AWAYFINDER’S

BY LUKE MICHEL, HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL

Our first 6th grade class navigates a year of new experiences, finding themselves and community along the path

The tension was building as the twister descended on the little farmhouse in Kansas. The students alternated lines in louder voices, and flying trees, cows, chickens, and a house, held by students, circled Dorothy faster until the house landed in Oz. The loud crash was met by silence and the actors scattered, leaving Dorthy and Toto to figure out what just happened.

Our first sixth grade play ever was underway and it successfully captured the energy, creativity, and messiness of the age.

When asked about their middle school experience, most adults cringe, shake their heads, or get a far-off look in their eyes. It’s a tough developmental age characterized by tremendous change, but also a significant time of joy and growth. Schools must recognize the opportunities and challenges that come with middle schoolers.

The theme of our sixth grade program is wayfinding – as individuals and a community. A large part of middle school experience is figuring out who you are and how you fit in. We believe that the student experience should be designed to help them do this in academic and co-curricular spaces. Each trimester our sixth graders will have an integrated project based on three themes: Wayfinding, Resources, and Infrastructure.