Junior High

Grade 7-9

Fiore’s Junior High program prepares students for college and high school through a scientifically developed integrated curriculum. Students develop academic skills while engaging in meaningful real-world projects. A focus on social relationships and young adult independence offers learning in a developmentally appropriate and enticing way. Motivation and drive become central to their efforts when students can see that their efforts positively impact the future.

Our curriculum is cohesive and intuitive. It includes elements of classroom instruction, work & study, seminars & research, hands on practical experiences, and managing a small business. By participating in this range of learning opportunities, students understand real world skills, handling money and develop the knowledge to move towards economic independence as adults. They become informed about aspects of real life and prepared to be active participants in the society.

Student Outcomes

Preparation for strong academics in High school in Math, Language and Science
New confidence as young adults with self awareness and agency
Strong Intrinsic motivation and meaningful work ethic
Ability to negotiate, speak & influence a group
Well rounded individuals with exposure to arts, theatre and athletics

Schedule

School Day Schedule: 8:00 am - 3:40 pm
After School Project and Club Time 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Early start time:

Community Living

Students take on real-world responsibilities—managing their environment, cooking meals, planning trips, handling finances, and leading their peers—gaining essential life skills in teamwork, leadership, and compromise.

Work & Study Projects

Our program organizes its curriculum into thematic cycles during the year, each lasting four to six weeks. Each cycle consists of three stages - invitation - which includes key lessons; exploration - to investigate, research and discuss and transfer - share and demonstrate Students share individually or in groups through presentations, demonstrations, publications, reports on research, and/or proposals to the school or wider community.

This enables students to learn and apply abstract concepts in a practical way. Students see the practical value of their learning, which deepens their intuitive understanding.

Seminar

A critical aspect of our learning environment is that students are encouraged to engage in a "great conversation" or seminar where they are exploring significant themes and texts and examining the ideas of influential writers and historical figures. The seminar aims to deepen understanding of the work being studied and to enhance skills in discussion and disciplined inquiry.

Students learn to read texts closely, provide interpretations supported by textual evidence, think. critically, listen attentively, build on others' insights, disagree respectfully, and contribute questions and summaries to guide the discussion. The focus of the seminar discussion varies from Literature to scientific studies, historical documents, math problems, current events, philosophy, or visual art.

Core Subjects

In all areas of our academic work, students are first given an orientation to the subject matter including key concepts, vocabulary, history, etc., and then encouraged to go deep into particular areas. Core subjects covered include -

Humanities/Self Expression (English Language Arts, Literature, History, Geography & Social Sciences)

Mathematics, - Pre Algebra, Algebra, Geometry, Statistics

Science - Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics

World Language - Spanish

Creative Expression / Field Work - Music, Art, Drama, Woodwork, Outdoor Work and other special interests

Community Living -

Production & Exchange

Production & Exchange is a key aspect of the Adolescent Community at Fiore.

By participating in and managing small business endeavors, students develop the knowledge and skills that will help them achieve economic independence as adults. Students study, learn, and practice skills related to design, production, exchange, and finance management, which will inform their future understanding of adult society and prepare them to be active participants in it.

Students are able to gain hands-on experience by creating products to sell at school, community, and online markets, fostering creativity and entrepreneurial thinking.

Field Work & Off Campus trips

Access to Outdoors
Located on 4.5 acres in Vienna, VA, Fiore’s Adolescent Community (“Hawthorn”) offers an outdoor pool, basketball court, open fields, and wooded space. Students work, garden, eat, play, and relax in nature.

Gardening & Farming
With 1,300 sq. ft. of farmland at Potomac Vegetable Farm and a hydroponics program, students gain hands-on agricultural experience.

Outings
Students explore the rich cultural and educational resources of the DC Metro Area, including Wolf Trap and beyond. Students also plan and embark on adventures to places like Great Falls, the Billy Goat Trail, and the Potomac River, including the tradition of an overnight “Odyssey” trip featuring hiking, climbing, and rafting.

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Junior High Curriculum

Foreign Language

Spanish is taught through immersion with Spanish-speaking staff on campus as well as specific Spanish lessons that will focus on building vocabulary with an introduction to grammatical accuracy in order to enable conversational fluency. Spanish is currently offered through live instruction with a specialist. If a child is interested in learning classical Latin or another modern language, they will be able to work with a guide to develop a self-study program with online support.

Humanities - History & Language Arts

Integrates the study of human history and civilization with English Language Arts. Students learn through project-based exploration and discussions of great literature and ideas throughout the world. The study of history is focused on the inventions, discoveries, and developments that people in a variety of time periods made. Weekly workshops emphasize developing clear, concise and effective written communication. Students complete assignments which enable practicing different writing styles by way of research and reports, expository writing, persuasive writing, essays, poetry, prose, and periodical articles, and get feedback.

Creative Expression (Arts, Music, Woodworking)

Students create with a variety of visual art media, musical instruments, maker-space constructive equipment, and technological devices for both creative self-expression and also to create those items that are needed for functionality within the community. We invite professional experts to hold 3 to 6 week “workshops” throughout the year to inspire the students to learn about and develop new abilities in these areas.

Mathematics

Students study the foundations of Algebra including the concepts of and operations with rational numbers, ratios to solve problems involving proportional reasoning, volume and surface area computation, and relationships among plane and solid figures. Probability is investigated by comparing experimental results to theoretical expectations in the field. Students continue to develop their understanding of solving linear equations and inequalities by applying the properties of real numbers. They discern between proportional and non-proportional relationships, and begin to develop a concept of slope as rate of change.

