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2020 22nd Ave SEOlympia, WA 98501(360) 491-7097novaschool.org@novamiddleschool@novaowls

Heather GuzBeth SheraJeff OlfsonAndrew FrostholmArt6th Grade ScienceEnrichmentsPre-Algebra, AlgebraSamantha ChandlerLinda Manning6th Grade Math, P.E.Advanced Language Arts, TheaterSam GollietTed ChamberlainGeometry, NOVA TechOrchestra, VocalsJason GacekDavid CampbellJoel UnderwoodAnne WeldonSpanish6th Grade Language Arts,GeographyAdvanced ScienceAdvanced History, BandFaculty1Head of SchoolTiffany Pricetprice@novaschool.orgAdmissions Coordinator/Office ManagerJulie Hankinsadmissions@novaschool.orgSchool CounselorJulie Stephanjstephan@novaschool.orgBusiness ManagerPaula Bjornsonpbjornson@novaschool.orgMarketing & DevelopmentManagerNicolina Millermnmiller@novaschool.orgFacilities ManagerCarl Manningcmanning@novaschool.org

2Fostering the joyful pursuit of intellectual,social, and emotional expansion through achallenging curriculum that nourishes highlycapable students to develop identity, self-empowerment, and community.Our MissionDiversity &Inclusion The NOVA School Association believes thatevery person has the right to educational andworkplace surroundings that are free from allforms of unlawful discrimination.The Board adopted the following statementthat deepens the expectations for the NOVAMiddle School culture and establishes anoverarching theme of commitment to diversityfor NOVA Middle School as an organization.“The complex, interconnected globalenvironment in which NOVA students will liveas adults requires that NOVA Middle Schoolprovide a community in which a wide range ofviews, life experience, cultural backgrounds,ethical, economic, ethnic, religious andpolitical views are evident and honored. NOVAstudents have an opportunity to develop arange of communication skills that willcontribute to greater understanding of adiverse and changing world.”

Our Vision ConnectionWe embrace the power of care, compassion, and relationships.Valuing individuality, diversity, and shared experiences.Fostering self-awareness, community, and a global perspective.Cultivating social and emotional health through a safe and supportive environmentCommitmentWe are passionately devoted to our work.Nurturing a sense of responsibility, personal investment, and ownership of learning.Engaging fully in our interactions and with our contentIntentionWe design experiences based on expertise and reflection.Utilizing emerging best practices for highly capable early adolescents.Maximizing opportunities for students to deeply explore content.Practicing communication that is clear, direct, consistent, and timely.JoyWe celebrate and delight in learning and discovery. Inspiring curiosity and growth.Linking intellectual challenge to satisfaction, purpose, and joy.3Our ValuesInspiring lifelong learning for a morecompassionate, engaged world.

4Engaging in creative and interactive activities,students discover how to use their math skills in avariety of ways. While the 6th and 7th grade mathstandards form the basis of the curriculum,students have opportunities to extend andcommunicate their understanding even further. We stretch ourselves by—Practicing old and new skills.Working individually and with others.Applying math in various situations.Gaining confidence and competency at thesame time. Whether they are learning about personalfinances, graphing data, or solving puzzles,students use problem-solving to use math inpractical ways that builds throughout the schoolyear. This self-discovery is enhanced by the units thatgive students the skills and tools they need to besuccessful in their explorations and in their abilityto draw conclusions and use math appropriatelyand accurately. Applied Math6 t h G r a d eFrom the activities in class toprojects and their own individualchoices, students will engage IN themathematics, practice skills athome, and come back the next dayready for more.

5Through hands-on activities, discussions, andlabs, students will get to know our home planet ina new way. We start big and then zoom in—Earth’s place in the universe—discussingimportant scientific concepts like scale and theimportance of using models. We explore ourplace among the galaxies as well as within ourown solar system. The Moon and Sun—covering concepts such aseclipses, tides, and the seasons. Weather and climate—delving into such ideas asthe water cycle, air pressure, global winds andcurrents, regional climates, and the impacts ofgeographic features. The Geosphere—covering concepts like the rockcycle, Geologic Time Scale, plate tectonics, andweathering and erosion. Human impacts and our relationship with thisplanet that we live on. Outreach activities students will participate ininclude: water quality monitoring of nearby MoxlieCreek, testing the water for indicators of healthsuch as dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, andnitrate levels; and Green Congress, an annualevent that brings together students from all overthe region to compare their results and createaction plans on how to preserve our localestuaries.Earth & Space Science6 t h G r a d eStudents will dive into a wide varietyof topics related to Earth and ourplace in the universe.

