Open to all Middle School students, the Middle School Think Tanks occur on two Saturdays of the year. Students show up on campus with no idea of what challenging task will enfold. Ranging from "designing and marketing a 'brain juice' smoothie" to "how to protect the school from an alien invasion," students are asked to devise creative and innovative solutions for these intellectually stimulating adventures.

These three Global games—Globalliance, Hunt for the Trust and The Colonial Games, ask students to implement critical thinking skills, their passions and interests, creativity, leadership capabilities and teamwork muscles in this alternate world where they lead nations, solve problems and evaluate those solutions. Each Game is unique in design. Globalliance: Think "The Amazing Race" meets Model United Nations. Hunt for the Trust is modeled on a National Treasure styled adventure and The Colonial Games is a mashup of Hunger Games and The Settlers of Catan—may the odds be ever in your favor!

The mission of the Global Education program at HIES is to cultivate students who have the knowledge, dispositions and skills to act ethically and creatively in the world. It is an education of compassion and conscience, centered on the human dignity inherent in our relationships with family and community, both locally and abroad.

Read more about Global Studies at HIES

The PRIME Time program is an opportunity for us to provide character education to our Middle School students with a focus on social/emotional wellness, academic skill building, digital citizenship and service learning. PRIME Time will also give us an opportunity to introduce the RoundSquare framework with a focus on the twelve discoveries. 

PRIME stands for Promoting Responsibility In Multiple Endeavors. Middle school is the time when students really start to take responsibility for their education and become intentional citizens of their school, local and global communities. Their world gets bigger in Middle School, so they need to learn how to manage their time, their studies, their emotions, their friendships and family relationships, their responsibilities and their fun.

Community Service is more than a graduation requirement at HIES. At HIES we believe you are never too young to make a difference in your community and the world. Service Learning in the Middle School starts with a class in the sixth grade. Beginning in eighth grader, and expanding in Upper School, students are required to complete and document five hours of community service during the year.

The seventh grade goes on an annual overnight retreat to Nantahala Outdoor Center. 

Clubs and organizations are an integral part of student life in Middle School at HIES. The Middle School offers 23 different clubs and each student will participate in multiple clubs through the school year, rotating on a trimester basis.

The great variety of clubs and organizations exist to provide students with opportunities to continue their education outside of the classroom and to build community around common interest. Involvement in organizations is a great way to enhance social skills, problem-solving, leadership qualities and other important life skills. Leaders of clubs and organizations play an important role in helping students build relationships and strengthen their connection to the entire HIES Community.

Service Learning in the Middle School starts with a class in the sixth grade. Beginning in grade 8, students are required to complete five hours of community service during the year.

Learn more about Community Service at HIES

The PRIME Time program is an opportunity for us to provide character education to our Middle School students with a focus on social/emotional wellness, academic skill building, digital citizenship and service learning. PRIME Time will also give us an opportunity to introduce the RoundSquare framework with a focus on the twelve discoveries. 

PRIME stands for Promoting Responsibility In Multiple Endeavors. Middle school is the time when students really start to take responsibility for their education and become intentional citizens of their school, local and global communities. Their world gets bigger in Middle School, so they need to learn how to manage their time, their studies, their emotions, their friendships and family relationships, their responsibilities and their fun.