Middle & Upper | Overview | WIS
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Middle and Upper Overview

IN THIS SECTION

MIDDLE SCHOOL

In Grades 6-8, the curriculum aims to provide the discipline, standards, skills, creativity, and flexibility to aid a student’s growth toward self-awareness, self-reliance, and responsible participation in a diverse society. Students take seven core subjects (technology skills are integrated into these courses and enhanced through the 1:1 iPad program) and one elective. The seven core subjects are: English; second language (French or Spanish); mathematics; science; humanities (history and geography combined); physical education/health; and arts (visual art/music). Differentiated instruction takes place in each classroom.

 

GRADES 6 TO 10

WIS has created six curricular blocks to structure overarching learning outcomes within the Middle School and onward through Grades 9 and 10. These blocks build student capacities in key areas, facilitating their academic, social, and personal growth.

INQUIRE
Research Skills: Developing information and media literacy
THINK
Thinking Skills: thinking critically, inventing, and transferring
COMMUNICATE

Communication Skills: exchanging thoughts, messages, and information effectively through interaction
MAKE
Maker Skills: Developing a sensitivity to design, understanding themselves as makers of change
IMPACT
Social Skills: working empathetically and effectively with others
GROW
Self-Management Skills: self-regulating and reflecting

HOUSES

The Middle School House system was founded in 2017, to fulfill four key goals:

  • To build positive inter-grade relationships;
  • To provide a sense of belonging and connection;
  • To shape positive behavior through healthy competition and House identity; and
  • To foster student leadership.

As appropriate to an international school, the House names are taken from world languages:

HOUSE NAME ORIGIN LANGUAGE MEANING
Kanna Icelandic Explore
Mahi Tahi Maori Collaborative
Berani Malaysian Courage to Act
Wachifundo Chichewa Empathy
Radošs Latvian Creative
Azim Turkish

Perserverance

Two students holding up a skull and crossbones flag

WIS students working on laptops in a class
SELF-AWARENESS, SELF-RELIANCE, AND RESPONSIBLE PARTICIPATION IN A DIVERSE SOCIETY.

UPPER SCHOOL

Students in Grades 9-10 take six core subjects as well as two elective courses chosen from an array of options.

The six core subjects are:

  • English;
  • Second Language (French, or Spanish);
  • Mathematics;
  • Science (students choose two among biology, chemistry and physics but have the option to take a third science);
  • Social Science (three semesters of history and one of geography are required, with an option to take a full year of geography in Grade 10);
  • Physical Education / Life Skills.

Students must also take two semesters in the arts as part of the graduation requirement.

The Grade 10 Project allows for independent exploration of a topic of personal interest. It may be an artistic production, an original design, or another means of expression. Students set a learning goal and, with the guidance of a faculty mentor, develop a realistic plan for achieving that goal.
 

MIDDLE AND UPPER SCHOOLS CURRICULUM

The IB Diploma Program (DP) | Grades 11 & 12

The IB Diploma Program (DP) is the challenging university preparatory curriculum undertaken by all WIS Grades 11 and 12 students. A comprehensive and intellectually stimulating course of study, the DP is recognized by colleges and universities throughout the world. Students select six subjects: English, one or two other languages, and at least one course each in mathematics, experimental science, and social science. Arts courses are also available. Three courses are taken at Higher Level and three at Standard Level, allowing students to pursue advanced work of particular interest.

In addition to the course requirements, IB Diploma candidates must take a Theory of Knowledge course — a critical thinking and philosophy seminar — and engage in an intensive research investigation culminating in a 4,000-word essay. Students also complete a minimum of 60 hours of volunteer community service, choosing the activities and evaluating themselves, as part of a Creativity-Activity-Service component.

At the end of Grade 12, IB Diploma candidates complete a three-week battery of oral and written examinations in all of their Diploma subjects. Exams are prepared and externally graded under the supervision of the International Baccalaureate Organization; high scores may afford graduates university credit for their high school work.

 

2024 DP RESULTS:
A SNAPSHOT

 

34
 WIS Average (World 30.3)
94.2%
 Four-Year Average Candidate Pass Rate (World 83.7%)
64%
 Bilingual Diplomas (World 27%)
5.28
 Average Subject Score (World 4.9)
38.3%
 WIS Percent 6s and 7s

MIDDLE AND UPPER SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAMS

Randy Althaus

MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

Kristin Gilliland

MIDDLE SCHOOL ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

Zarmina Hotaki

UPPER SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

Elke Gannon

GRADES 11 & 12 ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AND IB DP COORDINATOR

Anne Leflot

GRADES 9 AND 10 ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

Carole Geneix

GRADES 6-12 DIRECTOR OF TEACHING AND LEARNING

ASSESSMENT

At WIS, we believe assessment practices need to be rigorous, diverse, and research-based. We believe the goal of assessment is to gather valuable information about teaching and learning, in order to support students and to inform instruction. WIS meaningfully assesses its students and curriculum using multiple measures, such as portfolios, observations, conferences, reading inventories, and report cards.

In addition to assessment measures used throughout the school, WIS students take standardized tests at several points during their educational journey.

WIS administers the ERB test to students in Grades 6 to 8 in order to:

  • inform teaching/instruction
  • help understand a student’s learning profile and support students’ growth
  • give students experience with taking a standardized test
  • provide parents with an external academic assessment of their children

In Grades 10 and 11, students have additional opportunities for standardized test preparation. WIS offers the PSAT (Preliminary SAT) and practice ACT to help students prepare for college admissions. The school also offers Advancement Placement (AP) tests in certain languages. At the conclusion of their Grades 11–12 IB Diploma Program, Grade 12 students participate in a series of exams over a three-week period.

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