Our Middle School (Grades 6-8) חטיבת הביניים

Middle School years are marked by significant developmental growth in academic, religious, physiological, and social realms. Most notably, during this time each Middle School student will reach the milestone of becoming a Bat or Bar Mitzvah.

Maimonides strives to foster this growth by offering a comprehensive school experience that recognizes the unique needs of Middle School students. The Middle School faculty are deeply invested in promoting and embracing each student’s individual growth both inside and outside of the classroom.

Limudei Kodesh (Judaic Studies)

Study of Chumash (Bible), Navi (Prophets) and Torah she be’al Peh (oral law) continue in Grades 6, 7 and 8. Skills are solidified, enabling students to delve into the moral and ethical issues raised by the texts.

Gemara study begins in Grade 7, with an opening focus on texts relevant to daily prayer. Engaged by dialogues across the ages that are represented on each page, students are exposed to the evolution of Jewish law.

In the classroom, Hebrew language abilities continue to build from our students’ Elementary School experience. They gain fluency in conversation and written composition through the innovative NETA program, which integrates themes from Torah, Medinat Yisrael, and Israeli culture.

General Studies

The English curriculum emphasizes the integration of writing, grammar, vocabulary, literature, and oral communication skills. The history/social studies curriculum seeks to balance students’ acquisition of historical facts with the understanding that accompanies in-depth study of a specific event. Our mathematics program focuses on the active involvement of students to be able to make sense of important mathematical ideas, while at the same time emphasizing skills development. The curriculum, designed to meet the needs of different types of learners, introduces elementary Algebra to all students with some students completing this level.   The science curriculum provides varied experiences to help students build a more complete understanding and awareness of the natural phenomena in the world around them. Elective Arabic or Spanish language courses begin in Grade 8.

Life Studies

Alongside the academic program, Maimonides Middle School provides BRAVE, a unique program developed by Yeshiva University that helps empower each student to navigate his or her own emerging identity. This is accomplished by community meetings, advisory sessions, and religious programming. Through these activities, students are guided to establish and maintain healthy relationships with themselves, with their peers, and with God.

Maimonides Middle School seeks to produce young adults who are fully equipped to approach Upper School with comfort and confidence.