Middle School Program
Middle School at Odyssey is where curiosity deepens, confidence expands, and students learn what it means to truly belong. Our 5th–8th graders explore complex ideas through hands-on, integrated studies that connect art, social studies, STEM, literature, and community—preparing them not just for high school, but for life.
Each week blends core academics with rich “specials” that bring learning to life: visual art, music, physical education, and Spanish starting in 2026-27. Our renowned music program invites every student to make and perform music as part of a collaborative ensemble, building both skill and confidence. Beyond subjects, our days weave in social-emotional learning and restorative practices that cultivate empathy, self-awareness, and the ability to navigate conflict with respect. In this pivotal stage of early adolescence, this balance of social confidence and peace is a necessary partner to the rigor and excitement of academic life.
Our programming stands apart because our teachers have the freedom to truly put their passions and expertise into action. As an independent school, we support our teachers in building their own curricula within the framework of state and national standards and our Six Strands Model. Their enthusiasm is contagious, which is particularly crucial for our kids going through early adolescence.
Through experiential learning, projects, service learning, minimester, and outdoor experiences like Journey Week and time spent on our wooded campus, students learn by doing—gaining the independence, resilience, and creative thinking that define Odyssey graduates. By the time they enter high school, they are grounded, capable learners who know how to ask questions, care for others, and lead with confidence.
At Odyssey, we pause between our semesters for a “minimester” experience wherein students choose from a set of topics that are passion projects developed by our faculty. Odyssey inspires students to not only meet their grade-level expectations but to be agile, resilient, focused, take healthy risks, nurture their compassion, and live true to their own inner compass.
We are proudly a phone-free Middle School. Our students learn to connect to the natural world, each other, their teachers/mentors, and the curriculum without the distractions of texts, notifications, or social media scrolling during the school hours. We support students in thinking critically about their use of screen technology.
Meet the Middle School teachers
Carly Penny
Amy Glenn
Tavi Hardy
Maggie Braswell
Specials in Middle School
Students explore aesthetics, technique, and personal style through artist studies, drawing, painting, and multimedia composition, integrated with cross-curricular content. Art class meets regularly as a distinct class and as an organizing principle from our Six Strands through all classes, giving students space to develop their creative voices and technical skills while connecting visual expression to the themes they're studying across disciplines.
Art
Physical education emphasizes movement, teamwork, and outdoor adventure. Students build fitness, coordination, and sportsmanship through games, outdoor education activities, and collaborative challenges. PE meets regularly and often takes advantage of our beautiful campus and surrounding natural areas.
For competitive sports, we are part of the Hospitality League and play Flag Football in Fall, Basketball in Winter, and Soccer in Spring. All the sports are co-ed.
P.E.
Students develop musical skills and understanding through performance, composition, and music theory. Music class meets regularly and includes opportunities for both individual expression and ensemble work. Students explore diverse musical traditions and use music as a tool for creative thinking and collaboration.
Music
Middle school students engage in frequent "Class without Walls" experiences throughout the year. These include day-long hikes in the Blue Ridge Mountains, visits to local museums and cultural institutions, and community service opportunities like volunteering at care facilities. These experiences help students connect classroom learning to the wider world while building independence and civic engagement.
Off-Campus
Distinctive Features of Middle School Life
Mysteries Council
Each week the middle school students participate in Mysteries Council or Gender Mysteries, as well as a classroom meeting based on Positive Discipline. Mysteries Council is a total classroom meeting where each student participates in listening and talking from the heart on subjects relevant to the students. It is not as much solution oriented, as skills building in relating to one another carefully and compassionately.
Electives
All middle schoolers have the opportunity to choose electives to participate in. These electives are dynamic and change from one year to the next, depending on the expertise and offerings from our staff and community at large. In the past, these have included: personal P.E., primitive arts, ceramics, yoga, advanced music, and advanced art.
MiniMester
The mini-mester is a two-week period of time between first and second semester that allows a celebration to “coming of age” through creative implementation of a journey-based thematic unit of study. It provides an opportunity for students to journey in various ways, including outside of school to historical sites and outdoor learning centers or through creation of on-campus journeys through drama, music, or innovation.
Mentorship
Each student receives individual mentoring from a teacher on a regular basis. This reflective session attends to concerns/needs/desires the student is experiencing, and how best to attend them. Additionally, it supports each student in creating and attending to weekly, measurable goals they personally choose to create.
Some Middle School Updates
Curious? Come on a tour and see what sets us apart.
We would love to answer all of your questions and help you learn if Odyssey is right for your family. Fill out our tour inquiry form and we’ll find the time that’s right for you.
