Manhattan Middle School

The Manhattan Middle School (grades 6-8) provides a strong instructional program where students acquire academic proficiency, learn self-advocacy skills and build self confidence in an environment that nurtures each child’s personal and social development.

Since all Windward students have difficulties in the areas of reading and writing, the language arts program is the core of the School’s curriculum. Through direct instruction in small, homogenously grouped settings, children are explicitly taught the rules of language necessary for comprehending, remembering and communicating information. Students receive 3 periods of language arts daily which includes reading, expository writing, vocabulary development, study skills and phonics-based reading instruction based on PAF by Phyllis Bertin and Eileen Perlman. The Windward School writing program uses The Windward Expository Writing Program. Lessons for writing linguistically complex sentences and paragraphs, outlining, note taking, paraphrasing, and summarizing are integrated across the curriculum. Students then use these writing techniques to develop research papers in conjunction with assignments in other subject areas, and they become proficient in using the library and the Internet for research. In addition, all students have one period of math, science and social studies daily.

Math lessons at Windward are created to teach computational and application skills, enhance conceptual understanding and develop each child’s ability to communicate using the language of math. Homogenously grouped classes enable teachers to build a solid foundation of basic math concepts, computation and number sense. Classes range from remedial to advanced and instructional techniques are adapted to support individual learning differences.

The Science and Social Studies programs at the Middle School are guided by New York State curriculum standards and strive to integrate content, concepts, and skill learning while reinforcing the student’s reading and writing competency.

Our Physical Education Program helps promote the student’s mental, physical and emotional well-being while the Arts provide an arena for children to develop poise and confidence and the opportunity for creativity and self-expression.

Windward’s Middle school group guidance curriculum discusses developmentally appropriate topics to promote social, academic, and personal growth. Students receive bi-monthly lessons taught by the guidance counselor.

The Windward School provides an educational experience that emphasizes skills and develops the independence, initiative, and academic and social confidence that each student needs to successfully return to the mainstream setting.

Students in grades 6 - 8 participate in a comprehensive physical education program where they are introduced to age appropriate physical fitness concepts and activities as well as locomotor skills to enhance coordination, balance and agility, and the acquisition of sports skills. In every class, the physical education teachers seek to instill important life skills such as teamwork, good sportsmanship, fair play, personal achievement and a cognitive ability to strategize for competition. In class, the students work on developing basic skills that they will then use in age appropriate lead-up games, cooperative play and scrimmages, where they will be challenged to achieve their personal best. Students are encouraged to join the After School programs where these skills are reinforced through games, intramural and interscholastic sports. The physical education department culminates the year with one of the great Windward traditions – Field Day.

The Manhattan Middle School Activities Program provides a broad range of clubs, activities and trips for our diverse student population. These experiences afford students the opportunities to socialize in a less formal academic setting.

During the school day, various clubs meet at recess under the supervision of highly-trained Windward faculty members. Clubs gather one or more times per week for an 8-week session, with some spanning the school year. Students are encouraged to propose new clubs based on their interests. To date, our clubs have included:

• Student Council: Middle school students have the opportunity to represent their classmates and lead various community service projects.
• Drama: All participating students will perform in various Windward Manhattan productions.

More traditional after-school activities are also an essential part of the Activities Program. The school year is divided into trimesters – the fall session commencing in September, the winter session kicking off in December, and the spring session getting underway in March. The overarching goal of the program is to appeal to as many students as possible by incorporating varied activities and season-specific sports that pique our students’ interests and promote their abilities. Instructors are trained Windward faculty members and outside professionals that provide expert instruction.

This year, several new programs will be introduced while many of our more popular programs will again be offered. These include: Communications Club, Arts & Crafts, Sports & Games and Instructional Tennis.

In addition to curriculum-driven field trips, students can also take advantage of numerous “social field trips,” which take place throughout the school year. Students have the opportunity to visit cultural institutions, museums and sporting venues to enjoy a variety of experiences while developing and practicing essential social skills. All excursions take place on Friday evenings and are open to middle school students only. Trips are chaperoned by multiple Windward faculty members and most include dinner, during which time students can socialize with their peers. The cost associated with each trip varies.

Please contact Ms. Steiker-Pearl, Coordinator of Activities, Manhattan Middle School, for further information. 

At the Manhattan Campus, the Athletics program allows students to build sports skills as well as participate with friends in a variety of clinics, intramural and interscholastic sports.

Our 6th through 8th graders have the opportunity to join their classmates in a variety of clinics and interscholastic sports based on the season. Students of varying athletic ability can opt to join in-season clinics that teach and enhance sports skills, promote teamwork and sportsmanship, and help to develop strong basic fundamental skills in specific sports. The fall season kicks off with interscholastic coed soccer for 6th and 7th graders as well as an interscholastic cross country team. The winter season includes intramural and interscholastic basketball, cheerleading and tennis.