The upper school at MSW (grades 4-6) builds upon the the experiential based learning in the lower grades. Teachers in our upper school work closer with students to prepare them for a strong middle school transition. Our teachers are empowered to build their our own unique MSW Curriculum building on the foundational skills learned in lower school and aligned with Common Core standards meeting or exceeding state and national standard. Our science curriculum is built on the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) which has become the foundation for all modern science education. In mathematics, Common Core standards are pursued in a way that embraces collaboration, Singapore mathematics, and learning through engagement making our math curriculum unique to MSW.

The Upper School at the Mountain School at Winhall is focused on fostering a sense of creativity, curiosity, and kindness for students that will lead them onto a successful path as lifelong learners.

Curriculum

The curriculum, small class sizes, and student support at the Mountain School allows for its teachers to focus on meeting the needs of each student while also creating a thematic, and often interdisciplinary, approach to learning. At any given time it is not uncommon for students to be learning about topics that they engage in through different lenses in history, science, STEAM, or mathematics.

The Upper School curriculum also integrates a heavy focus on building literacy skills and all teachers at MSW are trained in the Penn Literacy Network or PLN approach to integrating literacy into their classrooms. We believe that strong reading and writing skills are a foundation for a student's success in their future academics and we are committed to developing these skills at our school.

Thematic Learning

Our thematic learning approach helps students make connections between their different courses and is an instrumental component of building student interest and giving them the choices they need to be successful.

Google Classroom

All students in the upper school rely on Google Classroom for their assignments and curriculum. Our teachers empower each student to learn to own their learning, building accountability for assignments, and to advocate for themselves in order to prepare them for their academic career after MSW.

UPPER SCHOOL