MIDDLE SCHOOL PLAYBOOK MAKING THE MOST OF THIS SPECIAL TIME IN YOUR STUDENT’S SOCIAL, ACADEMIC, AND PERSONAL GROWTH
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WELCOME TO MIDDLE SCHOOL A time of incredible growth for your student
One of my favorite things about Middle School is witnessing the growth students experience over these three years. Social connections, hobbies and interests, views on the world and personal style are all constantly evolving as each student becomes their own person and prepares for high school and beyond! Of course, this rapid change is not always easy. I’m sure many of us remember the self-consciousness and uncertainty that accompanied our first steps into adulthood. Rest assured that you have an amazing and kind-hearted group of teaching professionals here to celebrate the wins and support your student through the losses. Thank you for the opportunity to partner with your family on this exciting journey! Sincerely, Luci Hoad Middle School Division Head
Table of Contents 3: Welcome Letter from Mrs. Hoad 4: Curriculum Highlights 5: Daily Schedule, Electives & Houses 6: Anchor Trips & Service Learning 7: After School & Social Activities 8: How to Help Your Child Succeed 9: Social Emotional Learning 10: Physical Development and Health
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ENGAGING CURRICULUM During these pivotal years, middle school students develop critcal academic and life skills needed for high school. Here are some
examples of learning experiences in each year.
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Water
Students complete a project-based learning on water scarcity and erosion. After reading A Long Walk To Water by Linda Sue Park, students dive deep in science class. They build water filtration systems, make models of water sheds, and research the impacts of water pollution. We also welcome visitors from KC Water and a non-profit supporting Sudanese villages to share about water scarcity locally and around the world.
Spanish Immersion Trip
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7th grade students have the unique opportunity to fully-immerse in the Spanish language during a 3-day trip to Concordia Language Villages in Minnesota. Students speak Spanish exclusively with each other and teachers while participating in cultural activities, researching Hispanic influence, eating delicious food, and enjoying the beautiful Minnesota landscape.
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World Culture Night
8th grade students become experts in different countries for World Culture Night! They create websites to share info on their chosen country’s demographics, languages, traditions, and food. Students even cook and prepare treats to share with others at the event. Friends and family sample plenty of tasty food representing countries like Brazil, Nigeria, South Africa, Greece, Laos, and many more!
Academic Support
Study halls, goal setting, and grade check-ins with advisors help students stay on track academically. For students with additional needs, our Learning Specialist, Dr. Rostine, can provide an extra layer of academic support.
DAILY SCHEDULE Our day begins with student-led chapel to help middle school students and teachers prepare for a productive day ahead. Our 7-day rotation has a consistent daily flow with varied course times. For example, 6th grade math could be first period on Day A and third period on Day E. This system increases student attention span and maximizes potential for academic success. 8:20 - 8:40 Chapel 8:40 - 9:45 First Period 9:45 - 10:05 Break 10:05 - 11:10 Second Period 11:10 - 12:15 Third Period 12:15 - 12:40 Lunch 12:40 - 1:20 WIN Time • M/W - Electives • Tu/Th - Advisory/House • Fri - Wild Card 1:20 - 2:25 Fourth Period 2:25 - 3:30 Fifth Period
ELECTIVES Middle school electives offer new opportunities including competitions, creative pursuits, and innovative acaedmic challenges. Examples include: Battle of the Brains, painting, ceramics, Science Olympiad, and Medical Detectives.
HOUSES
ARMOUR, OAK, LINWOOD, WALNUT & WARWICK Throughout the year, mixed grade level Houses participate in activities and competitions. 7th and 8th grade students can be elected to the House Council which plans middle school events and leads school-wide service projects.
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ANCHOR TRIPS Some of the most important lessons happen outside the classroom. Our grade-level anchor experiences help students connect with peers, disconnect from devices, and enjoy the great outdoors. 6th Grade St. Louis, MO 3 days, 2 nights Mississippi River canoeing, touring local museums 7th Grade YMCA of the Rockies - Estes Park, CO 4 days, 3 nights Outdoor education and wildlife exploration 8th Grade Marine Lab - Key Largo, FL 4 days, 3 nights Coral reef labs, ocean ecology, snorkeling
SERVICE LEARNING In the fall, Middle School students lead a school-wide food drive to stock the shelves of the St. Paul’s Church Food Pantry for families facing food insecurity. Using friendly competition among middle school houses, students are encouraged to bring canned and shelf-stable foods, personal care items, toys, and gifts for families visiting the Pantry in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Each grade level participates in its own group service activity each year (e.g. 7th grade cleans up front yards for KC Rakes). Middle School students are also encouraged to join National Day of Service efforts on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. St. Paul’s partners with local non-profits including KC Pet Project, Midtown KC, and Bishop Spencer Place to host service activities for students and families to give back to our community.
