List of 11 items.

• Advisory

  Our Advisory Program pairs each student with a single teacher for the course of each school year. Advisors meet daily with their group of 10-12 students during homeroom and advising periods. The main objective of our advisory program is to foster a sense of belonging for each and every student in the Middle School. We do this in a variety of ways 

  
  

  Additionally, Advisors guide and monitor each student’s academic and social progress, and are available to counsel students on issues ranging from time management and academics to peer conflicts. Advisors also regularly consult with each advisee's individual subject teachers and parents, gathering as much information as possible to guide their work with each advisee. Advisors maintain regular contact with parents through email and phone and also formally meet with parents during regularly scheduled academic conferences, providing feedback and assistance as students progress through the educational process. The Advisor role is integral to each student’s success, as it gives faculty insight into each student’s concerns, interests, and abilities, both inside and outside the classroom, thereby providing the support and understanding that is so essential to young adults.

  
  
  

• Capstone Projects

  The writing and research skills developed during the Middle School years culminate in a semester-long Capstone research project in eighth grade.  This project is completed in English and World History courses with the intentional guidance of those teachers.

  
  

  Through the Capstone Project, students work independently to choose and research a topic, write a research paper, and create a final presentation that is interdisciplinary in scope and that highlights the range of their academic achievements. The Capstone Project requires students to apply skills, knowledge, and habits that they have acquired in Middle School. A successful The Capstone Project journey involves student independence, initiative, and self-discipline, coupled with teacher and parental support. In addition to applying their prior education to the Capstone Project, we believe it provides students with an essential element of education: discovery. For example, a student may discover a new area of interest. He or she may discover new skills and strengths. Most importantly, a student may discover that he or she is capable of overcoming challenges that seemed quite daunting and will, as a result, have more confidence to be an eager and adventurous learner in the future.

• Class Sizes

  Individual class sizes typically range from 12-16 students. 

• Electives

  Middle school students choose one of two elective paths, either the Instrumental and Vocal Ensemble path or the Arts and Technology path.

  
  

  Instrumental and Vocal Ensembles:  Middle School students are eligible to participate in the Band, Chorus, or Orchestra elective class following either previous experience in the Lower School Band, Chorus, or Orchestra or through an audition process with the specific ensemble director.  These ensemble classes focus on music theory and performance.  They also include required participation in winter and spring concerts, as well as other performances.  These ensembles are full-year courses.

  
  

  Arts & Technology Electives: If selecting the Arts & Technology path, each student is required to complete a rotation of three semester-long courses in the fields of Computer Science, Public Speaking, and Visual Art during their first three semesters in middle school.  Following the first semester of seventh grade, students will complete an elective preference form, and we will schedule accordingly.  

  
  
  

• English

  English courses in Middle School provide a lens for students to interpret this world of instant-information, make meaningful and authentic sense of it, and forge connections from their lives to the ever-changing world around them.  It supports students in finding their own identity and place, which is also at the developmental core of teenagers.  Additionally, we strive to help students achieve the following:

  •  understand others through their languages, histories and cultures
  • foster social justice and equality
  • reveal how people have tried to make moral, spiritual and intellectual sense of the world
  • empathize with diverse characters 

  • deal critically and logically with subjective, complex, imperfect information
  • weigh evidence skeptically and consider more than one side of every question
  • build communication skills in writing and critical reading
  • encourage creative thinking to ask questions about our world
  • develop into informed and critical citizens

• Health and Wellness

  Our Middle School health and wellness program addresses developmentally-appropriate subjects such as nutrition, body image, bullying prevention, time and stress management, internet safety, and substance awareness. The program is designed to provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills to develop positive habits and relationships. Students learn to better understand how health and wellness issues impact themselves, their peers, and the greater community. This understanding leads to intrapersonal and interpersonal strength, confidence, and acceptance. Health and Wellness courses are taught by members of our Physical Education staff.

• History

  Students begin their exploration of the past through a thematic, project-based curriculum in grade 6 that delves into how the past impacts current events around the globe today. Combining history, geography, and current events, students connect the past with the present, developing their critical thinking skills, reading comprehension, and writing skills as they begin their journey into the middle school history curriculum. 

  
  

  In the 7th grade, students continue their learning of historical themes through a chronological approach to United States history. From the founding of the colonies to the birth of the nation and into the early 20th century, students in this survey course develop a solid understanding of the history of the nation. Students practice note-taking, analysis of sources, evidence-based written responses, geography, historical research, project-based learning, and engage in class participation through discussions and debates. 

  
  

  In the 8th grade, students continue their middle school experience with a World History survey course that explores the modern world in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Students explore the causes and consequences of global interactions and significant political and social movements around the world throughout the 15th-19th centuries, all while connecting past events with current issues. Students continue to hone their critical thinking, reading comprehension and writing skills while exploring topics that challenge them to think creatively and analytically.

• Math

  Entering sixth grade, students are placed into either Middle School Math, Pre-Algebra Foundations, or Pre-Algebra based on a variety of metrics. These paths result in students completing either Algebra Foundations, Algebra I, or Geometry in eighth grade. High performing students have the opportunity to take Upper School math classes beyond Geometry, pending departmental approval.
  

• Physical Education

  Ranney School offers a 6th-8th physical education program. The curriculum is designed to provide a well-rounded approach to student development. Within the 6-8 physical education curriculum, students gain the knowledge and skills that form the foundation for a physically active lifestyle, enhancing lifelong health, fitness, and fundamental movement skills. The program promotes health-enhancing lifestyle choices and encourages students to explore the relationship between physical activity and well-being through fostering physical literacy. Through the physical education program, students learn concepts and strategies that cultivate confidence in movement, as well as how to apply movement effectively in various contexts. The program emphasizes responsible behavior, teamwork, sportsmanship, and leadership. Students learn to interact with peers and develop confidence, which is particularly important during the physical and social changes of adolescence. To prioritize safety, it is expected that all students wear the appropriate physical education uniform.

• Science

  The Ranney Middle School Science Program provides adolescent students with information that helps them understand the natural developmental transitions occurring in their lives. It also provides the academic challenges and stimulation that help maintain their curiosity and continue building knowledge to meet the challenges of high school that are just over the horizon. A solid foundation in the scientific method, laboratory procedures and skills, implementation of current technologies, and the application of critical scientific principles to humanity’s needs prepare students for the challenges of the Upper School college preparatory program. 
  
  

  We are guided by a conceptual progression model suggested by the NGSS maps and adapted to the strengths of the faculty and school resources. This approach lets students engage and re-engage with core ideas in different contexts and at different developmental points as students’ understanding matures over time.

• World Languages

  During Middle School, every student will learn a World Language. Students may choose to study French, Mandarin Chinese, or Spanish. By the end of Middle School students will be prepared to enroll in an Upper School Level II World Language course.