Welcome to the Middle School

Introduction

The State College Friends Middle School is organized to respond to the educational needs of early adolescents. During this exciting time of rapid growth and increasing independence, middle school students explore both their personal identities and their relationships to others. To meet their diverse needs, our program offers a balanced curriculum that addresses the academic, social, emotional, physical, and spiritual aspects of the growing adolescent. The middle school team of teachers will facilitate and provide developmentally-appropriate activities and projects that lead to self-discovery, skill building, and abstract thinking. In keeping with the practices that have been found best for this age group, students will also have choices in their learning and will be given the opportunity to assume the role of a teacher. Examples and role models for social justice and action will be a primary focus throughout the curriculum as this is an area of both high interest and enthusiasm for adolescents. Through this exploratory curriculum, students will gain new experiences, learn more about their strengths and weaknesses, and assume leadership roles. The overall goal of the middle school program is to create a learning community that emphasizes Quaker testimonies, self-expression, and connection to real-life concerns. As older middle school students prepare for high school, it is our hope that each and every student leaves Friends School confident and believing in their capabilities and goodness.

Middle School students will spend the first and last part of each day with their homeroom teacher, and these homeroom groups will be divided by grade level (Teacher Bailey Klinestiver – 6th Grade, Teacher Ellen Secci – 7th Grade, Teacher Christy LaForce – 8th Grade). Students will normally remain with their grade level groups for the core academic classes, but they will travel to different classrooms for other classes. (Teacher Christy – Language Arts and Pre-Algebra, Teacher Ellen – Social Studies and 6th Grade Math, Teacher Bailey – Science and Algebra). There will be a significant amount of multi-grade activities as well, including Spanish, Yoga, Physical Education, Electives, Student Skills, Sustained Silent Reading, Study Hall, and our Middle School Meeting for Worship.

Field Trips
Our first overnight field trip is to the Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) is our destination and we will be needing some parent drivers and chaperones. We’ve been to PEEC several times over the years and the students have always had a great time. PEEC is the first 3-day field trip of the year, and it includes the whole middle school. Our other major trip is to study in Washington, DC in the spring. There will be subject-related field trips throughout the year, some of which will be divided by grade level.