Middle School

An English curriculum rich in a variety of literature has been selected for 7th grade because of its classic appeal, its relation to history, or its illustration of a genre being studied.  For example, students read The Samurai’s Tale in conjunction with the study of Feudal Japan in history and I, Juan de Pareja while studying the Renaissance.  Students have their first exposure to Shakespeare and read The Merchant of Venice, a comedy. Students analyze various types of literature and the different forms of writing used in fiction, non-fiction, narrative, descriptive, dramatic, and poetic language and literary terms using many different cognitive skills.  The curriculum includes the direct study of grammar and sentence structures to give a strong basis for writing skills, a strong contextual vocabulary program selected from the literature, as well as the skills needed to analyze a piece of literature.  The writing program includes learning to write effective 11-sentence expository paragraphs, research papers in conjunction with other subject areas, creative writing and poetry.

This year of (primarily) Pre-Algebra will be where evaluating expressions with integers is mastered.  Writing expressions is practiced and simplifying expressions using the distributive property is emphasized.  The students learn to solve two-step, one variable equations.  The linear equation is introduced, and the concept of slope is explored.  Problem solving is a significant component of the curricula, with emphasis placed on writing algebraic equations, such as area and volume formulas, and proportions to solve word problems.  Material is presented through direct teaching, projects, and hands-on laboratory explorations.

History in 7th grade begins with the fall of the Roman Empire and culminates with the Age of the Renaissance as students  continue the study of World Civilizations begun in sixth grade.  Subject areas are brought to life through interactive classroom activities such as participating in a Japanese Tea Ceremony. designing a travel brochure, or preparing for a Renaissance feast.  Students learn to think, question, and discover the answers to our world, then and now.  Primary sources are introduced as part of the research process and literature, such as The Canterbury Tales, is used to help students experience what life was like for people of other places and times.

The Science curriculum continues the program begun in Sixth Grade with topics that include the nature of science, geology (rocks and minerals), Life Science (cell genetics, plant evolution), conserving resources (matter and energy), and physical and chemical properties.  The topics discussed will be explored through and experimented with laboratory demonstrations specifically tailored for every chapter covered throughout the school year.  The hands-on work will be backed up with written competency of the concepts in the results and conclusions section of the lab notebooks.  One of the interdisciplinary projects with English and Computer class is researching and writing a report on an invertebrate organism.

Seventh grade Spanish focuses on the development of listening, speaking, reading, and writing competency in Spanish.  Students communicate with each other utilizing the grammatical structures and vocabulary learned in class.  Focus is on the proper use of nouns, adjectives, and verbs to create sentences and paragraphs in Spanish.  An overview of Aztec, Mayan, and Incan cultures is also introduced during this year.  Projects include country reports, creating family albums, writing book reports, and reading a Spanish novel.  This course incorporates field trips to relevant museum and art exhibits, as well as opportunities to experience different cultural cuisine.

Building on the knowledge acquired in the previous grades, our 8th grade English curriculum continues to be enriching and becomes more challenging.  Literature and writing skills' curricula have been selected because of their relevance to history.  For example, while studying early New World settlements in history, students read The Crucible and To Kill a Mockingbird during the study of the Depression and post-Civil War segregation.  Continuing their study of Shakespeare, students delve into the epic tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.  The curriculum for analyzing literature, grammar, and sentence structure continues, and the writing program includes learning to write effective five-paragraph expository essays, five-paragraph reports in conjunction with other subject areas, creative writing, poetry, and the narrative.

The 8th grade math curriculum is a first-year Algebra course.  Students learn the fundamental algebraic concepts of variables and functions.  In particular, linear and quadratic functions are addressed.  Examples of situations that these functions model are presented.  Students learn to translate these real-world applications to algebraic problems and then solve the problems using the methods and techniques of algebra.  Emphasis is placed on justifying steps in the solution process, writing proper equations, drawing graphs, and applying computational skills and reasoning to evaluate numerical quantities.

The American History curriculum in 8th grade furthers previously taught study and writing skills, and strengthens the ability to apply critical thinking strategies.  Several themes and concepts are simultaneously explored,  including ideals and practice of democracy, economic development, industrialization, cultural diversity, manifest destiny, World War I and II, and the role of the United States as a world power.  Assigned literature, such as Killer Angels and Animal Farm, allows students to analyze forms of governments.  Projects and field trips are planned to show the relevance of historical events to current times and to encourage an empathetic viewpoint toward people past and present.  In the Spring, a class trip to Washington, D.C., Gettysburg, and New York City brings many curricular themes into focus.