Community Living

Collaborative group work and peer engagement, student-planned overnight trips that provide the experience of living together and collaborating to meet our fundamental human needs, care of the indoor and outdoor environments (cleaning, maintenance, woodworking, etc.), operation of a production and exchange business enterprise (entrepreneurship), service projects within the school community and with partners in the greater local community.

Science

Science is taught in an integrated approach through project-based application that is rooted in the real needs of the land and the community. Students experience roles or “occupations” that support the real work needed within the community related for example to farming, cooking, building, and so on. As they commit to their roles, they also learn the science associated with that particular line of work and explore meaningful scientific content and concepts that underlay each project. Earth science, biology, chemistry, physics and computer science are thoroughly covered through this process. In addition, oversight by the Math/Science guide is provided as the students initiate and manage their own micro-economy as part of their learning process. The math/science seminars enable discussion of great works describing discoveries and the pursuit of knowledge through the ages.

At Fiore, every individual is a vital member of a dynamic learning community. It is a place where students are nurtured, challenged, empowered, and inspired. Through meaningful contributions – to the social group, local community, and environment – students take the lead in their own self-construction and the transition between childhood and adulthood. Through this transformative process, students gain confidence, resilience, and adaptability, qualities that will serve them wherever they go in life.

AthleticsAt the adolescent level students engage in formal sports, games, athletics and classic PE. Students enjoy both the team effort and adrenal rush of winning.

Theatre & ArtsStudents collaborate with professional actors from 1st Stage Theatre, participating in a multi-month production cycle that concludes with a theatrical performance.

A central aspect of the Adolescent Program is self-expression, and theater has the ability to combine multiple forms, such as creative writing, visual arts, music, voice, light, and dance. Students participate in a play production cycle, a multi-month project that ends with a theatrical performance. This project allows students to learn about drama as an art form and to practice theatrical skills. It involves both intellectual and practical work, combining mental effort with hands-on tasks. Students can express themselves through writing, design, construction, and acting. Performing in front of an audience of adults, children, and peers fulfills the need for meaningful work and authentic learning experiences. Additionally, collaborating to create something larger than any individual effort fosters a strong sense of unity, mutual respect, and gratitude. Fiore has the great fortune to work with First Stage, a small theater company located in Tysons, VA. Our students learn from and work alongside professional actors, which provides incredible opportunities for developing skills that will serve them throughout life.

After-School Interest GroupsOpportunities extend beyond the classroom, including chess, wood shop, debate, and finance. Read more about our After School Interest Groups

The Value of WorkAdolescence is a critical period for the preparation for adult life, requiring dedicated study and experience in how humankind coexists, learns, and collaborates. Our adolescent program is designed to support students with various abilities and interests to succeed while living, learning, and working together as a community. The unique and essential aspect of this approach is the active participation of students in responding to the evolving needs of the school and the wider community. Engaging in meaningful work within a community context motivates adolescents to study, develop skills, and contribute to significant decision-making and problem-solving efforts. Work becomes meaningful when students can see that their efforts will benefit others or positively impact the future.

Students exercise ownership over the care of the indoor and outdoor environments. The space is held in community with each other and the guides. Students have rotating responsibilities for specific areas, which are also managed and overseen by elected peers. Students can take the lead on the improvement or maintenance of the environment, such as choosing furniture or art, repairing a desk, or refinishing a table. In addition, social events are planned by students throughout the year, such as cooking parties or special field trips.Students also plan overnight trips, including the beginning-of-year Odyssey, which are all powerful opportunities to experience communal living with others outside of the family. During these times, students not only live together, but also cook meals, organize cleaning, and manage all of the responsibilities of the home.

Model United Nations

Students participate in Model United Nations program which comprises of a year-long study and work project, participation in mid-year working sessions and social meetups with peers around the world, and then culminates in a multi-day conference in New York City. Students learn about cultures, governments, and peoples of nations throughout the world; Apply research, writing, and communications skills;Develop critical thinking, problem solving, and evaluative skills;Debate current global issues and world problems;Practice and use leadership skills in real-life global situations; andUnderstand the need for peace and conflict resolution throughout the world.

Odyssey

As a Montessori adolescent program, there are two essential principles to which we aspire: one is building a close-knit community, and the second is embracing challenge. A time-honored tradition of adolescent programs worldwide is to start the year with what we call an “Odyssey” trip. Such trips are designed so that every member of the community – students and guides – can directly address these two principles in a way that is earnest and dynamic by learning and living together in a setting devoid of external distractions. Students play a central role in planning and preparing for the trip, which focuses on immersion in the outdoors through activities like hiking, climbing, and white-water rafting.

Model UN

A year-long immersive program culminating in a multi-day NYC conference, where students tackle global issues, develop research and debate skills, and engage in leadership and negotiation.

Fiore Montessori School is ideally located near a wealth of resources: Next door is the Potomac Vegetable Farm, and down the street is Meadowlark Botanical Gardens and the Wolf Trap Center for Performing Arts. Close by (~5 miles) is historic Vienna and Reston, which both offer independent restaurants, cafes, and shops, as well as libraries, art galleries, and parks. Even closer is Tyson's Corner, which hosts shopping centers, headquarters of numerous companies, and of particular note to Fiore, 1st Stage Theatre, a playhouse for topical shows featuring young and emerging actors. 3 miles away is the Spring Hill Metro Station. This public transportation source allows access to Washington, DC, as well as numerous jurisdictions in Virginia and Maryland. A short drive away are gorgeous natural resources, such as Great Falls National Park, the Billy Goat Trail, C&O Canal Towpath, W&OD Trail, and the Potomac River. The Nation's Capital is less than 20 miles away, home to a wealth of free and affordable museums and art galleries, as well as historical sites, monuments, and memorials.