Middle School

Middle school students took their learning on the road in mid-May, applying math, science, and analysis skills in real-world situations that reflected their progress this academic year. From Broadway to the Long Island Sound and Lake Compounce, students spanned the area for research and relationship-building as they prepared to move up. 

King School’s Grade 8 played the role of delegates facing a United Nations Committee in an activity that marked the end of a yearlong study of American foreign policy and the United States’ role in the world today. Under the guidance of history teacher Kenneth Lewis, students debated global issues with one another as part of a Model U.N. simulation in their history class in mid-May. 

Romance and magic were in the air at King School as a middle school cast of 37 actors and 12 crew members staged “Beauty and the Beast Jr.” in King School’s final theatrical performance of the 2022-23 school year. The show, which was double cast, filled the Performing Arts Center with music and applause during performances on May 4 and 5.

A heartwarming testament to the commitment and dedication of King School faculty and staff, the inaugural Platinum Circle Dinner honored current and former employees who have given 20 or more years of service to the school.

Grade 7 students visited the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library and Museum in Hyde Park, New York this week. The field trip aligned with student research into what it means to be American. The visit allowed students to deepen their understanding of the complex situations the president faced in office.

Members of the middle school affinity group, Students of Color at King (SOCK), enjoyed food, games, and bonding with upper school students from the Black Student Union (BSU), Hispanic and Latin American Affinity Group, and the Asian American and Pacific Islander Affinity Group (AAPI) over lunch on Wednesday, April 13. Led by faculty advisors, the cross-divisional gathering inspired conversation and camaraderie in a welcoming setting.

Taking ownership of learning is an essential aspect of the middle school experience. King guides students in discovering who they are and how they learn. Part of this development is having students lead the traditional Parent-Teacher Conferences. The result is meetings that foster accountability and encourage students to develop self-advocacy skills. Open communication channels yield better academic performance and strengthen student relationships with teachers and family.

The STEM Build-a-Boat Challenge in Grade 6 Science Teacher Lindsay Chiodi’s class evaluates students' understanding of density in a fun and creative way. Students compete in small groups, applying their knowledge from classroom lessons, labs, and homework to design and construct a vessel capable of supporting increasing weight.

In the first part of their linear perspective unit, Grade 8 students majoring in Art and Design created murals in the Middle School, demonstrating their knowledge of one-point perspective. Working from initial sketches, students carefully placed and trimmed colorful masking tape to create the illusion of depth on the flat walls. After Spring Break, students will use this experience to inform work using a two-point perspective.