As we evaluated the Middle School experience, and our hopes and dreams for our 6th, 7th and 8th graders and the reality of our limited space on the 31st Street Campus, it became  apparent that our students’ and faculty’s needs can best be met at the Southwest Parkway campus. We will maintain the integrity of our programming and traditions that make the Middle School experience special, but a move to Southwest Parkway will only enhance those experiences and opportunities for our Middle School students. Here’s why:   A grades 6-12 campus will allow Upper and Middle School faculty to collaborate across their divisions, enhancing academic opportunities for our Middle School students and ensuring academic consistency as they move to the Upper School,  Middle School students who are interested in or able can take Upper School level coursework with teachers who are experienced in that particular subject matter, We currently bus the majority of our middle school student athletes and artists to Southwest Parkway to take advantage of our fields and fine arts facilities on that campus. This constant busing cramps our programs and is incredibly time-consuming. Additionally, having our Middle School athletics full-time on the Southwest Parkway campus will allow those students to have increased access to athletic program directors who are all currently located at the Upper School. In that same vein, our fine arts students will have access and opportunity to benefit from those fine arts facilities and additional instructors, The Middle School students do not have much interaction with our Lower School students currently, and there will be improved leadership development and mentoring opportunities for Middle and Upper School students with a combined campus, We are out of space on 31st street to truly improve the learning experiences for our youngest students. With current admissions pressure and an eye on controlled student growth in the next decade, we must expand and improve our facilities to accommodate that growth and to best serve our academic program needs. The current Middle School building, Dell Hall, will house our 4th and 5th grade students, which will free up significant space. Parking on 31st street is only getting more complicated, as is traffic and street flow. Reducing the student and faculty population on that campus will relieve congestion and parking complications, Transportation to our Southwest Parkway campus, including other potential bus stops and routes, would be expanded to be as inclusive as possible for all our students.