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AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES Sports During fall, winter, and spring sports, students experience team unity and school pride, develop a strong work ethic, and build their self-confidence. Opportunities can include soccer, cross country, basketball, and volleyball. Middle School Musical Every February, students can participate in the musical. Rehearsals run for three weeks, culminating in performances for the entire student body, family, and friends. Backstage positions are also available! Enrichment Classes There are plenty of clubs and after school activities available through our Extended Day program including chess club, Safe Sitter Classes, private music lessons, and much more! Social Events Students can attend the middle school dance, enjoy field trips to Worlds of Fun and Main Event. There’s even a Halloween costume competition!
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HOW TO HELP YOUR CHILD SUCCEED We intentionally increase the homework and testing load in middle school to help students develop executive functioning, good study habits, and self-management skills needed in high school. This might be the first time your student feels a bit underwater at school, but that’s okay!
Perfection is Not the Goal Struggles and setbacks are a normal part of academically challenging classes. How your student thinks about their struggles – as failures or a normal part of learning – will help your student overcome obstacles in the future. Getting it wrong is part of the process of getting it right. While that low grade can send a shock of panic into a parent, it’s important to push that feeling aside and help your student see it as an opportunity for growth.
Encourage Them to Try New Things The stakes are lower during these years when it comes to academic pressure, sports competition, and social events. It’s an excellent time to explore new interests and mix with different personalities before high school. Encourage your student to try something new at school. Have a budding concert pianist at home? Maybe they could try out for basketball. Is your student active on a swim team? It could be a good time to try Ms. Lynn’s painting elective. Does your student typically hang out with the same 2 -3 friends? Encourage them to get to know someone new during lunch.
Build Study Skills & Encourage Self-Management 1. Eliminate distractions during study/homework time. Put the screens away. 2. Create a routine around study time (e.g. same time, same dedicated space, music/no music, etc.) 3. Prioritize sleep. It really can’t be overstated how much getting enough sleep positively impacts academic outcomes for middle school students. Take screens out of their room at bedtime. 4. Embrace setbacks and student autonomy. Provide homework support, but let them do their own work.
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SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING Research shows that rapid brain development in middle school is second only to the first five years of life. In particular, it’s a time of growth for social emotional learning, empathy, and maturity. Students at this age are much more aware of social dynamics and are trying to establish their place among their peers. We use a variety of SEL programs to help students manage big feelings, resolve conflict, and become better communicators, including: RULER: Developed by the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, this program and acronym for the five skills of emotional intelligence (recognizing, understanding, labeling, expressing, and regulating) is an evidence-based approach to SEL.
The Social Institute offers a gamified, online learning platform that empowers students to navigate their social world positively – including social media and technology – to fuel their health, happiness, and future success.
Connecting with our Counselor Mr. Patel is always available to help your student and your family. Here are some examples of ways he can support your student at school: • If your student is struggling with a social issue, Mr. Patel can meet with your student to do some role-playing exercises and talk through different solutions. • Provide short-term confidential counseling at school. • Assist in managing outside mental health support.
Your Kid Had a Bad Day... Now What? • • • •
Let them sleep on it. It’s okay if it takes time to get the full story. Try not to over-react to strong emotions, and remember there are two sides to every story. In conversations, you’re not always investigating; you’re trying to understand your kid’s experience. Affirm their feelings. Empower students to have their own conversations with friends, teachers, and coaches.
Recommended Reads • • • • •
The Gift of Failure by Jessica Lahey Queen Bees & Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman Masterminds & Wingmen by Rosalind Wiseman Finding the Magic in Middle School by Chris Balme Why Do They Act That Way? by David Walsh and Nat Bennett
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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT AND HEALTH It’s not just a time of social emotional growth, middle school is also defined by puberty and physical changes for students. Below are some of the programs we offer in middle school to help students navigate issues around health, hygiene, nutrition, sexual education, the importance of consent, substance abuse, and more.
What We’re Doing at School • •
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A specialist with Prevention Solutions visits middle school for a presentation on alcohol, nicotine, and other substance use education. Plain Talk About Sex: Coco McAtee, LSCSW, leads an optional class for 6th grade (divided into a female and a male cohort) to cover both female and male anatomy, puberty, intercourse, and birth control. After the Plan Talk, Sexual Education: 8th grade students can join an optional class that reviews the reproductive system, sexual intercourse, qualities of healthy relationships, social media, STDs, and birth control. A MOCSA representative stops by middle school to discuss sexual harassment prevention, healthy relationships, and what to do if students encounter sexual harassment. Healthy Discussions about Food: Students participate in guided discussions about food as an important part of fueling their bodies. We also offer parent education to help navigate conversations around students’ changing bodies. An example from the 23-24 school year includes a seminar with an eating disorder expert.
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Normalize discussions about health and hygiene with your student. Conversations about doing laundry, grooming, and self care can help reinforce your student’s sense of ownership and pride. Establish routines as a family to help your child develop lifelong healthy habits. Examples include good sleep hygiene (removing screens from the bedroom), balanced meals, and physical activity. Talk about healthy relationships with your child. Discuss characteristics of good friends and partners and make space to troubleshoot relationship issues. Remember that spending more time listening than advising is a great way to build trust and help your child feel comfortable sharing.
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St. Paul’s Episcopal Day School develops confident learners, ethical leaders, and compassionate, engaged citizens.
4041 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111 816-931-8614 | speds.org