Middle School

Oakwood's middle school serves students in grades 6 through 8, and offers programs and activities specifically designed to meet the needs of students in these important transition years. Small classes, committed teachers, and distinct middle school facilities provide for individualized programs and a strong sense of community as students prepare for the academic rigors and increasing demands of the upper school curriculum. At the same time, middle school students are an active part of the life of the entire school, participating with and learning from older students as appropriate. A central element of each school day is Collection, a morning meeting that includes a brief period of silent worship, followed by announcements from students and teachers and, sometimes, humorous skits, presentations, and music as well. We all look forward to this time together as we gather our thoughts and plan our goals and schedules for the day ahead.

Academics

Oakwood's rigorous college-preparatory curriculum emphasizes an active, engaged role for each member of the school community. Students pursue their subjects with a critical eye, examining relationships and exploring the value of information-based research, experimentation, and analysis. In other words, they learn to search for the complex nature of truth. Literature, writing, modern languages, history, mathematics, science, computer literacy, visual and performing arts, physical education, and community service are all required. A wide variety of electives further enriches the curriculum.

Arts

Oakwood Friends School offers a full range of programs in music, drama, and visual arts, all of them emphasizing the process of creation. Whether on stage, in the art studio, or behind the lens of a camera, students experience growth and a sense of accomplishment through self-expression. Arts programs in the middle school are specifically designed to address the needs and talents of this age group, and include, on a rotating schedule, drama, musical study and performance, visual art, and media arts.

Physical Education and Sports

Physical education and sports activities allow middle school students, regardless of ability, to experience the excitement, camaraderie, and physical health that come from athletic endeavors. Our teachers and coaches emphasize participation, skill building, and sportsmanship. While middle school students participate in physical education and sports activities of their own, including a modified schedule of interscholastic games, they are also among the most loyal supporters and fans of the upper school teams.

Technology

Supported by an extensive fiber optic network, Oakwood's 63 acre, 14 building campus enjoys full connectivity. Academic spaces are supported with networked computers in all classrooms. Collins Library houses a 24-unit upper school computer lab, while Crowley provides the middle school with a state of the art 11-unit computing center. Both students and faculty enjoy wireless printing capability from all points on campus. Computer centers in both dorms allow student access to the school server and internet. All hard-wired dorm rooms provide direct connectivity while wireless internet access is supported in common living spaces and all academic buildings. Faculty, student proctors, and network filtration software provide three layers of internet supervision and promote responsible, safe, and appropriate internet usage. Oakwood's technology helps support vibrate programs in the media arts, film study, digital photography, scientific experimentation, math, music and theater.