Dear Middle School Families,
As I move through classrooms, studios, and advisory spaces during these final weeks of school, I am struck by the particular joy that comes from a year of hard work arriving at its culmination. Students are deep in reading and writing, building and launching canoes(!), presenting research, and taking the stage, and the energy in our hallways reflects the pride of young people who know how much they have grown. Our incredible team of teachers is there every step of the way, creating the conditions for the joy, challenge, and creativity that characterize the Wellington middle school experience. I am so proud to be part of this community.
As we enter the final stretch of the school year, the learning across our four grade levels is flourishing. In 5th grade, students are wrapping up their study of “Hatchet” and connecting its themes to an experience of their own: Build a Canoe Week, in which students worked together over five days to construct an actual canoe by hand! Watching them problem-solve, collaborate, and take ownership of something so tangible and real was one of the highlights of my year. And last week they got to take the boat out for its first voyage! Fifth graders are also putting the finishing touches on their Explorers of the World projects, deep-dive passion projects in which students read at least three books on a self-selected topic and build genuine expertise over time, a beautiful reminder that student-driven inquiry is alive and well all the way down in 5th grade. In 6th grade, students have been reading and analyzing “The Giver” through Socratic Seminars, wrestling with big questions about individuality, memory, and freedom, while in science, they have been designing and building Mars space colonies, working within a budget, collaborating with classmates, and producing visual representations of their designs.
In 7th grade, the AIR Project is approaching its triumphant conclusion: students have spent weeks researching and writing both a full-length research essay and a full-length persuasive essay on a topic of their own choosing, and they will present their work at the 11th Annual AIR Expo next week. Eighth graders are reading “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho, a fitting final novel for students on the verge of moving up, as it poses questions about purpose, courage, and what it means to follow your own path. They are also preparing for the Salon of Ideas, a crossover experience with Mrs. Butler's 9th grade class in which students present original artwork alongside an artist's statement, an elevator pitch, and a reflective defense of their ideas. Across all four grades, what strikes me most is the depth and authenticity of the thinking on display; students are engaging in work that challenges them in the moment and builds the transferable skills they will carry with them long after they leave our hallways.
Our middle schoolers have also been flourishing on the stage this spring. The April production of “Alice in Wonderland Jr.” was an absolute joy – funny, imaginative, and beautifully rendered. From the choreography to the singing to the energy in the BPAC, both nights reminded us of the sheer talent of our student performers and the dedication of the faculty who pour so much into our performing arts program. Enormous credit goes to Dakota Elder-Thorn, Allison Enchelmayer, and Aly Marchant, who brought out the very best in every cast and crew member. The celebrations continue this week, with our spring concert series underway. The 5th and 6th grade band and string ensembles performed on Tuesday evening, while 7th and 8th graders took the stage last night, with the 5th and 6th grade choirs closing out the week tonight. Our student musicians have worked incredibly hard, and I am both proud and in awe of their growth. A huge shout out to James Becker, Allison Enchelmayer, and Dawna Rone for their dedication to our burgeoning maestros!
The final two weeks of the year boast some of our most cherished middle school traditions. On Tuesday, May 26, the Middle School Talent Show returns; this is always one of the most entertaining and surprising(!) afternoons of the year, with students taking the stage to share everything from singing and dancing to comedy, magic, and Rubik’s Cube skills…among so much more. The following day, Wednesday, May 27, brings two beloved traditions: the Moving Up Match, in which our 8th graders take on the faculty in a soccer showdown (I have been practicing my yellow and red cards in preparation for my annual role as referee), and the House Cup, as our five houses compete for the championship. Leap House enters as the two-time defending champion, and the question on everyone's mind is whether they can complete the three-peat (a la MJ’s Bulls of the 90s). Meanwhile, our current 7th graders are in the midst of applying to become 8th grade leaders, a process that includes a written application, a personal essay, a teacher recommendation, and a formal interview. It is a meaningful rite of passage and remarkable preparation for the years ahead. Watching students step into that process with seriousness and intention is one of the things that makes Wellington's middle school culture so special. They are poised and ready for the next challenge!
A couple of reminders as we hit the home stretch:
- The Middle School Moving Up Ceremony will take place on Thursday, May 28, from 10-11:30 a.m., in the Gard Gym. Students in grades 5 through 7 should arrive at school on time in Dress Sharp attire to commemorate the occasion. 8th graders can arrive by 9 a.m. wearing “smart casual” dress. After the ceremony, 8th graders and their families are invited to a celebratory reception in the Thomas Family Dining Room, while students in grades 5, 6, and 7 are officially dismissed for summer break!
- Trimester 3 grades and Willing Learner Metric ratings will be posted on Veracross on Tuesday, June 2, at 4 p.m.
I’m so proud of our students for their hard work this year, and I’m grateful to work alongside educators who push the young people in their care to grow each day. The magic of our middle school comes from the community of learners and citizens that each member embodies; as Coelho writes in “The Alchemist,” “when we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better, too.” Hear, hear!
With gratitude and pride,
Louis
Louis Frank
Head of Middle School