Middle School

WTA’s Middle School is designed to foster a deep love of learning while developing executive functioning and critical thinking skills. Utilizing a Beit Midrash model for Judaic studies and Project Based Learning model for general studies, students gain better understandings of how they learn best and how to set and achieve goals. The approach to learning is to encourage respectful questioning and relating all content to real life. Each student works closely with a mentor teacher who supports their middle school journey, both academically and through their social-emotional needs.

General Studies

  • Integrating math and science, the English curriculum is project based learning utilizing the Summit Learning platform. The Social Studies curriculum brings Jewish history into the larger scope of world history and American history.

  • Algebra, geometry and applied math for real-life scenarios are explored in self-directed and collaborative learning projects to build critical thinking and logic.

  • Building on scientific method, middle schoolers explore real-life dilemmas, from extreme temperature survival to NASA challenges, students learn to think critically, ask questions, and devise proposals for how to address real issues.

  • In our state of the art STEAM lab, students code, design, and 3D print to continue their project based learning.

Judaic Studies

  • Building on conversational skills and the Judaics related vocabulary they established in lower school, students hone their grammar skills and applied language.

  • Shmot, Vayikra, Bamidbar and Devarim are the focus of the middle school. Utilizing a values based curriculum, students hone their textual analyzation skills.

  • Beginning with mishna, students are onboarded to the world of Talmud. Each grade level has one primary area of focus (Brachot, Pesachim & Bava Metzia), while also exploring other texts related to the calendar year.

  • Each grade has a theme for the year (Tefillah, Brachot, Shabbat), while also building in special days of learning around holidays, visiting speakers and hot topics.

Extracurricular

  • The WTA Warriors have hockey, basketball and soccer teams. All middle schoolers attend gym class 3-4 times a week to build strength, conditioning and coordination.

  • Based on student interest, middle schoolers access their particularized interests through art, music, movement, STEAM and other offerings. Students choose their own electives and suggest offerings.

  • The whole school is involved in celebrating each bar and bat mitzvah and surrounding the student with love and joy. WTA facilitates the learning of Jewish ritual skills in our annual B'nai Mitzvah family event and of course all of this process is grounded in our core values.

  • The vast majority of our students are admitted to their first choice High School. Administrators walk alongside student and family every step of the journey to identify which schools align with their strengths and interests. They serve as guides for the students as they prepare for applications, interviews, essays and school visits. The WTA team helps students to begin to envision who they want to be come and which high school will foster those goals.