Middle School Division News: Dec. 4, 2024

December 5th 2024

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

Happy Holiday Sprint-to-the-Finish!

It’s been wonderful to be back with your amazing middles following Thanksgiving. I do hope that each of you had a restful, joy-filled week away and are settling back in for the long sprint to Winter break!

This time of year can feel overwhelming - not just to us as adults, but to our young people, too. While for most it is joyful and filled with anticipation of travel, visits with family and friends, the excitement of gift giving and receiving, and of course, no school, for others this time of year can bring anxiety of final exams, uncertainty of what to expect with a less predictable schedule, and even sadness or loneliness when a young person is away from their daily social network. All this said, it is even more important right now to take some extra time to slow down, to eat well, to get a little extra sleep, and to spend some time away from screens - the ecosystem of our bodies and brains needs care and feeding!

In the coming week, we will be preparing our Middle School students to take final exams. While I always remain healthily skeptical about big assessments and their value, as a college preparatory school, the faculty and I agree that learning to prepare for, take, and receive results from final exams is a valuable skill that reflects and anticipates what will lie ahead for our students in their academic future.

The Middle School final exam preparation and schedule is as follows:

QUIET WEEK: This week begins next week and is a period of no assessments. Teachers will be wrapping up instruction, finishing assignments, and bringing their units of study to a close in preparation for winter break.
REVIEW DAYS: Middle School teachers have designated Friday, December 13 - Tuesday, December 17, as review days. During these days, students will work to review previously covered material, learn how to “study”, and teachers will work intentionally to prepare students to be successful. I encourage you to work with your student at home, to build in time for study, review, and preparation. I also encourage you to provide some structure, breaks, and positive reinforcement - this is a big step for our middle schoolers and keeping it positive and productive is best! NOTE: These are full days of school, 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
FINAL EXAM DAYS: We will have two days of final exams - Wednesday, December 18, and Thursday, December 19. There will be two exams each day.
WEDNESDAY: English and Social Studies
THURSDAY: Math and Science
IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT FINAL EXAM DAYS
- Each exam period is two hours, with a short 15-minute break in between. Students are given as much time as needed to complete their exams. A light, grab-and-go lunch will be provided on both days.
- Both of these days are early dismissal at 12:30 p.m. If your student does not finish their exam, they may call you to let you know they need extra time, and they can finish in the afternoon (after 12:30 p.m.). Please plan for pick-up at 12:30 p.m. on both days - no after-school care/supervision is provided.
- SNACKS are always a GOOD IDEA! I know that Mr. T has reached out to our amazing Middle School room parents to begin coordination of the collection of snacks for final exam days. Be on the lookout for their request and, THANK YOU, in advance for feeding our brains and bodies!

I look forward to seeing many of you at basketball games, winter performances, and around campus as we make our way toward the end of the semester. This, my first semester at Winston, has been amazing and so inspiring, and I am grateful to have each of you in our community.

Take good care of one another,

Jenn Milam