List of 8 items.

• Approaches to Learning

  Middle School students at Newman participate in a skill-building course designed to develop five key areas: Thinking, Research, Communication, Self-Management, and Social Skills. The program includes a weekly structured study hall at the Boston Public Library and a dedicated public speaking component, where students practice presentations, debate, and speech writing. These experiences help

• Arts Rotation

  Learning through the arts helps us to explore, shape and communicate our sense of identity and understanding of the world, while providing opportunities to develop self-confidence, resilience and adaptability. 

  
  

  In Grade 7, students spend a semester each in Visual Art and Music Composition, learning to express themselves through color, sound, and rhythm.

  
  

  By Grade 8, students explore a wider range of creative fields, with quarter-long courses in Visual Art, Music Composition, Film, and Design.

  
  
  

• Service as Action

  In 8th grade, students engage in a course designed to help them become active and responsible members of their local and global communities. The program fosters a commitment to service, encouraging students to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. As a stepping stone to the Cardinal Cares Personal Project and CAS in high school, students develop and execute service roles that support the school community, including:

  • Event Planning Committee
  • Bulletin Board Curators
  • Middle School Support & Operations (SOPS)

  Students also explore civic agency through units focused on Boston and Massachusetts, supported by the Democratic Knowledge Project at Harvard Graduate School of Education, helping them connect local issues to broader social responsibility.

• Design

  Design at Newman aims to provide the means and the context to help students become skillful problem solvers, who can appreciate the role of technology in everyday life and society and who can respond critically and resourcefully to real life challenges.
  
  

  In 8th grade, students participate in a three-week Design & Design Thinking program in partnership with NuVu School. Using NuVu’s Design Studio model, students:

  • Apply practical and creative thinking skills to solve real-world design problems
  • Explore the role of design in historical and contemporary contexts
  • Consider the responsibilities that come with making design decisions and taking action

  This immersive experience helps students develop problem-solving skills, creativity, and an understanding of design’s impact on the world.

• Interdisciplinary Humanities Course: I&S and L&L

  Learning through humanities helps students explore ideas, ask meaningful questions, and connect across disciplines, while developing the confidence to engage thoughtfully with the world around them.
  
  

  Our Interdisciplinary Humanities program integrates Individuals & Society (I&S) and Language & Literature (L&L) for students in grades 7 and 8. Both courses explore the same essential question each term, allowing students to engage with aligned topics while building skills specific to each discipline. This approach helps students make meaningful connections across subjects and develop critical thinking, analytical, and communication skills.

• Language Acquisition

  Language is fundamental to learning, thinking, and communicating, and it permeates the entire curriculum. Middle School students can choose to study Spanish or French, and are encouraged to communicate as fully as possible in their chosen language. Through language study, students also explore the cultures and regions where the language is spoken, fostering understanding of and respect for perspectives different from their own.

• Mathematics

  At Newman, Middle School mathematics takes a comprehensive and integrated approach, combining algebra, geometry, and other key mathematical concepts within each academic year. Rather than following a strict sequence from Algebra 1 to Algebra 2, students explore a variety of topics in a way that reinforces understanding and encourages connections between different areas of math. This method helps students develop strong problem-solving skills, analytical reasoning, and logical thinking, while also fostering confidence in applying mathematics to real-world situations.

• Sciences

  Inquiry is at the heart of Newman’s Middle School science program. Students investigate relevant issues through research and experimentation, developing scientific literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Science is taught in an investigative, student-centered way, with topics that connect to everyday life and explore the interaction between science, society, and the environment.