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|  | Philosophy
Rivers is a school that strives for balance and, in doing so, maximizes the potential of its young people as students, as athletes, as artists, and, most importantly, as human beings. In both the Middle and Upper Schools, Rivers fosters the enthusiastic pursuit of excellence in a caring community where students are given the freedom, the responsibility, and the opportunities to explore new interests, test themselves, discover their talents, and gain self-knowledge.
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| The Rivers Middle School brings together enthusiastic, caring teachers and a structured and supportive atmosphere in its goal of educating early adolescents. With students in grades 6, 7 and 8, the Middle School offers a personal, integrated, and exciting program.
A key to engaging middle schoolers and developing eager learners is making cross-discipline connections and focusing on real-life applications. Thus, for example, students studying Buddhism in 7th grade World Cultures class will create their own prayer flags in art class. From mock trials to writing poetry to building boats, this kind of learning takes on many shapes.
Early adolescents love to experiment and explore, and they often have vivid imaginations. The Middle School program taps into these key attributes to maximize each student’s growth. In addition to regular nightly work, students are expected to plan and execute long-term projects, many of which culminate in special presentations. Several times a year, middle schoolers, parents, and faculty come together for such events as World Cultures Evening, Science Night, Sixth Grade Project Presentations and Portfolio Night –where students present their projects in a forum that turns the tables and makes them the teachers.
Students in our Middle School will find a day filled with dynamic, challenging classes, exciting labs, playful interactions, and artistic discovery. Core classes include year long visual and performing arts courses, as well as a year long drama class in 6th grade and a yearlong media literacy class in 7th grade. All middle school students participate in human development and wellness seminars. At the end of the class day, students participate in our athletic program, which provides continued development of teamwork, skill, and perseverance through a number of interscholastic and some intramural sports.
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