Your Pathways Journey Starts Here

At Goodwin, the Pathways journey begins by building the foundation students will use throughout their education. Students develop academic skills while learning how to communicate, collaborate, problem-solve, be responsible, and contribute to their school community.

A strong sense of belonging is an important part of that foundation. Through shared expectations to Be Safe, Be Kind, and Be Responsible, consistent modeling and reinforcement, and monthly Goodwin Gatherings, students learn what it means to be part of the Old Saybrook community and begin building their identity as a Ram.

Students also have opportunities to discover what interests them through the classroom and experiences in art, music, Spanish, library/media, wellness, physical education, and more. These experiences encourage students to be curious, try new things, and begin recognizing their individual interests and strengths.

The Pathways Connection

At this stage, students aren't choosing a pathway. They're developing the confidence, curiosity, essential skills, and sense of belonging that will allow them to explore their interests more deeply as they progress to Old Saybrook Middle School and Old Saybrook High School.

What Can Students Do Now?

Be curious. Try new things. Ask questions. Participate in specials and school activities. Pay attention to the subjects and experiences you enjoy.

Every experience is an opportunity to learn something new, not only about the world around you, but about yourself.

Middle school is where Pathways exploration really begins.

Students have more opportunities to explore different subjects and experiences through academics, specials, enrichment, community partnerships, and courses such as Robotics, Musical Theater, Personal Finance, Babysitting/Childcare, and Advanced Science.

Students also begin developing greater ownership of their learning through experiences such as student-led conferences and, in Grades 7–8, Naviance interest and strengths assessments.

The goal isn't to decide on a career in middle school. It's to start asking:

What interests me? What am I good at? What would I like to learn more about?

What can you do now?
Try electives and specials that interest you, participate in clubs and activities, take advantage of new experiences, reflect on your strengths, and explore areas that are unfamiliar to you. It's okay for your interests to change—that's part of the process.