Middle School

Middle School MiniCourses are interdisciplinary deep dives that take place each year during the week before spring break. Dreamed up and taught by faculty across subjects, these project- and experience-based classes offer students uninterrupted learning around a single topic.

For 50 years, GFS Middle and Upper School students have had life-changing experiences on international exchanges. There are now more opportunities than ever before.

GFS students notched numerous gold, silver, and honorable mention awards in The Annual Scholastic Art and Writing Competition. The country’s longest running program honoring creative teens marks the pinnacle of artistic achievement during the high school years.

This year’s Black History Month was full of celebratory gatherings, workshops, programs, and assemblies, and opportunities to uplift Black historical figures.

Throughout the year, GFS students test their talents in a variety of competitions, earning awards and recognition while contributing to the wider community of thinkers and creators. One example is Philadelphia MathCounts, where the GFS Middle School team won second place and a sixth grader took first place this year!  

GFS' Middle School Academic Intensives are month-long deep dives, which run twice a year in between sports seasons. Each course exposes students to a variety of subjects and different ways of learning, and the topics are built from scratch each year.

Listen in on conversations between GFS Head of School Dana Weeks and students and faculty about some of the achievements and learning opportunities the school community experienced during the fall semester.

We chat with Dr. Ken Ginsburg, a CHOP doctor who specializes in Adolescent Medicine, who has been sharing his insights and expertise with GFS faculty and families.

Within GFS Athletics, mental performance coach Colleen Finegan is leading a charge to give student athletes a mental edge.