloween Dance Family Weekend Open Ice Skating Bus to the Movies Holiday Concert Faculty Open Houses Black Light Techno Dance Winter Music Recital Sno-Tubing Wrentham Outlets Casino Night Superbowl party Hypnotist Junior Family Weekend Laser Tag Human foosball Coffeehouse Kimball’s Ice Cream Trip Dominoes Late Night Pizza Party Patriots’ Day parade Boston Marathon Senior Prom Relay for Life Splatter Dance Paintball Alumni Weekend Spring Fling Luau Spring Carnival

STUDENT GROUPS Middlesex students are busy, as evidenced by their participation in (and creation of) numerous extracurricular activities, particularly the many clubs and organizations on campus. These organizations—apart from a faculty advisor— are entirely student-run. Astronomy Club Chess Club Chinese Club Circle of Women Common Sense Cooking Club Debate Club Divine Visions Step Team Finance Club Fishing Club FOCUS French Club Frisbee Club Improv Club Investing in Girls Iris Literary Magazine Literary Appreciation Society

Math Club Middlesex Art Association Mindfulness Club MX Cares MX Live Model UN Outdoor Club Photo Club Poetry Club Pottery Club Programming Club Public Speaking Club Random Acts of Kindness Reggae Music Club Robotics Club Spike Ball Club The Anvil Newspaper

AFFINITY GROUPS Affinity groups serve as safe spaces for students to find connection, support and inspiration from one another, and often organize events and activities within the Middlesex community. Society of Latinx (SOL) MXFam Gay-Straight Alliance

Asian Society (AZN) femX Jewish Student Union

COMMUNITY SERVICE At Middlesex, we seek to positively contribute and make a difference in the surrounding greater Boston community and beyond. You can participate in weekly, monthly, or annual service programs, as well as domestic and global service trips. We prepare our students to be good and productive citizens in an increasing global and diverse world.

COMMUNITY LIFE The Community Life Program aims to address the topics and issues students will face both in the present and later in college, career, and life: healthy relationships, wellness and stress management, drug and alcohol use, appropriate technology use, citizenship (both local and global), and leadership, to name just a few. We address these issues through events designed to stimulate open conversation, whether in allschool assemblies twice a week, monthly Community Life Meetings, or “Choices” for freshmen and “Connections” for sophomores. These gatherings, during which small groups of students meet in faculty living rooms to share stories, laughter, stresses, and snacks, are led by two faculty members and a senior student leader and serve as discussions around common challenges that teenagers face outside the classroom.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION At Middlesex, we are committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community built on mutual respect, physical and emotional safety, equity, and belonging. By actively cultivating such a community, we foster intellectual, social, and emotional growth for our students and faculty. By building safe spaces for students we encourage courageous cross cultural conversations that promote leaning into discomfort, deep listening, and social-emotional growth. Through close collaboration with all aspects of school life, the DEI office builds meaningful programming meant to advance our goals of creating an equitable and inclusive community.

“This is a place where you can grow and thrive regardless of who you are, where you’re from, or what you look like.” Erika Prahl, Dean of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion

BOARDING LIFE AT MIDDLESEX

When a senior proctor stops by your room at night to check on you, it’s not necessarily time for bed. It’s time to catch up and chat about how your basketball game went. It’s a chance to continue a friendly debate that started on the common room couches. It’s an opportunity to share excitement about the weekend and get some advice on what to wear to the upcoming dance. Sometimes check-in is an occasion for freshly baked cookies or a chance to catch up on a favorite show with the rest of your dorm.

dorms

boarding proctors

25-35

6-7

students per dorm

dorm parents per dorm

All dorms have vertical housing (all grades in every dorm)

M’Kenzi Thompson ‘23 “The people in my dorm are amazing and my dorm parents have been so welcoming. I made friends so easily within the dorm—it shows the strong sense of community we have.”

Study Hours:

7:30-9:30 pm Lights out for Freshman:

10:30 pm

Aidan George ‘23

“Being from far away comes with greater independence. Friends and faculty become really important to you here, especially as a boarder. You build relationships that you’ll have for the rest of your life.”

