Four days a week begin with advisory, which includes time for students to be welcomed to school, a time to share, engage in a game or playful activity, and hear news or announcements. Students set goals and create a middle school-wide Social Contract of rules to help them create a school environment that helps them achieve their goals.

WNS prides itself on continuing to update its technology program and provide significant resources to our students. Students in middle school have Design-Code-Make (DCM) classes in our north campus STEAM complex. Students acquire transferable skills such as design principles and computational thinking rather than rote training in the use of specific software. Students can choose from electives such as robotics, coding, and digital fabrication to expand on these basic skills.

The English program seeks to develop strong critical and independent thinkers. Diving into literary interpretation and analysis of fiction and nonfiction texts, the middle school program focuses on supporting students' annotation practice and reading comprehension. All grade levels incorporate poetry, short stories, and novels. Through formal and informal writing, partner work, and student-led Socratic Seminars, the department helps students find their voice as both writers and speakers.

Sixth Grade: A project-based approach encourages students to make real-life connections between their studies and the world around them.

Seventh Grade: Students develop the ability to state their points of view in both speech and writing by questioning, arguing, discussing, and adapting what they say to their audience and the effect they wish to achieve.

Eighth Grade: Students are encouraged to develop their skills as both readers and writers through the exploration of themselves and their roles within the world, along with pushing the boundaries of each student’s universe of obligation.

In addition to the core curriculum, every middle school student participates in electives four afternoons a week. The elective period is a time when middle school students can pursue an interest that is not necessarily a part of the regular curriculum, with students in all grades of the middle school. Electives additionally provide teachers with an opportunity to share a skill or passion with their students. Some of the classes offered have included mock trial, robotics, chess team, spring musical, cooking, debate team, math team, investment club, school newspaper, yearbook, visual arts, and various athletics.

The math program is designed to build confidence and mastery in math concepts. Through project-based learning, everyday applications of math continue to be highlighted, so students not only learn the material, but also see the relevance in its application.

There are four sections of math in sixth and seventh grade and five sections in eighth grade; all have the same high academic standards and goals. Each section varies as to pace and depth of understanding with a demanding curriculum focusing on core competencies. The curriculum culminates with Algebra 1 in eighth grade and everyone leaves ready for high school math, whether it be Algebra, Geometry, or beyond. The Singapore Math approach is used In the upper elementary grades, as students internalize how and why math is meaningful in their lives, moving beyond procedural knowledge to conceptual understanding. Students continue to employ concrete, visual, and abstract models to master the application of mathematical concepts. The curriculum is a project-based, interdisciplinary approach to the application of mathematical skills and concepts. Flexible groups are designed to meet all students’ needs, with emphasis placed on inquiry, problem-solving, and logical reasoning.

The middle school music program is centered around choral music, including an extra-curricular Festival Choir. Through varied repertoire including folk songs, partner songs, rounds, traditional classical pieces, and popular music, students learn proper vocal techniques and continue their growth in music literacy.

Students at WNS experience performing arts classes developing rehearsal and performance skills, but mainly providing the opportunity for students to develop empathy, self-confidence, public speaking, and communication and collaboration skills. While each grade level participates in its own Theatre Art production, all middle school students have the opportunity to apply for several performing arts electives. Sample electives include:

• Fall Play Elective
• Dance Team Elective
• Theatre Tech Elective
• Middle School Musical Elective
• Film Festival Elective

Learn more by visiting our Performing Arts page.

Middle school physical education emphasizes fitness and lifelong recreational activities. Team sports and games include learning how to work together to create strategies and find multiple solutions to a problem.

At WNS, the social studies program is an immersive and interactive journey through history that fosters curiosity, critical thinking, and strong communication skills. Through dynamic projects, debates, simulations, and inquiry-based learning, students deepen their understanding of the past while making meaningful connections to the present. Emphasis is placed on analytical thinking and historical writing, preparing students to engage thoughtfully with complex ideas and perspectives.

In eighth grade, students visit Washington, D.C. where they experience the milestones of American history firsthand—bringing their classroom learning to life in powerful and personal ways.

Curriculum Progression:

• Sixth Grade: Ancient Civilizations

• Seventh Grade: World History

• Eighth Grade: American History

The middle school science program is designed to promote scientific reasoning, problem solving, and creative and critical thinking skills. These skills are developed through the lens of best practices taken from project-based learning, student-directed learning, and 21st century skills. In addition to the science curriculum, the science program includes a social learning curriculum to enhance and develop skills such as communication, responsibility, flexibility, and initiative.

Sixth Grade: Environmental Science

Seventh Grade: Life Science & Human Health and Sexuality

Eighth Grade: Chemistry and Physics Basics

The middle school Spanish curriculum at WNS is a multi-faceted program designed to develop communicative competence, build relevant vocabulary, and foster a deep understanding and appreciation of Spanish-speaking cultures. Our program encourages students to value second-language acquisition as a key to global citizenship.

WNS offers three levels of Spanish instruction to meet a variety of learning needs and proficiency levels, including a Spanish Immersion Program and an Accelerated Spanish Program.

The Spanish Immersion Program is an advanced option for students ready for the challenge of an all-Spanish-speaking classroom environment. This program emphasizes communication, confidence, and cultural fluency, providing students with opportunities to sharpen their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in a fully immersive setting. Cultural exploration is integral to the Immersion experience, helping students appreciate the richness and diversity of the Spanish-speaking world.

The Accelerated Spanish Program is designed for students with strong language acquisition skills who are ready to progress at a faster pace. Instruction is delivered using a gradual immersion model: Spanish is introduced step by step until the classroom operates in an 85–90% Spanish-speaking environment by the end of the year. This approach allows students to build confidence and fluency in all four language domains.

The Regular Spanish Program is designed for students who are building foundational Spanish skills. Through interactive lessons and scaffolded instruction, students develop confidence in listening, speaking, reading, and writing, while gradually increasing their exposure to Spanish in a supportive and engaging environment.

WNS uses the Así se dice curriculum, a comprehensive, standards-aligned program that supports progressive language development across middle school. Students engage in grammar, vocabulary, reading, writing, conversation, and cultural projects that connect language to real-world use. Our goal is that students complete the equivalent of a Spanish 1 curriculum by the end of 8th grade, with our more accelerated groups extending beyond that.  

WNS also offers students the chance to accelerate their Spanish practice and immerse themselves in other Spanish cultures and geographic regions through our Global Studies Summer Program Trip. This seven to nine-day trip gives students the opportunity to incorporate Spanish, service learning, and memory-making with their middle school classmates!

The art program is organized around imagination, innovation, invention, observation, communication and expression. Students learn that art is a means to communicate feelings and ideas, to articulate what they think and know, to reflect upon issues, and to come to a clearer understanding of themselves, their culture, and other people. Through art, our students seek to inform, inspire and move others emotionally or intellectually.