From the Middle School Principal

By the time you read this, Middle School students will have completed an intense week of preparation for taking semester exams, as well as the exams themselves. You might want to take a few moments to ask your son or daughter how they felt about their reviewing for these exams. Did they use their time well? What would they do differently next time? It is also important to reflect on how much learning has occurred inside and outside of the classroom, and to commend your son or daughter. Teachers have cultivated close relationships with your children to ensure they feel connected to others within the community while advisors have communicated with you to provide additional support where needed. All students have participated in a weekly activity over the last five months—from Outdoor club to knitting, from Speech team to chess. It is always so interesting to talk with students about these activities. Take a moment to read through Kim Walker’s article about the Outdoor Club on this page. It is just one of the offerings for the next semester that your son or daughter may have selected.

As we approach the months of February and March, there will be many events for parents and students. Class V parents will meet to hear about academic course planning for the Upper School and the expectations for students. Both Class V and Class VI students will have another social at the Top of Ware in mid-February. Students will dive into the next semester of academic studies and activities with renewed vigor, while finishing up their participation on winter athletic teams. There will be several opportunities for community service including a trip to Rosie’s place, a Easter Seals basketball shootout, and a second chorus concert for our local senior citizens. Please check the Milton Web site to keep up with all of these exciting events.

As we look ahead to another semester, taking some time to reflect on the first half of the school year is important. The Middle School faculty have been meeting regularly to review curriculum and to look at ways to enhance the current program. Please take a moment to write down your thoughts about your child’s experience thus far. You may use the survey sent home in last month’s mailing or feel free to drop me a note. I look forward to hearing from you in the coming weeks.