At WDS, we’re all about embracing challenges, nurturing your creativity, and making meaningful connections. It’s a place to be yourself, discover your passions, and feel like you truly belong.
In our school, we care about each other. You’ll receive personalized learning and support from caring teachers. We have a buddy program to help you connect with students from different grades. It feels like one big family here!
Our Middle School curriculum is flexible and dynamic, blending arts, sciences, and real-life problem solving. With support from our inspiring teachers, you’ll discover a new world of words, stories, histories, experiments, numbers, self-expression, and play!
Our Advisory Program boosts communication between students, parents, and teachers. In Advisory, you’ll connect with peers and advisors for recognition and belonging. We focus on your overall growth—emotionally, socially, and academically. Advisors team up with the Dean of Students, fellow advisors, and the School Counselor to create a safe space where you’re supported, can express yourself, and feel valued.
We have amazing activities like field trips, the annual musical, and more. Students say they’re the best part of the year! There are plenty of sports to choose from – cross-country, basketball, soccer, among others. You can take classes that interest you through our After School Enrichment program. You can also develop your leadership skills by participating in Student Council or leading a club.
Our wooded campus is huge! We have dedicated spaces for a library, art studio, science labs, and physical education. Imagine learning science surrounded by nature or creating art with a view of Overlook Mountain – that’s us!
At WDS, we also care about the Earth. We talk about important things like the environment and sustainability. Imagine making sculptures from found items or learning about using natural resources in history class. It’s all part of our cool curriculum!
In Language Arts, you’ll discover the art of writing essays, narratives, and poems. You’ll share your stories, master descriptive language, plot analysis, and grammar. You’ll also hone your research skills to back up ideas with evidence. Our elective classes will teach you how to write short stories and share your experiences through The Howler, WDS’s Middle School blog.
Our problem-based math classes will allow you to dive into algebra, numerical operations, and more. Grade 6 introduces concepts, Grade 7 delves into proportional relationships and geometry, and Grade 8 covers data associations, functions, and solving equations.
In both the classroom and our lab you’ll investigate Earth systems, physics, climate change, and water challenges, among other topics. Grade 6 focuses on ecology, Grade 7 on physics and chemistry, and Grade 8 on water issues impacting ecosystems. Elective options give you a chance to look at science through the lens of the movies, learn how to build a model space rocket, and more.
In History and Social Studies classes and electives like Mythology, you’ll study geography and the diverse perspectives of those who inhabit lived spaces. Grade 6 explores the Eastern Hemisphere, Grade 7 focuses on North America, and Grade 8 delves into American history.
Our Spanish classes expose middle school students to the second most commonly spoken language in the U.S. You’ll build your Spanish skills with a focus on oral communication and communicating in everyday situations while developing a greater understanding of Spanish and Hispanic culture.
Through our physical education classes, you’ll develop your overall fitness, strengthen your teamwork skills, and deepen your commitment to a living healthy lifestyle. Grade 6 focuses on development, Grade 7 on personal health, and Grade 8 on coordination and leadership.
In Middle School health classes, you’ll explore health topics of interest to you – taking care of your physical and mental health, nurturing healthy relationships with others, responsible media literacy and digital citizenship, exploring identity, and more.
Through electives like Foundations of Art and Themes of Visual art, you’ll refine your art skills by studying works of art and artists.
In Ceramics, you’ll gain a quick intro to clay techniques, progressing from basics to advanced sculpting and glaze methods.
Through media arts electives, you’ll learn production skills, media literacy, and digital citizenship. You can also create stories using professional-level technology.
If music is your passion, you can join a performance based ensemble. Our musicians learn contemporary styles and how to perform in front of an audience.
In drama classes, you’ll develop characters, perform scenes, and understand the magic of theater.
We know every student is different so we offer lots of support. We have special periods for academic help and after-school programs for homework. We’re all about creating personal connections between students, teachers, and administrators, helping students thrive in and out of class.