Experiential Learning Takes Root
The Middle School uses block scheduling to support horizontal autonomy, experiential learning opportunities, and greater depth in content and skill development. Students often travel off campus and make extensive use of the Gries Center to engage in integrated service learning projects. These service opportunities are an important way our students feel empowered to make a difference, and are often grass roots efforts.
To further expand our students’ educational venues, each grade embarks on a Doorways trip in the spring, beginning with the 6th grade trip to Williamsburg. Traveling to various U.S. cities, including Washington D.C. and New York City, students are challenged to derive meaning from the living history and rich culture of each location, make connections to the content areas studied throughout the year, and to engage in the valuable opportunities that present themselves on each trip.
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The Middle School journey for our students is marked by experiential traditions. Each grade level begins the year with activities and class trips that build class identity and introduce the year’s essential question and focus. By the end of the 8th grade, the goal of “making a difference” fuses with writing and presentation standards in the form of the Chapel Talk. With thoughtful guidance and support, each student researches a topic of their choice, writes a formal four-page paper about the topic, and presents an eight to ten minute speech to the entire Middle School community.
To further expand our students’ educational venues, each grade embarks on a Doorways trip in the spring, beginning with the 6th grade trip to Williamsburg. Traveling to various U.S. cities, including Washington D.C. and New York City, students are challenged to derive meaning from the living history and rich culture of each location, make connections to the content areas studied throughout the year, and to engage in the valuable opportunities that present themselves on each trip.
An independent, coeducational, college preparatory day school, toddler through grade 12
Early Childhood, Lower, and Middle Schools, 5000 Clubside Rd, Lyndhurst, OH 44124
Birchwood School of Hawken, 4400 West 140th Street, Cleveland, OH 44135
Upper School, PO Box 8002 (12465 County Line Rd), Gates Mills, OH 44040
Mastery School of Hawken, 11025 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland, OH 44106
Gries Center, 10823 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland, OH 44106
Early Childhood, Lower, and Middle Schools, 5000 Clubside Rd, Lyndhurst, OH 44124
Birchwood School of Hawken, 4400 West 140th Street, Cleveland, OH 44135
Upper School, PO Box 8002 (12465 County Line Rd), Gates Mills, OH 44040
Mastery School of Hawken, 11025 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland, OH 44106
Gries Center, 10823 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland, OH 44106
Directions | Log in | 440-423-4446