Attendance
Phone: 202-295-6201
If your child will not be in school or will be late, please call by 8:00 a.m. This is a direct 24-hour telephone number, which you can reach at any time. Please post it near your phone or enter it in your speed dial index.

School Hours
Classes in the Middle School begin at 8:05. Students may enter the building at 7:55. It is important for students to have a few minutes to go to their lockers at the beginning of the day so an on-time arrival is critical to the smooth beginning of the Middle School day.

Break
Students have a daily mid-morning break. They may bring a healthy snack to eat at this time. We know this break provides them with a little time and nourishment, which they need in their full academic day.

Lunch
Each student should bring a nutritious lunch each day. Adolescence is a time of growth and your children need plenty of healthy food and an extra drink on hot sports days! While we provide hot water and a microwave, students should plan to bring plastic spoons and forks for any food needing utensils.

Yearbook
The Yearbook is an after-school activity for students in grades 6-8. It usually meets two days a week, from 3:30-4:30, from September through February. More specific information will be available in the fall.

Parent Newsletter
We will send home a quarterly newsletter, the Middle School Manifesto, describing pertinent activities and special events. We hope this newsletter helps you to stay current on Middle School happenings.

Health Forms
Health forms are due no later than the first day of school, September 5th. If you have not yet turned in forms sent to you, please do so as soon as possible. They are also available online. No student can participate in PE or athletics without having submitted these forms.

Assignment Books
GDS Assignment Books will be given to each student for daily use in recording assignments, as well as organizing and planning their time.

Calendar
Remember to check in at www.gds.org for all calendar information.

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Specific Grade Information

6th Grade

Welcome to the Middle School! We are thrilled to have all of you join us and wish the best for you during the next three years. The sixth grade is a year full of wonderful learning opportunities and offers a program of collaboration among humanities, math and science. The curriculum emphasizes the study of ancient civilization and much reading and writing in all areas. For reading, you will have both assigned novels and many choices of independent books. The use of technology is emphasized throughout the curriculum, and many projects utilize the development of cooperative skills. Each sixth grade homeroom goes to Innerquest, an outdoor skills course at the Madeira School in Virginia, and participates in Community Service activities throughout the year.

7th Grade

Welcome to 7th grade! You are now officially in the "middle" of Middle School and can look forward to a year of new opportunities to grow as students in all areas. Seventh graders have individual schedules, rather than homerooms, and are assigned to "Advisors" rather than homeroom teachers. Advisor groups meet regularly during the week and each student can rely on his or her advisor to help with any issue. You will participate in Community Service projects at off-campus sites on Wednesdays for two quarters of the year. It is a fine opportunity to share your talents with others and to receive in return. More information about these projects will be available in early September.

A highlight of the seventh grade year will be the Chesapeake Bay three-day trip, which in addition to being fun and challenging will "kick off" the environmental issues science unit. Also, all seventh graders take Health and sign up for an elective for two quarters, and begin participating in the 7th/8th grade athletic program, which offers an opportunity to compete athletically with other schools.

8th Grade

Congratulations to all of our 8th graders! You are now the leaders of our Middle School. I look forward to working with all of you as you proceed on your way to becoming accomplished students ready for High School. As was the case in the seventh grade, eighth graders continue to have an advisor. The eighth grade advisor program is, however, much more like the High School program in that it has an individual rather than a group focus. Each eighth grade student will meet with his/her assigned advisor to discuss academic issues and concerns and other school-related matters. Advisory time may also be used for study time, advising, and extra help.

In addition to the core subjects, all eighth graders take Health as in seventh grade and choose two quarters of electives, alternating with two quarters of Community Service. Eighth grade Community Service begins on September 12. More information on these programs will be available in the first week of school. While each eighth grader can certainly expect to do a good deal of hard work in classes, we have also planned a number of special group activities. Eighth graders will be taking a trip in the fall and will travel to Camp Arrowhead in the spring for a three-day final 8th grade trip. Due to rising costs, there will be a ski trip planned for one day in February rather than a weekend trip. This change reflects our commitment to equity and access for all.

The eighth grade program is designed to be a challenging one. Its success will be due in large part to each eighth grader assuming the academic and social responsibilities that come with being a "senior" member of our Middle School community. We look forward to your successes. You are an outstanding class!

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