What we are learning...
There's a common assumption about school years, that the American model of school running from September through May is based on the agrarian calendar. This makes sense, but it's not historically accurate. A few years ago, Newshour investigated the "new" idea of implementing a year-round school year and debunked this myth, reminding its viewers of the variety of models that existed in the early days of American schooling. Whether because of economic needs of families and communities or because of the need to clear out of sweltering school buildings, there are few students and educators who complain about the long summer break.One side effect of the academic calendar is the clear start and end of developmental and social levels, and schools take on a variety of rituals to mark these important points of transition. As a result, the beginning and end of the school year mean so much more than new classrooms, courses, and teachers. These junctures allow all members of a school community to reflect on the change, growth, and progress that students - and the community as a whole - experience.
The Middle School concludes the year with a series of special events that demonstrate growth in the academic and artistic arena (Milk Boats, the Rube Goldberg Exhibition, the Oral History Project, Open Mic). We also provide special rituals like the 8th Grade Chapel and 8th Grade Retreat for our students to reflect on the emotional, experiential, and social transition that comes with the transition to high school, and these events provide time, space, and language for students to say "goodbye" to each other. Even though many of our students will stay together in the Upper Schools next year, they know that change comes with this transition - new classmates, new challenges, new opportunities.
For our community, the formal conclusion to the academic year comes with the Closing Ceremony. The ceremony ostensibly focuses on academic achievement, but the format of the ceremony and the awards that recognize particular students celebrate so much more. Some awards are nominated by students, and some are nominated by faculty, but all awards are introduced by students. The short speeches that students prepare for this ceremony provide the truest insight into the Middle School experience, for they reflect strong relationships, self-awareness and the awareness of the gifts and needs of others, and consciousness of the world around them.
Middle School Awards
- Gator Award: Given in all grades to students nominated by their peers for having exceptional spirit in all areas of school life.
- Good Person Award: Given in all grades to students nominated by their peers for taking initiative to be positive, generous, and kind.
- Strength to Strength Award: Given in all grades to students nominated by the Faculty who embody the strength of Annie Wright and inspire others by drawing on the community of family, friends, and teachers to achieve extraordinary success during the school year.
- Scholarship Award: Given in all grades to students nominated by the Faculty for excellence in academic achievement and sincerity of effort.
- Humanities Award: Given to the eighth grade student who, during his or her years in the Middle School, has demonstrated high achievement and enthusiasm for learning in the area of humanities.
- Arts Award: Given to the eighth grade student who, during his or her years in the Middle School, has demonstrated high achievement and enthusiasm for learning in the areas of performing and visual arts.
- Math & Science Award: Given to the eighth grade student who, during his or her years in the Middle School, has demonstrated high achievement and enthusiasm for learning in the areas of math & science.
- Language Acquisition Award: Given to the eighth grade student who, during his or her years in the Middle School, has demonstrated high achievement and enthusiasm for learning in the area of language acquisition.
- Teachers' Award: Given to the Middle School student who has made very special contributions to the Middle School Community during his or her years in the Middle School.
