Academic and Co-Curricular Life
Grades 6–8

Start Time

Middle School starts at 8 a.m. Families who drive should plan to arrive before 8 a.m., so that students may be seated in advisory groups or in the assembly room promptly at 8 a.m. If a student will be late or absent, the parent must call Jacqui Pennini at 617-898-2368.

Morning Assembly

Monday and Friday:
Students in Grades 6, 7 and 8 meet in the Middle School meeting room for morning assemblies. Announcements, performances and schedule changes are presented at this time. Late students may miss important information.

Tuesday and Thursday:
Students will meet in their advisory or homeroom groups. Arriving late may lead to detention.

Wednesday:
Students will participate in Grade Level meetings.

Academic Day/Homework

During the Middle School years, students gain independence and responsibility. We expect students to become accustomed to working with teachers who have different teaching styles, expectations and homework policies. The academic experience balances independent and group work, where each student is expected to do a fair share. Cheating, plagiarism or copying another student’s work violates Milton Academy standards and we will refer students who transgress in these ways to the respective grade level dean for the appropriate disciplinary response.

Students attend classes in mathematics, English, world cultures, and science in Grades 6, 7 and 8, and foreign language in Grades 7 and 8. These are sometimes called the “homework courses.” Students should expect 25 to 45 minutes of homework for each class meeting depending on the grade level. Students work at various speeds, so this time expectation is an approximation. Students may complete assignments in less time, but we expect students to put forth their best effort every day. A student who completes a homework assignment quickly is expected to review course material. If a student is having difficulty completing assignments, we encourage him or her to talk with a teacher or advisor so we can arrange for appropriate support strategies.

In addition to the “homework courses,” students in Grades 7 and 8 take a semester course in the visual arts, a semester course in the performing arts, and a yearlong course in music. Students in Grade 6 take a yearlong course in music, visual art, performing arts, and technology skills.

Activities

Activity periods are fifth and/or sixth period on Wednesday for Grades 6, 7 and 8. Each student chooses an activity in September and another at the end of January. Over the years, activities have included community service, speech team, jazz combo, chess club, weight training, knitting club, newspaper, yearbook and outdoor club. Students may change activities at semester breaks.

Athletics Philosophy

We believe that participating on a team sport is an important part of a student’s development at the middle school level. The fundamental purpose of Milton Academy’s Middle School Athletics program is to provide opportunities for each student to acquire, develop and improve skills in a variety of athletic areas. Our objectives include fostering a life-long appreciation for physical activity and providing a safe environment where students are able to have a fun and rewarding experience. Through our athletic program, Middle School students make friends, develop skills, compete against other teams, learn the value of teamwork and sportsmanship, experience leadership, and represent the School. Click here to learn more about Middle School Athletics.

Drama

There are many exciting opportunities for students to participate in the performing arts in the Middle School. Students in grades 6, 7 and 8 take performing arts as part of their curricular day. Grade 6 drama focuses on taking risks, building ensemble, becoming comfortable performing in front of others, and having fun in the process. Grade 7 students have the opportunity to work in the Upper School tech shop for a semester, as they learn the basics of technical theatre. Grade 8 students have the option to choose a specialization for their arts, either performing or visual. Students choosing drama will spend part of the year honing their acting skills and working on a play that will be performed for the community. Students rehearse during the class day, and the performance takes place in May.

The Middle School also offers voluntary drama activities. In the fall, students in Grades 7 and 8 may choose to participate in an after-school activity where they have the opportunity to create their own original show. Students rehearse two afternoons a week from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. culminating with a performance in December. Grade 6 students may choose the non-competitive option during the winter season and participate in a play. For this, students rehearse Wednesday afternoons from 1:30 to 3:45 p.m. and on Friday afternoons from 2:15 to 3:45 p.m.; the performance is in March. Previous acting experience is not necessary to participate in a play. The productions provide an exciting learning-based rehearsal period and an opportunity to perform. Past productions include: From the Inside Out, an original show created by the students examining how and why we see the world the way we do; Walking in Time, an original show created by the students looking at all aspects of time and how it affects our lives; Down the Elevator Shaft, Fairy Tale Courtroom, Holes, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Scheme of the Driftless Shifter, and Sideways Stories from the Wayside School.

