Life in the Middle

Dear Middle School Parents & Students,

I trust that you are all settling into the new routines of the school year. I had the pleasure of speaking on Wednesday to a group of prospective students and parents who attended our first open house event of the year at ICS. Parents were asked, “What is one quality you hope ICS nurtures in your child?” The top answer was confidence. It is not surprising to hear that many families and students struggle with this trait. One way to build confidence is to continue developing competence in various areas. Our school offers a wide range of courses and clubs that focus on nurturing the whole person, which will help your child develop competence and, in turn, build their confidence. Please pay special attention to the email you received from Ms. Daniel on Tuesday that describes the Co-Curricular programs being offered in Semester 1. These programs are a great way to explore new topics and interests in a fun and low stress environment. 

As we move forward into this school year, we have our Fall Measures of Academic Performance (MAP) tests coming up on September 11 and 12. These standardized tests help us track both individual performance and overall trends within the school. One important thing to note is that you should not do any extra studying for this test or purchase any software or programs to prepare for MAP testing. The fall MAP test, in particular, helps us understand each student as they are and will guide the instruction they receive within the school. There is no internal benefit to achieving a higher or lower score; we simply ask that you allow your child to take the test and receive the score they earn naturally.

As we continue progressing through this year, I kindly ask that you keep the entire ICS team in your prayers.