The culmination of middle school Science in 8th grade is an intensive look at Physical Science and its interaction throughout Earth and Space.  Topics include electricity (magnetism and electro-magnetic waves), physics, chemistry (atomic structure, the periodic table and organic chemistry), and genetics (living and non-living environments). Topics discussed are explored in weekly laboratory demonstrations and experiments.  Hands-on work is supported with written competency of concepts in the results and conclusions section of students' lab notebooks.  One of the interdisciplinary projects with English is the researching, designing, and building of a 3-D molecule.

Spanish in 8th grade continues to focus on achieving communicative goals through speaking, reading and writing in Spanish.  Commands, past tense, direct and indirect objects, pronouns, and irregular verbs are used to give directions, express preferences, make purchases, and order food.  Projects include creating menus, reading a novel in Spanish, and researching and creating a PowerPoint presentation on a Mexican state as an interdisciplinary project with computer class.  Field trips to museums and art exhibits enhance the classroom instruction. Students also experience different tastes of cultures during various culinary adventures.

Character Education is enmeshed both formally and informally into our Middle School program.  Positive character traits are highlighted through our school wide curriculum, but developed more fully and focused on more in depth through literature, topics in history, and other subject matter. 

Students are helped to develop these personal qualities through special lessons and assignments with guidance, daily experience, and discipline – and to demonstrate them in their daily lives. Each month we focus on one of our core values or a theme:

• September: Friendship/Building a Caring Community

• October: Responsibility

• November: Courage

• December: Respect

• January: Self-Discipline

• February: Honesty

• March: Good Judgment

• April: Patience/Perseverance

• May/June: Integrity

At the Middle School, our Life Skills program is facilitated with a weekly, grade-level class to also emphasizes study skills, communication skills, social skills, goal setting and problem solving, and career awareness.  A weekly grade-level class is held to provide a venue for class discussions on a variety of topics which are particularly applicable to middle school students.

In addition, Warren-Walker School's Life Skills curriculum is comprised of two, gender-specific programs - Sisterhood and Bonding Brotherhood.  Specific school concerns, social skills, study skills, communication skills, test-taking strategies, goal-setting, problem-solving, organizational skills and career awareness are addressed weekly in grade level classes.  In each grade, certain over-arching themes are emphasized, as follows:

6th Grade - Individual Growth Development

Nutrition – students learn about the importance of eating healthy foods.  They study about refined sugars, complex carbohydrates, saturated and unsaturated fats, proteins, portion size, reading and understanding food labels, caloric intake, food groups, and exercise.
Acceptance and Respect – students learn about cultivating friendliness, compassion, happiness, and the need to support those who are less fortunate.
Personality Types and Learning Styles – students learn about the different personality types and learning styles.  They analyze their own types and styles by observing their strengths and weaknesses and working on different approaches to gain success.

7th Grade - Peer & Social Interaction

Problem Solving – students learn to identify a problem, seek possible solutions, determine consequences for each possible solution, select a course of action, take action, and evaluate the outcome.
Conflict Resolution – students learn how to stay cool in conflicts, how to listen, stand up for oneself, show respect, and solve the conflict.  Along with this is learning to make proper eye contact, and use appropriate body language and tone of voice.
Acceptance and Respect – students learn about the effects of teasing and pejorative language.  They investigate the proper use of social media and its harmful use.

8th Grade - The Real World

Body Image – students investigate and analyze media and advertising regarding body image.  They also look at stereotypes, self-esteem, and harassment.  An eating disorder curriculum is also included.
Substance Abuse – students learn the truth about nicotine, alcohol, and drugs through a program developed by The Foundation for a Drug-Free World.
High School – students identify their perceptions and fears of high school, and look at their expectations.  Along with this unit, students look at recognizing signs of their stress and anxiety, techniques for coping, and ways for overcoming their fears.

6th-8th Grades - Sisterhood & Brotherhood

Middle school can be a challenging time for girls. Sisterhood is designed to raise awareness, develop empathy, teach healthy conflict, explore feelings, and promote a positive change in female relationships.   At this age, girls' conflict resolution skills are still developing.  Warren-Walker recognizes that girls need assistance in developing these skills in the healthiest way possible. 

