Middle School
Middle School Watches Wonder on the Big Screen
The entire fifth and sixth grades headed to a theater in downtown Wilton last week to see one of the first showings of Wonder, a movie based on the bestselling young adult novel by R.J. Palacio.
Wonder tells the touching story of August Pullman, a boy with facial differences who enters fifth grade, attending a mainstream elementary school for the first time. The movie presents themes of kindness, friendship and acceptance, all of which are at the heart of Country School’s Middle School.
“Kindness is inherent in our program and a quality that as parents we generally rate as one of the most essential attributes we want our children to have,” says Head of Middle School Kirsten Rosolen. “We cannot underestimate the power of a kind word, a compliment, a small act of caring, or a smile. One of the great takeaways from Wonder that I share with the students is – ‘Be kinder than necessary.’”
The Middle School first read Wonder when it came out five years ago, and it has been a choice book for the summer reading for the past several years. Through book discussions, students have explored their own identities and what it means to be a good friend.
“The movie made me think that I should say things carefully,” said sixth grader Robert Walker who watched the movie and read the book. “It inspired me to be kind to people, all people."
New Canaan Country School
New Canaan Country School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin and are afforded all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid policies or any other school-administered programs.