6Students gain skills important to geographers anddeeply enhance their understanding of andknowledge related to the world around them. We experience the world by immersing ourselvesin our projects—Travelogues—Students journey around the worldby composing diary-like entries of cities they“visit”, building websites to house their blogs, andmapping their entire adventure. The Climate crisis—Students tour regions of theworld affected by climate change and report ontheir findings at a class summit related to thecrisis.Geography of the United States—Students learnabout the physical features, regions, cities,capitals, and nuances of our fair country, thebasic structure of the U.S. government, and howpolitical boundaries such as states, districts, andcounty lines affect our elections.National and international events—Studentsbecome global citizens indeed, utilizing ourschool-wide digital subscription to the New YorkTimes to follow events as they happen.Students become explorers, geographers, and activeparticipants in the world around them. In this way,they are sparked to see where they fit in and howthey may continue to actively engage.Geography6 t h G r a d eGeographic literacy is vital intoday's interconnected world.

7Through immersion in reading and writing, studentsdevelop their abilities to express themselves. We read one book after another in all genres,including realistic fiction, historical fiction, sciencefiction, fantasy, mystery, graphic novel, andnonfiction. At the same time, we are exploring writing by—Crafting essays about books.Writing short and longer works of fiction in variousgenres.Writing personal journal entries and reflections. Practicing the process of editing and revision.Students complement and enhance their writtenexpression by learning how to represent their thoughtsand ideas visually through pictures and graphics,utilizing a visual alphabet of points, lines, angles, arcs,all in an effort to unlock their individualized voice.Language Arts6 t h G r a d eIt will be exciting to see the studentsmature and grow as writers overthe course of the year.

8Through engagement with the Spanish cultureand language through exercises in listening,reading, speaking, writing, and even singing,students grow as Spanish speakers. We learn the language through activities,assignments and projects that encourage workingindividually, with partners, and in large groups—Introducing themselves with their new, creativeSpanish names and greeting each other. Conjugating common verbs.Conversing with each other.Celebrating Dia de los Muertos in earlyNovember.Learning how to Salsa dance.Organizing the end of year Mercado thattransforms the school into a vibrant Spanishmarketplace every three years. Students learn another language and begin todevelop an awareness of the depth and beauty ofthe many cultures that surround us.SpanishA l l G r a d e sStudents will engage in an excitingjourney through the world ofSpanish language and culture!

9By evolving the study of history from simplymemorizing and mastering facts into an in-depthexploration of cause and effect relationships overtime, students experience history, not as passivereceptors, but as active architects and critics.Over the course of two years we alternate our focusfrom Washington History, widening our gaze toAmerican History, and broadening even further toencompass World History.We take knowledge from past times and apply it toshape our own through creative activities:Designing a board game based on ancient Romanclass structures.Giving a speech on the dangers of mob rule in theGreek odeon.Creating an art project on Hindu deities.Tracing the evolution of ancient societiescompared to our own.Exploring the pre-colonial history of the Americancontinent and the story of its indigenous peoples.Following the democratic experiment in the UnitedStates, analyzing its successes and failures.Through quizzes, tests, research papers,presentations, and debates, students learn how tomake sense of the world we live in, equippingthemselves with the tools to effect change and makethe world a little less rough, rather than hardeningthemselves to the world outside. Advanced History7 t h - 8 t h G r a d eHistory isn't merely examining what'salready happened—it's exploring what'sstill happening, what never stops.

