Middle School Horizons

Boston Trinity believes that a love for learning is central to academic excellence. One way we help to facilitate this love of learning in the Middle School is through the Horizons program.

Horizons enables Middle School students to have choice in what they study. It offers an opportunity to learn in ways besides typical classes and allows students to engage more creatively with the world in which they live.

In both 7th and 8th Grade, students choose from one of the Horizons offerings. Below you will find a non-exhaustive list of Horizon offerings that have been offered in the past. Horizon Offerings change yearly. Horizon offerings depend on the interests of our faculty and the needs of our students.

Living Labs (Earth Sciences)

Students leave classrooms and journey into the environment — both natural and human — in order to explore how the relationship between the two may contribute to the health and well-being of the local community. Students learn responsibility based on a deeper understanding of and engagement with their environment. They study both the ecology of the local area and its relationship to human activity. Specific areas studied include The Stony Brook Reservation, including Turtle Pond, the Neponset River, including its relationship to the Charles River through Mother Brook, and to Boston Harbor into which it drains. Trips may also be taken to Ponkapoag Pond and other areas for the purpose of comparison and exploration.

Robotics

A fusion of technology education and the pursuit of a just world, Robotics requires students to do more than “geek out” with fancy toys. They survey the history of automation and discuss the benefits and ethical challenges of technological advancement. The goal of the course is for students to thoughtfully craft robotic creations while considering the full impact of their creations on their community, both locally and globally.

Journalism and Podcasting

Journalism has many different shapes and forms. Students spend a concentrated period of time reporting on a specific topic to turn into a story and then write that story out. They learn investigative skills, responsible reporting, and journalistic writing techniques as they read, respond to, and write their own news and feature articles. Ultimately, students will write a 1000 word story and will have the option to likewise produce or co-produce a podcast on their story idea or a classmate’s. They will workshop the story drafts in class, providing necessary and critical feedback to each of their peers in order help generate the best stories.

Ceramics

Students experiment with clay and kiln to craft original pieces of pottery.

Model UN

Students are exposed to complex issues in our world. They grapple with international current events and step into the shoes of representatives of other countries through the lens of international diplomacy. They learn to debate, negotiate, and compromise to solve world problems alongside hundreds of middle school students from around New England. In the process, students develop skills that will stay with them beyond the Horizons program: public speaking, debate, online research, negotiation, team work and writing skills.

Art History

Students understand the historical contributions and cultural dimensions of the visual arts. Students analyze the role and development of the visual arts in past and present cultures throughout the world, noting human diversity as it relates to the visual arts and artists.

Creative Writing

Students write, workshop, and revise original pieces of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction based on certain prompts.

Civil Rights History

This offering provides students with a broad overview of the civil rights movement – the key issues, significant people and organizations, and pivotal events – as well as a deeper understanding of its scope, influence, legacy, and lessons for today.

Urban Design

Students examine how a vast spectrum of social and economic forces have changed cities; what these changes mean for people in their daily lives; and how citizens, community groups, and planners can work together to make productive, sustainable, safe, lively, and livable places

Urban Gardens

Students explore gardening and horticulture. We will visit one or two urban gardens, learn about sustainability, research invasive plants in New England, and practice identifying the flora that flourishes in the reserve.

Music

This offering has now been absorbed by our middle school music program. Music 6 is now a requirement for 6th Grade.

Drama

Students are invited to audition for our twice-a-year school plays.