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Guiding our children safely through the adolescent years requires special effort from home and school. Parents play a vital role in guiding their child’s social development as well as academic growth. Each member of the Wellington Middle School staff is an expert in his or her field and enthusiastic about working with students in this age group. We help students learn to blend family, school and social responsibilities in a positive way as they adjust to their changing lives. Life skills such as leadership, time management, confidence, social responsibility and self-esteem are built into the curriculum.
Wellington Middle School is a departmentalized program of several instructional periods a day, including elective courses.
An integrated literature curriculum combines creative and expository writing, research skills, debate, and more. English studies include grammar, spelling, reading skills and vocabulary development. Prose and poetry appreciation, analysis and criticism are presented. All middle school students participate in the Wellington Authors Club, a reading enrichment program that leads students to explore the adventures of independent reading. Through the earning of credits, students continue to read throughout the year. The value and importance of reading is continually promoted, with students sharing their favorite books through creative projects and involvement in events such as the Times Festival of Reading at Eckerd College. Students who go above and beyond the required credits earn special bonuses such as the coveted Wellington Authors Club t-shirt, an ice cream social, an extra no-uniform day, and a special luncheon held in their honor. Wellington students most assuredly are the "smart, the proud, the well-read."
Math courses are offered in general math, pre-algebra, algebra I honors and geometry. Students learn to apply math to real life situations – interest rates, credit cards, mortgages, taxes, and the stock market.
The exciting science program explores physical, earth, and life sciences in a sophisticated context. Hands-on work in our science lab is supplemented with research reports, science fairs, field trips and science projects.
Social studies combines textbooks and hands-on projects to explore the past, present, and future effects on geography, environment, and cultures. Participation in the National Geography Bee gives students an opportunity to apply their knowledge of the world around them.
Games, skills, and competition make daily physical education class fun and challenging. Emphasis is on self-esteem, sportsmanship, and participation. Courses in teen health cover a range of important topics, including wellness, nutrition, fitness, personal safety and life skills.
Physical education and teen health are only two of many persona enhancements found at Wellington. Spanish is part of the core curriculum in middle school. Students begin to translate and write as well as explore the culture and language. By the end of middle school, Wellington students will have mastered all the basic and many advanced computer science skills. The areas covered include networking technology, consumer software, building computers, and appropriate use of the Internet.
Our morning assemblies have become a unique tradition at Wellington School. They are held bi-weekly and bring our school community together to help students develop self-confidence, self-esteem, leadership skills and character. Each day student speakers lead the school in the pledge and patriotic musical performances. Some days, individual, small group or entire classes perform musically, dramatically, or to present an academic project. Student achievements are recognized for classroom accomplishments, outside academic competitions, and community service. Time is spent discussing the "Theme for the Month" or "Quote" which relates to setting goals and having an "I Can" attitude.
Our students enrich their understanding and appreciation of the world around them by attending a variety of field trips. Some of these field trips include the Holocaust Museum, Finance Park, the Dali Museum, MOSI and Veteran’s Hospital. Our Middle School students participate in several three-to-five-day trips. Sixth graders venture to Tallahassee to visit our state’s capital. Our seventh grade class enjoys an exciting journey to Florida’s Newfound Harbor Marine Institute on Big Pine Key. The eighth graders start their year off with a trip to Cedarkirk Camp and Conference Center held by Pathfinder Outdoor Education. They end their year with a historic trip to Washington D.C.
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