Middle School
6th-8th Grade
Welcome to The Adelson Upper School (Middle School/6th-8th Grade)
The next level of academic and community engagement for your pre-teen.
In the Middle School Grades, Adelson students build skills necessary for understanding and classifying the world around them, while also becoming organized planners and intellectually resilient young scholars. Central to our approach is the belief that students can achieve great academic heights with proper scaffolding, support, and moral instruction, all of which are reflected by the rigorous coursework, one-on-one tutoring opportunities, counseling services, Town Hall advisory sessions, and opportunities for kehillah (sacred community) we provide in grades six through eight.
Curriculum
Our curriculum drives students toward academic excellence with every class. In grades six through eight, our youngest Upper Schoolers are immersed in a program of study that sees them explore all major lab sciences, challenging courses in literary analysis, multi-tiered mathematics, and in-depth historical surveys in preparation for the rigorous, research-driven work that will be expected in high school and beyond.
Focus Area Electives
Starting in sixth grade, all students are able to begin choosing elective courses in a variety of specialized Focus Areas, which are tied to post-secondary pursuits and careers. These Focus Areas include the Arts, Biomedical Science, Business, Computer Science & Technology, Jewish Studies, and World Languages. From the sixth-grade Introduction to 2D Art class to the seventh/eighth grade Businesses, Bosses, and Brands course, students are encouraged to push their intellectual comfort zones and explore new subjects that animate their passions.
Hebrew & Jewish Studies
As a key component of our school’s commitment to Jewish Literacy, Zionism, and ethical conduct, we maintain rich and vibrant programs in Modern Hebrew and Jewish Studies throughout the Upper School. All students in grades six through eleven are required to take a course in Hebrew, and all students in grades six through twelve sit for a class in Jewish Studies. From engaging with the Parashat Hashavuah (the weekly Torah portion) to learning about the customs of holiday observance, students in grades six through eight grapple with the spiritual and ethical complexity of Jewish texts and gain the tools necessary to develop their own sense of Ruach (spirit).
Signature Grade-level Experiences
We believe that education does not end at the classroom door. Each year, our students at every grade level participate in signature out-of-state trips and local experiences designed to expand their knowledge of the world around them, develop their understanding of Jewish history, and foster a sense of belonging. Recent experiences have included visits to the Museum of Tolerance, located in Los Angeles’s Pico-Robertson neighborhood, and a voyage to the United States Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. By the end of their Middle School years, Adelson students are equipped with the tools essential for developing intellectual autonomy, synthesis, and meaning, and they are more than ready to face the exhilarating challenges that await them in the High School grades.
Path to High School
The Adelson School helps middle schoolers prepare cognitively, emotionally, socially and physically for high school and teenage years through a variety of programs.
Life Skills
Counselors meet with students to discuss a variety of life skills to help them transition from being members of a family to members of society.
Digital Citizenship
In partnership with our Technology and Engineering Education Department, middle school faculty help students view their online activity as part of the digital community, consider the benefits and risks of digital engagement, and take proper precautions.
Health
Students in 8th grade take a comprehensive Health course which includes discussions surrounding biological changes to the body, nutrition, and other topics related to entering young adulthood.
Community Town Hall
Middle grade students have a weekly community town hall to discuss issues of local, national, or global importance, engage with guest speakers, and bond as a group.
Student Clubs
Students in grades 6-8 are able to propose a student-led, teacher-supervised club that will meet during the school day. In the past, these clubs have covered a range of student interests, from Team Sports to Crafts to Minecraft.
Enrichment Opportunities
Your child’s enthusiasm for special interests - such as performing arts - is growing, as is their desire to connect with groups around those interests. Adelson provides the opportunities she or he craves through clubs during the school day, athletics, and academic competitions that give your child the opportunity to achieve and build confidence.
The Adelson School also organizes trips for middle schoolers to engage with nature and each other. In recent years, 6th graders have camped at Mount Potosi and hiked Mount Charleston, and 7th graders have journeyed to Zion National Park. 8th graders look forward to the annual class trip to Washington, D.C.
Our Jewish Studies department also organizes school-wide activities around the Jewish holidays, as well as regular, overnight shabbatonim at the school, at which students have an opportunity to come together as a Jewish community, while also enjoying fun activities, such as craft-making, movie-watching, and a pool party in our Olympic-sized pool.
6th Grade Field Trip: Las Vegas Day Trip
6th grade students will have their class field trip locally, building camaraderie as well as taking in nature and entertainment from around the valley. Festivities begin with Fly Over Las Vegas and are followed by hiking in Red Rock Canyon and archery. The day ends with a Golden Knights game where students will tour the Golden Knights’ facilities and cheer on our beloved hockey team! Students will arrive back at school late in the evening, having been driven back to campus by tour bus after the game. Shortly after the 6th graders’ day trip, they will have a Movie Night Lock-in with part of the school turned into a movie theater. There will be snacks, games, and fun to follow as 6th graders hang out into the night.
7th Grade Field Trip: Los Angeles
7th Grade students will board a tour bus, drive to Los Angeles, and stay in the Pico Robertson neighborhood just outside of Beverly Hills, surrounded by a large Jewish population and culture. 7th graders will experience local kosher restaurants, visit the museum of tolerance, and go to an NBA basketball game for some nighttime entertainment. After leaving Pico Robertson, students will spend a day with one another at Universal Studios.
8th Grade Field Trip: Washington D.C.
8th grade students will have their class field trip to Washington D.C! This is a great trip for students to culminate their year with spending time with fellow classmates as they prepare for the ascension to high school. Many of the buildings in D.C. that students will visit, the grounds they will tour, the events and people of the past they will be hearing about, the museums they will experience, and the memorials they will be visiting will be incorporated into students' studies and activities throughout the year. Students will be responsible for contributing information and thoughts throughout the trip as well as participating in activities designed to allow 8th graders to better connect to what they will be experiencing in our nation’s capital.
Athletics
Athletic opportunities at Adelson include:
- Soccer
- Volleyball
- Swimming
- Basketball
- Baseball
- Tennis
- Cross Country
Respect and Empowerment
Mutual respect (kavod) is offered equally to everyone at The Adelson School. Your child will have a voice here, and we will encourage them to use it for the benefit of all. This builds confidence. It empowers our students to feel less afraid to challenge themselves to grow academically and personally.
Leadership
At The Adelson School, we provide opportunities for pre-teens to exercise their leadership skills, from participation on the student council, to welcoming new students as ambassadors, and simply being heard when they share ideas they believe will strengthen our community.
Students in grades 6-8 are eligible for participation in National Junior Honor Society, a prestigious service and leadership organization. These students plan and undertake community service projects both at the school and in the community.
Our Planning Committee is an opportunity for middle schoolers to have a voice in the type of social events that we offer and to be involved with the planning, execution, and decoration of those events.
Cell Phone Policy
Middle School students (grades 6-8) are not permitted to use cell phones during the school day. This is part of our strategy to keep your child both focused on their academic work and safe from cyber bullying, distressing web content, and other digital threats.
Safety and Security
The Adelson School is a safe environment not only because of our investment in security personnel, technologies and practices. Students also experience safety through connectedness with one another, our staff and faculty, and the values we share.
The Adelson School admits qualified students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. The Adelson School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin, or sexual orientation in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.