Middle School at Wheeler
A lot changes for students while they are “in the middle” of childhood and adolescence.
During that time, Wheeler helps each student build academic skill sets and curiosity to create a foundation for high school.
Parallel to academics, we understand adolescents want answers to their questions about themselves, the world and their place in it. And in ways that are safe for risk-taking and growth.
Our Goal
Success in the twin pursuits of academic and individual growth during the Middle School years (Grades 6-8) comes down to students expressing their curiosity, asking great questions, and then figuring out the ways to find the answers. These keys to success for adolescents are also the keys to preparation for high school and for lifelong learning; they may not realize it yet! Wheeler also recognizes that—in our rapidly changing times—the definition of a “classroom” is evolving. Today’s classrooms are now centers of collaboration, design, imagination, and production.
Our Faculty
The organization and temperament of our Middle School faculty ensure that we get to know our students. Advisors meet with their student groups daily and often more than once a day. Because much of each school day is spent with students in class, advisor periods, field trips, lunch, recess and at times on athletic teams, Wheeler teachers learn much about your student’s individual, social, and academic life. Advisors are organized into grade-level faculty teams and meet weekly to discuss, among other things, the academic as well as the social-emotional progress of your child.
Our Curriculum
Besides getting to know their students well, teachers also design rich, innovative curricula and programs in the humanities, STEM, and arts to tap into a student’s natural curiosity, need to learn something relevant and the desire to direct her/his/their own learning. A Wheeler Middle School classroom is often productively noisy as students wrestle with a problem or design a solution. Sometimes we employ technology; other times we don’t. Sometimes we read contemporary authors; other times the classics. And, sometimes the classroom is a theater like Trinity Rep or a multi-dimensional Providence neighborhood, the Wheeler Farm, a gallery on our own campus or at the Rhode Island School of Design, or science labs either at Brown University or our own Hirsch/Alperin Design-Innovate-Build Lab. Combined with the vigorous foundation of habits of mind and heart that we foster in our daily classroom instruction, each student moves on to Upper School with an intellectual foundation for upper-level scholarship, adventures, and achievements.
To You, The Student
At Wheeler’s Middle School, we understand that you make many decisions as you progress from leaving elementary school to preparing for high school in a few short years. Our teachers help you take risks, fail (i.e., try again), and succeed in building a strong academic foundation while fostering your social and emotional growth. You are asking questions of yourself, friends, family, and the world at this time in your life. We are here to help you learn how to find the answers by finding your own strengths and styles of learning. It is somewhat cliche to talk about “finding your voice” at this stage in one’s life, but at Wheeler, we believe that it is by building confidence, empathy, resilience, and friendship that your voice can be heard.
Contact Head of Middle School Vanessa O’Driscoll
Middle School Administration
See Our Stories
Today’s fall weather has us looking forward to Homecoming Weekend at Wheeler! 🍂Thank you to Director of Alumni Engagement Danielle Kachapis P’28 for walking us through all of the upcoming activities, from Friday’s Pep Rally to Saturday’s Fall Fest!
Of course, there’s even more happening at Wheeler this week. You can see some of the highlights in the list below. Please see last week’s e-newsletter, other relevant messages, or the calendar in the portal for more details.
TUESDAY:
– Upper School Conversations with Neeltje and Abraham
FRIDAY:
– Nest Family Engagement, Walk, Talk, and Discover: Facilitating Child-Led Inquiry
– Homecoming Weekend
🍂 Alumni Career Roundtables
🍂 Pep Rally
🍂 Friday Night Lights at Wheeler Farm, featuring Girls Varsity Soccer at 4:30pm and Boys Varsity Soccer starting at 6:30pm
SATURDAY:
Homecoming Weekend:
🍂 Fall Fest
🍂 Middle School Soccer Tournament
🍂 Fun Run
🍂 Wheeler Pop-Up Shop
🍂 Wheeler Community Pickleball Games
🍂 Girls Field Hockey at 1pm at Wheeler Farm
🍂 Upper School Homecoming Dance: “Under the Sea”
🍂 Wheler Family Association Presents: Upper School Parent and Guardian Social
We hope to see you at Homecoming on Friday and Saturday. In the meantime, enjoy this beautiful end to the weekend, and we’ll see everyone back at Wheeler tomorrow!
Oct 18
From broadcasting over the air, to dancing on the turf, and chatting about championship Robotics, we’re having a wonderful time with all of our very special visitors at today’s Fall Open House!
We’ll be here to welcome prospective K-12 families until noon today – and if you can’t make it to this morning’s event, we’d still love to show you around school and share a bit about what makes Wheeler such a great place and community. Just reach out to enrollment@wheelerschool.org to schedule a tour.
And thank you to all of the members of our Wheeler community (some pictured in this post) who are here this morning to do just that! 💜 💛
Oct 17
Seventh-graders recently spent the day at Colt State Park for their Middle School retreat, taking part in activities focused on teamwork, community, and belonging. Middle School Counselor and Wellness Educator Claude Michelle Oliveira captured the day in a video recap, highlighting moments and connections that made the retreat special. ✨
Throughout the day, students worked together to solve challenges, shared their ideas, and explored the importance of listening to and respecting different perspectives. The activities encouraged communication, leadership, and an understanding of what it means to be part of an inclusive community where everyone feels valued, heard, and connected. Students also had time for personal reflection, writing letters to themselves about their experiences as 7th-graders and placing them in their class time capsule to be opened in 8th grade. 💌
“Watching the students connect, laugh, and enjoy themselves was a highlight for me,” said Ms. Oliveira. “The ‘Cross the Line’ activity was especially meaningful because it helped students see how many experiences and feelings they share. It was a great opportunity to build empathy and remind them that they’re not alone. I love how these shared experiences support our students’ health and well-being by giving them opportunities to move, connect, and feel a sense of belonging. There were so many moments of joy and teamwork, and I wanted to capture a little of bit of that for our school community.”
Oct 16
We can’t wait to welcome prospective K-12 families to Saturday’s Open House! Student ambassadors Lily B. ’27, Elle D. ’28, and Shep H. ’27 will be there, as will Danielle Fluehr and Sindy Gomez from our Enrollment team…and they’re also our special guests on the latest episode of the “This Week at Wheeler Podcast!”
We talk with them about Open House, and about what makes Wheeler such a great school, from the strong community (Shep) to the expansive opportunities and caring teachers (Elle), to the inclusive athletics and warm environment (Lily).
As Ms. Gomez said on the show, “At Open House, you’ll be able to see all the great work that happens here. Open House is about more than opening the doors [to Wheeler], it’s a celebration of who we are.” 🎉 💜 💛
We’re excited to open the doors for you tomorrow from 9am to 12pm on our Providence campus. If you haven’t registered yet, it’s not too late – just head to wheelerschool.org/events for more information and to sign up.
In the meantime, listen to the podcast at bit.ly/Wheeler-Open-House. Our conversation with Lily, Elle, Shep, Ms. Fluehr, and Ms. Gomez begins at the 9:11 mark.
Oct 16
