PDS Admissions Middle School Viewbook

M I D D L E

S C H O O L

G R A D E S

6 – 8

Conf idence. Leadership.

Engagement. Throughout Middle School at Providence Day, students experience developmentally appropriate oppor tunities to cultivate their passion for learning and appreciation for the ar ts, athletics, and the world around them.

OUR MISSION Prov id e n c e Day S ch o ol exists to inspire in i ts stud e nts a passi o n fo r lear ning , a c o mmi tm e nt to p e rso nal inte gr i t y, and a se nse of so cial resp o nsibili t y.

Leade rship

D r. G l y n C ow l i s h aw H e a d of S c h o o l

L e e Ta p py ' 9 4 H e a d of Middle School

Lisa Knight Assistant Head of School for Admissions & Enrollment Management

B o b by T h o m p s o n Middle School D e a n of S t u d e n t s

Ke n d r i c k L i l e s Middle School Assistant Dean of S t u d e n t s

Fast Facts 59 Mfaicdudlltey Smcehmo bo el r s 3 pp au rbtlni ce rsschhiop os l of color 3 8% students (self-repor ted) 72 soft uodrei gnitnc o u n t r i e s

11

C a p s to n e community par tners

503

students in g ra d e s 6 -8

24 6

fa c u l t y m e m b e r s a c ro s s all divisions

13 3

s c h o o l -w i d e fa c u l t y members with a d va n c e d d e g re e s

The PD Passport At Prov id e n c e Day S ch o ol , we inte nti o nall y create ex p e r ie n c es that foste r inte rcul tural lear ning insid e and o u tsid e th e classro o m .

K n owing th e wo r ld is in creasingl y inte rc o nn e c te d and eve rchanging , we pur p osef ull y d evel o p o pp o r tuni ties fo r o ur stud e nts to b e c o m e e mpath eti c , info r m e d , and e mp owe re d gl o bal ci tize ns .

A ll Prov id e n c e Day stud e nts ex p e r ie n c e th e T K-12 gl o bal e du c ati o n f ram ewo r k k n own as th e “ P D Passp o r t ,” whi ch inf uses tradi ti o nal classes wi th th e c o nte nt , sk ills , and c harac te r disp osi ti o ns cr i ti c al to b e c o ming a gl o bal ci tize n . O ur classro o ms are plac es of disc ove r y wh e re lear ning ab o u t di ve rse cul tures and share d ex p e r ie n c es creates c o nn e c ti o ns to o ur larg e r humani t y.

Global Cur riculum A s a sch o ol wi th a gl o bal e mphasis , o ur cur r i culum is inf use d wi th a gl o bal p e rsp e c ti ve across disciplin es . S tud e nts may t ake ad vant ag e of o pp o r tuni ties fo r wo r ld e ngag e m e nt , in cluding v ir tual dial o gu es , summ e r gl o bal tr ips , and a Middle S ch o ol Ro und S quare c o nfe re n c e. In addi ti o n to Mandar in Chin ese, Fre n ch , and S panish intro du c e d in Lowe r S ch o ol , stud e nts may also ch o ose f ro m L atin and Ge r man as th ey c o ntinu e th eir studies in Middle S ch o ol.

Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging P r ov i d e n c e D ay S c h o o l u n d e r s t a n d s t h at va l u i n g d i ve r s i t y i s t h e ke y to g l o b a l c i t i ze n s h i p . We b e l i e ve i n d e ve l o p i n g w i t h i n o u r s t u d e nt s a n a b i l i t y to a p p re c i ate a n d va l u e t h e d i f fe re n c e s a m o n g p e o p l e i n o u r s c h o o l c o m m u n i t y, a s we l l a s t h o s e i n t h e l a rg e r wo r l d a r o u n d u s .

T h e O f f i c e of Equi t y, In clusi o n , & B el o nging supp o r ts and foste rs a sch o ol c o mmuni t y that ref le c ts th e in creasing di ve rsi t y in o ur nati o n and th e wo r ld , wi th an appre ciati o n fo r th e r i ch var iet y of cul tures , religi o ns , rac es , sexual o r ie ntati o ns , so ci o e c o n o mi c bac kgro unds , c o untr ies of o r igin , languag es , and oth e r cul tural id e ntif ie rs that add to th e stre ng th of o ur c o mmuni t y. We are c o mmi t te d to ac ti vel y cul ti vating an in clusi ve e nv iro nm e nt that c hampi o ns dif fe re n c e while highlighting o ur similar i ties thro ugh dial o gu e and cur r i culum .

