Middle School (Grades 6-8)

Old Trail’s innovative, research-backed schedule allows students to have choice in their experience and encourages strong time management skills. Centered around our hourlong class periods and six-day cycle, the day is well-paced and balanced, allowing students ample opportunities to take intellectual risks and dive deeply into each subject. In our schedule, faculty have greater opportunity to offer several types of creative pedagogical instruction per class period, ensuring all of our learners can connect with the material. With long blocks of time reserved for visual arts, athletics and advisory, the Middle School schedule balances all of the needs of growing adolescents. 

Students can adapt their daily schedule to meet their individual interests and needs. Each day includes a flexible study hall block that can be used for music performance classes, quiet study, advisor meetings, collaborative work or enrichment time with a specific teacher.
 
In addition, we offer a daily 25-minute unstructured period immediately after lunch. Though some students use this for outdoor play, the block of time also allows for student visits with teachers, small-group instrumental sessions and student-generated clubs. In combination, these flexible and fluid periods allow students and teachers the space to construct schedules that support exploration, enrichment and extension.

The advisory structure in Old Trail’s Middle School seeks to give students the comfort of having a specified teacher working on their behalf. The advisor attempts to galvanize trust and cooperation with each advisee, cultivating student advocacy at school.
 
The advisor and the student will take time away from their own family-sized group (a 1:8 advisor to student ratio) to explore short- and long-term goals, manage and learn from challenges and celebrate successes.
 
Advisors remain in regular contact with families throughout the year and hold biannual, formal conferences. Going beyond a typical meeting that includes only a teacher and parents, our conferences also include the student, allowing the child to have a voice in their own education. This partnership between Old Trail and parents is part of our holistic view of child development.

Middle School classrooms are equipped with projectors and document cameras. Each student has a Lenovo touchscreen laptop as part of our 1:1 program. iPads are also available to students for specific projects. Their computers make possible the integration of educational technologies that enhance, enrich and facilitate the learning process. 

Through our Digital Citizenship Curriculum, students learn how to be responsible and respectful digital citizens. Students have access to our makerspace with 3D printers, 3D design software, LEGO sets and robots.

• Experience art, history and culture during a week-long class trip to Toronto, Canada.
• Collaborate, design and present during a week-long, on-site and interdisciplinary unit exploring Perspectives: Life at Stan Hywet.
• Increase exposure and understanding of World Languages with Spanish.
• Improve critical thinking and creative problem-solving strategies in a math sequence customized to student abilities.
• Develop advanced skills as musicians by participating in band, string orchestra or chorus.
• Pursue enhanced learning opportunities in visual arts, technology, music, library and media, service learning, physical education and swim.  
• Explore history, science, and world cultures through hands-on edible education cooking lessons.  Students learn about early agriculture and the history of bread, the importance of biodiversity, and the contributions of Spanish culture.

• Experience outdoor and environmental learning during a week-long class trip to The Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont.
• Compute, solve and interpret challenging math equations by completing one of three ability-based preparatory Algebra courses.
• Lead discussions and enhance speaking and listening skills through participation in class presentations as well as student-generated groups and leadership councils.
• Compete as a team member in a variety of interscholastic team sports.
• Identify, study and analyze the similarities and differences of world religions and cultures.
• Pursue enhanced learning opportunities in Spanish, visual arts, technology, music, library and media, service learning, physical education and swim.
• Engage in edible education cooking lessons to personalize poems, witness chemistry in action while fermenting vegetables, enjoy classic Spanish foods, and understand the blending of cultures along the ancient Silk Road.

• Experience and explore U.S. History during a week-long class trip to Washington, D.C.
• Gain leadership skills as an officer in student council, Admission Office Student Ambassador, participant in Trail to Service, and as a returning member in a variety of interscholastic team sports.
• Observe, investigate, collaborate, analyze and discuss challenging scientific concepts through extensive hands-on lab experimentation.
• Cultivate interests through participation in a wide range of elective courses including: robotics, acting improvisation, world drumming, creative writing, farmhands, pottery on the wheel.
• Progress as a written and oral communicator with the many opportunities to research, evaluate write and present on various topics throughout all coursework.
• Pursue enhanced learning opportunities in Spanish, visual arts, technology, music, library and media, service learning, physical education and swim.
• Collaborate in edible education cooking lessons to develop kitchen skills while applying science concepts and learning about Spanish culture.