Creating a middle school seminar

When middle schoolers first arrive at PSCS, they have often been in educational settings that dictated their education to them. They come from this largely instructive environment to one in which they are asked what they want to learn and are required to take responsibility for their educational journey. While most incoming students cannot get enough of the freedom PSCS has to offer, they also struggle in defining the structures and spaces that can help them make the most of their education at PSCS. With this in mind, we are creating a middle school seminar this year with the following key goals and elements at its heart.

Goal

To support middle schoolers in understanding PSCS and getting the most out of their education at PSCS through the elements of community, service, pursuing a personal passion and above all developing a deep self-awareness.

Major elements

Middle school seminar: A weekly meeting focused on building a sense of community through activities that help students get to know each other at a deeper level. As the year rolls, this seminar will also serve as the fertile ground for discussions on writing a credo and developing a project.

Project: A year-long portfolio development that documents the developing passions of the student. The ultimate project will be one created by the group, with each student contributing pieces from their passionate work completed throughout the year. Imagine a mural, a collage, a sculpture, a totem or some other structure that can hold together evidence of the evolution of passionate work completed by a group of 10 or so students.

Service: Middle schoolers will engaged in two types of service activities — a) Service to the school and, b) Community service in the larger Seattle area.

Credo: A statement of beliefs that is the result of a process of understanding one's values and connection to the world. Every middle schooler will develop a credo that will be presented in a community setting.

Field trips: Periodically field trips will be offered that are targeted for middle school students to connect with each other and the larger community.

Flow for the year

We expect to start the year with several activities for getting to know each other as members of a group. Games and play will abound. We will slowly transition into building something together and taking on responsibilities in and outside of the school. As the year rolls the project and credo process will unfold.