A Time of Growth
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The middle years of schooling is a time of rapid growth in a young person’s life - involving complex and irregular physiological and emotional change. At MIS we have an experienced team of professionals providing a structured, caring environment for students, as they transition from the primarily "one classroom” learning environment of the Junior School to the varied demands and structures of externally examined courses in the Senior School.
To make this journey easier, the Middle School Building was designed to accommodate Grade 5. Traditionally the final year of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, Grade 5 at MIS has become the Middle Years Programme Transition year. Students are still, as in the Junior School, largely taught in a homeroom setting, but are also being gradually introduced to the Middle Years Programme.
Grades 5 & 6
Whilst Middle School has a cultural identity that is very much grades 5 through 8, grades 5 and 6 form a distinct subset. The change occurs subtly from Grade 5 to 6: more teachers with more distinct subject boundaries, but the classrooms are just across the corridor. Grades 5 and 6 students share the cafeteria and recess areas, have their own Student Council meetings and interact in a range of sporting, aesthetic and social, extra-curricular activities.
Grades 7 & 8
As
students move from grade 6 into grade 7, the programme remains the same (MYP)
but there is a slight change in the distribution of time across the subjects
and art, drama and music are taught in modules. In most aspects, grade 8 is the
same as grade 7 but there is an emphasis on preparing for the transition to
Senior School. Grades 7 & 8 students share the cafeteria and recess areas,
have their own student Council meetings and interact in a range of sporting,
aesthetic and social extra-curricular activities.