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Dear Middle School Families,
One of the proudest moments in the life of an educator comes when students find their voice, take initiative, and advocate for conditions and programming that directly impact their lives at school. At Wellington, our program is intentionally designed to empower young people to take ownership of their classroom learning and their experience more broadly.
Over the past month, I’ve seen this ethos manifest across grade levels, starting with our youngest students. At the start of trimester 3, a 5th grader approached me and asked if we could have a middle school drama club to build on the excitement of “Into the Woods, Jr.” After directing the student to some adults whom I suspected would support this program, the club was born, with co-leadership between Ms. Woodruff and a 5th grader! The same process played out when a group of 5th graders took the initiative to write a middle school newspaper, which is also running as a club this trimester, with the support of Mr. Rodgers and Ms. Kershner. Members of our Service Squad Dive have reached out to local organizations to inquire how they can put on drives and events to support the greater Columbus community, and they are coordinating partnerships, details, and next steps. These experiences demonstrate how Wellington’s middle schoolers not only develop confidence and initiative but also learn the essential skills of leadership: collaboration, problem-solving, and the ability to turn ideas into action.
Inside the classroom, our teachers continue to challenge students to engage in hands-on, inquiry-driven learning that pushes them to think critically, collaborate, and apply their knowledge in dynamic ways. 8th graders are building trebuchets to design and carry out their own experiments, while 7th graders began their study of chemistry by creating elephant toothpaste, a favorite experiment that sparks curiosity and excitement about chemical reactions. 6th graders dissected a sheep heart to support their learning about the cardiovascular system (a much less malodorous experience than their crayfish dissection), and 5th graders built wind turbines for their unit of study on energy.
In 7th grade, students are examining primary source documents to discuss the events leading up to the American Revolution while also discussing the role of propaganda, connecting to their literature studies in English class. Perhaps you’ve heard about the rousing “Pokémon Go debates” of the past week, in which students practice the skills and competencies that support civic engagement and civil discourse. 5th graders have been immersed in the writing process, focusing on drafting and revision for clarity, voice, and refinement, while 8th graders have begun drafting their hero’s journey short stories, applying literary techniques to bring their characters and themes to life.
I loved seeing so many Wellington students’ artwork featured at the Concourse Gallery in the Upper Arlington Middle School Students exhibit, where the depth of talent for our artists was on full display. I also appreciate how our 7th and 8th graders write “artist statements” to accompany their work – a demonstration of our approach to critical thinking and writing across the curriculum. Next month, our middle school musicians will have the opportunity to participate in our first Wellington Middle School Solo & Ensemble contest; there are so many pathways for our students to showcase their curiosity and ambition!
As spring break approaches, I have a few reminders to share: first, trimester 2 grades and Willing Learner Metric ratings were released in Veracross on Tuesday afternoon of last week. I encourage you to use this feedback as an opportunity for your child to reflect upon their year so far and set goals and intentions for the final trimester. You will also have an opportunity to connect with your child’s advisor during conferences tomorrow, Thursday, March 13, from 4 to 8 p.m. and Friday, March 14, from 8 a.m. to noon. We will be hosting two additional opportunities to connect upon our return from break:
- A 5th and 6th Grade Parent & Caregiver Coffee on Wednesday, April 9, from 8:30-9:30 a.m. in the Doerschlag Den
- A 7th and 8th Grade Parent & Caregiver Coffee on Thursday, April 10, from 8:30-9:30 a.m. in the Doerschlag Den
For each of these events, please RSVP to Jamie Fencl: fencl@wellington.org.
As we move into the final stretch of the school year, I continue to find inspiration in the curiosity, creativity, and leadership our students demonstrate each day. Thank you for your ongoing partnership in supporting their growth; I look forward to all that is still to come!
With joy,
Louis
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