Middle School - Academics | Asia Pacific International School

Academics

Middle School

Academics
Middle School

Discover Passions in a Caring Community

APIS Middle School curriculum and academics are centered around providing a strong foundation of learning as well as students’ pursuit of their passion for learning. The APIS middle school education takes into consideration the special developmental needs of early adolescence. Our curriculum is purposefully designed for students to experience both independent and collaborative active-learning as well as to make practical connections between their studies and the real world. The units of inquiry create a challenging, student-led learning environment that is exploratory, with multiple instructional approaches and varied assessment techniques. Included in the curriculum are big ideas that elevate the theme to much broader, abstract, conceptual thinking.

MIDDLE SCHOOL SIGNATURE PROGRAMS

Art

The APIS Visual and Applied Art program provide a K-12 discipline-based educational experience where students can:

Analyze and interpret art through real-world experiences.

Build strong foundations in both visual and digital art skills.

Develop their own voice, style, and personality while honing their problem-solving and critical-thinking skills

The Visual Arts Department at APIS provides a program aligned with the National Core Standards and benchmarks that build each student's unique personality and finds their individual strengths.

English Language Arts (ELA)

APIS believes that for our students to fully participate in academic, civic, and economic life in the New Pacific Century, they must develop strong critical literacy and communication skills. We aim for our students to be more independent, responsible, and responsive readers and writers. Students who can self-select books for their own reading, who can understand interpretations as well as offer their own, and who can question assumptions and express their ideas clearly.

The focus in middle school is to build a foundation of literary and academic vocabulary, practice strategies in reading and writing, and use broad communication skills, both written and oral.

World Language

The goals of the Chinese and Japanese language curriculum at APIS are to equip students with practical lifelong skills that will enable them to function competently in a language other than their own and to communicate and compete effectively in the global community and marketplace.

The Chinese and Japanese language curriculum in Grades 6-12 develops students' skills in the areas of listening, speaking, reading, writing, and cultural competence. Also, students are provided with the opportunity to view, absorb, and evaluate material from non-print sources. Students may begin with little to no experience and reach as high as AP Chinese or AP Japanese. Opportunities to expand language skills through cross-cultural exchanges and optional excursion opportunities are woven into the curriculum.

Korean Language

The goal of the APIS Korean program is to encourage students to understand the content of the Korean language accurately and effectively. In all grades, students are required to take Korean courses, which will be either Korean language arts courses for native Korean speakers or Korean as an additional language (KAL) course for non-native Korean speakers.

For secondary school students, we concentrate on reinforcing critical thinking and communication skills through project-based learning and differentiated instruction. Through the in-depth study of Korean Modern History or Korean Studies course, students can learn to cultivate a perspective of Korean society with personal subjectivity.

Students can extend their language and communication skills through the APIS Korean music program, various school festivals such as Korean Day, the APIS Korean Magazine, taking advantage of an enriched Korean language curriculum.

Mathematics

The mathematics courses at APIS help students develop logic, reasoning, and problem-solving skills. The curriculum is based on the Common Core standards, AP, and mathematical practices. These standards carefully sequenced to progress from year to year, allowing students to build foundational math skills, reason abstractly and quantitatively, and construct mathematical models.

Music

In secondary school, the APIS music program focuses on achieving a high rehearsal and performance level. In middle school, all students are required to take a music fundamentals class, which includes vocal and instrumental techniques. This course offers students a foundation for building strong musical skills, understanding a composition, and developing a passion for music. In addition, students may choose the band or orchestra to further their instrumental music development.

PE and Health

The PE program provides students the opportunity to explore through movement, activities, sports, and health education. Students need to find balance in their daily and future lives. Primarily, students focus on further developing their knowledge of individual and team sports to be familiar with all common sports. Additionally, an emphasis is placed on thorough personal fitness planning as well as education surrounding healthy lifestyle choices.

Science

The APIS Science Department enables students to see the world and its challenges through the lens of science, developing the skills necessary for future success as global citizens. This is achieved through a student-centered curriculum aimed at building curiosity and encouraging inquisitive, lifelong learning. The Next Generation Science Standards are used as a framework to guide overall instruction in Honors-level courses, and a variety of AP courses are also offered. Science at APIS begins with explorations in elementary school, followed by skill development in middle school, and a content-specific focus (chemistry, biology, physics) in high school.

Social Studies

At APIS, we believe that social studies are a subject that should be applied by students to seek solutions to real issues that affect their lives. We encourage our students to think about issues through an understanding of the key historical, geographical, political, economical, and societal factors involved, and examining how these different factors interrelate. Our middle school students study a broad approach to multiple social studies content areas, including history, geography, economics, government, culture, and others. Students explore their own identity, culture, and place in society, along with significant historical periods. In high school, the study of both world history and U.S. history gives students the background necessary to expand into a variety of electives and advanced courses in the social sciences.