The Middle School
We offer an academic program that is challenging, inter-disciplinary, and exploratory. We take pride in having an academically rigorous curriculum, but one that is flexible enough to be able to meet each child’s natural learning style and that will help her to stretch into different styles as well. We value the basics in each discipline and strive to work with each child to help her to be her very best.
The program at each grade level consists of courses in English, mathematics, history, and science. Students may study either a world language (French, Spanish, or Japanese) or participate in Language Lab. A formal technology program is part of the Grade V course of studies, and technology is integrated into each subject area. Religious Studies is incorporated into our Grade VII and Grade VIII academic program. Writing is stressed in all classes and across the curriculum.
Very importantly, we are no longer the "junior high school" of old, where the curriculum was taught departmentally, as in most high schools. Instead, we at SPSG work in four inter-disciplinary grade level teams. The teams are composed of "core" teachers, the English, history, science, math, and religious studies teachers, as well as the "encore" teachers, including technology, world language, language lab, the arts, and physical education.
As middle school educators, our faculty are knowledgeable about how to teach middle school girls. Teachers are available for extra academic help after school. We change activities frequently, vary groupings, and give students choices. We want our students to feel competent and confident. We want them to experience success and certainty as they make connections to the world around them. We want them to have a sense of accomplishment as they share what they have learned with each other and with their parents.
In addition to our academic program, we also offer a wide variety of fine arts. Students in Grades V and VI take music, art, drama, and dance throughout the year. Students in Grades VII and VIII choose one of those areas on which to focus. There are several art shows, dance and choral concerts showcasing middle school students throughout the year, as well as a middle school theater performance that is coordinated with the St. Paul’s School’s Middle School.
All students have physical education classes several times a week. Any student in Grades VI-VIII who wishes to participate on an after-school athletic team may do so.
Middle school students are involved in several community service and outreach activities. For example, our Grade VI students visit and work with the first grade students at Charles Carroll of Barrister Elementary School in Baltimore City.
An intrinsic part of our program is our advisory program. Each child is assigned a faculty member as her advisor and she becomes part of a small "family-like" group that meets several times a week. We also incorporate our "Discovery" program with the advisory program where students can discuss life skills and address issues of immediate concern such as friendships, decision making, and peer pressure. Most importantly, the advisor is an advocate for each of his or her advisees as well as the primary person with whom parents communicate. We value strongly our team of advisors, students, teachers and parents.
The SPSG Middle School is a place where spiritual connections are as vital as any other connections we have. Everything that we do is based on our philosophy that "every child is a child of God." We live that philosophy every day and it is part and parcel of all that we do at SPSG as we work with the girls to help them become connected, competent, and confident young women equipped to become lifelong learners and contributing members of their communities.
Sincerely,
Ellen Mills
Head of the Middle School
