Middle School Intensive Learning Spotlight: Grade 8

Eighth grade students enjoyed a mix of the outdoors and service during their week of Intensive Learning in late March.

The week was highlighted by a three-day camping trip to YMCA Camp Mason in Hardwick, NJ, from March 28-30, during which students enjoyed lots of adventure which included hiking, team-building activities, high-rope challenges, and plenty of recreation and fun. This was their first school overnight trip in four years. Students enjoyed getting to spend extended time with each other in mixed groups and really leaned into building their friendships and making memories. 

The week kicked off for all Middle School students on March 24 with the Middle School Day of Service. On March 27, students experienced a walking tour of historic Philadelphia which built on their studies in 8th Grade History classes. The week concluded on March 31 with the Middle School Service Carnival during which students raised money for a charity of their choosing while playing home-made carnival games. 

This is one in a series of 2023 Intensive Learning Spotlights. For one week each March, regular classes are suspended for “Intensive Learning,” when Middle and Upper School students and teachers engage in an in-depth study of a specific subject, often involving off-campus research. This long-standing MFS tradition — which dates back to the mid 1970s — allows teachers and students to break out of the structure of formal class periods and traditional study for a time of experiential learning. Both students and teachers are encouraged to view themselves as life-long learners and students of the world around them.