MIDDLE SCHOOL (Grades 5-8)

Link Community Charter School prepares its Middle School students for admission to and success in a competitive high school, as we support the journey every Link scholar to attend and graduate from college.  Each grade level brings increased rigor and expectations. Along with a rigorous college-bound program, Link provides an outstanding High School Placement program to ensure that students have all of the information and resources to move on to competitive high schools, particularly independent day and boarding schools and public magnet schools. All grade levels work within a strong community, grounded in the Core Values.

GRADE 5
Grades 5 begin to experience elements of middle school, with movement to content area teachers. This movement allows scholars to begin the transition to a completely departmentalized approach in grades 7 and 8. Teachers build close relationships with their scholars providing for the growth of the whole child. Since many students enter Link in 5^th grade, the school provides the supports necessary to bridge gaps to bring each student to grade level. The course of study for grade 5 is as follows (click on the subject for scope & sequence):

• Life Skills
• Advisory and Morning Circle
• WIN Period- intervention, enrichment, independent study

GRADE 6
As students progress to 6^th grade, they continue to transition from class to class for instruction. The work becomes increasingly more robust and challenging, preparing them for the rigors of 7^th and 8^th grade where they prepare for high school. The course of study for grade 6 is as follows (click on the subject for scope & sequence):

• Advisory and Morning Circle
• WIN Period - intervention, enrichment, independent study

GRADE 7
As students enter grade 7, they find themselves fully immersed in a middle school environment, changing classes regularly to meet with teachers who have specialized in a content area they are passionate about. Lockers in the hallway signal that the environment will be a little different from the lower house they experienced for the preceding two years. Students will experience more rigor and increased responsibility as teachers support more independence.The course of study for grade 7 is as follows (click on the subject for scope & sequence):

• Advisory and Morning Circle
• WINS (What I Need), intervention, enrichment, independent study

GRADE 8
As students move into grade 8, they will experience even more rigor to prepare them to excel in high school and beyond.  They will be fully immersed in the high school admissions process and experience the joys and challenges of this transition year. While eyes are indeed on the next journey, Link strives to keep everyone grounded in the 8^th grade experience to support appropriate development growth to allow for confident, creative, and articulate scholars to realize their full potential. The course of study for grade 8 is as follows (click on subject for scope & sequence):

• Advisory and Morning Circle
• WINS (What I Need), intervention, enrichment, independent study

A team of special education and paraprofessional staff continues to provide increased levels of support for students who have special needs or gaps in learning that require more individualized help.

Click here for the New Jersey Student Learning Standards.