The Intermediate School is designed for students who are in the midst of forming their academic and social identities. Since leaving childhood and accepting more responsibility can be an uneasy experience, the years spent here form an important bridge over which students are carefully guided to ensure success in the Middle School, Upper School and college.
Teachers are experienced in helping students move academically from the concrete to the abstract; from primary skills to higher-level thinking. Faculty members collaborate on an integrated curriculum where children can study one topic in all of their classes. For instance, students learning about an endangered species might write a poem about it in English, use watercolors to paint the animal in art, create a collage using their iPads in Spanish, and study the anatomy of the animal in science.
Students progress from simply learning how to read to analyzing written material. In math, they apply their skills from working with basic calculations to solving algebraic equations. Students also gain a greater understanding of the world around them through participation in an exciting and meaningful global program across all disciplines.
Social transition is probably the most challenging part of a child’s development at this age. School becomes more than just a place to learn. It is also a place to make friends. The faculty is trained to help students daily in their social discovery through small group get-togethers, chapel programs, advisory periods, and age-appropriate holiday activities.