Because girls’ communication styles, skills, and maturity levels vary widely, the program creates a framework that teaches girls to respect one another’s differences, creates opportunity for growth, and encourages effective communication within the group. As the girls begin to understand their own communication techniques and learn new ones, they become more adept at solving their own problems in a healthy and positive manner.  The Sisterhood program is designed to grow with the girls, layering new skills each of the three years at Middle School with the end-goal of creating strong bonds of communication among our young women. 

In addition, the Sisterhood program, offers a workshop to provide tips for parents on assisting their daughters in the development of these skills.  Parents learn ways to keep communication lines open and how to stay engaged with their daughters while empowering them to solve conflicts on their own. 

Through the  Bonding Brotherhood program, boys at Middle School meet in groups with a professional counselor to discuss age-appropriate topics relevant in the digital age of adolescence. Boys complete and submit questionnaires that facilitate group discussions, as well.  Following the sessions, a debriefing with parents takes place to discuss the changes they may be seeing in their sons, and discuss ways to maintain and develop close caring relationships with them.

The exploration of the arts, music, and technology is an integral part of the Middle School curriculum.  As Warren-Walker School is committed to developing well-rounded scholars and citizens our students are required to participate in each of the following artistic disciplines on a rotating basis.

The Middle School Physical Education program is designed to offer all students the option to participate in physical education or to be a part of an interscholastic sport.  The interscholastic sports help transition students from recreational athletics to high school sports programs.  More than eighty percent of the students participate in at least one sport, with most competing in all three seasons.  During the last four weeks of the school year we offer sports electives.  These are designed and led by the teachers to introduce students to some of their favorite physical activities.  For specific sports calendars and information, visit the current athletics section.

CURRENT ATHLETIC SCHEDULES & PHYSICAL EDUCATION OFFERINGS
Fall (Flag Football, Girls Volleyball, Cross Country, Physical Education, Yoga & Wellness)
Winter (Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer, Boys Basketball, Physical Education, Yoga & Wellness)
Spring (Track and Field, Girls Basketball, Golf, Tennis, Physical Education, Yoga & Wellness)
Electives (Surfing, Hiking, Beach Games, Yoga & Wellness, and more!)

SeaPerch was started at Warren-Walker School in 2013 and has gone to Nationals every year since its inception. An innovative robotics program, SeaPerch equips teachers and students with the resources they need to build an underwater, remotely operated vehicle (ROV). Students build their ROV from a kit comprised of low-cost, easily accessible parts, following a curriculum that teaches basic engineering and science concepts with a marine engineering theme. The SeaPerch Program provides students with the opportunity to learn about robotics, engineering, science, and mathematics  as part of a science and engineering technology curriculum. Throughout the project, students will learn engineering concepts, problem solving skills and technical applications.

Students will work in teams to build an ROV and compete against other SeaPerch teams county-wide. On competition day there are three events: two pool events (an obstacle course and object transfer event), and team presentations of their work. 

Warren-Walker School is committed to good citizenship.  Being good citizens promotes learning which leads to academic success and strong leadership.  As part of our Expected Schoolwide Learning Results, commitment to community service is valued as we foster the growth of respectful and responsible citizens.  The Student Council sponsors Community Service activities throughout the school year.  Several of the activities include:

• The American Heart Association’s Jump Rope for Heart

• Beach Clean-ups

• The San Diego River Project

• Walk to Cure Diabetes

• The Meals on Wheels Program

Each Middle School student is required to earn a minimum of eight hours of service each year that has been approved by the Dean or the Student Council advisor.  While students earn hours in Community Service projects, other approved activities can include service for a larger community in need (ie. rest home, hospital, food bank, etc.), races or walks for charitable causes, and service that benefits the environment.  On average, the Middle School students give over 1,500 hours of Community Service each year, demonstrating that making a positive difference is part of our culture.

All Middle School students attend a week of outdoor education camp the second week of the school year. Each grade level attends a different camp, each with a specific focus. 