Speech Team

The Middle School speech team is a unique collaboration between the Upper and Middle Schools. Every Wednesday during two activity periods of the school day, members of the Middle School team meet with their Upper School speech coaches. The Middle School speech team is a co-curricular activity designed to train students in the fundamentals of performance, literary interpretation, and public speaking. Although the primary coaching sessions take place during the Wednesday activity period, additional coaching is available after school. Throughout the academic year, students have the option to travel on Sundays to local tournaments. In the 2006-2007 school year, tournament sites included The Pike School, The Nashoba Brooks School, Wilson Middle School, Shrewsbury Middle School, Jewish Community Day School and The Foley Invitational hosted at Milton Academy. Students may compete in one or more of the following categories: Play Reading, Prose Interpretation, Original Oratory, Impromptu Speaking, Poetry Interpretation, Duo Interpretation, Declamation and/or Novice Reading. Members of the team are also members of the National Junior Forensic League Honor Society.

Community Service

Students may participate in community service activities designed to enrich their social consciousness. The activities include planning fundraisers; volunteering at sites such as Rosie’s Place, Long Island homeless shelter, the local animal shelter; and helping with the Special Olympics. School-sponsored fundraisers must be approved by the Middle School community service coordinator and the principal. Outside fundraisers are discouraged and must be approved by the principal.

Lunch

Lunch is served daily in Norris House from 11:40 to 12:40 p.m. Students are expected to use the cross walk by Ware Hall or Cox Library when crossing Centre Street. In addition, we ask students to use the sidewalks along Centre Street going to and from Norris House. Students should not run in and out of the parking areas.

Middle School students and faculty are expected to bus their own dishes. When students are finished with their lunches, they take their dishes to the wash room and leave the tables clean.

Daily Schedule

Daily Schedule for Grades 7 and 8
8:00–8:20 a.m. Morning meeting (attendance required)
8:25–9:10 a.m. Period 1
9:15–10:00 a.m. Period 2
10:00–10:15 a.m. Recess
10:15–11:00 a.m. Period 3
11:05–11:50 a.m. Period 4
11:55 a.m.–12:40 p.m. Period 5
12:30–1:15 p.m. Period 6
1:20–2:05 p.m. Period 7
2:15–3:45 p.m. Required athletics and physical education

A Typical Grade 6 Schedule
8:00–8:20 a.m. Homeroom or Middle School Assembly
8:25–9:10 a.m. Period 1
9:15–10:00 a.m. Period 2
10:00–10:30 a.m. Recess
10:30–11:15 a.m. Period 3
11:20 a.m.–12:05 p.m. Period 4
12:10–1:00 p.m. lunch
1:15–2:00 p.m. Period 5
2–2:15 p.m. Homeroom
2:15–3:45 p.m. Athletics or physical education
3:45 p.m. Dismissal

Dismissal

School ends at 3:45 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, and after games on Wednesday and Friday. If a team does not have a competition, students will have practice on Wednesdays from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. and on Fridays from 2:15 to 3:45 p.m. Sixth graders will be supervised by an adult and picked up in the afternoons at the lower lot near the pool. Seventh and eighth graders will be picked up at the Ware loop.

After School

If a student is unable to leave at 4 p.m., he or she will check in by 4 p.m. with the after school coordinator who is supervising study hall that afternoon. Students must attend the after school study hall until their parent arrives or until the 6 p.m. bus arrives. After school study hall is open to Middle School students Monday through Friday until 5:45 p.m. If a student is involved in an after school activity or has an Academic Skills Center appointment, a student may attend these instead of after school study hall. Grade 6 students will have supervision until 5:45 p.m. on Wednesdays and until 5 p.m. on Fridays in the Junior Building. There will be no additional charge for the after school supervision program, but parents will be charged a fee for late pick-ups. After three late pick-ups in a semester, your child will not be able to attend after school.

Grade 8 Privilege

During the last month of school, the special privilege for eighth-grade students is that they are not required to attend after-school study hall. Students are expected to be in one of three places: the Schwarz Student Center, Cox Library or Middle School courtyard. Students who are not in one of these locations, or who behave inappropriately, will lose their privilege and be assigned a disciplinary consequence.