Middle School | Grades 5–8
Our students find their voice, join the conversation, lead, and make change.
With the confidence and skills instilled in our Lower School, Derby students approach their Middle School years with a sense of strength and independence, ready to enjoy learning at the next level. Students grow as critical thinkers and collaborators who learn the value of strong self-advocacy and organizational skills.
Middle School students develop an appreciation of different cultures and a confidence in collaborative problem solving; all essential skills needed to succeed in secondary school and beyond. Extracurricular and co-curricular programs such as public speaking, Model UN, publications, student council, and community service offer students opportunities to build self awareness and pride in their individual potential as learners and citizens. Other aspects of the program include outdoor education trips, mindfulness sessions with the Wellness Collaborative, and regular community morning meetings.
Students sharpen their written communication skills through extensive writing challenges in a variety of genres, both in small-group and one-on-one collaborative settings. Enrichment opportunities such as the MathCounts National Math Club, Math Problems of the Week, and the international AMC 8 Mathematics Examination push students intellectually to stretch their thinking and exposes them to higher level applications.
MIDDLE School HighlightS
- Advisory Program
- Secondary School Counseling
- Student Admission Ambassadors
- Pals
- AISNE Diversity Workshop
- Electives - Vector Design, 3D Printing, Model Rockets, Musical Theater, Woodshop, Sewing
- Student Affinity Groups
- Winter Term
AMC8 Math Exam - GOALS - Model UN, Yearbook, Stagecraft, Continental Math League
- Comprehensive Public Speaking Opportunities
- Interscholastic athletics program
Advisory Program
In the Middle School, students move away from a self-contained homeroom model and instead are placed in smaller advisory groups, led by one or two faculty advisors. In addition to helping students manage their academic and athletic pursuits, advisors serve as advocates for their students and lead them in lessons from our social emotional learning curriculum. Many of our lessons are created in house, through collaboration between faculty members and our school counselors, and they are designed to help students develop traits identified in the Portrait of a Graduate.
Students delve into important life skills, such as self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision making, social awareness, and relationship skills. Through our use of the SMARTS program, students grow confidence in their academic abilities and further develop their executive functioning skills (such as time management, prioritization, checking their work, thinking flexibly, and goal setting). Students learn about technology and digital citizenship through the online program Win At Social and its interactive, social-media driven lessons. Advisory time is also used for relationship building, whether it is connecting with Lower School Students in our Pals program, learning from our penpals at Malawi Childrens' Mission in Malawi, Africa, or bonding with therapy dogs who visit campus regularly. With consistent support from our team of advisors, teachers, and coaches, Middle School students work to find and use their voice as they're encouraged to discover innovative ways to problem solve and lead with confidence.
Learn More at the Grade Level