Social Responsibilit y S o cial resp o nsibili t y is wove n thro ugh o u t Prov id e n c e Day ’s cur r i culum . We e mphasize cul ti vating a se nse of c o nn e c ti o n to o ur c o mmuni t y and th e wo r ld and tak ing ac ti o n to c o ntr ibu te to th e li ves of oth e rs .

T h e Middle S ch o ol cur re ntl y has t wo of f i cial publi c sch o ol par tn e rships . Six th , seve nth , and eighth grad e rs c o llab o rate wi th Wal te r G. B ye rs Middle S ch o ol and th e Grant W illiams F o undati o n o n a year- l o ng S T E A M -fo cuse d proje c t , culminating in th e spr ing wi th a hackath o n at U N C C ’s B at C ave Inn ovati o n C e nte r.

Addi ti o nall y, eighth grad e rs c an join W ilso n S T E M Ac ad e my stud e nts fo r a lead e rship d evel o p m e nt pro gram .

Honor C ode A ll stud e nts are evaluate d base d o n th eir ac c o mplishm e nts , and th ey must tr ust that all oth e r stud e nts are evaluate d likewise.

To assure su ch k n owle dg e and tr ust , an H o n o r C o d e has b e e n est ablish e d to create an atm osph e re of o ptimum lear ning and tr ust , n ot o n e of suspi ci o n . T h e h o n o r ple dg e st ates: “ O n my h o n o r, I ple dg e that I have n ei th e r gi ve n n o r re c ei ve d h elp o n this wo r k .”

Cur riculum S tud e nt-teach e r relati o nships are at th e h ear t of th e Prov id e n c e Day ex p e r ie n c e and build lifetim e c o nn e c ti o ns . S tud e nts ro und o u t a stro ng c o re E nglish , S cie n c e, Math , Histo r y, and Physi c al Edu c ati o n cur r i culum wi th ele c ti ves in to pi c s ranging f ro m Gl o bal Issu es and Creati ve Wr i ting to S T E M c o urses and stud y of th e v isual o r p e r fo r ming ar ts .

ARTS

HISTORY

Band; Chorus; Communication Arts; Orchestra; Stagecraft (Tech Theatre); Theatre; Visual Arts

Ancient History; U.S. History; Global Perspectives; Contemporary Global Issues elective

IDEAS@PD (Innovation,

Design, Entrepreneurship, Analytics, and Sustainability)

Computer Applications; Computer Programming; Broadcast Media; Introduction to Engineering 6; Engineering the Future 7-8; Personal Finance; Robotics; Social Entrepreneurship; SPARK: Environment Problem Solving

By Design; Web Design

ENGLISH English and Creative Writing – 6, 7, and 8; Literature through Movies; World Myths and Legends

MATH Multiple tracks including: Math 6, 7, 8; Pre-Algebra; Advanced Pre-Algebra; Algebra 1; Advanced Algebra 1

SCIENCE Science 6, 7, 8; Amazing Human Body; Global Environmental Issues 7-8

PHYSICAL EDUCATION / HEALTH Full year (6,7) and semester (8) classes; Movement in Yoga elective

WORLD LANGUAGE Mandarin Chinese; French; Spanish; German; Latin

Capstone 6T H G R A D E: T h e 6th - grad e c apsto n e is a c ollab o rati ve, pro ble m -sol v ing ex p e r ie n c e in whi ch stud e nts d esign real -wo r ld solu ti o ns base d o n th e th e m e of “ building c o mmuni t y.”