10Throughout a rotating two-year curriculum,students discover more of the literary world andexplore their place within it We focus on reading, writing, and giving oralpresentations by—Diving deeper into the pool of literary analysisand becoming more adept at literaryterminology and techniques.Discussing the power of mythology andlegends in both shaping and reflecting aculture’s beliefs and values. Writing letter essays to classmates about booksthey have read and enjoyed. Responding creatively to weekly writing promptsconsisting of words, phrases, images, and music. Participating in National Novel Writing Month(NaNoWriMo). Mastering presentation skills by writing andperforming spoken word poetry or TED Talks.Students widen their scope of reading and deepentheir skills and confidence in writing, with the overallgoal of developing a stronger sense of self and self-expression.AdvancedLanguage Arts7 t h - 8 t h G r a d eExploring literature, as readers andwriters, allows students toexperience the widest range ofpossible lives and to grow in theirabilities to express themselveseffectively and confidently.

11Over the course of two years and an alternatingemphasis of study between biology and physicalscience, students explore real-world problemsand phenomena with a focus on learning by doing.We explore big idea questions—Why do diseases such as Ebola and choleraoccur only in certain parts of the world?How do war, natural disasters, and inequitylead to the spread of diseases?How does racism lead to theunderrepresentation of women, minorities, andpersons with disabilities in STEM?And we engage in innovation and development—Designing a filtration system that effectivelyand cheaply cleans water.Devising the most efficient and productivewind turbine blade.Determining the most effective batteries inthe future and designing our own.By examining preconceived beliefs and attitudes,implementing experiments, and thoughtfullyrevising our understandings and possiblemisconceptions based on evidence, students gaina mastery of concepts and skills and becomemore deeply engaged in the world around them. Advanced Science7 t h - 8 t h G r a d eStudents utilize case studies, hands-onlab work, and groundbreakingsoftware and computer animationprograms to authentically engage asscientists and scientific thinkers.

12With a focus on arithmetic as the foundation foralgebra, students analyze what they know about ournumber system and how it can be stretched inunexpected ways. We explore and deepen our understanding—Determining the relationships betweenfractions, decimals, and whole numbers.Devising how to most fluently carry outarithmetic operations.Gaining an understanding of why we do what wedo in these operations. Why, for example, is therule for dividing fractions “flip the second oneand multiply?” Students engage in meaningful conversations aboutthe math, going beyond number and letters on apage to think critically about how it all works andwhy. By learning new mathematical concepts anddigging deeper into them to gain new algebraicunderstandings, students are expanding their toolkit and preparing themselves to succeed in futurealgebra classes. Pre-Algebra7 t h - 8 t h G r a d eAnalyzing the math like this willlead us to concepts which will befoundational for our studies forthe rest of this year and next.

13By meaningfully engaging in algebra at deeperlevels, students do more than memorize rules andformulas.We explore where formulas come from and whythey work—Learning about the algebraic concept offunctions.Grasping the terminology associated withequations.Studying in greater detail quadratic, cubic,absolute value, and root functions.Mastering linear functions.Understanding proportions and graphs.Extending equation-solving skills to studymulti-variable equations, learning how to bothsolve and graph them. Students build a solid base of understandingalgebra that goes beyond solving equations. Bylearning how to think when approaching anequation to find solutions, students are gaining acritical skill that is more than a building-block formath. Students are given the basis for comprehendingmany real life situations they may encounter asthey grow and become more involved in the worldaround them. Algebra7 t h - 8 t h G r a d eStudents will be engaging with themathematics at deep andinquisitive levels.

With conceptually-based instruction and apersonal, small-group environment, students’natural curiosity about the way things work isinspired. We move beyond simple vocabulary andprocedures to a significant and deepunderstanding of ideas—Making sense of problems and persevering insolving them.Looking for and making use of structure. Reasoning abstractly and quantitatively.Constructing viable arguments and critiquing thereasoning of others.Looking for and expressing regularity in repeatedreasoning.Through interactive projects, students engage indeep dialogue, taking what they thought they knewabout traditional geometry to new depths. Students develop as thinkers and deepen theirinsights. Soon, they realize we have only begun toscratch the surface of this beautiful domain ofmathematics.The topic of Geometry is limitlessand has profound and fascinatingimplications in the world in whichwe live. 14Geometry8 t h G r a d e

Art class is all about sparking creativity,encouraging deep reflection, and understandingour emotions. Students dive into hands-onprojects where they can explore a mix of artforms, techniques, and mediums. We do more than just create art; we connect withour community and learn to express ourselves—Artistic Exploration—experimenting with avariety of art forms—like 2D, 3D, and evensome digital art. Creativity and Imagination—engaging inprojects designed to bring out individualityand originality.Social-Emotional Learning—connecting withemotions through reflective projects.Community connection is a large part of what weencourage by participating in the biannualOlympia Arts Walk, sharing ideas andcollaborating, and celebrating the diverseperspectives within our creative community.ArtA l l G r a d e s15NOVA Art is here to inspire alove for the arts while nurturingcreativity, emotional intelligence,and community connection.

