Middle Schoolers are brimming with energy and exuberance. Their curiosity is contagious. They have a deep sense of wonder and are excited for this journey to the future.
The Journey Begins in Middle School
Lizzie Rogal Head of Middle School
At Crystal, we encourage Middle Schoolers to be truly themselves By giving them a space of their very own, we encourage Middle Schoolers to be themselves. We understand that in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades, the best learning happens when students’ social and emotional needs are being met.
Our teachers open doors to a whole new world The Middle School team develops curriculum and experiences designed for a middle school student, allowing them to forge a deeper understanding of subject content and greater engagement with their peers and teachers. From an egg drop and Rube Goldberg Machine Contest to learning about inertia and energy transfer, our approach to learning enhances our students’ natural curiosity.
Skills and Content The team of Middle School teachers works to develop both subject-specific content knowledge while also teaching fundamental study and organization skills. The Middle School program encourages students to explore all the academic disciplines. In this way, the scientist discovers a passion for French and the historian masters the quadratic formula. After three years in the middle school, our students are fully prepared for the challenges of high school.
And rather than Or At Crystal, the middle school schedule allows students to be scholars, athletes and artists. We not only encourage students to delve into all three realms, we require them to do so through the fine arts rotation program and the athletics/PE period which is built into the school day. Our students discover that they are capable of learning and achieving more than they ever imagined. They discover they can be a star on the stage and a star athlete as well.
Teaching with technology rather than about technology With a 1:1 iPad program and mobile laptop carts, our students have access to powerful learning tools. Our faculty work with the Technology Integrator to use these devices as a platform for innovation in each discipline.
MS English teacher Tom Diggs gave an inspiring dramaturgical presentation for The Wizard of Oz’s cast and crew. Mr. Diggs showed students how understanding the historical context, authorial intent, and intellectual themes becomes a tool for unlocking creativity and deepening one’s personal connection to the show in the video above.
In January 2021, The Crystal community came together virtually for the annual MLK celebration, which included students, PAC members, and families learning about the history and legacy of King’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech.
Each year students in both divisions can invite two adults to join them for a day of classes at Crystal. It's our version of Willy Wonka with a lot less sugar and a lot more learning! Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbors, and friends...
The Middle School takes its fun seriously! Every Wednesday, students take part in a club or PoP activity during the day. The Dessert Decorating PoP completed its first home-based project with a Cookie Monster cupcake contest. Cookie Monster would be proud...and hungry.
After studying the work of British artist, Andrew Goldsworthy, Perry Meigs' 6th grade visual art students created Nature Art Installations using materials found in their backyards to celebrate Earth Day.
Middle School students assembled early on November 18, to walk in support of "Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day," an event that celebrates the courageous actions of a young African American girl who was a trailblazer for school integration and inclusion.
Middle School Students continued an annual tradition of participating in a community service-learning project, “Treats for Troops,” celebrating Veterans Day. Project leader Rohan D '25 writes, "I started this project five years ago. Our school partnered with 'America Supporting Americans'...
Our back-to-school Curriculum Nights 2020 were historic for being on Zoom, and we've officially opened the school year with enthusiasm, optimism, and a lot of preparation over the summer for a robust Distance Learning Program. Hear more about Celebrating Scholarship in these videos shown during the Middle School and Upper School Curriculum Nights.
While we shelter in place during these challenging times, school is in session with all classes and advisories following a regular daily schedule. So far, so good. We're managing glitches and adjusting to the new temporary normal well.
Learning from home can have its advantages, especially when students are given the task to build something complex from scratch. Eighth grade science teacher Rob Kashima explained the project, "A Rube Goldberg Machine is an overly complicated machine...
On February 24, Upper School librarian Jess Garman and six seniors brought Crystal’s first Human Library to the Middle School campus. Instead of checking out books, students were able to select people from different backgrounds as their “books” and learn more about their personal stories.
Rob Kashima's 8th grade science class demonstrated chemical reactions for a 6th grade audience. The 8th graders had to explain how the chemical reaction worked in language that could be understood by a 6th grader, thereby highlighting their own understanding of the process.
The seventh grade history class has started a unit on the Maya Civilization. History teacher Melanie Ramsey explains: “There is a tiny rainforest in the room to represent the environment of the Maya and to help students understand the impact of the environment...
Congratulations to Crystal's Middle School Robotics team which participated in the First Lego League Competition on November 10. Competing against 15 other teams, they won the Innovation Project Award for their water conservation design.
Over the course of the school year, each grade level in the Middle School will experience three Human Development Days. For example, the 8th grade ventured off campus in early October to work at community partners Glide Memorial Church, Samaritan House...
Eighth graders are learning about "States of Matter" this fall, including through a Sublimation Lab with everyone's favorite spooky Halloween accessory, dry ice. Students donned gloves and goggles to handle the dry ice safely.
Middle schoolers Eliza L '25 and Rohan S '25 collaborated on a colorful poster to publicize International Walk and Bike to School Day on October 2, 2019. Their creation was one of five images to win the San Mateo County Office Education's poster contest and will be circulated throughout the county to promote the event.
After the Clubs Fair, the entire Middle School student body left for the weekend energized by all the cool ways they will be able to spend their clubs period every other week. Clubs time will alternate with Pursuit of Passion (PoP) time every week so students are sure to have exposure to and time with something that gives them joy.
The PoP (Pursuit of Passion) fair at the Middle School ended the first full week of classes with a bang. Students delighted in exploring the teacher-led options that ranged from origami to bike riding to math to photography, just to name a few. Excitement filled the air in Expansion Hall as teachers shared their hobbies and ways of de-stressing with students.
Nondiscriminatory Policy: Crystal Springs Uplands School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.