The life skills program in the Middle School provides students with the tools to help them navigate their adolescent years with awareness, confidence, independence, and self-reliance. The goal is to build skills we know they will need as 21st century citizens. Many of the program lessons are interwoven with the academic curriculum. There are six rotations that students take during the course of each year: health, library skills, leadership, study skills, current events, and media awareness.

Health

All students take health class. Classes will focus on drug and alcohol education with added areas addressing nutritional health, spinal cord and brain health, sexual abstinence and safety skills, practical knowledge about responding in emergencies, self-esteem building, resiliency development, and daily refusal skills. See health curriculum guide for more specifics. Teachers: Carrie Blank and Kristin Ogard

Library Skills

The ability to use the library and all of its resources, including electronic resources, is essential to student success in an increasingly digital age. Students will explore these tools and apply it to their current class topics. Teacher: Lynn Silbernagel

Leadership

What is positive leadership for middle schoolers? When is it best to lead and when to follow? How can student communication and collaboration lead to better understanding and community-building. This rotation provides a time to examine and practice leadership. Teacher: Len Carr

Study Skills

Using the planner, taking notes, long-term project planning, and reading actively are but a few of the ongoing skills we stress during middle school. This rotation provides a dedicated time to explore these skills directly and connect them to ongoing curriculum. Teacher: Paul Andrichuk

Current Events

What is going on the world? Why does it matter? What questions should we ask ourselves when we hear about local, national, and world events? Students will grapple with these questions during this rotation. Various teachers and administrators

Media Awareness

Students live in an increasingly connected world. They consume and create media constantly. How do they discern the content they consume? How do they protect themselves when creating content, such as texting and social media? These questions will be addressed appropriately at each grade level. Teacher: Brendan Gill