Middle School

May 7, 2026

from Paul Errickson, Middle School director

As we work our way through our Middle School spring concert season, I want to share with you some advice from our Middle School counselor, Ashley Cooper:

Many of us have noticed that energy drinks have found their way into the Middle School day. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, “nearly 33% of teens regularly consume energy drinks, and many of these contain far more caffeine than is recommended. Some popular options range from about 70 mg to over 250 mg of caffeine in a single can, while the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than 100 mg per day for teens.”

At these levels, caffeine can make it harder for students to manage emotions and stress, disrupt sleep, increase jitteriness or a racing heart, and even mask hunger. We’re also seeing energy drinks being shared with friends, much like gum or snacks, which can make it easy for students to consume more caffeine than they realize. For some students, especially those taking medications for attention, anxiety, or mood, caffeine can also increase side effects like restlessness or trouble sleeping.

I want to offer some strategies families may find helpful:

• Encouraging regular meals and snacks every three to four hours when possible
• Looking ahead at the lunch menu so students can plan for foods they’ll eat and enjoy
• Prioritizing hydration, with water as the main drink during the day
• If caffeine is used, pairing it with food rather than having it on an empty stomach
• Limiting caffeine later in the day to help protect sleep
• Discouraging students from sharing or providing caffeinated drinks to others
• Talking with students about energy coming from sleep, food, and hydration (not just drinks)

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April 23, 2026

from Paul Errickson, Middle School director

With so much going on around school over the final two months, I wanted to take some time to share with you some of the “Thinking Big” that our Middle School faculty did last week, during our professional development time together. In the morning, we continued our school-wide conversation about AI, and departments were asked for their feedback on how they hope to use and limit the use of AI in their classrooms. In the afternoon, our Middle School faculty explored several topics with time to “Dream Big” in these areas. At the end of our time together, they shared their reflections and recommendations.

Some Middle School faculty discussed how we can be more intentional with technology use during both classes and Flex. Teachers shared the importance of setting clearer expectations around when laptops are needed and when they should remain closed, including the possibility of designated storage spots in classrooms when devices are not in use. Faculty also raised the idea of keeping sixth-grade laptops at school—similar to our current practice in fifth grade—to help students build healthy tech habits. In addition, we are exploring updates to our “Flexpectations” in the Family Commons (no-tech Flex) so that laptop use during Flex would only be permitted in classrooms and with faculty permission.

Another group of faculty examined our Middle School advisory program, taking time to articulate what we value most, where we see limitations, and how we might “dream big” about the future of advisory. Teachers highlighted the strong relationships that advisory fosters and the importance of creating more consistency and structure across groups. We also discussed the success of the Dream Big, Do Right Advisory Challenge and identified several promising ideas for strengthening the program, including using Wednesday Flex (opposite Middle School Meeting) as a longer advisory block, incorporating tech-free advisory time, aligning SEL programming between advisory and seminar, and bringing more circle work into our weekly routines. Read More

April 9, 2026

from Paul Errickson, Middle School director

As we head into our fourth quarter of the year, my question for our Middle Schoolers is, “How can you make this last quarter your BEST quarter?” Challenging them to reflect on all that they’ve learned so far this year and to finish off the year, over our final eight weeks of school, as strong as possible can be both challenging and rewarding. With so many different opportunities for our students to showcase their learning, from concerts and the musical to their final assessments, papers, projects, and presentations, we will work hard to keep them (and you) well organized, prepared, and balanced for the work ahead.

Caution: Performance Season ahead! The end of April and the month of May provide our families with a plethora of opportunities to see our students perform. On April 23, 24, and 26, we will have Middle and Upper School students performing in “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” (see below for more details). The following week, on Thursday, April 30, we have our Middle School Choral Concert and transition meetings—families arrive at 6 PM so their Middle Schooler can get warmed up (show starts at 7 PM), and families can attend grade level meetings to hear from your childs’ next year teachers about the fun to come. Then we have our Orchestra (May 7) and Band (May 14) concerts on the next two Thursday evenings at 7 PM.

As we head into these busier times, I look forward to seeing you all at a performance or sporting event, on one of our field trips, or at our end of year ceremonies. And, especially at our transition meetings on April 30.

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March 26, 2026

from Paul Errickson, Middle School director

Springtime brings with it change and renewed growth. It can be one of the most exciting and hectic times in our school year as we work to wrap everything up by the end of the school year and reflect on the growth and achievements of our year of learning together.

It is often during these days in early spring, as a science teacher and naturalist, that I like to share the story of a child and a butterfly. You’ve probably heard it before (I even shared it with our students last year). The short version is that there’s a man who watches a butterfly struggle to emerge from its cocoon and, thinking he is helping, cuts it free—only to discover that without the necessary struggle, the butterfly’s wings never strengthen, leaving it unable to fly. What he didn’t realize is that the difficult process is what prepares the butterfly for life, and the story reminds us of those challenges and obstacles, rather than being burdens, are often exactly what enable us to grow, gain strength, and ultimately soar.

Looking ahead, we have many, many opportunities for growth (and potential discomfort) for our Middle School students. Next week brings the end of our third quarter, and I know that students and teachers are working to finish the quarter strong! In April and May, we have book battles and science fairs, concerts and musicals, MAP testing, and field days fast approaching. Please keep a close eye on our calendar here in Panther Post and communications through your child’s Schoology account for updates and information on all that we have going on. Read More