Dear Middle School Families,
Last week, I attended the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS) Annual Conference in St. Louis. It was exciting for me to be in a learning stance for a couple of days, but what was most exciting was how affirming the experience was. In my conversations with fellow middle-school educators and leaders, I received a chorus of, “I wish we could do that at our school” and “That’s so great for kids!” I emerged with gratitude for the professionals, programming, and students here at Wellington; our teachers operate from an asset mindset to challenge, engage, support, and empower a unique community of learners each day. As you can see from the photo above, our academic spaces reflect the potential of learning: there are no ceilings on what our students can accomplish!
This takes so many shapes inside the classroom. 8th graders have begun their exploration of science fiction novels and observed and recorded speed and acceleration in a Hot Wheels lab (a dose of nostalgia for some of us). Some are applying their mathematical knowledge to graph lines to create a stained-glass mosaic, while others are planning cities with parallel streets and transversals to explore angle relationships. 7th graders completed their layers of the earth projects last week, an exercise in content mastery and creativity that is as expansive as it is toothsome (for those who demonstrated their knowledge through cake). Meanwhile, they are exploring author’s craft in analytical essays that examine how writers use imagery and figurative language to transform the reader’s experience. Research, curiosity, and inquiry were on display in social studies classes as students explored the social and political dynamics of the Salem Witch Trials and wrote argumentative pieces about what happened to the Roanoke colony.
During LEAP Day workshops, 6th graders have been engaged in a book study of “A Long Walk to Water,” which explores two stories: one about the scarcity and importance of water, and another about the Lost Boys of South Sudan. On Monday, we welcome Bol Aweng, co-founder of the Buckeye Clinic in South Sudan and a Lost Boy himself, to present to 5th and 6th graders about his personal story and the service work he continues to do. As I make my instructional rounds, I beam with pride when I see our 5th graders presenting research projects to their peers in multiple classes – authentic learning that supports 21st-century skills.
Today marks the end of the fall trimester. Report cards will be posted on Veracross on Friday, November 22, at 4 p.m. We will hold parent/caregiver conferences on Monday, November 25, and Tuesday, November 26. You can find sign-up details in your weekly grade-level newsletter. Please note that these conferences will be with your child’s advisor; you are always welcome to reach out to subject-specific teachers with questions or concerns.
Students will enjoy a well-deserved break for Thanksgiving from November 27 through November 29 before we return to our regular academic schedule on Monday, December 2. As we gear up for the season ahead, we’re excited for the return of Winter Wednesdays. In lieu of LEAP Days, middle school students will go skiing each Wednesday, beginning on January 15, 2025. Look for details in upcoming weekly newsletters regarding dates, registration, and permission forms.
I’ll leave you with an excerpt from a student vocabulary poem; this passage feels particularly apropos as we close out the first trimester of middle school: “Please remember on the journey of life/Success is not ubiquitous/The road is paved with both thorns and flowers/No one is infallible…Please remember on the journey of life/Numerous chances await you/Run and pursue them/Don’t relinquish these chances/It’s the ups and downs that make up the journey of life/Avoid making impetuous choices/And the ultimate destination is standing there waving to you.”
In partnership on the journey,
Louis
Middle School November News
