Our Middle School program is specifically designed for alpine and Nordic racers who are eager to experience ski academy life. Our goal with Middle School is to help students determine whether or not full-time attendance at GMVS fits with their passions. 6th & 7th grade students will be immersed in the life of the school and, with the support of our dedicated Middle School staff, learn the art of balancing their academic course load with the demands of intensive ski training.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Middle School a tutorial program or does GMVS have a distinct Middle School curriculum?
Middle School students enroll in GMVS’s 6th & 7th grade curriculum, which may be distinct from their sending school curriculum. The Middle School Program Director communicates with sending school teachers to create a smooth transition to and from the GMVS winter term program. After a successful winter, many of our 7th grade students choose to apply, and are accepted into the full-year 8th grade program at GMVS.
Who do Middle School students ski with?
Middle School students must be U14s; therefore, they join the U14 team for on-snow training. All U14 alpine skiers train alongside one another while all Nordic skiers train alongside one another.
What are the Middle School Program Dates?
The Middle School program runs from early November through late March.
Meet Our Middle School Program Director
Grif Edwards joined the GMVS faculty in 2019 teaching upper school history classes and supporting our learning services program. In 2021, he was hired as our Middle School Program Director. Prior to GMVS, Grif taught in a variety of independent and charter school settings with students in both middle and high school. In his first year with us, he gained invaluable insight into the entire GMVS experience by dipping his toes into all aspects of school life, including traveling to Colorado in November with the U14s.
Grif’s thoughtful approach to working with students and families makes him a great fit in leading the Middle School program.
The Middle School STEAM Program
Led by Eddie Merma of Sculpture School Vermont, Middle School students spend 6-8 weeks of their winter term working on a community-oriented interdisciplinary project. In 2019 they provided new activities for the Moretown Library and in 2020 they helped get Wildflower Studio set for success.