Middle School Program
The St. Andrew’s Middle School program addresses the academic, social, and emotional needs of seventh and eighth graders. No longer elementary school students and not yet high school students, twelve to fourteen year olds are ready for more independence, academic challenge, and guidance.
Our academic program includes five core subjects: English, math, history, science and language (French, Latin, or Spanish). There are performing art, visual art, and religion requirements each year, with the opportunity for some choice within the performing arts. The instruction of library, research, and technology skills is integrated within our courses. The end of each day includes an hour of interscholastic sports as part of the curricular program. Each athletic season offers multiple options of team and individual sports for both beginning and advanced players. Our teaching methods continue to include the best that 21st century research suggests: service learning, interdisciplinary study, hands-on design projects, and analytical thinking and writing. Higher order cognition (creative problem solving and critical thinking) and excellent study skills are emphasized.
Our strong affective curriculum, promoted through our advisor program, recognizes the unique challenges and potential of this age. As children's peer relationships become more important and complex, mentors are key and moral reasoning is a critical skill to develop. Our seventh grade advisor program is a mutli-dimensional program that teaches the value of diversity and nurtures empathy and inclusion. Our eighth grade program dovetails with the history curriculum and teaches students real leadership skills for life. Students conclude their Middle School career by working together to implement service projects around a theme of their choosing. A weekly chapel service is a part of every grade at St. Andrew's.
Our Middle School division is vibrant, just like the students who bounce through our halls. From overnight camping trips and the spring musical to student-led diversity assemblies and rotating lunch tables, we build community and a sense of belonging. Students are encouraged to explore their talents and their struggles in order to understand themselves and others well. Self-confident, thoughtful, and joyful, our students enter high school ready for even more opportunities on their road to college.