After you've spent approximately 90 seconds with me on a campus tour, my feelings about our Middle School are pretty clear. I am a super fan. 

Our Middle School at ISDenver is arguably our best-kept secret. I honestly believe it to be the best in town. After almost 20 years of working with this age group in both volunteer and professional capacities, I can definitively say, ISDenver Middle School students are the nicest I've ever met. Truly.

Kindness matters. It matters to us so much that when we condense our mission down into a single boilerplate marketing message with what we are working to accomplish as a school it is this: Making the world more compassionate and curious, one student at a time.

And this isn’t just lip service. Over a decade ago, a group of dedicated faculty members envisioned the ISDenver Middle School. And in doing so, they flipped the script on a traditionally accepted American model that Middle School is simply a place meant to be survived. Instead, they dreamed of students thriving. A place where students are held to a higher standard and meanness isn’t acceptable. A safe place where students can find their unique voice and practice using it.

This vision, coupled with our unique model of multilingual education within the international baccalaureate framework make what is happening inside our new Middle School building really special.

I love telling this story. But, what I love more, is bringing you into a classroom to see learning in action. Or letting you hear the story from the students' mouths, not mine. And today, I get to do just that.

At our Cérémonie d'Ouverture kicking off the 2022-2023 school year, our Head of School award recipient, an 8th grader nominated by Middle School faculty, gave a compelling address to welcome students, parents, faculty and staff. Her message in a nutshell? Each of us can do good.

Her message left me misty-eyed and completely inspired. Her delivery? Funny. Articulate. Approachable. She embodies what I love about our entire school - and why I know what we say we do and what we actually do are in total alignment. We are making the world more compassionate and curious, one student at a time. Take a listen.