Academics

Highlights & Traditions

Meeting for Worship

The Germantown Monthly Meeting is central to the life of our school.  The Middle School has its own weekly Meeting for Worship.  There may be times when some of the Middle Schoolers also meet with either the Lower or Upper Schools. Worship sharings "informal" Meetings for Worship and Meetings for Worship by grades are also held as a part of the larger effort to acquaint students with the benefits of silent reflection. 

Annual Art Show 
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 Each spring the GFS community comes together and is awed by the talent and creativity of our art students and staff. The walls of the Main Building and Middle School are adorned with student work created during the year. Refreshments are served and everyone appreciates the hard work and artistic expression of our 6th through 12th graders. To see a sample of wonderful student art work please visit our Gallery.

 Camping Trips

  
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 Students in grades 6 and 7 go on camping trips near the start of the school year, as way of building class unity and getting to know one another. In grade 6, each classroom goes together for four days. They prepare all the food, and engage in group building and outdoor activities. The whole 7th grade goes together for two nights. As there are usually about 15 to 20 new students in 7th grade, this allows an opportunity to welcome them. Students can choose from a variety of activities and also engage in small group building and outdoor challenge activities. The 8th grade concludes the year with a camping trip as a celebration of their time together in middle school. 

Eighth Grade Musical

  
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During the winter trimester of the 8th grade year, students prepare and perform a musical review. Students sing, dance, emcee, and do the lights. All students who wish for a solo are given a chance to shine in some way. Recent productions have included “Children on Broadway” , “A Ragtime Review" and as seen pictured here  the "Time Warp”.

The Scottish Exchange

  
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 Each year four 8th grade girls participate in a month-long exchange with The St. George’s School for Girls in Edinburgh, Scotland. The students join in all school programs and activities including after school sports.  In the spring the girls serve as host for three weeks to their Scottish counterparts. The GFS community is enriched by the cultural exchanges and the opportunities to learn how to be good ambassadors and hosts.

 Project Time

  
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Students and teachers participate in projects outside the usual confines of the classroom in areas including theater, adventure education, values and decision-making, as well as adopting a section of the Wissahickon Park to  maintain.  Elective Project Time courses encourage students to focus on specific interests related to the curriculum including: computers (Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, animation, video and html) drama, woodshop and a course in black & white film photography. 

Community Involvement courses provide an opportunity for students and teacher to work with a variety of groups in community-building activities, giving students a sense that their grade and the Middle School as a whole - is a distinct, contributing division to the GFS and Germantown communities.  Many mutually beneficial partnerships have developed between neighborhood organizations and GFS, including Create a Quilt for Fox Chase Cancer Center, Introduction to Deaf Culture and Sign Language at PA School for the Deaf and Learning by Playing and Building at Building Future Family Center hosted by the Holsey Temple CME church in Germantown.