Middle School

Middle School students in grades 6 through 8 take five core academic courses: study of the Humanities via explorations in English and History, Mathematics, Science, and World Language. Coursework is rigorous and creative; with a focus on skill development and analytical thinking. To enrich daily student learning, academic courses are balanced with Music, Physical Education, and elective courses.

In each grade, students take a rotating set of courses called Cycle Classes. The goal of Cycle is to expose students to a variety of extra-curricular experiences. Current Cycle courses in grade 6 are: Art, Latin, and STEAM. Grade 7 students take Art, Drama, and Values & Choices. Grade 8 Cycle students enjoy Art, Drama, and Robotics.

Our 7th grade Drama curriculum has students write one-act plays organized around a theme. Each trimester, a group of 7th graders creates, staffs, and directs their productions for an audience of their peers and their parents. The next year, in 8th grade, Drama students work with the plays of William Shakespeare, learn the bard’s famous lines, and perform a condensed Shakespeare play.

All Middle School students take music class as part of their core schedule. Students may choose between Band, Choir, or Orchestra. Music classes practice songs for both pleasure and performance. Twice a year, students participate in concerts for parents and family members.

Student learning is most effective when it empowers student interest. Our Ideas and Innovations (I&I) curriculum offers students a chance to explore ideas from a new perspective. Each year students choose from a variety of I&I classes. Some of our recent courses have included: Arabic culture and language, baseball statistics, coding, creative writing, digital news production, dissection lab, financial literacy, STEAM, study skills, and woodworking.

On a daily basis students have time for additional academic support, including extra help from teachers. Academic support time is supplemented by programs to encourage reading for pleasure, including our Honors Reading curriculum.

Each Spring, 7th and 8th graders have the opportunity to travel internationally with Middle School teachers in a trip that is two-parts learning and one-part fun. Whether Belize, Costa Rica, Italy, or London, our international travel program is designed to immerse our students in another cultural world, to try new experiences and learn something new about themselves.

In the 2018-2019 school year, the Middle School will be returning to Costa Rica. Planned adventures include: kayaking in Lake Arenal, a canopy zip line tour in the rainforest, a visit to the Santa Elena Biological Reserve, a traditional Costa Rican cooking class, and a crocodile safari.

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Daily Middle School Physical Education class offers 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students the opportunity to join athletic teams with their peers, practice their sport, and then compete against other middle schools in the area. Middle school students are excited to put on their first Rutgers Prep jersey and participate in one of the more than ten team sports available to the students over the three athletic seasons.