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Middle School Philosophy and Structure
The journey through Middle School, from Sixth through Eighth Grade, is marked by tremendous intellectual and academic growth. At the same time, students during these years are confronted by often tumultuous social, emotional, and physical development. Our Middle School faculty is dedicated to fostering students’ curiosity, skill development, and desire to learn, while helping them cope with the challenges of being 11 to 14 years old.
Roy Parker, head of middle school at Pittsburgh’s Sewickley Academy, says, “The very best middle schools flourish through the connectedness that links all constituents, intimately, to a belief in and yearning for success at their school. It is that simple." Sharing that philosophy, we approach every decision about what we want the Middle School at MPH to be by thinking first and foremost of the success of our students. Our teachers work to develop active, independent learners who will be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to be comfortable with the changes they will encounter in the 21st century. Following a block schedule, students take classes in the traditional core subjects of a liberal arts curriculum and are able to move into Upper School demonstrating competence in academic disciplines and ownership of their learning.
A Middle School advisory program, combined with a life skills course, brings students together in small groups to work on a range of academic and social-emotional skills, as well as the “executive” skills (things like self-regulation and organization) that will help them manage their lives. The program promotes students’ growth as members of MPH and their understanding of their responsibilities to each other, the school community, and themselves.
Our Middle School faculty members understand adolescents. They construct developmentally appropriate learning experiences based on the best practices of independent schools to meet the needs of our students, no matter their stage of adolescent life. Middle School programs are successful – and Middle School students learn, mature and thrive – because of the talented and dedicated faculty you will meet as you explore the possibilities at Manlius Pebble Hill School.
Please visit Jim Eagen's Middle School Blog, a place to discuss schools, kids, parents, and teaching as well as the changing world of 21st Century education.
