September Letter from Middle School Director Rob Blackwell

Dear Middle School Families,

 

We are nine days into the school year, and already there is a lot happening in Middle School!

 

One of my favorite parts of the first weeks of a new academic year is getting into classrooms and seeing where students begin along their journey and how teachers give them the space and confidence as they find their path. Ask an adult friend about her memories of junior high school/middle school or his recollections of becoming a teenager. Most likely, you will be greeted with a grimace or a scornful smirk. There aren’t too many adults who reminisce fondly about their awkward pubescent pasts. For some, that memory is best left undisturbed. This is probably one of the hidden gems of Middle School at The Bush School: we validate students for who they are at whatever time and place when they cross the long bridge that separates childhood and adolescence.

I have seen Sixth Grade students in music with Middle School Music Faculty Matt Swanson learning about the Shesh Besh Ensemble, an Arab Jewish musical group that brings people together through music. In Mandarin, Middle School Mandarin Faculty Ming Feng’s Sixth Grade students have been learning and strengthening their skills with dates. In Eighth Grade science, Middle School Science Faculty Lucy Alexander's students took on a Paper Drop Design Challenge, trying to create a paper structure that would fall as slowly as possible and land as close to a target as possible. A simple piece of paper quickly became an introduction to physics, design, and engineering.

 

In Seventh Grade English, led by Middle School English Faculty Gilly Nadal, students have been preparing for a seminar on Jason Reynolds' Look Both Ways. They are learning not only about the book, but also how to listen carefully, build on another person's thinking, and contribute thoughtfully to a conversation amongst their peers. Middle School students are challenged by their developmental circumstances; however, when they are supported and cared for by experienced and talented teachers, this provides great comfort and ease during the learning process. 

Throughout my career working in middle schools, I have learned that the strongest middle school communities are built on a well-developed sense of connection amongst everyone. Setting clear expectations for how we treat one another and  behave in shared spaces like lunch, town halls, class meetings, and assemblies helps students feel that they belong and that everyone matters. We have started to build this sense of community within our larger Middle School. At our first assembly, students met their Blazer Cup teams and began to see the people they will work with and cheer alongside throughout the year. During our first Town Hall, we talked about the everyday expectations that help make Bush Middle School a good place to be. We discussed lunch at MLK, starting a new club, and what it means to be a good citizen of our community.

 

These conversations are very important. Middle school is about much more than what happens in a classroom or performance on an assessment. It is also about learning how to navigate and make positive contributions to a community, finding your place in it, trying something new, making mistakes, and learning from them. Our students are already beginning this work .

 

Finally, by the time you read this, our grade-level retreats will have arrived at their respective destinations and completed day one. Sixth Grade will be at Black Diamond, Seventh Grade will be at Seabeck, and Eighth Grade will be at our Methow Campus. Each retreat will look a little different, but all three share the same goal: giving students time to step away from their regular school routine, while they get to know one another and their teachers in different ways. This is the important work, when done with intention and thoughtfulness, which strengthens our students’ sense of belonging to this community.

 

Nine days is not very long. There are still many firsts ahead, along with plenty of questions, discoveries, mistakes, giggles, and growth. I look forward to seeing where our students take us in the days and months ahead!

 

Here are important dates to note this fall:

·  Wednesday, September 30 - MS Back School Night, 5:45 p.m. – 8:30pm

·  Friday, October 2 - Fall Festival

·  Friday, October 16 - Middle School Fall Social, 3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

·  Friday, October 23 - End of Quarter 1

·  Wednesday, October 28 – No Classes

·  Thursday, October 29 and Friday, October 30 – Parent and Guardian-Teacher Conferences

In partnership,

Rob Blackwell

Middle School Division Director