The Middle School philosophy embraces a recognition of the preadolescent and adolescent stages of development and sees this as a transitional period between Elementary and High School.  The Middle School recognizes the need to help students move from a self-contained learning environment to a more structured departmentalized program.  To this end core curricular courses are blocked in 6th and 7th grade. 

Our student-centered Middle School teaching methods include group projects, cooperative activities, experiential learning and process thinking skills.  Across the curriculum, we aim to balance both content and process, addressing a wide range of learning styles and giving individual attention in the classroom.  The desired outcomes for students include research skills, time and organization strategies, study skills, critical thinking ability and reflective evaluation of work by self and peers.

Inherent in our philosophy is the development of social skills and personal values which lead to a positive self-image and a commitment to the community.  This is accomplished through instilling a sense of personal, social, and academic responsibility.

Middle School Overview
Students in grades 6 through 8 are assigned to the Middle School.  The Middle School provides a rigorous, yet stimulating, program for early adolescent students with opportunities for exploration in new fields of study.  At H.I.S., we strive to meet the unique needs of Middle School students in their transition from Elementary to High School.  The essence of our program is the concept of educating and fostering the growth of “the whole child” and developing an increasing sense of personal and academic responsibility.

The program is designed to bridge the gap between the Elementary School, with a self-contained classroom and one teacher and the High School, in which the student has a different teacher for every subject.  Middle School students will regularly meet with a core “team” of teachers.  In such a nurturing environment, the students will develop higher order thinking skills and ideas.

The Middle School provides an enriched program combining academics, sports, the arts, clubs and social events, thus providing opportunities for success. Because we are a relatively small school, students have the opportunity to participate in all school activities and many students discover new talents.