Middle School Division News: October 31, 2024

October 31st 2024

By Dr. Jenn Milam, Pamela K. Murfin Head of School and Interim Middle School Division Head

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

It’s pure joy to see our students today, little to big, dressed up and experiencing the magic of Halloween! While I’m not a big costume person myself, it is so fun to see what each child chooses to wear today and how it captures parts of their personalities, passions, or hobbies!

As a reminder, we have early dismissal tomorrow, and you’ll want to make plans to meet your Middle School students at Noon, in the pick-up line. Our faculty will be engaged in professional learning tomorrow afternoon.

Finally, I want to encourage you to take a moment to read and reflect upon my Head’s Message this week. In the last few weeks, we have been experiencing an increase in hurtful, aggressive, and mean-spirited language among students. It is clearly written in our Student Handbook that hurtful language that can be considered teasing, bullying (if escalating over time), insulting, or deliberately derogatory, is expressly prohibited and is damaging to our community.

While I know that Middle School students often push boundaries, especially when they feel it’s “funny” or they are “just joking”, it’s important to know that other students don't always receive comments, insults, or teasing as playful. Moreover, if the language used is deliberately hurtful to someone’s identity (i.e. racist, sexist, inappropriately commenting on another body, ableist, or in any other way directed as someone’s dignity as a human being), it is expressly forbidden. A good rule of thumb, as I have shared with Middle School students, is if your comment is not helpful, kind, or complimentary, it is likely better not shared.

Thank you, for your thoughtful partnership and for reinforcing these community expectations and standards at home. I would much rather spend our days together working collaboratively, engaging in fun activities, taking field trips, and learning alongside one another, than correcting inappropriate language and mending hurt feelings!

Be well, take care of each other, and try not to eat too much candy!

Dr. Jenn Milam