WHO WE ARE

At Haven Middle School for Social Leadership, we believe that all children deserve an education that equips them to be confident social leaders able to own their growth and development, promote social change, and inspire others to take action. We know that a great education requires more than academic achievement.That’s why at Haven Middle we’re committed to creating safe, inclusive spaces for scholars to learn about themselves and their community.

WHAT WE OFFER

We believe a school environment should be a haven for academic, personal, and social development. At Haven Middle School for Social Leadership, we create an environment where scholars:

Are welcomed. We work tirelessly to create and maintain a welcoming space for scholars, families, and team members.

Learn through collaboration. Learning is not a solo sport. Scholars frequently engage other scholars as well as their teachers to push their thinking and dive into learning.

Have a voice in their own learning. Scholar voices are heard and respected at Haven Middle.

WHAT WE WANT FOR SCHOLARS

We honor the diverse voices of our scholars, families, and team members to build a responsive learning environment that prepares graduates to become:

Owners of their academic and emotional growth: We believe that scholars should graduate with the emotional intelligence to recognize their strengths and weaknesses to improve themselves and their community. Scholars are supported to become owners of their personal development — both academic and emotional.

Confident social leaders: We are committed to preparing scholars to become engaged, effective civil leaders who advocate for justice and equality. Scholars develop a nuanced understanding of American and global social history to become leaders in the social justice movement.

Citizens able to meet their goals: We believe in the innate potential in all scholars, regardless of their background. Scholars will develop the knowledge and skills to succeed in high school and choose their futures.

Personalized Learning and Targeted Support

We keep every scholar’s unique strengths, interests, and experiences at the heart of our approach. Teachers and support staff meet weekly to discuss scholar needs and tailor academic, social, and emotional supports for them. Teachers incorporate scholar interests into the classroom throughout the year.

Technology as a Pathway to Student-Centered Learning

We use technology to adjust instruction to meet the needs of each scholar. Scholars engage in online programs to proceed at different paces toward mastery of skills and concepts. Technology-driven learning tools provide data about scholars’ academic growth that enable teachers to provide targeted small group and one-on-one support based on scholar needs.

Socially Conscious Thematic Units of Study

We believe in helping prepare scholars to become strong, conscientious social leaders who recognize challenges facing society. Most importantly, we want to equip scholars with the skills and tools to be agents for change. We incorporate socially conscientious units of study into all academic courses, encouraging awareness of social issues and preparing scholars to work collaboratively to address them.

Experiential Learning with a Real-World Connection

We believe scholars learn best by doing, especially when lessons extend into the real world, and we let this belief guide scholars’ learning experiences. Through project-based learning, scholars develop critical thinking, problem solving and interpersonal skills by applying their knowledge and skills to answer complex questions and solve challenging problems with real-world connections.

Social Emotional Learning

Our scholars develop social and emotional skills essential to success in high school and beyond. Each day, Haven Middle scholars meet with a small group of their peers and a staff member in an advisory setting to discuss their progress towards individual and collective goals and to collaboratively work to overcome obstacles. All scholars and staff also convene for a community circle as a source and model of continuous support.