Community, Character, and Core Values The teaching and learning staff at University Liggett School offer classroom support to advance the school’s efforts in creating compassionate and equitable communities, learners, and thinkers. We do this through our student-centered approach that begins with forging positive relationships with students and their families to understand the unique cultural strengths that contribute to our diverse learning community. The teaching and learning staff provide classroom observations, coaching, and live lesson demonstrations to assist teachers in implementing lessons that are affirming and inclusive, with an emphasis on making sure students’ identities are represented within our school curriculum. Teachers are provided with ongoing professional learning opportunities to support rigorous instruction, cognitive growth, student engagement, and inclusive curriculum and assessment. In addition to supporting students’ academic growth, teachers provide lessons on social interactions to foster a caring school environment. The core values of respect, integrity, empathy, excellence and community are interwoven throughout our curriculum and supplementary programs. The programming in Middle School takes place through advisory and grade-level lessons which consist of module lessons, writing prompts, reflections, collaborative conversations with peers, and projects. There are clubs and groups offered as well, such as various affinity groups and the Changemakers Club. Changemakers is a club devoted to bringing students together to bring all Middle School students together through initiatives, projects, and activities. Students will have access to videos, guest speakers, and outside resources when appropriate and as needed. Student-Led Clubs Student-led clubs provide an opportunity within the school day for students to connect outside of the classroom, share their passions, and develop their leadership skills. The offerings are driven by a range of student interests and passions and vary by session. Students interested in leading a club solicit a faculty sponsor, develop a framework of activities for their club, and pitch the club idea to their peers at a Club Fair. Student-led clubs provide the opportunity to lead, learn new skills, support existing interests, stay physically active, and connect with friends and
classmates across the division. From hobby horses and cooking to sports media and soccer, students are able to lead, and participate, from a place of passion. Electives Student-centered learning and inquiry are pathways to discovery; this is a foundational tenet of the Liggett Approach. Our Middle School electives support this mission by offering students a wide variety of courses across the curriculum that spark enthusiasm and curiosity. Electives including Innovation and Design, where students use design thinking and digital tools to solve local and global issues, and Film Making, where students produce three to five short films using digital media techniques and software, allow students to explore new ideas and expand on their growing passions. The Thinkery and Knights’ Forge Problem solving is everything, and the Middle School offers a dedicated space to do just that. Housed in the Middle School are the spaces called The Thinkery and Knights’ Forge. These spaces are dedicated to collaborative problem solving and the design thinking process: design, prototype, fabricate, and test. All 6th graders take a design class in this space, and students from all divisions have access to the innovative tools housed here. From 3D printing to C&C machines to coding, students are able to create artifacts that move learning beyond memorization.
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