Eighth grade Algebra I, French I and Spanish I courses carry a high school credit. Additionally, students completing the four-year technology block in Middle School earn a half-credit in high school level technology.

Southfield currently offers French as its foreign language curriculum for students in preschool through sixth grade. The main objective of the foreign language curriculum is oral comprehension and expression. Leading up to middle school this is accomplished through activities such as songs, games and repetition exercises to reinforce vocabulary lessons. Prior to entering fifth grade students have experienced reading, writing and speaking French. In the middle school this progression continues with the increased emphasis on grammar and the additional choice to take Spanish in the seventh grade. By the end of eighth grade, oral comprehension, expression, reading and writing skills are expanded to such a level that the students are prepared for high school French or Spanish and have the opportunity to receive a high school foreign language credit.

Students should expect to be assigned homework in each subject every day, including Fridays. The amount of homework will increase appropriately as a student advances through middle school. The formula for measuring appropriate homework time is the student's grade times 15 minutes. This formula applies to the approximate length of time for the total homework. (A fifth grade student should expect 5 x 15 = 1hr 15minutes homework per night; an eighth grade student should expect 8 x 15 = 2 hrs. homework per night.) Eighth grade Algebra I, French I and Spanish I students can expect additional homework since these courses carry a high school credit.

When a child is absent from school, he/she is responsible for making up missed assignments upon his/her return. It is neither expected, nor is it the responsibility, of parents, teachers or peers to collect and gather assignments during absence. Once a child has recovered from illness and returned to school, he will be allowed time, equivalent to the number of days absent, to make up assignments. Students who miss test preparation time through absence will be allowed time, equivalent to the number of days absent, to prepare fully for their test(s). Parents and students can obtain daily homework assignments by visiting the Student page of the www.southfield-school.org website.

Southfield School provides a cafeteria-style lunch program for our students. Lunch menu information and order forms will be sent home around the middle of each month, to be returned to the front office in time for the order forms to be processed. The lunch program is being directed and operated by Southfield parents. The lunches are reasonably priced and there is a varied menu from which to choose. Each lunch cycle starts on the first day of each month and ends at the end of each month. The lunch program is optional: children may bring their own lunches, and microwave ovens are available to students in grades two through eight.

There are several opportunities for students to engage in sporting activities through programs associated with Southfield School. As these opportunities are designed to develop skills and understanding of the rules and strategies of the various sports, all who wish to participate are granted the opportunity to do so. The school sponsored Middle School teams include basketball, tennis, golf and fencing. Southfield students also have the opportunity to participate in a joint private school football team. The Jets Alliance football team is comprised of students from five local private schools and competes with both local and regional schools.

For younger students, coaches help parents to form teams made up primarily of Southfield students to play in the citywide leagues and offer our facility for practices. The physical education coaches assist in coordinating the overall program. Students are expected to abide by the school's code of conduct when participating in athletic activities.

Southfield Middle School also sponsors a cheerleading squad that supports our middle school boys' and girls' sports teams. Participants must be in sixth, seventh, or eighth grade, maintain at least a 'C' average, and must participate in practices, games, pep rallies, and flag ceremonies.

Local and Ark-La-Tex field trips are organized for every grade level throughout the school. These trips are considered to be an integral part of our educational program and they are to embrace an extension of the rules, procedures and guidelines of Southfield School. Parents will always be notified well in advance of any planned field trips. Parents should ensure that they have completed and submitted the relevant permission slips allowing their child to participate in a field trip off campus.

Students in grades one through seven take Stanford Standardized Achievement Tests and second, fifth and seventh graders take the Otis Lennon School Achievement Tests in March each year. These tests measure student performance using national norms and indicate the progress of individuals in areas such as language arts, reading comprehension and mathematics.

Parents are notified well in advance of the upcoming tests so that they can make sure their child gets a restful night's sleep and eats a healthy breakfast. The results of the SAT's are mailed with report cards to parents in early June.

In the Middle School student progress is reported in several ways. Interim reports are also sent home at the halfway point of each nine-week marking period. The purpose of the interim report is to inform the students and their parents of their progress up to that date in the marking period. Every nine-week marking period, grades are sent home in a folder. In the first and third quarters, the grades will be followed by parent/student/teacher conferences. In the second and fourth quarters the grades will include written comments from each academic subject teacher. Parents are required to return the signed folder to school after viewing the grades.

In addition, fifth grade students take home folders of work at the interim and nine week grading period to share with their parents. Grades 5-8 use the following grading system:

Scheduled conferences are held for all students at the end of the first and third quarters. Students do not attend school on these days. Beginning in Middle School, students attend the conference with their parents. It is a time for parents, teachers and students to share a discussion about the child's progress. Parents are discouraged from taking family vacations/trips on conference dates. Open communication is welcome and encouraged between parents and teachers about home and school child rearing policies. Additional conferences may be scheduled at any time, and informal contacts via notes, teacher voice mail, or by phone are encouraged and always welcome.

Southfield's after school program for Middle School students involves children in fun activities (crafts, board games, outside play) and provides a quiet time for homework.

The After Care Program begins at 3 p.m. each day. The program is located in the downstairs commons area (other than outside play), but this may change on rainy or very cold days. An afternoon snack will be provided each day followed by supervised activities.

The After School Program will be available most days of the school year. Please check the Southfield calendar for exceptions (such as noon dismissal days, school holidays, parent/teacher conference days, etc.), and/or they will be posted in the after school program area. Parents must select a pick up time of 3:45 p.m., 4:30 p.m., or 5:30 p.m. for one to five days a week. Please remember that by signing the contract you are financially committed to those days. Drop-in service is not available.

Southfield endorses the theory that the home and the school share responsibility for educating each student. Additionally, all parents of students enrolled in Southfield school are members of the Parents Association. The Parents Association exists to assist the administration and faculty with many activities throughout the school year. The many committees are made up of parents volunteering their time, talent and knowledge to Southfield School. The rewards of involvement are many and our children greatly benefit from a strong and unified parent body.