“You get to see people in different aspects of the community besides the classroom and sports field. You get to live with them and build stronger connections with them.” AliJah Clark ‘23, Brighton, MA

DAY STUDENTS AT MIDDLESEX

Day students enjoy the best of both worlds. Though Middlesex is oriented towards a 24-houra-day living experience, day students form a critical mass crucial to the Middlesex experience. They participate in the life of the School through our four day houses: Winsor, Bateman, Estabrook, and Lowell. These houses organize day students into groups approximately the size of boarding houses (25-30) for the purpose of community life programming and student activities. At night you’ll find day students huddled with boarders in the library for a group study session. On Saturday afternoons day students and boarders alike fill the stands of the hockey rink as they cheer for the Zebras. Afterwards, they’ll all head to the dining hall for some dinner before the school dance. Day students come from many surrounding communities and from varying distances, and add significantly to the diversity of talent, background, and character of the school.

day proctors

day houses

Day students can: Sleepover in dorms on Saturdays Host boarding students on the weekends Enjoy all meals in the dining hall

“I’m a day student but I’m here all the time. It’s like a second home. Having close friends and a supportive faculty… it’s become my second family.” Rex Mabbs ‘22, Concord, MA

Katherine Carroll ‘22 “You’ll barely notice a divide between day students and boarding students because everyone is equally involved. There is always time to hang out in the dorms together.”

Julian Dai ‘22 “Even as a day student, I spend the majority of my free time inside the dorms with my friends.”

STUDENT PERSPECTIVES Kofi King ‘20

Love Daley ’22

The crew.

Dorm Dinner!

Annabelle Lerner ’23

Wells Goltra ’22

Outdoor movie night!

Brian Choi ’21

Circles > Quads.

Esme Coes ’24

Angela Bi ’21

Afternoons in the studio

Justine Lam ‘23

Game Day

Gabby Walsh ‘20

HOW TO APPLY CURIOSITY, EMPATHY, AND TALENT. While there is no one “Middlesex student”, these three characteristics carry great weight in our selection process. We are fortunate to attract a large number of applicants each year, and as a small school we aspire to enroll a class of new students who will enrich the community with their unique qualities. We seek students with intellectual curiosity and look to teacher recommendations, the interview, and application essays for evidence of this quality. While we don’t expect new students to have extraordinary extracurricular talents, we do appreciate students who participate actively in all aspects of their life and demonstrate a desire to contribute to the many facets of the School. And finally, we believe in the importance of diversity—racial, ethnic, geographic, socioeconomic, and educational background—as this greatly enhances the learning in all aspects of our program. Our advice to applicants is to focus on what you control: the commitment to learning you bring to your classes each day; your knowledge of Middlesex and the impact you plan to have in our community that you discuss with your interviewer; and the effort and attention you display in your application. And of course, have fun with the process!

Doug Price Dean of Admissions & Financial Aid #Gratitude.

Prospective Student

Sunset on the pond.

DEADLINES January 31: The application deadline for all applicants; Financial Aid applications also due. March 10: Applicants receive email notification of their admissions decision. April 10: Families must sign and return the enrollment contract, with specified payment, in order to confirm their student’s enrollment at Middlesex.

REQUIREMENTS All applicants apply online, using either the Middlesex application through Gateway to Prep Schools (Gateway) or the Standard Application Online (SAO). The applications require a Candidate Profile or Student Biographical Form, Student Essay Questions, Parent Statement, recommendations from current English and Math teachers, a Principal/Counselor Recommendation, and a transcript report. You’ll find details of these requirements on our website.

PLAN YOUR VISIT We believe that visiting a school is extremely important. You meet its people and “feel” its atmosphere. A visit helps you find a school that fits you. When you arrive at Middlesex, you will take a 40 minute, student-led tour followed by an interview with a member of the Admissions team. The entire visit, including the tour and interview, lasts approximately 1.5 hours.

To schedule an appointment, please contact the Admissions Office at 978-371-6524 or email us at appointments@mxschool.edu. You may also self-schedule an appointment through our website by visiting mxschool.edu/admissions.

ONE THING I WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT MIDDLESEX IS...

Middlesex welcomes students, faculty, staff, and other community members of any gender, race, color, disability status, gender identity or expression, sexual identity, social class, religion, and national and ethnic origin.

With the conviction that nurturing differences among people strengthens, broadens, and enriches the community, Middlesex is wholly committed to making the School a safe and comfortable environment for all.

1400 Lowell Rd. · Concord, MA · 01742 (978) 371-6524 · admissons@mxschool.edu · mxschool.edu