Middle Division SAP Initiatives
Academic Initiatives in Middle Division
Dear Middle Division Families,
I hope you are as excited as I am about the new strategic initiatives that we have recently shared with you in our parent webinar. The opportunity that students have to build foundational skills in computational thinking and our faculty focus on vertical and horizontal alignment will make a strong impact on our students. I am writing to let you know about how these changes will specifically impact the Middle Division.
First, the addition of a year-long course in computer science for all 7th grade students will more than double the required time our students will spend in computer science. This will set them up to go deeper and wider in this area as they choose electives or move into Upper Division courses. In order to make room for this class, our 7th grade students will no longer take Latin and will instead take foundational Latin in 8th grade. Students will still benefit from a strong Middle Division Latin program that they can build upon in UD Latin or that can serve as a foundation for other language studies.
Secondly, I want to let you know about some changes to our schedules for next year that will enhance student learning and enable faculty collaboration. Our regular schedule will be aligned in all grade levels until 7th and 8th grade students go to sports. Having advisory at the same time for all Middle Division students will allow for greater flexibility and potential for all school activities such as clubs, house competitions, and other community activities.
Moving Chapel to mid-morning enables students to have a more significant morning break, provides better coordination for elective teachers who teach in the UD and MD, and allows us to add time to our lunch break. Finally, we have removed the rotating long block and have made all classes slightly longer at 55 minutes. This change allows for consistency in class times across sections, lengthens class time from 50 to 55 minutes per class, and allows us to align the schedule for all MD students.
The Wednesday Schedule for next year will have a later start, beginning at 9:00 a.m. for all MD students. This later start for students will give our teachers much needed time for vertical and horizontal curricular work and collaboration. To make room for this time, our students will not have advisory after lunch on this day, and all classes will be 5 minutes shorter. All other programming including Chapel, electives, P.E., and athletics will continue as normal. We will provide childcare in the morning for families who need to drop off their children early on Wednesday.
In closing, I would like to thank Dr. Merry Sorrells, Sandy Nelson, and Josh Bottomly for all of their support and hard work bringing these important initiatives to our Middle Division. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.
With Faith and Courage,
I hope you are as excited as I am about the new strategic initiatives that we have recently shared with you in our parent webinar. The opportunity that students have to build foundational skills in computational thinking and our faculty focus on vertical and horizontal alignment will make a strong impact on our students. I am writing to let you know about how these changes will specifically impact the Middle Division.
First, the addition of a year-long course in computer science for all 7th grade students will more than double the required time our students will spend in computer science. This will set them up to go deeper and wider in this area as they choose electives or move into Upper Division courses. In order to make room for this class, our 7th grade students will no longer take Latin and will instead take foundational Latin in 8th grade. Students will still benefit from a strong Middle Division Latin program that they can build upon in UD Latin or that can serve as a foundation for other language studies.
Secondly, I want to let you know about some changes to our schedules for next year that will enhance student learning and enable faculty collaboration. Our regular schedule will be aligned in all grade levels until 7th and 8th grade students go to sports. Having advisory at the same time for all Middle Division students will allow for greater flexibility and potential for all school activities such as clubs, house competitions, and other community activities.
Moving Chapel to mid-morning enables students to have a more significant morning break, provides better coordination for elective teachers who teach in the UD and MD, and allows us to add time to our lunch break. Finally, we have removed the rotating long block and have made all classes slightly longer at 55 minutes. This change allows for consistency in class times across sections, lengthens class time from 50 to 55 minutes per class, and allows us to align the schedule for all MD students.
The Wednesday Schedule for next year will have a later start, beginning at 9:00 a.m. for all MD students. This later start for students will give our teachers much needed time for vertical and horizontal curricular work and collaboration. To make room for this time, our students will not have advisory after lunch on this day, and all classes will be 5 minutes shorter. All other programming including Chapel, electives, P.E., and athletics will continue as normal. We will provide childcare in the morning for families who need to drop off their children early on Wednesday.
In closing, I would like to thank Dr. Merry Sorrells, Sandy Nelson, and Josh Bottomly for all of their support and hard work bringing these important initiatives to our Middle Division. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.
With Faith and Courage,
Initiatives by Division
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2022-23 MD Schedules
Casady School is an independent, co-educational, college preparatory, Episcopal day school serving students in pre-k-12. Educating Mind, Body, and Spirit.
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Casady School is a PreK-12, independent, college preparatory Episcopal day school committed to deeper-level learning. Casady School welcomes a student body that reflects the diversity of the world around us and therefore does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, nationality, or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletics, and other school-administered programs generally accorded or made available to students at the School.