We enjoy our Intermediate students, they embody the fruition of our efforts. We find them to be kind, confident, and knowledgeable. Their opinions and personalities are a part of our campus because they are the leaders.
Our limited enrollment offers the individual something that is lost on a large campus...the individual. Keeping the Sixth through Eighth graders surrounded by adults that know and appreciate them makes the students accountable and confident. We use a home school model in presenting curriculum. The classroom is perfect for challenging academics but we hit the road frequently for electives and to enrich themes.
The interaction of the students with the community widens their frame. Our students are aiming past high school into their college degrees. They have the courage to face 'what is possible for me when I grow up'. Really, what can't you do when you dream of it from intermediate school?
Science and Social Science; We use a looped cycle to cover state standards and national expectations. This gives the class an opportunity to learn what we ought and saturate the topics that really inspire. The first semester is devoted to state content standards.
Third quarter handles what else the nation's intermediate students are learning. In the final quarter we will revisit and master the topics that most closely embody the values emerging in our oldest students.
Language Art goals can often be satisfied with work from other subjects. Our extra time is spent composing original work, putting opinions and theory into comprehensive written works. Typically Language Arts is where we see students opinions and values discussed. We believe the acceptance our students have in other's points of view a reward for the diversity fostered in a non-sectarian setting.
Additionally the group reads selected books with emphasis on the deconstruction of plots and characters. We draw from a variety of genre because many times the reluctant reader is only someone that hasn't found their favorite author or style.
Electives are a miscellaneous catch all for art and music appreciation, sculpture, crafting, First Aid, nutrition, yearbook, cooking, life skills, photography, etc... The under classmen often begin campaigning for preferences and new ideas in late spring for the following year.
Physical Fitness with more of a fitness emphasis is taught with an eye to the options the individual may choose in pursuit of life long vitality. Sports skills, team building and sports theory are all touched upon as well.
Math goals are a balance of; state mandates, student's ability, and national expectations. Student ability trumps all. Our instructors have time and again helped their students achieve into excellence and discover their inner mathematician!
