Middle School

Middle School

Our Middle School program challenges students to take smart risks and blaze new trails. In an enthusiastic and supportive learning environment, students build a strong academic foundation, developing essential skills that extend beyond school. They broaden and deepen their experience, learning new languages, engaging with technology, and distilling skills for media literacy. This is Middle School for people – students and teachers  who love to learn together.

Curriculum Highlights

Middle School students develop rapidly  intellectually, physically, and emotionally – and our program supports them with targeted skills development, lively and challenging instruction, opportunities for choice, and strong, supportive relationships.

Math

Middle School math emphasizes problem-solving and mathematics reasoning. Students explore the “why” behind concepts and operations at a pace that matches their skills and capabilities. 

English

Students hone their writing practice, learning to organize and effectively communicate their thoughts. A combination of compelling texts and free reading opportunities fosters a love for reading and analysis.

Science

The study of earth, life, and physical sciences over their Middle School years helps students strengthen investigative skills as they gain a greater understanding of scientific processes.

History

Students make connections across cultures and time periods, understand cause and effect, and engage in civil discourse as they study ancient through present-day history.

 

A Unique Approach to Languages
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SPOTLIGHT: LANGUAGES 

Spanish: Students develop listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, with the long-term goal of developing oral and written proficiency and a deep appreciation of the Spanish-speaking world.

Latin: Students develop analytical and critical thinking skills through lessons focused on reading comprehension, Latin grammar, Latin vocabulary, translation, and study of Greco-Roman mythology and ancient Mediterranean cultures.

Chinese: Students learn Mandarin, developing listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills as well as an in-depth understanding of the culture of the Chinese-speaking world.


Download our Curriculum Guide for details about all classes available.

CURRICULUM GUIDE

SUSAN PALMER
HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL

Middle School at Greenhill is a collaborative and creative culture. Classrooms are filled with joyful energy, and everyone works together to create an environment of engaging teaching and learning.

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SPOTLIGHT: MIDDLE SCHOOL MOMENTS

Compete in Olympic Games and bring mythology to the stage - some students act, some design sets, some build an app for the program - all live ancient history on Greek Day in fifth grade!

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SPOTLIGHT: MIDDLE SCHOOL MOMENTS

Gather with your workshop group after watching the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to discuss the importance of the site and its role in our country’s history.

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SPOTLIGHT: MIDDLE SCHOOL MOMENTS

Work in the Middle School teaching garden to learn the principles of sustainability and harvest delicious produce.

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SPOTLIGHT: MIDDLE SCHOOL MOMENTS

Learn Python coding using Minecraft to build a foundational understanding of the design process.

Beyond the Classroom

Student Life
Middle School students are leaders. They join Student Advisory Boards to bring innovative service to the community by greeting guests and leading tours, consulting on academic policy, and promoting the arts. They create clubs that forge connections across grades, and they work to alleviate food insecurity in our city. They confidently make choices and speak up, finding their voice as their ideas enrich the community. 
Arts
The arts are the core of our ambitious Middle School electives program, which expands with each grade. Fifth and sixth graders choose a yearlong music course and take a rotating set of electives in subjects like exploratory design, visual arts, choir, stage play, and communications. In seventh and eighth grades, students choose from more than 30 courses, including jewelry design, debate, digital media, video production, one-act play, and robotics.
Athletics
Our physical education program for fifth and sixth graders includes a survey of strategies in team and individual sports, instilling discipline and sportsmanship. Students may also join the Hornet Sports Association (HSA) to play on teams with their classmates and build skills for competitive sports, which start in seventh grade. In seventh and eighth grades, students continue taking physical education in our High Performance Center (HPC) for lifelong health and wellness, or they can join our interscholastic teams: baseball, basketball, cross country, field hockey, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, and volleyball.
Design and Innovation
Our students learn the latest in 3D modeling, 3D printing, user-experience design, and coding. They have fun while learning to design for a specific audience and how to identify the right problems to solve.
Supporting Growth
Our students navigate Middle School – a time of rapid change – with the help of knowledgeable and supportive advisors, counselors, and learning specialists. They build resilience and social skills through our partnership with Wayfinder, a belonging and purpose-finding curriculum that aligns with our core values, as well as intentionally designed advisory activities that mix fun with community and self-awareness.
Technology
With Greenhill’s 1:1 device program, all Middle School students receive a laptop to use during the school year preloaded with the programs needed to support classroom learning. Technology costs are included with tuition.

Where to Next?

Upper School
Admission
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Clubs and Activities