The Middle School at PIoneer Springs - Grades 6-8
Imagine a school focused on community, where learning is student -driven and project-based, where instruction is experiential from archeological digs to survival challenges , where outdoor classrooms are as important as indoor spaces, and thinking outside the box--like multi-day camping trips--is routine.
That, and so much more , is the Middle School at Pioneer Springs.
That, and so much more , is the Middle School at Pioneer Springs.
In the same tradition of changing the educational dynamic that is the hallmark of our elementary program, the Middle School at Pioneer Springs is intended as an extension of those practices that are central to the school: project-based learning, integrated thematic instruction, personalized instruction, positive language, the Basic School Philosophy all through the lens of nature. Our Middle School program is specifically designed to academically challenge students while preparing them for the high school experience.
What sets the Pioneer Springs Middle School apart:
PSCS's Middle School program prepares students to be a different kind of contributor to society, one that is collaborative and creative, who is comfortable outside of the classroom and who does not rely on scripted texts to learn but, rather, seeks answers in the surrounding world.
What sets the Pioneer Springs Middle School apart:
- Small class size which allows for more one to one instruction, student independence, and flexibility
- Authentic learning opportunities both inside and outside the classroom: students are not confined by textbooks or classrooms but, rather, are invited to explore concepts in real-life settings.
- A "get dirty" approach to instruction: students are not limited by ideas like staying dry or keeping their hands clean; quite the opposite.
- Opportunities to lead and model within the school setting, from buddying with other grades to caring for school animals to leadership in P.R.I.D.E.S (weekly multigrade work groups).
- EXPLORE: a hands-on enrichment block designed to promote critical thinking and exploration. Each grade engages in 4 explorations annually. Each exploration represents an application within a larger theme of instructional focus, including Earth and Environmental Studies; Aerospace Studies; Architecture, Design, and Engineering; Animal Sciences; Entrepreneurship. The EXPLORE modules allow students to try out a variety of fields and sciences prior to choosing their track (one of the above themes) upon entering the PSCS High School.
- A focus on educating the whole child, an emphasis on the social-emotional development of each student. When conflicts happen, they use restorative justice and non-violent communication to resolve those conflicts
PSCS's Middle School program prepares students to be a different kind of contributor to society, one that is collaborative and creative, who is comfortable outside of the classroom and who does not rely on scripted texts to learn but, rather, seeks answers in the surrounding world.
