Middle School Newsletter – November 1, 2023

As we reflect on academic progress during the first quarter — in advance of parent conferences tomorrow and Friday — we are presented with an opportunity to practice how to keep this performance feedback in perspective. As a reminder, I encourage all of us to focus on the journey, recognizing what this current performance feedback can provide and avoiding the type of disproportionate fixation on grades that can limit growth. The middle school years are about “figuring things out” during a low-risk period and emphasizing process and progress over the bottom-line outcomes. We believe that the students who will be the best prepared at the end of their middle school experience are those with a growth mindset — students who have focused on figuring out how to manage time and responsibilities, what approaches and study strategies work well for them, how to advocate for themselves, and how to recover from stumbles. These students (and parents) understand that an emphasis on grades or “perfection” tends to limit risk-taking, creativity, deep learning, and resilience.

Your child’s First Quarter Grade Report is now available in Husky Hub. This can be helpful in guiding the discussion during your conferences. As always, our open gradebook provides more detailed information than just the letter grade. Though it will now default to the Second Quarter, you can toggle back to a view of the First Quarter using the dropdown menu as shown below.