The Middle School years (grades 5 to 8) are a time of transformational growth — physically, intellectually, and socially. Our students handle these transitions exceptionally well, supported by understanding teachers and classmates.
On-going every day conversations - Middle school teachers encourage students to advocate for themselves and share thoughts, ideas, and opinions in class that may go against the mainstream. Voicing one’s ideas respectfully in a class discussion or one-on-one with a teacher are just a few ways in which students develop confidence.
Student Advisory - The middle school Advisory Program allows students a safe place to have more personal connections with smaller groups of classmates and a dedicated faculty member during the course of each school year. The advisory curriculum includes age appropriate topics such as budgeting time, cyber safety, handling stress, and peer conflict resolution.
Retreats - Sixth through eighth grade students attend annual retreats with both a spiritual and social-emotional focus. Some highlights include the seventh grade retreat in Healdsburg and the three-day, eighth grade in Sonoma County that includes a high ropes course in the redwoods. The retreats are powerful bonding experiences that unite the class and pave the way for students to be positive leaders of the school. The important lessons learned on the retreats are reinforced daily in chapel, the classroom, and weekly advisory sessions.