At Middlebridge School, learning doesn’t stop at the classroom door. In fact, some of our most powerful growth happens when students step outside of it.

Ben and his team from The University of Rhode Island Sports Center

This year, Middlebridge students are engaged in a remarkable range of internships and community-based learning experiences across South County, Rhode Island—growing their college resumes, deepening skills, exploring careers, giving back, and building meaningful connections with the wider world. From theaters and museums to wellness centers, nonprofits, and businesses, these internships reflect our commitment to experiential learning and the belief that students grow strongest when learning is active, authentic, and personal.

Where Our Students Are Learning

Two students working in the Narragansett Bay

Our interns can be found across the community, making real contributions and developing real-world skills:

Dakota, Ella, and Hudson are currently helping out at Animal Rescue Rhode Island
Ben supports the University of Rhode Island's Sports Equipment Center and Save the Bay
Martha assists with the Rebekah Cook Art Center Adults with Disabilities Class
Jacob collaborates with teachers at Quest Montessori's Gym Classes
Alexis is involved with the local charter school, Compass, in their Theater Classes and at Animal Rescue Rhode Island
Milo enthusiastically greets and supports visitors to Audrain Auto Museum
Andrew and Henry, history enthusiasts, volunteer at the World War II Museum in Wakefield
Georgia supports kids in the Learn to Skate Program
Alex contributes to the work in the local Contemporary Theatre Company
Ruby and Raleigh nurture the young learners at Growing Children of Rhode Island
Jasper, who enjoys the chemistry of brewing, work alongside staff at Newport Craft
Davis, Elizabeth, Ellisyn, and Martha help organize and distribute clothing at Tabitha's Closet, a clothing ministry at Peace Dale Congregational

Each placement is thoughtfully designed to match students' interests, strengths, and areas for growth—ensuring that internships are not only meaningful but also transformative.

Why Internships Matter at Middlebridge

A snapshot of student work in the garden

For many students with learning differences, the traditional classroom does not always tell the whole story of who they are or what they’re capable of. Internships allow students to discover new identities as workers, creators, helpers, and leaders.

Through hands-on experiences, students build:

Workplace readiness: communication skills, professionalism, time management, and accountability
Self-confidence: seeing firsthand that their contributions matter
Career exploration: discovering what excites them (and what doesn’t)
Resume-ready experiences: concrete accomplishments they can point to with pride
Executive functioning skills: organization, persistence, flexibility, and problem-solving
Emotional growth: learning to advocate for themselves and navigate new environments

These experiences help students connect learning to life—and often, for the first time, envision themselves as capable and successful both in school and beyond.

Community Partnership in Action

Student volunteers at the Narragansett Fire Department

Our internship program is as much about community as it is about career readiness.

We are deeply grateful to the organizations and mentors across South County who open their doors to our students, invest in them with care, and provide real opportunities for growth. These partnerships allow our students to feel known and valued, and they strengthen the fabric of our shared community in the process.

From arts organizations and museums to nonprofits, athletic programs, and wellness centers, our local partners play a vital role in helping students discover who they are and who they can become.

This is what community engagement looks like at Middlebridge: authentic relationships, mutual respect, and shared investment in young people.

Belonging, Becoming, and Building a Future

Middlebridge internships reflect our deep belief in Belonging and Becoming—that students thrive when they feel connected and empowered to grow into their potential.

These experiences aren’t “extra.” They are essential.

They are where confidence takes root.
Where interests turn into passions.
Where students begin to imagine futures they once thought were out of reach.

We are immensely proud of our student interns—for their courage, curiosity, and commitment—and grateful to our community partners who make this program possible.

Together, we are building something extraordinary: a bridge between classrooms and community, between learning and life, between who our students are today and who they are becoming.