Middle School to Lower Secondary

By: Sara Io

Middle school and lower secondary. Same meaning, different words. This year, AISG’s used-to-be middle school had a name change to lower secondary. AISG’s used-to-be high school also had a name change to upper secondary. Altogether, the Science Park campus was now known as secondary school. Middle school and lower secondary indicate the grades 6-8. The middle period from elementary school to upper secondary or high school. So why did this name change if the meanings are the same? To show connection between the middle and high school? MS has already been around for so long, so why was it changed and how was this decision made?

After speaking to Mr. Kevin Baker, the director of our school, it was found that the name change was in fact the first step to multiple changes coming to our school! Mr. Baker said that the names, middle school, and high school created artificial boundary between the grades 8 and 9. As an administrator, he mentioned that looking at the curriculum standpoint of our school there should not be and is no separation between middle and high school. Therefore, the name changed to secondary created less of boundary and line between the two. But middle and high school are also very different looking at grades 6 and 12, both grades have different events and projects. As Mr. Baker says, this is how the language of lower and upper secondary is used. Giving both sections of secondary school an identity but also a unity. He wants Science Park AISG campus to be viewed not as two schools, middle and high, but as one unified school. As he said, “The idea of lower (secondary) school, upper (secondary) school still gets a sense of identity but not separation, it’s about unity versus separation,”. The solution to this problem, secondary school.

As mentioned, this name change is just the beginning to some changes coming to AISG. Including a possible curriculum change. Mr. Baker has mentioned that it is a possibility to bring another program in called the MYP program, middle years program. He says, “We are exploring it (the MYP program)”. The MYP program runs through grades 6-10. However, he mentions that it does not make sense if the program runs through 6-10 but having a barrier of middle and high school at grade 8. It would create confusion. When secondary school is placed, AISG can be more aligned together. He also adds that this name change will not impact or change AISG much, he says that the only difference will just be learning to talk and organize ourselves differently. However, if this MYP program is set in place, some changes such as the curriculum for some classes and names for those classes might occur. The minor changes that might happen include new projects and different class curriculums or syllabuses, which have yet to happen.

Our school is facing just one of many changes to come throughout the course of AISG’s future. This name change may lead to future developments to improve AISG for the better. Some changes that this name change may lead to would be changes in curriculums, changes in our program and more. This name change is a bridge between the middle and high school to show that we are one, we are unified not separated. Mr. Baker also mentions that this is long term change, so secondary school is here to stay. AISG secondary school, currently, does not have any major changes that have occurred. So, as Mr. Baker puts it, “Just because we change our name, doesn’t mean we change who we are,”. And no matter what changes occur, AISG will still be AISG.