Middle School Curriculum Guide
MIDDLE SCHOOL SIGNATURE PROGRAMS
Advisory
Orchard’s middle school advisory program supports students academically, emotionally, and socially. Advisories, approximately ten students and one teacher, meet each morning for ten minutes and a minimum of once per week for 45 minutes during middle school team time. The role of an advisor is to be an advisee’s advocate and mentor, promote self- advocacy, and act as the liaison between home and school. The greatest cognitive growth happens through social interaction. Young adolescents must learn to develop study skills, make good decisions, handle strong emotions, and get along with others. Students practice the following skills in order to be socially and academically successful: cooperation, communication, assertion, responsibility, engagement, empathy, and self-control. This is done through team-building activities, group discussions, and direct teaching in advisory and other classes.
Team Time
The middle school schedule drops one period for eight out of ten days so that each class will drop one meeting during a two-week time period. During these “off” periods, the middle school has “Team Time.” Team Time allows time for students to investigate new interests, dive deeper into a study of passion, build a strong community, exercise voice and choice, and grow emotionally and socially. There are times when grades fifth - eighth grade engage in the same activity and other times when individual grade-levels and advisories meet with one another.
No-Cut Sports
The Orchard School athletics program offers a wide variety of extra-curricular sports experiences for children in Grades 5 through 8. We strive to provide a positive atmosphere in which a child has the opportunity to develop physically, socially, emotionally, and intellectually in a supportive, safe, yet competitive environment. Orchard sports are “no-cut,” so all interested students who choose to participate are evaluated and placed on an appropriate skill-level team whenever possible. Individual and team skills and strategies will be developed and enhanced along with a regular emphasis on good sportsmanship and positive representation of an Orchard student-athlete. Fall, winter, and spring sports seasons offer experiences in eight sports: soccer, basketball, cross country, baseball, tennis, softball, volleyball, and track and field.
THE ORCHARD SCHOOL
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