Middle Division (7-8)

In the Middle Division, our emphasis is on deep understanding and wide participation, as well as learning how to learn. As students begin to take more responsibility for their own learning, the faculty remains supportive and nurtures curiosities and competencies.

Teachers work together to build explicit links between subjects to deepen students’ understanding of the world in which they live and to enable students to consider higher-level thinking. Our hope is to engender wonder and a belief in every student that s/he is a powerful learner.

In addition to preparing students for life after the Middle Divison, Brentwood School provides experiences that allow students to grow intellectually, physically, and morally. We believe that we should prepare our students to be confident, independent, and responsible citizens. It is also our aim to help students learn to lead their day-to-day lives with compassion and kindness and to serve the needs of others.

Finally, it is the fervent hope of Brentwood School's Middle Division that students will gain not only vision but also joy in the discovery and fulfillment of that vision. We hope that they will be endowed with the moral fiber to work through difficulty toward a true understanding of the way in which individual goals can harmonize with the greater good of the world in which we live. Our Middle Division's programs are committed to this development.

Will Bladt
Middle Division Director
310.889.2660

Nasrin Farahmand
Administrative Assistant
310.889.2650

News

  • Middle Division Debate Team Wins 2nd Straight National Championship

    For the second year in a row, the Middle Division Debate Team captured its second National Championship title. To even qualify for this prestigious event is very difficult; to win twice is unprecedented. Fifty-two schools and 290 students from all over the country competed in a 12-hour competition with the final public debate pitting Brentwood's team (Carson H., Danielle S., and Lily S.) against the top team from Pegasus Middle School in Huntington Beach, CA. With a raucous audience of over 500 people, a three-judge panel unanimously declared Brentwood victorious after the debaters successfully defended that tax increases are good for America. It was the largest tournament the team had ever attended...

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  • Moment of Discovery: 7th Grade Mideast Peace Conference

    by Lee Herzog, Middle Division Psychologist/Learning Specialist—I happened upon the 7th Grade Mideast Peace Conference in Ms. Bailey's class this week. What a wonderful learning experience to witness the students paired up and representing the various players—Israel, U.S., Iran, Iraq, Egypt, and Palestine. Each country represented had to present an opening statement as to what they would be willing to give up in order to bring peace to the region. Then the other countries had a list of questions that they presented to that specific country. The students clearly had done their research as they introduced themselves as the honorable leaders of their countries and spoke about resources, land, weapons, nuclear proliferation, money, and more. The garb that was also worn made the conference a real treat as the students argued and cajoled towards their various positions in the negotiations. Ms. Bailey had to eject a couple of out-of-control members from the Conference midway, but they were allowed back in eventually. I was moved by the experiential learning that took place as it represented to some degree many of the difficulties that are present in our world today and was felt even during the role playing. Kudos to Ms. Bailey and her 7th graders for a fun and enlivening learning experience for all!

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  • Planting the Seeds

    Carrots, tomatoes, and other fruits and vegetables will soon sprout on the East Campus and will be ready for harvesting in early summer as part of a Middle Division movement to promote sustainable agriculture and healthy eating. Although it serves as a “new” Exploratory for this year’s Middle Division students, it is a project that has been evolving on Brentwood soil for some time...

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Calendar

Friday16

MD 11:15 a.m. Early Dismissal

11:15 AM
Monday46

8th Grade Math Exam

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Tuesday56

8th Grade Language Exam

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Wednesday66

7th Grade Math Exam

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

8th Grade American Studies Exam

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Thursday76

MD Last Day of Classes, 2:00 p.m. Early Dismissal

7th Grade Language Exam

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

8th Grade Science Exam

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

MD Summer Splash

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM
Friday86

8th Grade Promotion

EC4:00 PM