16In small, mixed grade-level groups, students spend allthree of their years at NOVA with the same teacherand students in their cohort group. These groupsmeet twice per week to give students the supportthey need, as well as to have fun. Cohort time is designed to—Have designated time to do individual check-inswith students.Look at upcoming, missing, and gradedassignments. Discuss strategies for executive functioning, testtaking, and work completion.Do a check on students’ social emotional healthand well-being. Choose classes for winter and spring trimesters. Make decisions on the need for study halls orextra study skills classes.Prepare for conferences. Create a website to showcase work from the year. Play games within and against other cohorts forfriendly competition. Cohort time is an important part of the NOVA weekand intentionally works to give students a small tight-knit group of students who support each otherthroughout their time at NOVA and beyond. Cohorts & AdvisoryA l l G r a d e sHaving the same advisor overthree years helps students feel atight connection to a small groupand strengthens our community asa whole.

17Enrichment classes offer each student theopportunity to advocate for themselves bychoosing what they want to explore.They provide a portion of the day that is stillfocused on the joy of learning and connection butwithout the academic pressure of gradedassignments. We offer a wide variety of classes, with new onesadded each trimester—Zentangle.Robotics.Chess.Yoga.Graphic design.Debate.Crochet.Gardening.Helping out at the Food Bank.and more! Whether volunteering in the community, playinggames with classmates, or learning a new skill,students are broadening their horizons, engaging inself-exploration, and instilling a love of lifelonglearning.EnrichmentsA l l G r a d e sEnrichments are student-chosenand vary day to day, keepingafternoons fun and exciting.

18Through hands-on instruction, performances, andcreative exploration, students develop a lifelong loveof music and a deep understanding of its power toenrich and connect us.We cover a wide range of musical experiences —Instrumental Technique—mastering thefundamentals of playing their chosen instrument,developing strong technique, tone, and musicality.Ensemble Performance—collaborating with theirpeers in various ensembles, learning the art ofteamwork, listening, and musical expression.Music Theory and History—delving into thefoundations of music, exploring its history,structure, and cultural significance.Creative Expression—composing, improvising, andarranging music.Emphasizing music as an essential part of a well-rounded education, students gain confidence in self-expression, strengthen critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and enhance communication andcollaboration skills—all while developing a deepappreciation for music's diversity and beauty.Music A l l G r a d e sAt NOVA, music resonates withthe heart and ignites the soul.

19Through a growth mindset, students areencouraged to become more confident engagingwith our evolving and constantly changingelectronic planet, no matter their technologicalbackground.We focus less on specific skills and more aboutacademic integrity and how we think criticallyabout technology— Exploring how each individual is most efficientwith the way they use technology. Diving into the functional and ethical issuesrelated to email.Evaluating how to proceed when a searchresult can yield over 8.5 billion Google results. Students start by exploring a variety of differentplatforms and programs, such as the Google Suite,typing, formatting and presentation tools, andmap layering and StoryMaps in ArcGIS. Along the way, they learn to evaluate issues on thepath to a greater understanding of themselves astechnology consumers.NOVA Tech6 t h G r a d eStudents go on a journey ofthought and experience, learninghow to navigate our rapidlychanging technological times.