6th Grade Camp -- Pathfinder Ranch

Pathfinder's Science & Outdoor Education School provides safe, fun, and challenging learning experiences that build a sense of respect for the natural world, self, and others. The camp aims to inspire students to use their knowledge, skills, and experiences to make a positive difference in their home communities. Activities include: Animal Ecology, Ethnobotony, Fire Ecology, Fresh Water Ecology, Archery, Canoeing, Horseback Riding, Rock Climbing, and Survival Skills. www.pathfinderranch.com

7th Grade Camp -- Pali Institute 

Students will be introduced to outdoor education through activities such as cooking with solar power, exploring trails, and weightlessly flying through the air. Students will also meet and feed four-legged friends at the Pali Nature Center. Through these experiences, students will gain a greater understanding of the natural world around them. Activities include: Hiking, ornithology, outdoor skills, forest ecology, orienteering and archery. www.paliinstitute.com

8th Grade Camp -- Catalina Environmental Leadership Program

Catalina Environmental Leadership Program is an outdoor education program where students learn in a variety of ways from snorkeling adventures to nature hikes to garden activities to interactive slideshows and discussions. Mixed in with this curriculum are individual and group challenge activities that encourage students to think about themselves and their relationships with others. The program also explores how we can live more sustainably on this planet and how young people can make a difference. Activities include: snorkeling, hiking, oceanography, marine biology, kayaking, night snorkeling, and ecology. www.celp.net

The aim of Warren-Walker's GullsTreks program is to provide our middle school students with the opportunity to practice independence & to experience different cultures through travel here in the United States and abroad. We believe that challenging adolescents to look beyond themselves helps to prepare them for successful futures in an ever-expanding world. Lessons learned through travel with fellow students and teachers are invaluable and authentically implement our character education, foreign language, social studies & science curricula.

Our teacher-led tours take place mid to late June and are open to current WWMS 6th, 7th & 8th graders via application and interview. One or two options are offered each year.

WWS in China!

Since 2014, a select group of students have had the opportunity to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime adventure in China. This 2-week trip includes exploring new cuisines, attending classes at our sister school in Yongkang, living with a Chinese host family, and visiting historical landmarks. Past trips have culminated with biking on West Lake in Hangzhou, marveling at the Terracotta Army in Xi'an, enjoying the ancient water town of Wuzhen, or laughing at the antics of young giant pandas in Chengdu!

WWS Pura Vida! 

Our newest expedition heads for Costa Rica! Travelers will find themselves surrounded by the wonders of nature on this 2-week adventure. Opportunities to practice Spanish, sample local foods, live on a sustainable farm, and shop at the markets are all part of this immersive experience. Science classes will come alive observing sea turtles, zip-lining through the rainforest, snorkeling off the reefs, and hiking near a volcano. 

WWS into the Wild!

Middle School students who are not quite ready to venture so far from home can apply for a unique experience in the remote Emigrant Wilderness of Northern California. Following in the footsteps of intrepid pioneers, this 7-day trip, in partnership with Aspen Meadow Pack Station, includes horseback riding, camping, hiking, swimming, fishing, and campfire fun. Sometimes, great adventures can be found right in our own backyard! 

As providers of an outstanding education from prekindergarten through eighth grade, we are dedicated to assisting our graduating students with admissions counseling and applications for our local independent, parochial, and public high schools.  Parents and students begin thinking about high school as early as sixth grade, but it is after a parent/student meeting at the end of  seventh grade, that they really begin to focus on the process. Eighth grade students and parents prepare in the Fall of that year with a kick-off  gathering at which the options of schools that students might attend are presented.  

As each independent school offers varied opportunities, this dissemination of this information is vital. At that meeting in the Fall, the Dean distributes a spreadsheet with dates, deadlines, and contact information for the schools most frequently attended by our graduates as well as a list of people in the area who offer High School Placement Test tutoring.  Warren-Walker has a tutor who has provided coaching for both the ISEE/Independent School Entrance Exam (for independent schools) and the HSPT/High School Placement Test (for parochial schools) for almost twenty years, eighteen years as a Warren-Walker Middle School English teacher. Later in the fall, students are prepared for their admissions interview through one-on-one coaching, and partake in individual family meetings with the Dean to discuss best application choices.

Independent and parochial high school testing occurs in late December and January for all those schools in this area. Results are shared with each student and parents within several weeks.  Public high schools do not require entrance exams, but some do require placement tests for English, Math, and Spanish.  Most all Warren-Walker graduates are placed in advanced and/or honors classes going in to their freshman year of high school.

March is the big month when students are notified of acceptance. Our graduates frequently are  accepted to their first choice school, and many students are accepted at multiple schools.  We are proud of our commitment to making sure that students not only attain success while attending Warren-Walker, but also their continued success in high school and beyond!