Middle School (Grades 6-8)

List of 11 items.

• Advisory

  Our Middle School advisory program is designed to support holistic personal growth in a supportive, encouraging environment that embraces and celebrates the individuality of each student. Students meet with advisors regularly, both individually and in small groups. The advisors serve as liaisons among students, families, and faculty to support each student throughout their YCDS journey.

  
  

  In addition to the regular advisory meetings, community blocks are built into the weekly schedule. During these designated times, students engage in advisory challenges and team-building activities that foster a sense of community and belonging.

• Clubs and Organizations

  Clubs in middle school play a vital role in fostering a sense of community and belonging, as they adapt each year to reflect the evolving interests of students. These organizations meet during designated times during the week and provide valuable leadership and collaborative planning opportunities and time for exploring their passions. Examples of clubs that have been offered in the past include Science Fair, Craft Club, Student Council, Reading Club, Dungeons and Dragons, Board Game Club, Walking Club, and E-Sports. 

• Music

  Music classes build music theory skills, with increased emphasis on sight-reading rhythms and intervals. Students apply their knowledge through performance on recorders, keyboards, and Orff instruments. The instrumental ensemble is open to all students and performs at the holiday and spring concerts, middle school closing, and occasionally at other events throughout the year. The group varies its repertoire according to instrumentation and utilizes custom arrangements to highlight student musicians. Students perform music in many different styles, including jazz, Celtic, classical, and rock. Ensemble skills, intonation, dynamics, and rhythmic accuracy are emphasized.

• Theatre

  The theatre curriculum is designed to foster a love for theatre, whether it be onstage, backstage, or in the audience. The York Country Day School theatre department offers diverse elective opportunities in which students can explore and develop their passion for theatre. Classwork among the elective offerings has included improvisation, monologue and scene studies, audition techniques, lights and sound, costuming, sets and props, and puppet theatre.  All middle school students are invited to participate in the annual middle school show. Students may audition to act onstage or participate in any crew position such as stage management, lights, sound, run crew, or costume crew. 

• Service Learning

  Service learning is a vital component of the YCDS experience in middle and upper school. Service learning fosters empathy and civic responsibility as well as develops essential life skills and a deeper understanding of their communities. Traditionally in the spring, all middle students, upper school students, and faculty participate in a Day of Service at a variety of community centers such as animal sanctuaries, food banks, nature preserves, and senior centers. Students are required to complete a specific number of service hours each year. 

• Visual Arts

  Our Middle School Art program is rooted in the Teaching Artistic Behaviors (TAB) philosophy, emphasizing student-driven learning and creative exploration. Building on the foundational skills acquired in Lower School, the curriculum in middle school includes printmaking, drawing, painting, fibers, collage, sculpture, and ceramics. Students experiment with a diverse array of techniques, artists, and cultural influences, which enriches their creative perspectives and inspires their artistic journey. Students will learn to plan their projects, create with intention, and reflect on their artistic choices, all while continuing to develop their portfolios through Artsonia. 

• Digital Media

  In Middle School, students are introduced to the dynamic world of digital media through elective courses that explore topics such as animation, digital design, videography, and sound design. These classes provide a foundation for creative expression, as students learn to develop original content using industry-standard software. From the initial concept to the final product, students gain hands-on experience in editing and publishing their work, which is often shared with the wider school community. The curriculum covers essential topics such as design principles, the fusion of various technologies for multimedia projects, and the importance of copyright and intellectual property. These courses offer a well-rounded introduction to digital media, preparing students for future creative endeavors in the Upper School and beyond.
  
  
  

• Robotics and Engineering

  The engineering process as a means of problem-solving is explored in elective courses in Middle School. Students also have the option to participate in the competitive robotics program, FIRST Lego League. Elizabeth Charleston, our Director of Engineering and Robotics and certified FIRST teacher trainer, leads this program for our students. Beyond the construction and operation of robots to solve problems, students also explore a variety of programming, coding, and teamwork.

   

• World Language

  Our Middle School world language program offers both French and Spanish. The foreign language department teaches French and Spanish through the comprehensible input approach, rooted in Stephen Krashen's theories of second-language acquisition. This approach emphasizes understanding language in context rather than through explicit grammar rules. By engaging with meaningful content—such as stories, conversations, and cultural traditions —students develop their language skills organically, fostering greater fluency and retention.

• Physical Education and Athletics

  Our Middle School PE program provides students with ample opportunities to explore a variety of sports, games, and wellness activities. Each student is supported and encouraged to develop the fundamental principles of team sports, basic skills necessary for sport participation, and a commitment to individual wellness and fitness. Middle School students are also encouraged to participate in one or more of the YCDS athletic teams.

• Grade 8 Capstone

  The grade 8 capstone project is an integrated research initiative that provides an opportunity for students to engage deeply in a personally chosen topic related to a given theme each year. Students explore a variety of resources, including online databases such as JSTOR, and those available with the York College library, to conduct comprehensive research on a topic in American history related to the theme. Students then synthesize their findings into a well-crafted research paper. To culminate the project, students deliver a presentation of their research to their peers and faculty.  This capstone project reinforces critical thinking, research, and writing skills as well as fosters confidence and collaboration among students.