December 18, 2025
from Paul Errickson, Middle School director
Greetings and welcome (almost) to winter break. I would like to share some of our “happy happenings” in the Middle School over the past two weeks and one exciting change we are implementing (hint: it has to do with helping our students spend less time on their screens).
We have had a lot of fun and excitement around the Middle School over the past two weeks. Last Friday, our eighth graders met with the Upper School Peer Leaders to gain valuable insight into what is waiting for them in ninth grade. Those Peer Leaders talked about the opportunities, freedom, change in social dynamics, and responsibility that awaits in our Upper school. They also gave our eighth graders tickets to the hot cocoa bar they hosted on Monday.
Yesterday, we had a Middle School meeting in which a couple of our advisories shared their Dream Big, Do Right Challenge tasks, including a fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald House by Ms. Phillips’ advisory and Ms. Nagle’s advisory, making slime for our kindergarten Ba Ba Boutique to sell. Some of our eighth-grade students also shared advice on mindful breathing and other relaxation techniques that students can use when feeling anxious or stressed. We ended the meeting with Ms. Meras sharing that we have decided to give the students a break from their laptops as well as from school.
At the end of this week, we will ask all Middle School students to power down their laptops and leave them with their advisors over the winter break. We hope that this will help them take a break from their screens and find more time to spend with family, go outside, or read a book (or two).
This week, we will end our 2025 with some service and some fun for all Middle School students. The tradition for our fifth and sixth-grade students continues with volunteering at Feed My Starving Children on Friday morning, followed by bowling in the afternoon. Our seventh- and eighth-grade students will have a morning of classes, followed by a mix of fun and service—cleaning classrooms and creating holiday cards for a local retirement home—in the afternoon.
I hope you all have a peaceful and joyful break, and I look forward to taking on the new year with you and your children in a couple of weeks.
Mark Your Calendars
- Friday, December 19: Caroling with the Madrigal Singers with Faculty, Staff, & Alumni, 7:30-8 AM, Family Commons, All Are Welcome!
- Friday, December 19: MS G5-6 Feed My Starving Children, 8-11:30 AM, Off Campus
- Friday, December 19: A Soldier’s Sacrifice – A Special Alumni & Faculty Presentation, 8:15-9 AM, Recital Hall, RSVP >
- Friday, December 19: MS G5-6 Bowling, 12-3 PM, Off Campus
- Friday, December 19: MS G7-8 Winter Carnival, 12-3 PM
- Monday, December 22-Friday, January 2: Winter Break – No Classes, PreK Panther Closed, Panther Club/Den Closed
- Monday, January 5: Classes Resume
