Reflection and Ceremony for the Class of 2022

8/18/2023

For our 8th graders, last few days of Middle School can feel like a race to the finish. Award ceremonies, exams, and the excitement of the summer months ahead seem to take on a momentum of their own. During this energetic time, it’s important that our 8th graders reflect on their experience in Middle School — to recognize their journey from those first few days as incoming 6th graders toward the rigors of Upper School, now only a few months away. With the 8th Grade Showcase and Promotion Ceremony, our 8th graders gather to share in their achievements as individuals and as part of our Middle School community.

8th-Grade Showcase Highlights Student Voice and Student Choice

Process and authentic learning form the foundation of the curricular and extracurricular programs in our Middle School. From 6th to 8th grade, we provide opportunities for students to value their work on a personal level and connect that work to the real world. The 8th-grade Showcase is the pinnacle of these authentic learning experiences where 8th graders choose the work of which they are most proud and present to their families, teachers, and peers.

Severn School Middle School students and families look at student work on display. — *The hallways buzzed with energy as families and students reviewed their work.*

Part of what makes this event so meaningful is that the students themselves choose which work best represents them. It’s not simply a matter of picking the highest graded project or the one that took the most time. We want our students to choose the work of which they are most proud.

Beginning early in the fall and continuing throughout the year, 8th-grade advisor groups work through a series of steps to curate the showcase collection. Before submitting their collections for approval, they write artist statements about each piece. The artist reflections encourage our students to think deeply about why a particular piece is important to them and gives other students a lens into the motivations of their peers.

Samples of student work, hand-written books and laser cut designs. — *Student work ranged from hand-made books to videos to laser cut designs.*

Click for more photos from the showcase

The Promotion Ceremony

While the showcase is a more casual celebration of our rising 9th graders’ talents, dreams, and accomplishments, the promotion ceremony conveys the gravitas of this important milestone for our students. After looking back at their time in Middle School just hours before, each 8th grader walks across the stage to receive their promotion certificate and begin a new chapter in their life. With remarks from Middle School Head Dan Keller, Head of School Doug Lagarde, and 8th Grade Class President Sarah Jay '22, the ceremony itself reflects both the dignity and lighthearted camaraderie we have grown to love about this class.

Well done Class of 2022, we can't wait to see you in the fall!