Classes Underway at the Middle School

The Saperstein Middle School Campus opened for the first day of classes on Tuesday, September 5. Campus was back to its usual hustle and bustle as students descended upon campus.   

Take Positive Action is the theme of the school year, which is derived from Milken’s Portrait of Graduate. Middle School Principal Limor Dankner noted, “We want our students to go from passive consumers to active solution finders, preparing them for a future that challenges them to tackle real life issues with unclear solutions.” An exciting year lies ahead at the Middle School. Here’s glimpse of some of the programs that are offered and the learning opportunities that they present.

 

Tiyulim is an experiential education program which launches the first week of school. Featuring elements of Jewish engagement, service learning, and community building, the learning experiences are aligned with the Middle School curriculum. Four different itineraries are offered for trips scheduled for March: Washington DC, Northern California, Florida, and Los Angeles. Students will have various opportunities for incredible learning experiences throughout the year.

 

KULAM, the Middle School’s service learning program emphasizes social action. Divided into four areas of service, Environmental Sustainability, Seniors, Literacy for Youth, and Food Justice, students can choose which group to participate in according to which issue resonates the most to them. Each area includes education about the issue, direct service, on campus learning, off campus service, and reflection.

 

The Milken Innovators Expo (MIX) is the culmination of the Middle School X-Learning program, the interdisciplinary design process employed by students to connect their learning to their interests, address real world problems, engage in action, and cultivate their problem-solving skills. Beginning with a problem or issue impacting the world, students examine the causes and what is currently done to address them. After brainstorming, students tackle the problem and design solutions. Students work on their passion projects throughout the year and showcase their X-Learning projects at MIX, held in March. A few notable innovations that have come out of MIX include a concussion helmet, bacteria repellent door handles to minimize spread of infection, and enhanced insulin delivery system. A community building event, MIX engages experts, innovators, and entrepreneurs to share their stories and give students feedback on their projects.

 

Last week, students returned to campus for a two-day orientation and a preview day of their classes. Afterward, they traveled to Camp Milken, an overnight team-building retreat. Held at Camp Hess Kramer, Camp Milken launches lays the foundation for all of the Middle School programs. Activities such as a boat build, high and low ropes challenge courses, and a talent show, help students to work collaboratively and help them bond with each other and with faculty.

 

More than 100 returning and new Middle School parents attended the Welcome Breakfast on Thursday, August 31. Parents bonded over a delicious breakfast and gourmet coffee bar. Head of School Gary Weisserman welcomed everyone to the event and kicked off the year. Focusing on building community, he gave everyone the assignment to meet one other person that morning and make plans to see each other again. Nathan Humphreys, the director of operations and campus safety, thanked everyone for their patience at the carpool pick-up and drop-off. Middle School Principal Limor Dankner welcomed parents and spoke about Camp Milken. Milken Parent Association (MPA) Vice Presidents Debra Siegel and Cheri Karubian, explained how parents can get involved in the MPA and invited everyone to the Annual MPA meeting on September 13, where they will learn how to use their smartphones to stay connected with Milken. Administrators were on hand to greet everyone and answer any questions parents had. The breakfast was a big success as new families were welcomed into the Milken community, established families were welcomed back, and everyone was excited for the new school year.

Danker and Middle School Assistant Principal Chris Scarlata shared their feelings about the first day of school. Danker commented, “Firsts are amazing, firsts are fresh. They represent all the potential in the world. That’s what makes the first day so exciting. A new group of seventh graders represents all that we can accomplish as a community.I challenge them on the first day to discover who they are and use these two years to engage in exploration and discovery to make connections and discover their passions and connect with people they never thought they’d connect with.”

 

Scarlata remarked, “It is exciting to see our seventh graders step on campus for the first time and see them connect with that first person on campus that day. I love to see the eighth graders come back and reunite.”