Six th grad e rs par ti cipate in ac ti v i ties d esign e d wi th “c o mmuni t ybuilding ” in mind . Six th grad e rs are intro du c e d to six sub -th e m es o n o ur c ampus: building relati o nships , h eal thy li v ing , e nv iro nm e nt al resp o nsibili t y, digi t al ci tize nship, tradi ti o ns , and e qui t y and in clusi o n . S o r te d by stud e nts’ ch oi c es , teams of approximatel y te n stud e nts are create d . T h e g o al fo r each team is to d esign a pro du c t , p oli cy, o r ex p e r ie n c e that p osi ti vel y impac ts th e P D c o mmuni t y. S o m e of th ese d esigns have b e c o m e a par t of o ur middle sch o ol cul ture.

7 T H G R A D E: T he 7th- grade class continues to experience empathetic design as an end- of-year capstone project. S tudents work in teams with a facult y facilitator to address the overall theme of inclusion.

Ultimately, students will be challenged to design or create an action, product , or experience that makes our cit y or state more inclusive.

To jump -star t the capstone, we invite eleven Communit y Par tners to par ticipate in this experience with students. Our Communit y Par tners represent a wide range of experiences and perspectives centered around the theme of inclusion. S tudents choose a Communit y Par tner and will work collaboratively in a small group to design a possible communit y solution.

8 T H G R A D E: E ighth - grad e stud e nts fo rg o a c apsto n e proje c t and take exams b oth se m este rs , u tilizing what th ey ’ ve lear n e d in pre parati o n fo r U pp e r S ch o ol.

Te chnolog y S tud e nts in all Middle S ch o ol grad es are prov id e d wi th a sch o ol issu e d iPad to h elp wi th sch o olwo r k , research , and many oth e r reso urc es as th ey c o ntinu e to b e c o m e digi tal ci tize ns . Facul t y use th e te chn ol o g y in dif fe re nt ways to e nhan c e th e cur r i culum and instr u c ti o n .

Innovation At Prov id e n c e Day, inn ovati o n g o es far b eyo nd te chn ol o g y and is wove n into eve r y asp e c t of teaching and lear ning . In Middle S ch o ol , stud e nts might f ind th e msel ves in th e Make rspac e, lear ning 3 D pr inting , lase r cu t ting , o r oth e r hands- o n ways to sol ve pro ble ms .

T h ese lear ning o pp o r tuni ties also le nd th e msel ves to ex pl o r ing o ur of fe r ings in E sp o r ts , c o mp eti ti o n dro n e, and ro b oti c s teams .

IDE AS at PD offers students the chance to explore and expand their passions and curiosities around innovation, design, entrepreneurship, analy tics, and sustainability. This unique program invites faculty and students to work across boundaries and at the intersections of traditional disciplines and depar tments. The learning arising from these courses always aims at applied, collaborative problem-solving.

Along with this new curriculum is the IDE ASxChange, a new space in the Dickson-Hemby Technology Center.

I want to thank my teachers at PD for exposing me to and sharing with me your passions and instilling in me a love for learning. I will always be grateful for your role in shaping who I am as a person.

Rachel Hobby, Class of 2022

Clubs & Activities Middle S ch o ol of fe rs var i o us clubs that pro m ote lead e rship and c ollab o rati o n while all owing stud e nts to ex pl o re th eir tale nts and inte rests b eyo nd th e classro o m .

Fro m o ur nati o nall y re c o gnize d Ro b oti c s and D ro n e teams to M o d el U.N ., S cie n c e O l y mpiad , th e A r t Club, th e of f i cial Middle S ch o ol Play, o r just Improv fo r f un , Middle S ch o ole rs c an ch o ose f ro m ove r t we nt y clubs and o rganiz ati o ns to join . W i th th ese of fe r ings , we e mphasize th e imp o r t an c e of all owing stud e nts th e o pp o r tuni t y to un c ove r n ew passi o ns , stre ng ths , and lead e rship sk ills .

S eve nth and eighth grad e rs may par ti cipate in a var iet y of sp o r ts .

S e r v i c e lear ning is also e mphasize d , and m ost stud e nts par ti cipate in se r v i c e ac ti v i ties .

