Middle School is both a magical and messy time in a student's life. At Fenn, we embrace all versions of the boyhood experience and encourage our students to take ownership of their learning and relationships with others. It’s a time when students are starting to figure out how to partner with adults, as well as learning to trust themselves so they can become confident and capable life-long learners.
We recognize that middle school is a critical time to focus on developing effective habits for studying, and we know that honing in on the foundational skills of executive functioning and long-term planning can be game-changers for our students. Time to practice these skills, as well as metacognition and self-reflection, are built into the daily experience of our students. The broad scope of our curriculum, in conjunction with an individualized and strategic approach to meeting students where they are, helps to identify each student's strengths and areas for growth and to develop self-advocacy and awareness skills.
Central to each student's growth is his understanding of Sua Sponte. In our middle school, Sua Sponte is truly about each boy understanding his education is his own. He’s not educating himself because he has to, or for his parents; his learning and taking responsibility for his learning are a choice, an investment in himself and his future as a fulfilled and thoughtful citizen of the world. We encourage our students to find the confidence to ask the hard questions, to ask for help when they need it, and to partner with the adults in their lives to fuel their curiosities and passions.
All the while, our students are supported by our joyful crew of middle school educators who understand the complexities of this foundational time and love this beautiful, exciting, and sometimes unpredictable stage in a boy’s development.
My vision for our Middle School is that it is a place where students are engaged in deep learning and feel challenged, supported, and always able to be themselves.- Kate Wade, Head of the Middle School
Since Fenn alumnus and legendary teacher Jim Carter ’54 founded the trip in 1976, the Fenn seventh grade has traveled to the nation's capital for what many students name as the pinnacle grade-level trip during their Fenn years. Students spend time exploring all that Washington, D.C. has to offer over the course of their four-day trip, with highlights including an illuminated tour of the National Mall, Arlington National Cemetery, the African-American Museum of History and Culture, and the opportunity to meet with Congresswomen Lori Trahan (MA-03) on the steps of the Capitol Building. The students also enjoy a guided bus tour of Gettysburg National Military Park on the final day of trip.
The schedule of the trip is crafted to support the curriculum in seventh grade social studies classes. Questions such as "What is the cost of freedom?" are posed to students before their departure to reflect on and discuss during their time away. Throughout their travels, students and chaperones find a good balance of learning, engagement, and fun that fosters lifelong memories!