Scattergood Middle School’s comprehensive day program provides students with the opportunities and tools necessary to promote their personal and academic growth. We believe in meeting each student where they are and growing their skills, knowledge, and confidence from there.
Middle school students are involved in school life beyond their classroom which deepens the sense of community on campus and helps to build strong peer relationships. Middle school students work and learn together with high schoolers in community meetings, the mentor-mentee program, crew, project and P.E. classes, school-wide trips and events, and much more.
MS academic calendarWhat We Learn
Each day includes time dedicated to core subjects like math, science, social studies, language arts, Spanish, and health. Students are placed in classes with peers at similar skill levels and small classes ensure we are able to meet the needs of a wide range of learners. Middle school students who are academically and socially ready may take high school level classes in some core subjects.
Class Theme Studies
In addition to core subjects, middle school students have time to delve into academic work that is guided by six semester-long themes: Soil, Water, Humans and Labor, Food, Families, and Air and Space. Students explore these topics through various lenses–scientific, literary, historical, artistic, and more.
What does it look like to study soil for a semester?
Soil is at the root of all existence and therefore lends itself to a wide variety of studies and explorations. Through the study of soil, students may dive into the follow areas of learning:
- Researching the collapse of Mayan civilization due to overpopulation and soil depletion.
- Comparing the diversity of fungi, rhizobia, and other members of the soil community in areas of both organic and commercial agriculture.
- Engaging with and studying the plants and animals that live and grow on our school farm.
- Reading and discussing the works of Wendell Berry and Aldo Leopold.
- Visiting local farmers and learning what they are doing to create healthy soil.
- Comparing the diversity of fungi, rhizobia, and other members of the soil community in areas of both organic and commercial agriculture.
Service and Trips
In addition to daily crew work, Scattergood middle school students participate in community service learning opportunities to further enhance their studies. As part of the food unit, students have volunteered at a local food pantry sorting and packaging donations. During the water unit, middle school students read and discussed the book A Long Walk to Water and raised funds to support a community well project in Sudan.
Trips are an impactful part of learning at Scattergood. Middle school students participate in the annual school wide camping trip at the start of the school year which is a great introduction to the longer trips later in the year. In recent years, middle school students have ventured to Chicago during February Intersession and to the Driftless region of Wisconsin during Trips Week in early May. These trips create unique opportunities for students to explore learning in new places and in new ways, inviting them to grow both academically and personally.
Day in the Life
In order to meet the unique needs of middle schoolers, we will include in each day social/emotional growth, physical activity, meaningful inquiry-based learning, and work to benefit the school community.
8:30-9:00
Chores & morning meeting at the Scattergood Farm
9:00-12:20
During this time students cycle through two 50 minute and one 90 minute class periods, rotating through core subjects and the class theme. Students also have a brief snack and stretch break during this time.
12:25-12:45
Community lunch in the dining hall.
12:50-1:25
Crew1:30-1:45
A brief break allows middle school students time to socialize and relax.
2:10-3:00
Health class or Project
3:00- 3:40
Literature, mentor/mentee time, Project, or community meeting
