Middle school

The Middle School Section operates under an agreement signed with CNED (Centre National d’Enseignement à Distance – National French distance-learning Center). Students are taught by French or French-speaking teachers in all subjects. Providing course materials, grading paper tests are carried out in France by CNED teachers. Students take the Junior School Certificate at the end of Grade 9. In 2016-2017, the average enrollment is 7 students per class in Middle School.

Curriculum :

French Language Arts and Literature: Students learn to express themselves correctly and clearly, verbally and in writing, to read and analyze literary works and texts of all kinds, to develop reasoning and argument skills, to structure their thinking. They develop their imagination, their tastes, their culture and acquire the first elements of knowledge of humanities.

Mathematics: Developing capacities of reasoning, imagination and critical analysis, laying the essential foundations of a mathematical culture. Through problem solving, students learn to identify and formulate questions, make hypotheses and experiment with examples, build an argument, monitor results by evaluating their relevance, communicate an item of research and shape a solution.

Foreign Language: Students develop their communication skills, especially orally, which is essential for travelling and working in France and around the world. Students become aware of the similarities and differences that exist between their own culture and the one of the language they study and thus learn to change their views on both. Six levels of competence of increasing difficulty are set for all foreign languages, within a European framework.

Discovering the world: Building cultural references to better situate oneself in time, in space and in a system of democratic values, and become responsible citizens. In history, students acquire a common culture. They become aware of the legacies of the past and the issues of the present world. In geography, students develop their curiosity and knowledge of the world. They learn the landmarks necessary to develop using critical thinking. In Civics, they prepare to behave responsibly. They also acquire the essential knowledge to understand and prepare for citizenship.

Physics – Chemistry: Acquiring the basics of a scientific culture in different fields of physics and chemistry. By relying first and foremost on experimentation, students acquire the first scientific notions about matter, light, electricity and gravitation. They develop their sense of observation, curiosity, critical thinking and interest in scientific and technical progress.

Life and Earth Sciences: Acquiring essential elements of scientific culture to understand the functioning of the human body, the living world, the Earth and the natural environment. Students observe phenomena or living organisms, ask questions, formulate hypotheses, and carry out research and experiments: they are thus initiated into the scientific process. They are also aware of the importance of safety rules, respect for others and the need for everyone to feel responsible for the environment and for health.

Technology: Understanding the technical world by using empirical process. Students acquire methods and knowledge to understand the functioning of technical objects, made by humanity to meet its needs. They analyze their design and construction, situate innovations in the chronology of discoveries and inventions. They also study the impact of these technical objects and of their transformations on society and environment.

Art and Music: Improving the ability to observe art pieces and to practice an artistic activity. Students discover, through the analysis of works of art, the diversity of genres and styles and periods. They gradually develop the taste for personal expression and creation, understand the process of creation in music, art, architecture, in the field of images.

Physical and sports education: Acquiring new physical capacities at a time when the body is transforming. In Middle School, students move from pre-adolescence to adolescence: they experience major physical and psychological transformations. To gain a positive image of themselves and feel the well-being of self-confidence, they learn to engage in projects, acquiring different methods. They also assume responsibilities and gradually assimilate essential rules.

History of Arts: Acquiring a common artistic culture. Students discover major art works of different domains and periods, and of different civilizations. They understand that these vestiges are the legacies of past cultures: they grasp their meaning and enrich their sensitivity.

Computers and Internet: All teachers contribute to training students in using computers and the Internet. Computer and Internet Certificate (B2i) certifies the level of mastery of multimedia tools and the Internet. Five main areas are addressed: working in a computer environment, demonstrating a responsible attitude, creating, producing, processing, exploiting data, learning, searching, communicating and exchanging information. The student gets his/her B2i when he/she has validated 80% of the required skills. The B2i counts for the Junior School Certificate.