We know that increasingly students are growing up in a digital world that is constantly changing. That’s why at the Middle School we equip students with the digital skills they’ll need to successfully navigate their time in Middle School and beyond.

All students take Applied Design, Skills and Technologies (ADST), a course where they develop and put to use a wide variety of skills in video production, graphic design, 3D design and more. ADST skills are then embedded in class projects, so students practice their skills in the context of a wider topic.

Additionally, Grade 7 and 8 students can take computer science as a language course where they learn coding.

Applied Design, Skills and Technologies

The ADST courses at the Middle School are thoughtfully designed to help students feel confident using software and hardware that covers an array of technology and design skills that will help them in their ever-increasing digital world. This mandatory course in Grade 6, 7 and 8 gives students familiarity using word processing and spreadsheet programs before launching into 2D and 3D graphics, videography, storyboarding, graphic design and operations of computers. ADST teachers work with subject teachers in science, French, music and more to co-create projects that tie in ADST skills with other subject material. For example, Grade 8 students write, film and edit movie trailers as part of a book report project in humanities.

Computer Science (elective)

The computer science course is in addition to instruction in technology all students receive as part of Applied Design, Skills and Technologies. Through this course, students who are interested in programming or software engineering learn computational thinking and coding. This specialized course focuses on block-based coding and introductory coding languages. Computer science is an elective language course for students in Grades 7 and 8.