×

Search

Search

Middle School

Ages 12-14

VMS Middle School provides a unique educational experience that emphasizes holistic development and community involvement. Students are regularly engaged in volunteer opportunities, allowing them to connect with and contribute to their local communities. Each year, students undertake a 6-week independent study project, fostering a deep sense of self-directed learning and curiosity. This approach not only cultivates academic skills but also instills important life skills such as problem-solving, self-advocacy, and advocacy for others. Additionally, VMS Middle School encourages students to engage with issues on both a local and international level, broadening their perspectives and understanding of global citizenship. Through these experiences, students learn to navigate complex social dynamics and develop a strong sense of responsibility and empathy, while also feeling like they truly make a difference.

We approach education as a joyful experience, one that stimulates and develops critical thinking, creativity, oral and written expression, collaboration, individualized skill development, and time management skills.

Alongside a diverse curriculum that includes art, performance, hands-on projects, and applied math projects throughout the year, we ensure that VMS students not only achieve success but also develop the skills necessary to thrive and be happy in the world beyond VMS.

Middle School students enjoy various Community Learning Initiatives throughout the year. Sample partnerships include: Island Grown Schools • Boys & Girls Club • Misty Meadows Equine Learning Center • Vineyard Playhouse • Vineyard Golf • Polly Hill Arboretum • MV Museum • Sense of Wonder Creations • Vineyard Family Tennis

Education should therefore include the two forms of work, manual and intellectual, for the same person, and thus make it understood by practical experience that these two kinds complete each other and are equally essential to a civilized existence.

Dr. Maria Montessori