Welcome Letter

Over the last fifteen years, we’ve grown into a 75 student strong 38-acre “mini-Hogwarts” castle located across the street from the beautiful Atlantic Ocean. Here at the castle, our students and staff bring vibrant life and energy to self-discovery, community-building, and keeping our curriculum fresh and current. With hearty doses of optimism, adventurous spirit, and the cultivation of leadership skills to develop our talents, we know from experience that we can achieve anything. After all, we named our school after the nearby Middle Bridge, one of three bridges that cross the Narrow River, an inlet where ships used to seek safe harbor and repair. Likewise, our students find a second home here. This sense of home might be because we specialize in customizing education to meet each student at their individual academic and emotional level. We thrive and grow as a community by listening and responding to student interest in our whole-child educational model. This is why Middlebridge School is widely considered to be one of the leading schools in the country for students with learning differences.

We value each of our students, knowing that every young person brings unique skills and talents to our community. Here, respect and trust must be mutual in an environment where self-learning and reliable guidance co-exist; where self-awareness is cultivated in tandem with wider notions of alliance, citizenship, and global community to lead our students towards their true calling. Here, academic curiosity drives the motivation necessary to thrive in our competitive, highly specialized world.

COMPLICATED LEARNERS are exceptional students, both cognitively and creatively. Yet, for too long, many of them have been viewed through a limited diagnostic lens, having been told by teachers, peers, or evaluators what they’re not good at or what they can’t do.

Middlebridge is often the first place our students have ever felt a deep sense of belonging. Belonging and respect – and the honest communication that goes with it – extends to parents and families as well. When we welcome a student to Middlebridge, we embrace the entire family in working collaboration toward lifelong student success, confidence, and trust. Because we host these young people only momentarily, we know that our job is to provide a solid foundation. Our students and their families build upon that foundation well beyond their time with us, and extra joy comes through witnessing our recent alumni accomplishments; we highlight these success stories throughout this book.

Our passion is palpable, and I invite you to come experience our community for yourselves.

Sincerely,

John J. Kaufman

Head of School