Middle School

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A Place Where Girls Excel

For almost a century, Elmwood’s Middle School has been part of a community of learners where girls  are challenged by rigorous academic expectations and pedagogical excellence, and valued as unique individuals in a compassionate and respectful environment. Elmwood inspires each girl to reach her full potential.

Elmwood graduates are renowned for their academic achievement, personal confidence, self-discipline and commitment to community service: we believe that the foundation for these qualities is consolidated as the girls move through the Middle School. From the moment our students enter our doors, they are part of a community that is committed to the ideals of integrity, achievement and social responsibility.

In our Middle School, an Elmwood girl knows that she has a voice; her opinions are sought and respected. In turn, each girl knows the value of listening to and learning from the opinions of others.

Explore the links below to learn more about Elmwood's Middle School Programme (Grade 6 – 8).

International Baccalaureate Program

The IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) of the International Baccalaureate is based on research into best educational practice from around the world, and the result is an exciting, dynamic and rich curriculum that challenges our girls to be inquirers and critical thinkers. Elmwood’s outstanding faculty members are also experts in how girls learn, and this expertise permeates the classroom setting.

The MYP is a continuation of the PYP (IB Primary Years Programme), emphasizing the consolidation of learning strategies and critical-thinking skills to prepare students for their final years of high school, and ultimately, university. The MYP helps students to develop a sense of belonging in the ever-changing and increasingly interrelated world, and to engage as active participants in their own learning. The aim of the programme is to ensure that students not only have knowledge, but also develop transdisciplinary skills that can be applied in new contexts.

The MYP provides outstanding academic challenge and life skills that enhance and extend the traditional subject disciplines of the Ontario Ministry Curriculum for students in Grades 6 through 10. The critical thinking, communication and learning skills of the MYP provide a rich framework for the delivery of the traditional subject areas of English, French, Mandarin, Spanish, mathematics, science, humanities, technology, the Arts, and physical and health education. Grade 8 students also complete two Grade 9 Ministry credit courses in preparation for Senior School. Five areas, known as the Areas of Interaction, provide perspective for students’ inquiry, helping them to understand the relevance of the curriculum and make connections across subjects and to the outside world. These areas include the following: Approaches to Learning, Human Ingenuity, Environment, Health and Social Education and Community and Service. Through each of these areas of interaction, students are also encouraged to develop the attitudes and skills of the IB Learner Profile. IB students strive to be:

• Inquirers
• Knowledgeable
• Thinkers
• Communicators
• Principled
• Open-minded
• Caring
• Risk-takers
• Balanced
• Reflective
   
  

Academic Excellence

Academic excellence forms the cornerstone of each girl’s experience at Elmwood, which prides itself on being one of the pre-eminent university preparatory programmes in Canada. Elmwood graduates have 100% acceptance rate to their universities of choice, often with substantial financial scholarships.

In Elmwood’s Middle School, an outstanding academic foundation for Senior School is delivered through the Middle Years Programme (MYP) of the International Baccalaureate.

In order to develop a life-long passion for learning, Elmwood students are encouraged to be engaged and curious learners. Our students are frequently assessed by their teachers, using a variety of diagnostic tools. Additionally, Elmwood students compete against students across Canada through national standardized tests and contests, such as:

• All Science Challenge
• Math Competitions – Gauss Math Contest (University of Waterloo), Pascal Math Contest (University of Waterloo), Pythagorus Competition (Mathematica Centrum)
• Grade 7 Science Fair
• Rube Goldberg Machine Fair
• National standardized testing in Grade 7 (CAT-3)
• Robotics Competitions

Leadership

Elmwood girls are leaders. Inspired by the principles of the International Baccalaureate and by superb role models in the Senior School, our Middle School students develop the qualities that enhance leadership: initiative, integrity, reliability, determination, compassion and fair play. Elmwood’s supportive, challenging environment encourages each girl to step outside her comfort zone and take appropriate risks.

Some of the opportunities available to Middle School students are:

• House Council
• Athletics Council
• Student Ambassadors: welcome new students to Elmwood, and host girls visiting for Taster Days
• Grade 7s plan the transition day activities for the Grade 5s moving up to Grade 6
• Grade 8 Leadership class plans a winter fun day for the Grade 6 and 7 students
• Grade 7s participate in the 7/11 program preparing activities with the Grade 11 Leadership class
• Grade 6s are paired with a Senior student for the “Big Sister/Little Sister” programme
• GLO (Games of Low Organization): Grade 7s invent games to teach and play with Grades 3 – 5
• Reading Buddies Program with girls in Junior School

Global Citizens

Elmwood’s Middle School welcomes students from more than 30 different nationalities. Each student’s cultural heritage and family traditions are shared and celebrated through our IB Programme of Inquiry. Students learn to understand different perspectives on a variety of issues. They learn how vital it is to be able to “walk in someone else’s shoes,” and to contribute to the world beyond Canada’s borders. Our annual International Night is an all-school event where students celebrate their cultural heritage with the wider Ottawa community through music, dance and songs.