A r ts We are c o mmi t te d to nur tur ing creati v i t y and c o nf id e n c e at all levels of lear ning . C o mpre h e nsi ve ex p osure to v isual ar ts , musi c , and th eatre is esse ntial to stud e nts’ well - ro und e d e du c ati o nal ex p e r ie n c e. Fro m T K thro ugh 12 th grad e, stud e nts are e n c o urag e d to disc ove r and pursu e th eir ar tisti c passi o ns . In Middle S ch o ol , stud e nts may ch o ose v isual ar ts , band , c h o r us , str ings , th eatre, o r te c hni c al th eatre ele c ti ves . E ach year, th ey also have th e o pp o r tuni t y to audi ti o n fo r th eatre pro du c ti o ns , in cluding b oth plays and musi c als . Addi ti o nal o pp o r tuni ties are available fo r th ose wh o wish to ex pl o re th e ar ts b eyo nd th e classro o m , su ch as par ti cipati o n in h o n o rs e nse mbles and ar ts- relate d tr ips . T h ese ex p e r ie n c es all ow stud e nts to bro ad e n th eir ar tisti c p e rsp e c ti ve and p e r fo r m of f c ampus .

Athletics Par ti cipati o n in th e Prov id e n c e Day athleti c pro gram all ows stud e nt-athle tes to pursu e exc elle n c e, build lasting relati o nships , and grow physi c all y and e m oti o nall y. S tud e nts in seve nth and eighth grad es have th e o pp o r tuni t y to par ti cipate in a var iet y of team sp o r ts .

T h e athleti c d e par tm e nt is c o mmi t te d to d evel o ping th e wh ole p e rso n by inte grating exc elle n c e in e du c ati o n and athleti c c o mp eti ti o n . A s an ex te nsi o n of th e classro o m , th e athleti c pro gram pro m otes sp o r tsmanship, c o mmi tm e nt , charac te r, resp e c t , and inte gr i t y, instilling lifel o ng valu es and foste r ing m eaning f ul p e rso nal grow th fo r each stud e nt-athlete.

G o C h a rg e rs !

Alumni C ommunit y Prov id e n c e Day S ch o ol cul ti vates i ts v ibrant n et wo r k of ove r 4 , 0 0 0 alumni , wh o are v i t al to o ur sch o ol c o mmuni t y. A ll P D graduates and fo r m e r stud e nts are c o nsid e re d m e mb e rs of th e A lumni A sso ciati o n . We are c o mmi t te d to supp o r ting P D’s missi o n and su c c ess thro ugh eve nts , n et wo r k ing o pp o r tuni ties , and o ur alumni sp e cif i c plat fo r m , P D C o nn e c t . Eve n af te r graduati o n , all alums are #A lways ACharg e r !

Pare nt C ommunit y A ll Prov id e n c e Day pare nts are m e mb e rs of th e Pare nts’ A sso ciati o n , wh ose missi o n is to c ollab o rate wi th th e sch o ol to foste r a v ibrant c o mmuni t y thro ugh volunte e r ac ti v i ties , fell owship o pp o r tuni ties , and f undraising eve nts that supp o r t families , facul t y, and st af f. Addi ti o nall y, pare nts are e n c o urag e d to join th e Charg e r Club, whi c h stre ng th e ns th e athle ti c ex p e r ie n c e thro ugh f undraising and volunte e r ism , and th e Fr ie nds of th e A r ts , whi ch supp o r ts th e v isual and p e r fo r ming ar ts .

My wife always says to ‘bloom where you’re planted,’ and PD is a very fertile place. Not only are the parents very supportive of each other, but I have found our kids’ friends within the PD community are wonderful people, and are developing into wonderful young adults.

John Olin, father of students in the classes of 2020, 2022, and 2023

Campus Providence Day cultivates a vibrant, active environment full of innovative spaces. Our campus supports a year-round slate of activities, programs, celebrations, and events. Explore an interactive map at w w w. p rov i d e n c e d ay.o rg /a ro u n d - c a m p u s /c a m p u s- m a p.

To ex pl o re th e appli c ati o n pro c ess , v isi t w w w. p r ov i d e n c e d ay.o r g /a d m i s s i o n s.

F o ll ow P rov id e n c e Day :

We exist to inspire.

Prov id e n c e Day S ch o ol 5 8 0 0 S ardis Ro ad Char l ot te, N C 28 270 70 4 . 8 87.6 0 0 0 p ds . admissi o ns @ prov id e n c e day.o rg