With a creative and varying curriculum, students areencouraged to be active and fully engaged witheach other and the physical activites.We promote participation, cooperation, andexercise through activity—Adapting the rules of the games to fit a widevariety of skill levels, strengths, ages, andexperiences. Emphasizing the importance of each teammember to the whole.Encouraging individuals to step outside of theircomfort zone and try new things in a safeenvironment.Developing positivity and patient problemsolving. Eighth graders gain leadership skills as they takemore responsibility during activities. They areresponsible for helping their classmates feelcomfortable in class and encouraging theirparticipation, managing the games, and modelingpositive behaviors, making the classes their own. Winter P.E. classes are a unique and belovedtradition! Students get the opportunity to go offcampus to engage in bowling, climbing, trapezeyoga, soccer, fitness classes, and more.P.E. classes reflect what we hopethe students will learn to value —effort, participation, teamwork, andsportsmanship. 20P.E.A l l G r a d e s

21Through the exploration of values, trust building,and learning important communication skills,students learn the importance of caring forthemselves and their community in a holistic way.We cover many concepts that come up during thecritical middle school years—Expressing one’s opinions and ideasappropriately, safely, and considerately. Personal and community values.Active listening.Effective communication.Challenge by choice.Positive self talk.Mindfulness.Healthy choices.Students as a group reflect on what matters to themindividually and as a community, co-creating aschoolwide agreement for all to put into practice.Students work to cultivate trust within the communityand actively build one another up.Social &Emotional HealthA l l G r a d e sStudents find support and practicesupporting others, finding their voiceand deepening their self-awareness.

With a malleable after-school sports program, students’athletic needs are the focus and main driving forcebehind what is offered. We work to be responsive to what our students want toparticipate in and how much time and effort they wantto put into those endeavors. We explore new sports and what it means to be healthyteammates—Switching between volleyball, basketball, crosscountry, and soccer. Participating in both the YMCA and the Olympiacommunity programs.Running intramural programs for our student body. Our school spirit inspires both the practiced athletes aswell as those new to an activity to learn to work togetherand find joy as a team.All NOVA students are also welcome and permitted toparticipate in the after-school sports teams at theirhome school.AthleticsA l l G r a d e s22Our sports programs are for all —those who want to learn a sport,those who look to improve in a sport,or those who just want to have funand play as a team.

23Through after-school and lunchtime clubs, studentsget to deep-dive into their interests, broaden theirhorizons, and connect with their classmates. We develop community and inclusivity through ourclubs—The Adventure Club encourages students tothink critically about science through funexperiments and activities.The Aerospace Club run by Olympia High Schoolstudents that are NOVA graduates gives studentsthe opportunity to build rockets and competewith other schools. The Rubik’s Cube Club created by 6th gradersgive students the chance to come together withother Rubik’s fans to fine-tune their cube-solvingskills. The student-led Pokemon Club gives studentsthe chance to share their love for Pokemon andexpand their knowledge. Giving students the autonomy to develop theirinterests and ideas by suggesting clubs allows themto gain leadership skills, grow their confidence, andestablish the mindset that anything is possible. ClubsA l l G r a d e sStudent-created clubs build agencyand autonomy while also creating asense of real community,

24Whether traveling as a school to camp in the fall or tovarious cities in smaller grade level groups at the endof the year, students get to experience trips as a wayof intentionally building and maintaining a strongcommunity.Teachers and students connect with one another onthese overnight experiences—A bus trip to Camp Seymour, engaging inchallenge activities, student-led skits, and games.A train trip to Portland, visiting downtown andlocal hotspots.A road trip to Port Townsend, touring the townand the historical districts.A ferry ride to the San Juan Islands, biking, visitingFriday Harbor, and camping.Our expeditions may be to many different places, butthey all bring us together with our core values ofcommunity, connection, intention, and joy. ExpeditionsA l l G r a d e sBuilding relationships across thegrades joins us together as auniquely bonded community.

25With a new play mounted each winter, students getto explore themselves and the world of theater through dramas, comedies, and musicals.We dive into all aspects of theater and production—Creating a play that allows for a broad cast so thatanyone who wishes to participate gets a part.Getting behind-the-scenes building sets, creatingprops, designing costumes.Coordinating audio/visual cues with the scriptand setting up light and sound. We focus not only on basic acting skills, but also onthe importance of supporting the work of the groupand being a part of something bigger than ourselves.Past plays have included Macbeth: A Cautionary Tale,Who Killed Elvis?, The Adventures of SherlockHolmes, and the musicals Singing in the Rain and Intothe Woods.theater ArtsA l l G r a d e sThe joy of participating in theateris taking on myriad roles, fullylosing yourself in another reality,and building something fun andexciting with your friends.