"We prepare students to engage in the world that is and to help bring about a world that ought to be."
April 2015: A New Schedule
Dear Parents,
In the Middle School, the changes in our schedule have enabled us to look closely at the entire Middle School program. We have, for a long time, appreciated the robust academic preparation that the Middle School offers to its students but have sought to expand the program beyond the core academic subjects.We are very excited about the opportunities the new schedule has afforded us to make a number of changes that will support and optimize learning for Middle School students at this time in their development.
I want to highlight some of the major changes achieved through the new schedule:
- Our integrated Physical Education program, which will include Health and Wellness, Experiential Education and Movement, will have a designated track in the schedule that will address the need for more physical activity at this stage of early adolescence. Movement (a new arm within the Physical Education program) will include yoga and dance, programs that are currently only available to a small number of students. More programming in Health and Wellness will give students the opportunity to learn about their bodies and develop a deeper understanding in the social/ emotional realm by learning about topics such as mindfulness, conflict resolution, and media awareness at this critical time in their lives.
- Drama will become a better integrated part of the MS program: all students will take Drama in 5th and 6th grade. In 7th and 8th grade, Drama will become one of the performing arts options for students (in addition to Chorus, Winds and Strings, or Jazz).
- Increased programming for technology classes will create more opportunities to focus on programming, engineering, design and problem solving in these classes. This addresses one of the focal points in our forthcoming Strategic Plan.
- Dedicated time for Service Learning seminars will make space for this essential work at the core of our School’s mission. Currently Service Learning programs are pushed into classes and advisory whenever we can make a connection. This “organic” approach has led to great collaborations, but limited time makes it challenging to really dig into issues and maximize learning opportunities for students. The 7th grade advocacy program is an example of a great idea that has been challenging to implement because of this limitation. Devoted time will give children the opportunity to delve into the projects that make service a meaningful learning experience.
- Daily “collaboration time” will give MS students and teachers a common time to do things that the current schedule has made very challenging. These include:
- more frequent advisory meetings that will enable the development of a stronger relationship between advisor and student. Advisors will also help students to adjust to the new schedule as well as learn to make the best use of all it offers.
- tutorial time when teachers and fellow students are all available to connect for feedback, additional support, enrichment and group projects. Creating time and space for tutorial will also build skills of independence and self advocacy for our students - a hallmark of a Friends education and something that Middle School teachers already strive to develop with our students.
- An extensive club program that is available to all Middle School students. Currently, there are virtually no clubs in the Middle School; instead, elective and co-curricular classes such as creative writing, the Blog, Middle School Student Council, and the Diversity discussion group are choices available only to 7th and 8th grade students, if their schedules allow. Setting time aside for co-curricular activities will create more space for student voice and play.
- more frequent advisory meetings that will enable the development of a stronger relationship between advisor and student. Advisors will also help students to adjust to the new schedule as well as learn to make the best use of all it offers.
We will discuss some of these changes in greater detail at our spring parent meetings:
Grade 4 (Rising Grade 5): April 22 at 5 pm
Grade 5 (Rising Grade 6): May 5 at 8:30 am
Grade 6 (Rising Grade 7): May 13 at 5 pm
Grade 7 (Rising Grade 8): May 13 at 6:30 pm
Sincerely,
Pankti Sevak
Head of Middle School
Friends Seminary actively promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism in all its programs and operations, including admissions, financial aid, hiring, and all facets of the educational experience. To form a community which strives to reflect the world’s diversity, we do not discriminate on the basis of race or color, religion, nationality, ethnicity, economic background, physical ability, sex, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation. Friends Seminary is an equal opportunity employer.
Friends Seminary — the oldest continuously operated, coeducational school in NYC — serves college-bound day students in Kindergarten-Grade 12.
