Travel, Traditions, and Leadership

Sixth-graders experience life in a developing country by traveling to Heifer International Global Village. Their adventure is complete with international homes, gardens, and livestock, which represent daily life in regions of Guatemala, Mozambique, Kenya, Appalachia, Thailand, and Tibet.

Seventh-grade students are immersed in Bay ecology learning and team building throughout their three-day Chesapeake Bay adventure. From crabbing to canoeing, students apply what they have learned in the classroom, work on interpersonal skills, and reflect on personal growth through this experience.

The eighth-grade trip to Philadelphia offers our oldest Middle School students an opportunity to extend their classroom learning through the many cultural and historical highlights available in this great city and to make memories to last a lifetime with faculty and classmates. Spending two nights and three days, students take in the City of Brotherly Love from a historical perspective through city tours and visits to landmarks with historic significance.

Through Global Explorers (GEX), students begin to understand their place in our global community and their own responsibilities within it. GEX is a cultural immersion program that blends science, culture, leadership, and service into a rich and life-changing eight- to ten-day experience in Costa Rica.

World Languages Week is a celebration of students' language skills, other countries and cultures, and the importance of learning a language. Music from various countries is played before school and artistic activities, such as illustrating proverbs, are enjoyed by all. Games are integrated to provide a fun-filled and educational week.

Colonizing Day is the ultimate interdisciplinary experience for eighth-grade students. In this day-long, cross-curricular activity, students create their own colonial governments, complete challenges across all disciplines related to common colonial professions, and simulate what life was like in pre-revolution America. Drawing on their studies of the scientific method in earth science, geometry and algebra skills from math, the analysis of human nature in Lord of the Flies, vocabulary and grammar from French, Latin, and Spanish classes, and examinations of systems of government in American Experience, as well as artistic performing challenges, Colonizing Day brings learning full circle for Fredericksburg Academy eighth-graders.

This is an exciting field trip based on the concept of "The Amazing Race" for sixth-graders, which focuses on critical thinking and problem-solving. This trip relates directly to the essential question of "How does geography help shape culture?"

Students are divided into groups and given a set of destinations in downtown Fredericksburg that are related to the essential question. The task is to visit the different destinations while retrieving information along the way. Problem-solving, map-reading, critical thinking, and communication are just a few of the skills they sharpen throughout this day.

• Homecoming - Homecoming is an all-school tradition at Fredericksburg Academy. Middle School students celebrate Spirit Week leading up to Homecoming and prepare banners for FA's unique Homecoming Parade, which brings all divisions together on Academy Drive to celebrate our school spirit and cheer for ouf Falcon athletes. Eighth-grade students are invited to attend the bonfire with all Upper School students.

• Fall Carnival - Fall Carnival is one of Fredericksburg Academy's oldest traditions, geared toward our youngest Falcons, but dependent on our Middle School students. Middle School students run the carnival games and hand out prizes. Fall Carnival is beloved by Falcons of all ages!

• Spirit Weeks - Middle Schoolers once again show their school spirit and enthusiasm for our winter and spring athletes during Spirit Weeks. These weeks end with an all-school pep rally.

• Middle School dances - Two Middle School dances each year to give Middle School students a fun social opportunity on campus.

• Taco Cat - Taco Cat is a year-long team-building and peer-mentoring activity. Groups of Middle School students with the same advisor come together to form a Taco Cat team. Taco Cat teams are composed of sixth- through eighth-graders and teams earn points for challenges and teamwork throughout the year. Challenges take place all across our 44-acre campus and culminate with an Olympic-style day of contests after which the coveted Taco Cat trophy is awarded to the top-finishing team.

The Fredericksburg Academy community comes together each spring to celebrate visual and performing arts at the Fine Arts Festival. Middle School students in theater, band, chorus, and orchestra perform during this special program, and art work by visual art students is displayed in gallery-style for viewing.

The Middle School Council is an elected committee of Middle School students that assists in shaping Middle School life at FA. Students elect grade-level representatives who meet regularly to consider issues affecting their classmates and to plan community-building and social events for the Middle School.

The purpose of Fredericksburg Academy’s SAFE program is to support an inclusive environment in our school community, where students can learn to understand, communicate, and appreciate each other. This program also provides an opportunity for seventh- and eighth-grade students to hone leadership skills while in the Middle School.

Students in sixth through twelfth grade are eligible to be Student Ambassadors. Student Ambassadors work to help support the Admission Office and promote the school at community functions. In addition to giving tours to prospective students and families, Student Ambassadors serve as ushers at school functions and host prospective students.

ECO is a Middle School student organization that promotes recycling options within the school, encouraging students to become greener. Members also assist with projects to promote sustainable living throughout the school. ECO members are environmental leaders.