Adolescent Program
The Adolescent Program strives to satisfy four important goals:
- To provide a setting where adolescents are respected and loved: a place where they can struggle, work hard, be challenged, be responsible and have the opportunity to test themselves.
- To maintain a community within the classroom. To this end, students sign a contract to deal honestly and sincerely with all members of the community.
- To create a broad curriculum that focuses on the wider interests and needs of the age. Because adolescents need to test and respond to challenges, it is essential that their academic life be expansive and in-depth.
- To provide the kind of education that prepares children to think, to be both intellectually independent and interdependent and to be conscious of and share ideas and ways of thinking that are our common heritage.
Subject Areas
- Science
Students study energy, the geology of Arkansas, archaeology, weather, astronomy, chemistry, physics, the human body and ecology.
- Language
The major emphasis of the language program is writing: journal writing, creative writing, editing, and research/composition skills. Emphasis is also given to critical reading skills. Titles and topics vary widely.
- Mathematics
Students study advanced arithmetic and algebra. Students work in groups for projects and lessons and are also responsible for individual work to be submitted and/or presented. Advanced students may also cover geometry or second year algebra.
- Government, Economics, and Geography
Students study local and state government, as well as national and world governments. The fundamental principles of economics, natural resources, economic leadership, and poverty are also covered in the curriculum.
- Humanities
The students explore the great ideas that form the fabric of Western heritage through the study of ethics, literature, history, art and music.
- Music
presented as a language with the children creating rhythmic and melodic patterns to accompany songs on our Orff xylophones and other instruments. Music theory is taught using attractive materials and games.
- The Arts
The art program balances expression with the development of two- and three- dimensional artistic skills. Projects round the middle school art experience.
- Foreign Language
patterned as closely as possible after the native language experience: first oral with rhymes and songs then writing, reading and grammar.
- PE
Classes include basic exercises and a variety of sports: swimming, golf, tennis, rope jumping and basketball.
