Middle School Course Plans

7^th grade

• Language Arts – Literature 7
• Language Arts – Grammar and Composition 7
• American History
• Math 7 or Pre-Algebra
• Life Science
• Enrichment Program (Art, Band, Chorus, Latin, Introduction to Spanish, French, German)
• PE
• Middle School Leadership Initiative  

 8^th grade

• Language Arts – Literature 8
• Language Arts – Grammar and Composition 8
• Civics, World Cultures
• Pre-Algebra or Algebra 1
• Earth Science
• Enrichment Program (Art, Band, Chorus, Latin, Introduction to Spanish, French, German)
• PE
• Middle School Leadership Initiative  

Middle School Leadership Initiative

All cadets are leaders.  It’s only a matter of where each individual is on his or her personal journey to leadership development.

 The goal of the Middle School Leadership Initiative (MSLI) is to teach seventh and eighth grade cadets how to think like leaders while developing young citizens who are confident, capable, and community-minded.

 Many people think that middle school students are too young for leadership, focusing entirely on teaching students in this age group how to be good followers. While it’s true that good leaders must also be good followers, the MSLI is founded on the idea that seventh and eighth grade cadets are capable of leading their peers, as well as themselves. Discussion topics include:

• character development;
• being a good follower and a dynamic subordinate leader; 
• setting and achieving personal goals;
• problem solving;
• peer leadership and bystander intervention;
• emotional intelligence (to include impulse control); and
• conflict resolution with  an emphasis on respect for self and others.

The Middle School Leadership Initiative engenders a culture of youth leadership.  In the MSLI, cadets learn not to expect down-directional philosophies of leadership, for the journey of true leadership begins with self-knowledge, discipline, and the confidence to support and inspire peers.