Giving Back

Community service and charitable giving are integral elements of life at Elmwood, and our school has a time-honoured tradition of giving back to others. Whether through whole-school activities, House-sponsored programmes or individual initiatives, all of our Middle School students are active participants in causes that benefit other people—locally, nationally and internationally. In the past year alone, Middle School girls have participated in the following activities:

• CIBC Run for the Cure: For 10 straight years Elmwood School has raised the largest amount of money of any school in Ottawa
• Creating holiday hampers for local families in need through the Shepherds of Good Hope programme
• Canadian National Guide Dogs for the Blind
• Canadian Landmines Foundation
• Elizabeth Fry Society
• Interval House
• Operation Christmas Child (Samaritan’s Purse International)
• Warm Clothing and Food drive
• Guatemala Stove Project (Grade 8 Humanities)
• Pay it Forward
• Elmwood Square
• World Partnership Walk (The Aga Khan Foundation)
• Help Lesotho

Organic Garden Project

The Organic Garden Project was initiated after one of our teachers watched a program about Alice Waters and her book called “The Edible Schoolyard.” Elmwood applied to a school garden program called Growing Up Organic and asked Bridgehead Coffee (where a limited edition coffee blend bears a photo of our girls and their garden) to sponsor, and in September 2009, the first steps were taken towards creating our own organic garden. In the fall of 2010, the students harvested the produce, and the excess went to the Shepherd’s of Good Hope charity.

The Arts

At Elmwood, we believe that a vibrant, dynamic Arts curriculum is essential to an outstanding educational experience. Middle School girls experience the Arts through the formal curriculum and through co-curricular clubs and activities. Our programme is enhanced by the opportunities afforded by our location in the Nation’s Capital: each year, students enjoy a concert series and participate in workshops at the National Arts Centre,and also attend performances by Opera Lyra. Visual art is taught directly through our Art curriculum and is also incorporated into the Units of Inquiry of the IB MYP. Each girl has the opportunity to participate in a variety of musical and drama productions throughout the year and each student studies a concert band instrument during her music classes. All music classes are taught by a talented subject specialist.

Middle School students experience the Arts through the following activities:

• Middle School Musical
• Shakespeare performance
• Concert Band
• Middle School Jazz Band
• Choir
• Drama/Improv Club

 

Athletics

The Physical Education programme in Elmwood’s Middle School teaches our girls about the importance of a balanced, active lifestyle and a healthy body. Through engaging in wide variety of recreational activities, our students focus on participation, team spirit and good sportsmanship. Sport-specific skills in soccer, floor hockey, basketball, volleyball, track and field, badminton and tennis are taught at each grade level, with the opportunity for students to try out for teams that compete with other Ontario schools. Elmwood’s co-curricular programme offers a selection of recreational sports, including:

• Cross-country running
• Volleyball
• Alpine ski club
• Soccer
• House games
• Basketball
• Handball
• Badminton
• Ultimate Frisbee
• Touch Rugby
• Tennis club
• Rowing (Grade 8)

 

Clubs and Activities

Elmwood’s Middle School is constantly alive with enthusiastic activity, both at lunchtime and before and after school. Our students explore their individuality, athleticism and creativity through participation in the various activities that are available; in so doing, the girls learn more about themselves and their classmates. They develop the confidence to try new things and challenge themselves. Elmwood’s teachers organize the majority of our co-curricular activities, with experts brought in to enhance the programme when required. Middle School clubs include:

• Art Club
• Chinese Chess/Chess Club
• Book Club
• Tartan Tattler
• Environment Club
• Drama/Improv Club
• Chemistry Club
• Samara
• Student Ambassadors
• International Cultures Club

 

The House System

Elmwood’s House system creates a genuine sense of belonging and camaraderie for each student. Each girl is a proud member of one of four Houses, named after famous women: Fry House, Nightingale House, Keller House and Wilson House. The Houses provide opportunities for older students to assume leadership roles and mentor younger students. Elmwood’s unique, inclusive spirit is celebrated twice yearly with the semi-annual “Spirit Afternoon,” during which all girls compete for the famous House cup. The four Houses also contribute to Elmwood’s strong tradition of community service, with each House responsible for annual fundraising for a specific charity.

Technology

Cutting-edge technology forms an essential component of Elmwood’s Middle School programme. All Middle School girls receive weekly IT instruction from an expert technology teacher and technology is integrated into all Units of Inquiry. Our computer lab has a full range of flat-screen monitors for student use, and MacBooks are also available for specialized projects. Our students also have access to SMART Boards, flip video cameras and LCD projectors for use in the classrooms.

Visit our testimonials section to see what Elmwood parents are saying about the School.