Middle School Curriculum Guide

All students in the seventh and eighth-grades are required to have a laptop computer, which they bring to school, fully charged, every day. RCDS is a dual platform school, meaning students may have computers with either the Macintosh or the Windows operating systems. Prior to the summer, the School provides details about purchasing the computers.

From Grades 5 through 8, students will begin to develop, practice, and implement healthy and effective study skills habits. An emphasis will be placed on executive function skills including but not limited to organizing, planning and prioritizing, time management, metacognition, and self-regulation. In addition, we will teach students how to self-advocate and learn various strategies on how to study and plan for different types of assessments. The goal is to help students become independent learners, as well as to help them make efficient and effective use of their study time when by themselves or when part of a group.

Both day and overnight trips change from year to year and are coordinated to enhance the curricular program.

The goals of the SEEK program are to help students develop as responsible and respectful members of our Middle School community and help them feel more competent and positive about themselves. Beginning in fifth grade, students will explore the topics listed below through activities and group discussions. All discussions are developmentally appropriate for each age group. When the need arises, discussions will center on a topic that is highlighted in the news and meaningful to the students. Sixth-grade SEEK builds on the knowledge and skills that students began acquiring in fifth grade. The units being discussed may be the same as those of the fifth-grade curriculum; however, Grade 6 students will be able to process the information at a deeper level. The goal of the seventh-grade SEEK program is to help students learn the skills that will assist them in navigating academic and social situations that arise. Students in seventh grade are at a pivotal point in their lives as they enter their teenage years. The eighth-grade SEEK curriculum builds upon and augments the skills, activities, and topics covered during the program in Grades 5, 6, and 7. The eighth-grade program also serves as an opportunity for students to share concerns and information about adolescent issues, ranging from peer interactions to school responsibilities.

SELECTED SEEK TOPICS

Fall

• Organization/Study Skills
• Metacognition and Memory
• Transition to current grade/goal setting
• Team Building/Experiential activities among SEEK groups
• Friendships and social situations

Winter

• Citizenship
• Substance Use (tobacco, alcohol, drugs)
• Stress, Depression, Anxiety – learning to regulate mood
• Decision-Making

Spring

• Bullying, Harassment
• Prejudice/Stereotypes
• Sexuality Education
• Communication Skills
• Revisiting Goals
• Transition to following grade/stress management

Throughout their Middle School years, students learn about community engagement, social impact, activism, and the role of youth as change agents in the community and world. They practice self-reflection, learn about the importance of advocacy, and build project-based partnerships with local community organizations.

Students learn about social issues through group and class projects. They are then given the opportunity to design and lead social impact projects in partnership with a nonprofit organization. The goal of these projects is to support students' exploration of particular passions and build their leadership skills. These student-driven projects incorporate teamwork that has a positive impact on students' communities, and they lay a foundation for continued learning about social issues and ways to make change in the future.