The Riptide - Ware Academy's Yearbook!

The Ware Academy Middle School provides an environment that addresses the developmental needs unique to early adolescence. Its faculty is dedicated to empowering each student to ensure confidence through the development of leadership skills, accountability, responsibility, competence, and independence with a rigorous curriculum and inspired instruction.

Grades six through eight comprise the Middle School Division. There is one homeroom for each level and class size varies up to an ideal enrollment of eighteen students per homeroom. Eighteen full and part-time faculty members, in addition to the Head of School, provide course instruction. The majority of Middle School classrooms are in Kilborn and Pickett Halls. Middle School students also utilize the library and computer lab in Thomas and Waddell Halls.

The daily schedule includes seven teaching periods and a sports and physical education period. Middle School students also enjoy a ten minute recess in the late morning and a fifteen minute recess after lunch. At the beginning of every week, Middle School students join Primary and Lower School students for Assembly. During this time, Middle School students, commencing with the eighth grade, read a selection which may be significant to the character trait being emphasized that month. This allows the Middle School students to practice oral delivery skills and become comfortable in front of an audience. Students may also attend special productions performed by other grades or those offered by the performing arts coordinator. Members of sixth, seventh, and eighth grades are actively involved in reading to students in the Primary Division, as well as assisting them with class projects and creating school-wide positive relations.

The language arts program is structured to include grammar, vocabulary, composition, and novel based literature. Grammar skills learned in previous grades become more complex with an emphasis on standard American usage. Literature is explored in independent, class, and small group settings. Discussion is directed to include deductive reasoning, inference, and critical thinking skills. Students should reasonably employ the Bloom’s Taxonomy stages of knowledge, comprehension, application, and analysis to assist in reaching the synthesis and evaluation stages of learning.

The writing process and composition skills are utilized across the curriculum as a platform for producing published works that demonstrate both creative and research oriented approaches. A composition rubric used in language arts assesses composition, style, sentence formation, usage, mechanics, and the implementation of the writing process. The vocabulary series enhances the students’ use of language and explores etymology.

Middle School math students are grouped homogeneously in the sixth grade. Based on achievement, developmental readiness, and teacher recommendation, students are grouped to accommodate individual learning styles and needs. A variety of methods are utilized to achieve success. Word problems and critical application of math skills are areas of focus for the Middle School. The math program includes courses that range in difficulty and acceleration from general math to geometry. Students who complete the Algebra I series and geometry are eligible to receive high school credits toward graduation.

Social Studies classes incorporate world geography and world conflict into world and American history. Students explore the world and its cultures and apply their knowledge in order to develop an understanding of the circumstances by which countries evolve. Middle School students incorporate critical thinking skills to compare our nation and government to others, and map skills are implemented to identify global position. In addition, students engage in forums and present their research to classmates.

The Middle School science program utilizes the many natural resources that are available in our local area; experiments in and out of the laboratory engage students with a hands on approach. Sixth grade studies life science, seventh grade concentrates on earth science, and physical science is the focus of eighth grade. The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Project is emphasized throughout the entire school. Eighth grade students set up and maintain aquariums in most Primary and Lower School classrooms. The scientific method and research skills are applied to all science classes.

Foreign language opportunities for Middle School students include Spanish and Pre-Latin. Students study the culture and work to improve their language skills. The objective of the Spanish program is to enable students to communicate proficiently with members of the Spanish-speaking community and demonstrate a respect for other cultures. The Pre-Latin program is geared to expose students to etymology and to reinforce Spanish language skills.

Computer Technology is a scheduled Middle School course and is integrated throughout the curriculum as well. Both research and media projects are produced using the lab. Teachers are encouraged to communicate current class topics to the technology instructor for collaborative opportunities. Whenever the computer lab is available, teachers may utilize it for enrichment.

Sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students have a variety of elective courses from which they may choose including advanced art, handbells, going green, digital photography and yearbook. Electives are scheduled twice weekly for an entire trimester, except for the yearbook elective which requires a full year’s commitment. Students need to take at least one performing art and one fine art elective before the end of eighth grade.

All Middle School students have a scheduled sports/physical education period at the end of each day. Students participate in either team sports or intramural activities; depending upon the season. They also have an opportunity to engage in a variety of athletic events such as volleyball, soccer, basketball, lacrosse, and cross-country.

In addition to physical exercise, the combination of healthy living, physical fitness, and nutrition is emphasized. On the playing field, the concept of teamwork and good sportsmanship becomes a focal point in the development of the Middle School student. Recognizing individual and group strengths and weaknesses are key elements. All students are encouraged to participate in team activities.

There are also many opportunities for extracurricular activities and leadership roles. Each student is involved in the school’s Blue/Green competition and eighth grade students who demonstrate the qualities of school spirit, academic achievement, and character may be selected to be a Captain. The Student Council President is selected by the faculty, but all of the other officers are elected by the Middle School student body. National Junior Honor Society membership is based on criteria set forth by the Ware Academy Chapter By-Laws, and its officers are elected by the members.

To further encourage cooperation and collaborative efforts, the school employs the proposal process, a method by which Middle School students gain additional privileges. Items such as planning events and fulfilling requirements, and presenting those plans in a proposal demonstrate the responsibility, accountability, and competence of students. The Head of School can either ratify or deny the proposal, but once accepted, students enjoy both the privileges gained and the satisfaction of accomplishment.

Academic achievement is recognized at the Middle School level. Students with an overall grade point average of 3.30 to 3.69 earn Honors status. High Honors are awarded to students with a grade point average of 3.70 or higher. In addition, athletic and class achievement are recognized during an Awards Ceremony at the end of the school year.

Middle School students sign an Honor Code Agreement that states all Ware Academy students are presumed to be honorable. The Honor Code exists to give each student the opportunity to develop and demonstrate his or her own integrity and to maintain a concept of honor. The Honor Council includes the NJHS President, the SCA President, and the Blue/Green Captains. The Middle School Lead Teacher acts as the faculty advisor.