Middle School (Grades 6-8)

Middle School is where students discover who they are, what they care about, and how they can make an impact. Middle School is a pivotal time when curiosity deepens into purpose and learning becomes increasingly connected to the world beyond the classroom. At Pickering College, students grow into capable, self-aware leaders who are prepared to navigate a changing world with confidence and purpose.

SPARC (Student Projects Advancing Real Change)

Every Wednesday, Middle School students extend their learning beyond the classroom through meaningful projects developed alongside community partners. Grounded in academic excellence, SPARC helps students connect what they learn in class to real-world challenges.

Working in multi-grade teams, students collaborate with community organizations and local leaders to address challenges that matter to them. Through this process, they learn how thoughtful ideas can become meaningful action that benefits their community.

SPARC experiences ignite curiosity and empathy in students. Students develop essential skills and knowledge while collaborating on projects that affect real change in our community.

Through these interdisciplinary projects, students are empowered to find their own sense of purpose, in line with the enduring principles of our Quaker values.

learn more about sparc here

What does SPARC look like?

Our students:

Design sustainability initiatives
Partner with local organizations
Create advocacy campaigns
Build prototypes
Present solutions to real audiences

SPARC in Action

Designing for Accessibility with CNIB

Middle School students partnered with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) to explore how thoughtful design can make everyday experiences more inclusive. Through their participation in Dining in the Dark in Toronto and collaboration with CNIB, students gained insight into the experiences of people who are blind or have low vision.

Using an empathy-driven design process, students created accessible games, learning tools, and resources that promote sociability, independence, and confidence. By responding to real accessibility challenges, they developed a deeper understanding of inclusive design and the power of creating solutions that meet the needs of diverse communities.

Fast Fashion: Understanding the Impact of What We Wear

Through a partnership with Mission Thrift Store, students explored the environmental, economic, and human rights impacts of fast fashion. By sorting donated clothing, they gained firsthand insight into textile waste, garment quality, and the effects of overconsumption.

This hands-on experience challenged students to think critically about sustainability, ethical production, and responsible consumption. It also deepened their understanding of the social justice issues faced by garment workers around the world.

Designing Games, Building Connections

Students took on the challenge of planning, designing, and coding an educational video game that explored concepts such as cybersecurity, memory allocation, and dexterity. Working alongside The Wise Ones, they refined their ideas through feedback, reflection, and iteration, developing both their technical skills and creative problem-solving abilities.

The project was about more than coding. It fostered meaningful intergenerational relationships as students collaborated with The Wise Ones, a volunteer group of older adults from the local community who share their knowledge, life experience, and wisdom. Many are grandparents, retired educators, or longtime members of the Pickering College community, bringing valuable perspectives that enrich student learning while creating lasting connections across generations.

Celebrating SPARC: Students Present Their Learning

At the end of each SPARC term, students thank their community partners, present their projects and solutions to families and community partners through live demonstrations and presentations.

SPARC Project: Environmental Stewardship

This project challenged students to design creative, practical recipes using ingredients offered in the Newmarket Food Pantry store to help customers see what meals could be made with what is available.

Students researched, created, tested, and refined their recipes through feedback and iteration.

The final outcome is an engaging recipe book featuring easy-to-follow meals that promote variety, accessibility, and enjoyable cooking.

Community Partner: Local “Wise Ones”

The Wise Ones are a volunteer group of older adults from our local community who eagerly share their invaluable knowledge, life experience, and wisdom with Pickering College students.

Many are seniors connected to our school as grandparents, former teachers, or long-time community members, and they are enthusiastic about building meaningful relationships with students and enriching their learning experiences.

SPARC Project: Technology: Robotics & Coding

The Coding & Robotics project challenged students to plan, design, and code a video game that teaches cybersecurity concepts.

With feedback from our partners, The Wise Ones, students were able to iterate throughout the process and were given opportunities to reflect on their work.

An emphasis was placed on developing relationships with our partners to promote intergenerational connection and understanding.

SPARC Project: Identity & Community

An interdisciplinary museum exhibit was designed to explore Quaker heritage at Newmarket and Pickering College. Research using primary and secondary sources informed historical analysis, interpretive writing, and artifact curation.

The project involved designing visual and interactive displays that transform historical research into an engaging visitor experience.

Community Partner: Elman W. Campbell Museum

The Elman W. Campbell Museum preserves and shares the stories that shape Newmarket’s past and present.

Located on Main Street in historic downtown Newmarket since 1996, the museum is housed in the former York Registry Office, built in 1884. Designated under the Ontario Heritage Act, the building is the last remaining 19th-century registry office from York County.

SPARC Project: Social Justice & Advocacy

The Social Justice & Advocacy Fast Fashion Project explored the environmental, economic, and human rights challenges of fast fashion.

Partnering with Mission Thrift, students sorted donated clothing to gain firsthand insight into textile waste, material quality, and the realities of overconsumption.

Examining real garments helped them understand construction and wear, identifying what could be repaired or repurposed, and finally transforming textiles into their own sustainable creations.

Why Middle School Matters

Middle school is a pivotal time in a young person's life. Between the ages of 11 and 14, students are developing a stronger sense of who they are, building meaningful friendships, testing their independence, and discovering how they can contribute to the world around them.

At Pickering College, we believe these years deserve intentional care and attention. Grounded in our Quaker values and brought to life through the Pillar Years program, our approach supports students as they develop confidence, resilience, leadership, and a strong sense of self.

We help students:

Discover their identity and understand their strengths, interests, and values
Build confidence by embracing new challenges and opportunities
Develop meaningful friendships within a supportive and inclusive community
Strengthen resilience through experiences that encourage perseverance and growth
Lead and take action with integrity, empathy, and purpose
Find their voice and express their ideas with courage and respect

By the end of Middle School, students are not only ready for Senior School, they are prepared to navigate life with greater self-awareness, confidence, and purpose.

The Pillar Years

The Pillar Years framework is built around two essential questions:
Who am I? and What can I do?

Throughout Middle School students build confidence, develop leadership skills, explore their interests, and deepen their understanding of themselves and the world around them.

In their Grade 8 My SPARC project students take ownership of their learning by engaging in an impactful project where they create real change, showcasing their growth, passions, and unique strengths in a personally meaningful way.

At Pickering College, we see Middle School as the foundation for a lifetime of leadership, learning, and meaningful action.

See Middle School in action.

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