Another Successful Year for Middle School University

Middle School University (MSU) has become a hallmark of the Grade 6 experience at King, setting students up for success as they begin their middle school journey. The two-week program combines practical skills with opportunities to build confidence, community, and independence.

“MSU gives students a chance to step into Middle School with the tools they need to feel prepared and supported from day one,” said Grade 6 Team Leader Michael Florio.

This year, the program followed the successful model of previous years while continuing to adapt to students' evolving needs. Additional time was devoted to the MyKing portal, ensuring students could confidently navigate the school’s digital platform. Students also set up their binders at home as homework assignments, allowing class time to focus on deeper lessons in time management, organization, and problem-solving.

“It helped me ease into Middle School instead of just being thrown into classes,” said Amelie Hayes ’32. “The teachers helped us set up our binders and taught us about what’s going to happen in Middle School.”

“I wasn’t expecting to have so much fun,” shared Tyler Oudsema ’32. “It was easy to make friends because we were able to talk to each other in class.”
Throughout the program, teachers led tailored units, guiding students through the essential habits that will support them throughout Middle School.

Math teacher Michael Florio led a risk-taking unit, where students tackled collaborative problem-solving at vertical whiteboards using non-curricular math tasks. A portion of the program focused on executive functioning, so teaching intern Patrick Murphy followed the curriculum created by English teacher Jenna Sotire, who is on maternity leave, and helped students explore metacognition, emotional responses, flexible thinking, working memory, and goal setting. 

Science teacher Lindsay Chiodi focused on tech platforms, giving students hands-on practice with email etiquette, Google Classroom, and navigating the MyKing portal. Meanwhile, history teacher Emily Bollman guided the unit on organization and problem-solving, leading activities like the “Locker Jenga” experiment, a problem scale discussion, and a scavenger hunt to find key middle school locations.

“I liked how we got to play lots of fun games as we learned things like proper email etiquette and how to take risks,” said Isabella Ulloa ’32.

Students engaged in interactive activities and participated in group challenges that encouraged them to connect while thinking flexibly and communicating effectively. Some of the biggest challenges included adjusting to MyKing’s many features, learning to track materials consistently, and practicing persistence when answers weren’t immediately clear.

“The continued evolution of MSU reflects King’s commitment to meeting students where they are,” said Florio. “Each year, the Grade 6 team refines the program based on feedback and emerging needs, while maintaining the strong foundation that has made MSU such a valuable experience.”