Mathematics
The Mathematics Department at the Potomac School believes that math is a powerful tool necessary for success in a wide variety of fields and lifelong endeavors. We seek to provide every student with the opportunity to realize her or his full potential as a mathematical thinker, and we make the commitment that all students should feel fully supported and challenged. By offering experiences that encourage students to explore ideas, take risks, and to think for themselves, we hope to foster a love of learning and an appreciation of mathematics. We want our students to be effective problem solvers who think logically and critically, and we emphasize the importance of creativity and resilience in working through challenging, non-routine problems. When we establish skills, the emphasis is not on rote memory, but on working through logical and developmentally appropriate processes that students understand. Concepts are first introduced in a way that provides a concrete referent and that leads to greater facility when the ideas are later expanded to a more abstract realm. Our classes are designed to foster communication and collaboration. Students are encouraged to take intellectual risks, to share their ideas, to seek out alternative approaches to problem-solving, and to develop new ways of thinking.
Art
Within the two years that they are in the Intermediate School, they explore drawing, painting, printmaking, collage, digital photography and technology, textiles, and sculpture.
Athletics
The athletic programs in the Intermediate School offer students a full range of opportunities and experiences. Students participate in sports during each season and benefit from their introduction to the many educational merits of interscholastic competition.
English
Seventh grade English introduces students to literary analysis and emphasizes effective strategies for communicating ideas and opinions.
History
Students also explore current events as they arise and connect to the study of early American history.
Mathematics
The Mathematics Department at the Potomac School believes that math is a powerful tool necessary for success in a wide variety of fields and lifelong endeavors.
Music
The music program in the seventh and eighth grades emphasizes musical literacy through performance.
Science
The Intermediate School science program instills in students the idea that science is not just a body of knowledge, but also a way of viewing the world.
Seminar
To promote growth in students, the IS Seminar course exposes students to key life skills and concepts that help them develop as ethical thinkers, leaders, community members, and teammates in their time at Potomac and beyond.
Technology
The Intermediate School approaches technology as an integral tool to promote research, collaboration, and communication in the 21st century.
Theater
Every winter, a group of Intermediate School actors present the junior version of a well-known musical in our Langstaff Auditorium
World Languages
All students in the Intermediate School choose a language as part of their course of study.