Each Middle School student rotates through a series of age-appropriate courses in health, writing, music, and art and drama. These classes meet three days a week on a trimester basis. Arts electives supplement the curriculum and are offered two days a week during each trimester.

Health
Students in grade six attend classes that emphasize setting goals, the importance of good nutrition, and techniques to resolve conflicts as people reach adolescence. In grade seven, the primary focus is on drugs, alcohol, and tobacco and ways to overcome peer pressure and avoid the use of these substances. Eighth-graders address the issues of family life and structure, physical growth, and human sexuality, including sexually transmitted diseases.

Music
The emphasis in Middle School music is hands-on participation, using the soprano recorder, piano keyboard, tone chimes, and African drumming to provide a range of musical experiences. These activities help develop a student who is well prepared to integrate the more complex and sophisticated elements of music presented at the Upper School level.

Art and Drama
Students experience skills of both disciplines in a dynamic course called “Art-o-Rama.” This course is team-taught by the art and drama teachers. Sixth-graders focus on storytelling as an art form, creating and using masks, designing a story quilt, and performing stories from around the world. Seventh-graders study line, shadow, shape, and form, creating marionette puppets and using them in a performance. In the process, they also learn skills of technical theatre. Eighth-graders culminate their experience by learning about critical analysis in art and drama and are responsible for creating an original theater production based on the images in a group of paintings by one artist. By writing the script and designing costumes, props, lighting, set, and program cover for their own production, the students ready themselves for the arts in the Upper School. In all sections of the course there is an emphasis on hands-on learning, public speaking, group participation, and cooperation.

Writing Workshop
Students have the opportunity to sharpen and extend their writing skills in this class, which meets as part of the exploratory course rotation.

Arts Electives
The following arts electives will be offered to students during the 2004-05 school year:

• Public Speaking: Students will improve all aspects of public speaking, including researching, developing, and delivering oral presentations.
• Art in the Dark: While investigating art history, students enhance their learning with hands-on projects.
• Poetry Writing: This creative writing class emphasizes poetry as a means of self-expression.
• Chorus: Instruction in proper vocal and choral technique is provided within a supportive, fun environment. The chorus performs throughout the school year both on and off campus.
• Instrumental Music: This class provides instrumental performance opportunities to any student interested in ensemble performance. Students enrolled in this class have already taken beginning instrumental lessons.
• Chess and Strategic Games: Students of all ability levels will study strategic thinking and probability in chess, checkers, and other popular board games.
• Small Group Dramatics: Students will develop their skills in playwriting and performance as they write, read, rehearse, and revise their own scenes, culminating in a public performance of their work.
• Technical Theatre: This support group for the Middle School Spring Play will enable students to engage in all aspects of the background of a theatrical presentation.