From the Desk of the Middle School Director - 6

Life at the Middle School is vibrant and eventful. Spring sports are winding down, with many teams winning championships. The arts have also taken pleasure in many events, most notably in our recent talent show, whereby students were allowed to showcase their various talents. The jazz band and chorus performed amazingly well.

Spring is an extremely busy time at Darlington. With all the extracurricular activities, ERB testing and trips, we are also working to plan for next year. In doing so, rising 7th and 8th grade students should have received a placement form in the mail. This form indicates their academic placement for next year and also lists enrichment activities that these students can choose. These forms need to be returned to Pam Sullins no later than Friday, April 15. I am currently working on the homeroom placement for grades 5 and 6. Students in these grades will have a choice between band and chorus. I will notify those parents once this form is completed and ready to mail.

For parents of rising 9th graders, we are working on those placements as well. This is a much more rigorous process, which will be coordinated with the Upper School. Please take note of a couple of items pertaining to these students:

1. All 9th grade students will be placed in physics, instead of biology or biology honors. The decision to change this sequence was made recently to better assist students in regard to the SAT and math classes. There will NOT be a physics honors class offered next year.

2. A summer Health class will be offered to rising 9th grade Darlington students June 14-18 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at a cost of $375 per student. Students who take and pass this course may exempt the required Health segment of the Health/Wellness/Fitness class, which meets two times per week throughout the freshman year. Lunch is provided during the summer course. The following topics will be covered:

Nutrition
Drugs, Alcohol & Tobacco (including the ADAP)
Cardiovascular Disease
Cancer
“Making the Right Choices” – Sex Education
American Red Cross First Aid & CPR Certification

For assistance, please call the Summer Programs Office at (706) 506-6041. For program-specific questions, please contact instructor Angie Milford.

3. All 8th grade students will take their final exams the week of May 16. Their last exam will be Wednesday, May 18, after which they will rehearse for their final ceremony. After the final ceremony on April 19 at 7 p.m., these students are excused for the year.

4. Starting May 2, all 8th grade students will be excused from wearing school uniforms for the rest of the remaining days of school.

5. Students will take the ERB (CTP-4) test April 12-14. Please note the following:

Avoid absences these days. Please try and avoid making appointments that would interfere with testing. Students will have to make up any missed test.
Students must bring two #2 pencils to each test.
Calculators will be allowed on the Math II section ONLY. Phones or iPads may NOT be used as calculators.
We will NOT have late start on Wednesday, April 13. Testing will start at 8 a.m.
Students should eat a nutritious breakfast and get plenty of rest.
Teachers will NOT assign homework April 11-13.
Middle School Tiger Pride will provide water and snacks, but you are welcome to send one as well.

Our spring calendar is full. Here is a list of some upcoming events:

Spring Fling (grades 5-6) – April 9 from 11a.m. to 1 p.m.

Spring Dance (grades 7-8) – April 9 in the Yancey Wrestling Room from 8 to 11 p.m.

National Junior Honor Society Inductions – April 20 in Morris Chapel from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

Final Ceremony (grades 5-7) – May 11from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

For those parents who utilize our after-school care, please be advised we will NOT offer this service on Friday, April 8, or Friday, April 15. If you have any questions about this, please contact Lisa Goldin.

The semester is quickly coming to close. I hope this has been a great year for your child(ren) but please know that we are always looking for ways to improve. I would enjoy a cup of coffee and conversation with you.