Dear Middle School Families,
The clocks have changed, the snow has melted, and the sun is out. As we enter the third week of Trimester 3, spring finally seems to be announcing itself…dare I say it’s sweat towel season yet again?
At this point in the year, students have hit their stride, and learning is in full swing. In 8th grade, students are building (makeshift) record players to explore sound and vibration in science while also strengthening note-taking habits that support increasingly complex learning through Cornell notes. I’m proud of the suite of strategies that our teachers equip students with as they learn to listen, organize, and synthesize information. In social studies, they are preparing argumentative speeches and sharpening their public-speaking skills as they make evidence-based claims about the Silk Road and its most significant impact on the world. Seventh graders are deep in an informational text unit, the kind of work that teaches discernment, a deeply important and future-focused skill. Students are evaluating what they read, how it is constructed, and why it matters, then applying their learning to their own writing. They are also learning the ablative case in Latin, which gave me a small jolt of butterflies as I remembered my own high school Latin experience (that and the seventh grade chemistry unit have me feeling quite nostalgic).
In 6th grade, students are diving into the circulatory system through sheep heart dissections and will soon investigate which lotion is actually most effective at retaining moisture (a pressing scientific question as spring and summer approach!). Meanwhile, 5th graders are building literary analysis muscles through CER (Claim, Evidence, Reasoning), while also applying financial literacy in math and designing social studies board games that tell the story of innovation through chronology, rules, and creative problem-solving. Across grade levels, the work is dynamic, engaging, and deeply purposeful. There are so many avenues for students to explore the world and demonstrate mastery!
I was also thrilled to see Wellington so well represented at this year’s Upper Arlington Concourse Gallery Middle School Art Show, where artwork by 33 of our middle school students is on display through March 27 (I invite you to check out their work here). Opportunities like this are a wonderful reminder of the depth of talent and creativity that our student artists bring to their work, and I’m always especially proud of the way our visual arts program asks students to reflect, analyze, and articulate their thinking. Meanwhile, excitement is building in the performing arts, as “Disney’s Alice in Wonderland Jr.” has now been cast, and production is underway. Alongside next month’s Solo & Ensemble and the many artistic pathways available to our students, it is another joyful example of the many ways middle schoolers can stretch themselves, share their gifts, and bring creativity to life at Wellington!
Of course, experiential learning and leadership are also on full display this spring. I had a blast last week joining our 6th graders on their annual overnight trip to the Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center, where students explored local ecosystems, practiced environmental stewardship, and, despite the rainy conditions, threw themselves into the work with great spirit. I suspect many of them will tell you that cutting out invasive privet was a highlight (I know it was for me). Meanwhile, our 7th graders traveled to Ohio Caverns, one of the largest cave systems in the state, where they experienced Earth science and chemistry in action in a setting far more memorable than any textbook could offer. Just as importantly, students are stepping into leadership roles within our own community: 7th graders recently partnered with 4th grade scientists for a metals lab, and yesterday, 5th graders shared their severe weather books with 1st graders in what may have been the most adorable demonstration yet that leadership and community make learning richer for everyone.
As spring break approaches, I have a few reminders to share:
- Trimester 2 report cards were released in Veracross last Friday afternoon. These documents include course grades, teacher narrative comments, and each student’s fourth Willing Learner Metric (WLM) rating of the year. We encourage you to review the report card with your child, emphasizing process, effort, and growth rather than focusing solely on grades.
- These report cards also offer a valuable opportunity for students and families to reflect on the progress made so far this year and think together about goals for the final trimester. Students are completing reflections on their reports that will serve as an artifact to frame spring conferences, which will take place on Thursday, March 19, from 4 to 8 p.m., and Friday, March 20, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. As in the fall, all families will schedule a 20-minute conference with their child’s advisor, who will provide a comprehensive academic and social-emotional update. Optional 10-minute conferences with subject-specific teachers may now also be scheduled, with that window remaining open through Monday, March 16. As always, we invite you to reach out to teachers for conversation at any time.
- On Thursday, April 9, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., we are excited to offer a Middle School Parent Coffee with Matt Dunatchik and Libby Steele, clinical directors at Gestalt Columbus. Matt and Libby will lead us through a conversation about how we, as adults, can support adolescents as they navigate relationships, technology, and the developmental experiences of this age; they will also provide resources and strategies. I always come away from Matt and Libby’s sessions feeling energized, inspired, and grateful for the learning! Look for the RSVP link in the weeks ahead.
This time of year reminds me how much happens in a middle school and how much richer it all becomes because of the strength of our community. I am grateful for the many ways our students are challenged, known, and supported, and for the partnership we share with you as they continue to grow. It's a privilege to do this work together!
With gratitude and joy,
Louis