Going Far Afield!

As you may have noticed, we are at the height of the fall field trip season.  We are occasionally asked why we feel the need to remove students from the day-to-day of school and take them outside the building for their education.

The reasons are myriad.  Science education comes alive when you tromp through the bog, sinking up to your ten-year-old hips in mud. Groups bond tighter when cheering their classmate as he--filled with terror--scales the ropes course.  And laying a wreath by a name you know at the Vietnam memorial brings the loss and sacrifice of that difficult time to life.

Middle School is a time for exploring and learning by doing (though we'd argue that any age is right for that) and our teachers understand this concept.  And, luckily, they love to spend 24 hours a day with preadolescents and adolescents!  Be sure to check with your children as they return from these trips and share in their excitement of learning outside the walls of MPA.

On an unrelated note, please don't forget that we have all-school parent/teacher/student conferences next week and no school on Friday, September 28th.