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News & Photos
Academy 2026: Two Weeks, 25 Courses, One Unforgettable Experience
McDonogh students are LifeReady. What does this mean? We teach students how to think, not what to think, empowering them to lead lives of consequence and do the greatest good. LifeReady Skills Achieved: Creative & Critical Thinking, Self- Knowing, Communicating, Perspective Taking, Collaborating, Connecting
For McDonogh middle schoolers, 25 different courses offered over the last two weeks of the school year means one thing: Academy — the most anticipated stretch of the year for students and teachers alike.
During Middle School Academy 2026, with traditional classes behind them, students each chose two courses to explore, and the options were anything but ordinary. While some explored painting and writing in Art in Motion, others in Hatchet read the book of the same name and learned skills for safe and enjoyable outdoor adventures, including pitching a tent, starting a campfire, tying knots, and practicing basic first aid.
"Academy courses are designed to excite, inspire, and engage," says Jennifer Smith, Middle School Academy Co-Founder. "The program aligns with the School's LifeReady philosophy, in that the courses are designed to facilitate lifelong learning that is relevant and sustainable."
Students built problem-solving skills in Building Bridges, practiced collaboration in M&M Songwriting, and honed communication and presentation skills in Fake News and Musical Theater. Each year, the program balances returning favorites such as Escape Room and Myths, Monsters, and Mosaics with a handful of new offerings, among them Spirit of the Dojo, AI Ambassadors, and Innovative Street Magic.
Middle School faculty were joined by some enthusiastic guests this year. Members of the Class of 2026 contributed as part of their Senior Projects: students from the Upper School Robotics team designed and led the Robot Build course, featuring engineering, coding, and robot design, while others supported Spy School, Pasta!, and In Focus. Andrew Golden '17, a sports reporter for the Baltimore Banner, visited the Fake News class to talk about his journalism career.
McDonogh's signature programs came to life across several courses. In Baltimore 360, students deepened their understanding of urban challenges through a Greatest Good McDonogh component — grocery shopping on a limited budget for a family experiencing food insecurity. Get Your Heart Pumping students joined the Kids Heart Challenge, a fundraising and service-learning program of the American Heart Association. And for Stream Study students, McDonogh's 800 acres became a laboratory as they explored the dynamic ecosystem of the Gwynns Falls.
Students shared what they learned at the Academy Showcase on Friday, May 22, through performances, demonstrations, and presentations that brought two weeks of creativity and discovery to life.
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McDonogh students are LifeReady. What does this mean? We teach students how to think, not what to think, empowering them to lead lives of consequence and do the greatest good. LifeReady Skills Achieved: Creative & Critical Thinking, Self- Knowing, Communicating, Perspective Taking, Collaborating, Connecting
For McDonogh middle schoolers, 25 different courses offered over the last two weeks of the school year means one thing: Academy — the most anticipated stretch of the year for students and teachers alike.
During Middle School Academy 2026, with traditional classes behind them, students each chose two courses to explore, and the options were anything but ordinary. While some explored painting and writing in Art in Motion, others in Hatchet read the book of the same name and learned skills for safe and enjoyable outdoor adventures, including pitching a tent, starting a campfire, tying knots, and practicing basic first aid.
"Academy courses are designed to excite, inspire, and engage," says Jennifer Smith, Middle School Academy Co-Founder. "The program aligns with the School's LifeReady philosophy, in that the courses are designed to facilitate lifelong learning that is relevant and sustainable."
Students built problem-solving skills in Building Bridges, practiced collaboration in M&M Songwriting, and honed communication and presentation skills in Fake News and Musical Theater. Each year, the program balances returning favorites such as Escape Room and Myths, Monsters, and Mosaics with a handful of new offerings, among them Spirit of the Dojo, AI Ambassadors, and Innovative Street Magic.
Middle School faculty were joined by some enthusiastic guests this year. Members of the Class of 2026 contributed as part of their Senior Projects: students from the Upper School Robotics team designed and led the Robot Build course, featuring engineering, coding, and robot design, while others supported Spy School, Pasta!, and In Focus. Andrew Golden '17, a sports reporter for the Baltimore Banner, visited the Fake News class to talk about his journalism career.
McDonogh's signature programs came to life across several courses. In Baltimore 360, students deepened their understanding of urban challenges through a Greatest Good McDonogh component — grocery shopping on a limited budget for a family experiencing food insecurity. Get Your Heart Pumping students joined the Kids Heart Challenge, a fundraising and service-learning program of the American Heart Association. And for Stream Study students, McDonogh's 800 acres became a laboratory as they explored the dynamic ecosystem of the Gwynns Falls.
Students shared what they learned at the Academy Showcase on Friday, May 22, through performances, demonstrations, and presentations that brought two weeks of creativity and discovery to life.