Middle School

A PRACTICAL AND INNOVATIVE CURRICULUM

From 6th through 8th grade, our middle school program actively prepares students for the rigors of high school. Our nurturing environment helps students feel part of a community and fosters relationships between peers from all parts of the globe.

The middle school curriculum goes beyond the textbook as students explore the four core subjects of language, math, science, and social studies through investigative research, critical-thinking projects, and team building activities. Teachers encourage students to be active learners in and out of the classroom, making connections between their academics and the world around them. Our curriculum is designed to be academic, practical, innovative, and relevant to life in the twenty-first century. Students engage in cross-curricular projects throughout the year, and participate in events with other local schools such as the Model UN and The Kids Lit Quiz.

A DYNAMIC SCHEDULE FOR TENNIS PLAYERS

Our schedule offers middle school students the unique opportunity to grow academically, athletically and personally. While our tennis players train for four hours every day, our non-tennis players participate in a diverse PE program and a Change Makers class. All students alternate between academics and athletics at key moments in order to optimize performance in both areas.

SPANISH, CATALAN, AND ENRICHMENT CLASSES

All students take immersive Spanish classes for four hours per week. Students may additionally choose to take the Catalan curriculum classes in order to homologate their studies in Spain. Students not taking the Catalan curriculum classes will be enrolled in the enrichment program, which provides exciting and practical modules in entrepreneurship, touch typing, drama, philosophy, music, art, and nutrition. Enrichment modules typically last for nine weeks, and assessments are often student driven. Some examples of successful student driven initiatives are: initiating a small business; completing a touch typing marathon; organizing a healthy salad fair, and putting on a musical performance.

Beyond the middle school curriculum

A SENSE OF BELONGING

Each individual needs to feel valued, and feel a sense of belonging to a community. Here at ES International School, we support and nurture every child’s growth mentally, socially, emotionally, and ethically. Our students not only strive for academic excellence but also gain a strong understanding of what it means to be a considerate, thoughtful, and productive member of a community.

SHAPING CHARACTER

In middle school, through advisory sessions and assemblies we celebrate excellent student performance and personal growth, discuss our school values, and address some of the issues that all middle school students face, such as peer pressure, bullying, and how to resolve conflicts. Advisory and assemblies foster community and help to guide our middle schoolers through the process of growing up, becoming more self-assured, responsible, kind and confident young adults.

CHANGE MAKERS

Through Change Makers, our non tennis playing students are celebrated and integrated into the ASC community, as they initiate, plan and prepare community focused projects. They learn about brainstorming, collaborating and project management as they develop their passion projects from an initial idea to a measurable final product. Change Makers passion projects have included: a series of instructional videos on ‘How To Survive Middle School’; an overnight middle school nature excursion; a charity padel tournament to raise money to plant trees; and a charity festive bake sale. Change Makers is a class that inspires students to develop agency and altruism.