New course offerings for the Middle School at Austin Prep

The Middle School at Austin Preparatory School in Reading is offering several new choices to its students in the areas of academics, arts and travel.

Beginning in the fall, students in grade six will have the opportunity to select their world language, said Michael McLaughlin, Head of Middle School. The school is adding Mandarin Chinese to its language offerings. Modeling off its successful Classics program, there will be opportunities for interdisciplinary learning as language arts, history, and theology collaborate to enhance students’ study of Mandarin, he said.

Middle School students will have the opportunity to explore an arts strand in greater depth next year, as well. Students will be able to select classes in the disciplines of dance, drama, music, and visual arts. These electives will permit students the opportunity to take the same strand of art twice in the course of their middle school journey, McLaughlin said.

Austin Prep is now a member of the invitation-only Independent Schools Cultural Alliance (ISCA). ISCA is an international enrichment opportunity for middle school students from across the globe to study abroad in England for three weeks over the summer. This summer, a handful of students will be taking part, immersing themselves in the history and culture of England in a hands-on, experiential manner to develop a global consciousness and a sense of responsibility, McLaughlin said. Only few schools in the United States have been invited to take part in ISCA, he added.