Program Overview
Located on a satellite campus in downtown Tacoma, Seabury's unique middle school program provides academically challenging, developmentally appropriate, relevant learning experiences specifically tailored to meet the intellectual, physical, social and emotional needs of highly capable middle school students.
The centerpiece of Seabury’s innovative program is a series of integrated, experiential, projects in which the community serves as the classroom. Students work with teachers to form the questions as well as discover the answers through high level, multidisciplinary units of study formed around real issues and challenges facing both the local and global community. Study and research takes place both in the classroom and through partnerships with local organizations and leaders, allowing students to work side by side with local experts. Courses of study that are not fully addressed through multidisciplinary units, such as math and French, are taught as stand alone classes in order to ensure that students exiting the program meet and exceed requirements for the most rigorous high school programs.
Seabury's middle school program is designed to allow students to discover their gifts and develop their talents as they serve their community, both local and global. The program's focus on creative and analytical thinking, on quality research, and on developing strong communication skills prepares students for success in life, as well as success in school.
Located in the heart of Tacoma's theater district, students and teachers reach out to resources in the downtown and surrounding neighborhood to extend learning beyond the classroom walls. Partnerships with local organizations including universities, museums, government agencies, local businesses and non-profit organizations allow students to apply learning in various settings within the community.
Middle school students use the downtown Tacoma Public Library as well as their laptop computers to access information resources. Twice a week, students go to the downtown YMCA for formal physical education activities, and other days include walks to field study locations. Local artists provide arts education including music, drama, and fine arts, on a rotating basis.
The Laptop Program
Each Seabury Middle School student uses his/her own laptop each day at school for a variety of purposes. We believe familiarity and comfort with using computers is essential for students entering an increasingly globalized and competitive society. Therefore, we've identified the following goals for the laptop program at Seabury Middle School.
The overarching goals are:
- to have students become proficient at using the computer as a tool to enhance and facilitate their educational experience
- to prepare students for a high school experience where their technology skills exceed the expectations
- to have laptop technology infused seamlessly into the curriculum
- to increase levels of efficiency as students go about their
job of being a student - to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of what has been learned
- to increase the level of the students' connection to the world
- to provide a needed information sharing service to the community
Specific skills and learning outcomes:
- to have students become efficient at using the Microsoft Office Suite of programs and to use those programs as an organizing tool to assistthem in becoming effective at managing their tasks and time
- to have students become proficient at conducting internet based research
- to have students become effective at producing multi-media presentations
- to have students become effective at communicating what they are learning to a larger audience using a variety of programs and tools