Middle School (Grades 6-8) - Jewish Day School
Source: https://jds.org/philosophy/middle-school-grades-6-8
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:24
Middle School (Grades 6-8) - Jewish Day School
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program: middle school (6-8)
Developing deep thinkers and
proactive upstanders
As students grow out of childhood and into their teenage years, life becomes more exciting—and occasionally more tumultuous. We’ve designed the JDS middle school program precisely for this crucial period of transition. By challenging and supporting your child in equal measure, in all aspects of their development, we ensure they’re fully prepared academically, emotionally, socially, and ethically for high school and beyond.
This intensive, wide-ranging, inquiry-based program consists of...
Core academics
Preparing your child for the challenges of high school from day one, our core academic curriculum includes:
Language Arts
Math
Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM)
Social Studies
Judaic Studies
Hebrew
Advisory
Student Council
PE
8th Grade Capstone Trip
Electives
To further deepen their passions and expand their leadership skills, your child can also choose from an exciting range of electives, such as:
3D Printing and Design
Architecture
Art
Astronomy
Business and Economics
Computer Programming
Drawing and Cartooning
Fashion Design
Green Leadership Team
Music
Playwriting
Pottery
Robotics
Yearbook
…and more
Solutions in Science
The Solutions in Science program empowers students to explore innovative solutions to pressing environmental and social challenges. Learners research how these solutions work, the problems they address, and their connections to the Pacific Northwest, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and Jewish values. They also identify simple, actionable steps that communities can take to support these solutions.
This year, projects span five key areas: conservation, waste reduction, community resilience, renewable energy, and sustainable living. Each project offers impactful solutions and inspires action, fostering positive change locally and globally.
Jewish Life and Learning
As your child moves into their teenage years, our Jewish Studies program prepares them to think and act as confident leaders and upstanders. The curriculum focuses on two key areas: “Jewmanities,” which integrates Jewish Social Studies and related Jewish texts, and Hebrew language instruction. Highlights include:
6th Grade: No Profit in Prophecy
Students learn the ten parts of a book of prophecy in the Hebrew Bible. Students then choose a modern problem, like bullying or climate change, and write their own book of prophecy.
7th Grade: Jewish Court of All Time (JCAT)
In this web-based educational simulation, students take on a persona and debate a timely issue from Jewish history—practicing research skills, higher order thinking, and considering multiple perspectives.
8th Grade: Choosing Life: Rescue and Resistance during the Shoah
The 8th grade Holocaust unit focuses on those who fought back, spiritually and physically, against the Nazis. Students find inspiration and assurance that one person can indeed make a difference.
See the
complete guide
to Jewish Life and Learning at JDS.
ADVISORY
Based on the principles of Responsive Classroom, our middle school educators have created a comprehensive program to help meet students’ academic needs, build community, and provide a safe space to develop strong relationships and social skills. Advisory meetings include:
Mixed advisory:
Students meet with their advisor in a small multiage group once a week.
Grade-level meeting:
Each grade meets with two teachers once a week.
All-middle school meeting:
The entire student body and faculty gather three times a week.
Learning Resource Center
Because we recognize and value individual learning styles and profiles, our Learning Resource Center provides learning specialists who consult with teaching teams and parents, and support students as they strive to reach their academic potential.
PE and Athletics
The middle school PE program strengthens students’ confidence, teamwork, and health. We include strength and cardiovascular exercises in each class, and focus on improving skills in running, throwing, kicking, balance, and striking. This skills lead to small- and larger-sized games of soccer, volleyball, basketball, gymnastics, and speedball.
Our goal is to provide experiences that allow every student at every level of skill and confidence to succeed. As we challenge students to progress in a range of activities, we grade them on their own personal improvement.
In middle school, we also offer competitive athletics, allowing all players to improve their skills while experiencing the joys and challenges of teamwork. Our coaches help students build strength and conditioning while learning sportsmanship. We currently offer coed volleyball in the fall and coed basketball in the winter.
Skip to content
program: middle school (6-8)
Developing deep thinkers and
proactive upstanders
As students grow out of childhood and into their teenage years, life becomes more exciting—and occasionally more tumultuous. We’ve designed the JDS middle school program precisely for this crucial period of transition. By challenging and supporting your child in equal measure, in all aspects of their development, we ensure they’re fully prepared academically, emotionally, socially, and ethically for high school and beyond.
This intensive, wide-ranging, inquiry-based program consists of...
Core academics
Preparing your child for the challenges of high school from day one, our core academic curriculum includes:
Language Arts
Math
Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM)
Social Studies
Judaic Studies
Hebrew
Advisory
Student Council
PE
8th Grade Capstone Trip
Electives
To further deepen their passions and expand their leadership skills, your child can also choose from an exciting range of electives, such as:
3D Printing and Design
Architecture
Art
Astronomy
Business and Economics
Computer Programming
Drawing and Cartooning
Fashion Design
Green Leadership Team
Music
Playwriting
Pottery
Robotics
Yearbook
…and more
Solutions in Science
The Solutions in Science program empowers students to explore innovative solutions to pressing environmental and social challenges. Learners research how these solutions work, the problems they address, and their connections to the Pacific Northwest, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and Jewish values. They also identify simple, actionable steps that communities can take to support these solutions.
This year, projects span five key areas: conservation, waste reduction, community resilience, renewable energy, and sustainable living. Each project offers impactful solutions and inspires action, fostering positive change locally and globally.
Jewish Life and Learning
As your child moves into their teenage years, our Jewish Studies program prepares them to think and act as confident leaders and upstanders. The curriculum focuses on two key areas: “Jewmanities,” which integrates Jewish Social Studies and related Jewish texts, and Hebrew language instruction. Highlights include:
6th Grade: No Profit in Prophecy
Students learn the ten parts of a book of prophecy in the Hebrew Bible. Students then choose a modern problem, like bullying or climate change, and write their own book of prophecy.
7th Grade: Jewish Court of All Time (JCAT)
In this web-based educational simulation, students take on a persona and debate a timely issue from Jewish history—practicing research skills, higher order thinking, and considering multiple perspectives.
8th Grade: Choosing Life: Rescue and Resistance during the Shoah
The 8th grade Holocaust unit focuses on those who fought back, spiritually and physically, against the Nazis. Students find inspiration and assurance that one person can indeed make a difference.
See the
complete guide
to Jewish Life and Learning at JDS.
ADVISORY
Based on the principles of Responsive Classroom, our middle school educators have created a comprehensive program to help meet students’ academic needs, build community, and provide a safe space to develop strong relationships and social skills. Advisory meetings include:
Mixed advisory:
Students meet with their advisor in a small multiage group once a week.
Grade-level meeting:
Each grade meets with two teachers once a week.
All-middle school meeting:
The entire student body and faculty gather three times a week.
Learning Resource Center
Because we recognize and value individual learning styles and profiles, our Learning Resource Center provides learning specialists who consult with teaching teams and parents, and support students as they strive to reach their academic potential.
PE and Athletics
The middle school PE program strengthens students’ confidence, teamwork, and health. We include strength and cardiovascular exercises in each class, and focus on improving skills in running, throwing, kicking, balance, and striking. This skills lead to small- and larger-sized games of soccer, volleyball, basketball, gymnastics, and speedball.
Our goal is to provide experiences that allow every student at every level of skill and confidence to succeed. As we challenge students to progress in a range of activities, we grade them on their own personal improvement.
In middle school, we also offer competitive athletics, allowing all players to improve their skills while experiencing the joys and challenges of teamwork. Our coaches help students build strength and conditioning while learning sportsmanship. We currently offer coed volleyball in the fall and coed basketball in the winter.