Serving Preschool Through 8th Grade in the San Francisco East Bay Since 1962
Middle School: 6-8

Seminar

In eighth grade, our students examine the strength of diversity, equality, and peacemaking in order to discovery the beauty of humanity.

Did you know?

Seven Hills is a thought-leader in the discipline of Restorative Justice and Conflict Resolution. Our Middle School students move on to high school with skills well-beyond their peers, and model healthy behavior in their new school environments.

Discovering Self and Others

In Seminar, students embark on a journey of self-discovery and a deeper understanding of themselves and their peers. Students explore fundamental questions like "Who am I?" while gaining insights into the importance of being part of a diverse community. Throughout this exploration, they develop skills such as empathy, a growth mindset, mutual respect, critical thinking, and conflict resolution.

Tailored to empower students for success in middle school and beyond, each Seminar session focuses on nurturing interpersonal and intrapersonal skills, along with socio-cultural awareness. This approach establishes a robust foundation for academic success, personal growth, and readiness for a diverse future.

 
6th Grade: Focus on identity and the self: Who am I? How do I better understand myself and others?
 
  • Initiate the academic year with a focus on building a sense of community and establishing group norms.
  • Introduce the Restorative Justice framework for conflict resolution, emphasizing mediation skills using the EARS (empathy, active listening, reflection, and summarizing) approach.
  • Explore the importance of empathy and practice showing empathy, focusing on "compassionate curiosity."
  • Learn distress tolerance skills including mindfulness, ACCEPTS, and self-soothers.
  • Explore the implications of bullying and the role of bystanders and upstanders, leading to anti-bullying proposals.
  • Learn about anxiety in adolescence, non-conformity, and privilege before diving into Pollyanna's racial literacy curriculum. 
 
7th Grade: Focus on relationships in the context of school: Who am I within the context of our school and local community?
 
  • Explore various topics essential for personal and social growth.
  • Focus on instilling Seven Hills’ values of respect, responsibility, and honesty, along with emotional regulation tools.
  • Address social dynamics, delving into social cliques and emphasizing the importance of consent.
  • Explore the science of habit formation, laying the foundation for adopting positive habits and avoiding harmful ones.
 
Eighth Grade: Focus on social issues outside of school: Who am I within the context of our society and our world?
 
  • Explore identity, systems, and the environment through ongoing essential questions.
  • Build inclusive norms, fostering a space for diverse thoughts and knowledge-building discussions that can lead to action.
  • Embrace values such as kindness, bravery, mutual respect, and empathy, enhancing self-awareness and understanding.
  • Practice essential skills - empathy, understanding, active listening, and self-reflection - to guide them through ethical dilemmas, peer communication, diverse opinions, bias evaluation, defining community, and understanding the impact of labels.
  • Explore social constructs and their impact on society.

The Seven Hills School

975 North San Carlos Drive
Walnut Creek, CA 94598
P | (925) 933-0666
E | info@sevenhillsschool.org
F | (925) 933-6271

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