Cascadia Middle School
Cascadia Middle School was founded in the fall of 2000 to extend the tradition of excellence and innovation in education for the seventh and eighth grade students of Cascadia Montessori School. Interested students from other schools are also encouraged to apply for seventh or eighth grade placements. Cascadia Middle School provides a supportive, personalized educational environment for seventh and eighth grade students by recognizing the inherent value of each child’s individuality and intelligence. Our vigorous academic program encourages each student to challenge him or herself intellectually in every subject area while developing a strong sense of self and community with peers and teachers.
Maria Montessori passed away before her visionary method of education for middle school students was completed. A guiding principle of her writings was her recognition of how students at this stage of human development learn best with an unconfined approach to learning. She projected a farm environment for adolescents where life and academics would blend as children crossed the bridge to adult life. At Cascadia Middle School, we are adapting this philosophy to 21st century life and culture by providing a sheltering place for adolescents to progress academically within a small student population. We are strongly committed to maintaining a classroom environment that is most compatible with the emerging capabilities of early adolescents: effective communication, cooperative work, developing trust, and making and keeping commitments.
Contemporary research has shown that high school students achieve best when their rapidly changing sense of self has occurred within a small, supporting group of peers. Our 8th grade graduates have reported similar experiences at the high school level, where they have excelled academically and formed new friendships with peers and teachers. Many of our graduates have credited the respectful social setting at Cascadia Middle School and our challenging academic program for their continuing success at the high school level.
Cascadia Middle School gives careful attention to Washington State academic standards and to the particular course of study that is required in our local school district and other public and private high school programs. Standardized tests are also given annually as required for the State of Washington. Cascadia Middle School students have largely developed their own intrinsic motivation for learning through their previous Montessori experiences, and are exposed to various forms of testing and assessment in our middle school in order to prepare them for the more traditional high school and college years. Study skills, testing skills and self awareness of individual learning styles and strengths are encouraged and taught in context with other subjects.
The Cascadia Middle School curriculum provides a broad, in depth exploration of life, science and culture. The student schedule of classes (please refer to enclosed schedule) helps individual students understand the overall academic framework on a daily and weekly basis while providing faculty members with unlimited opportunities to extend particular experiences and / or make connections with other classes as they see fit. Relevant student experiences outside the classroom are also encouraged and organized on an ongoing basis (environmental studies, gardening, community based research and service activities, interaction with regional arts organizations, physical education, and other experiences).
At Cascadia Middle School, seventh and eighth grade students have unlimited opportunities to participate in meaningful work within the context of interdependence and classroom community. Our middle school students are embarking on a two-year adventure in learning and personal growth. Their emerging sense of self confidence and self awareness will become an integral part of their developing personality and adult life.