The philosophy of EDS is to have as many parents volunteering in the classrooms as possible, in the hope of creating a learning environment that is developmental and to provide multiple learning opportunities to each student at their level of need. It is an expectation that this continues through a student’s entire education, Kindergarten through Eighth Grade, while enrolled at EDS.
EDS Middle School Students have a seven period day beginning with an Advisory Period. Because of the size of the program and the focus on integration of curriculum across subject areas, students will often spend more than one period with the same teacher. The following classes are required for all students:
Reading Mathematics Language Arts
Science Social Science *Elective
Physical Education
*Electives:
Students may choose either a year-long elective or are placed in a trimester elective wheel. Priority for selecting electives is given to 8th graders first followed by seventh and then sixth graders. Electives meet everyday each week.
Elective choices for the School Year include:
Band (full year)
Orchestra (full year)
Spanish 1A or 1B (full year)
STEAM Wheel: Students rotate through hands-on, project-based classes in Environmental Science, Coding, Engineering, and Visual Arts.
ADVISORY PERIOD: Students will be placed in multi-grade advisory groups with the same teacher for all of 6th, 7th, and 8th grade at EDS. The advisory curriculum will include support for students in the areas of time and task management, study habits and skills, conflict management, leadership, community service, etc. Advisory is a credit/no credit period. The community service requirement is a large part of the advisory curriculum and time served is documented by the advisory teacher. In addition, the community service documentation in advisory needs to be met in order to qualify for participation in all honor roll activities.
