MIDDLE SCHOOL
Our middle school provides students with a safe, nurturing environment at a crucial time in a child’s development. The challenges of adolescence can prove to be overwhelming for many pre-teens and young teenagers. Our middle school provides a warm, nurturing environment to help guide students through this pivotal period in their growth. At the same time, just as in our elementary school, our small size allows us to challenge students, by personalizing, accelerating and differentiating their instruction in ways that would not be possible in a larger, more traditional school.
Our middle school program is marked by more specialization; math courses explore in depth content areas such as algebra, geometry, and statistics; history delves into explorations of Latin America, Africa and the far east. Science students investigate marine life and study fields like physics and geology.
With class periods typically lasting up to 90 minutes, our middle school schedule is also designed to allow for frequent subject integration, project work, and in depth investigations. Visual arts, performing arts, and music instruction are all furthered. And finally, greater responsibility for our students is also a hallmark of our middle school program, with periods of independent study built into each student’s weekly schedule.
Middle schoolers may pick one of two Spanish language tracks: a Spanish immersion track or a Spanish proficiency track. In our immersion track, approximately half of a student’s instruction takes place in Spanish, as it does in our elementary school, as we help students advance from intermediate to advanced levels of Spanish fluency. Alternatively, students may select a Spanish proficiency track, in which instruction takes place primarily in English and students learn Spanish as a special subject. The goal of our proficiency track is to help students develop competency in the Spanish language and lay a strong foundation for future mastery of the Spanish language.
Just as in our elementary school, students may opt for a Jewish Studies track or Ethics & World Beliefs. Jewish Studies provides an in-depth study of Judaism, focusing on Jewish values, the diversity of the Jewish community around the world and continued Hebrew language instruction. Ethics & World Beliefs investigates how different cultures around the world address ethical and philosophical questions, and explores the world’s major religions by studying their belief systems, traditions, and holidays.
Our Middle School experience offers a comfortable, flexible, developmentally appropriate learning environment designed for age-appropriate innovation and collaboration.
Tampa Bay International School prepares graduates to excel locally and nationally in the most prestigious and competitive high school programs.
Unique Benefits of TBIS Middle School:
- Highly differentiated, small group instruction in all academic areas
- STEAM — infused curriculum (Science,Technology, Engineering, Art and Math)
- Two tracks: Spanish immersion and Spanish proficiency
- An inquiry based curriculum rich in international studies
- A vibrant visual and performing arts program
- One-on-one and small group musical instrument instruction
- Service learning opportunities
- Personalized high school placement guidance and support