All Saints’ Episcopal Day School PROGRAM GUIDE MIDDLE SCHOOL
Dear All Saints’ Families,
The All Saints’ experience is centered on our mission to educate children, mind, body, and soul. The structure of our program is specifically designed for middle school students— one that promotes a love of learning and the desire to explore both intellectually and creatively. Robust core academic courses are at the center of our program, complemented by our offerings in the creative arts, athletics, electives, and clubs—providing opportunities to nurture new interests and develop well-rounded students who succeed in high school and beyond.
Our intention is to provide an environment where our middle school students gain exposure to a wide range of activities—to offer ongoing opportunities to inspire our students to think differently and take intellectual risks while having an exceptionally strong academic foundation and sense of self.
At All Saints’ we truly seek to educate children from head to soul, and we believe that this structure provides the ideal dynamic and engaging middle school experience, allowing students to flourish and become independent leaders who are challenged and invested in their future. As one graduate said, “At All Saints’, you learn how to think and think and learn how to learn.”
Dr. Emma Whitman Head of School
Mrs. Jennifer Miller Head of Middle School
All Saints’ Graduates Are:
Lifelong Learners and Problem Solvers
An All Saints’ graduate sees themself as an academic leader. They are voracious lifelong learners. They view learning as a process, embrace a growth mindset, and are driven by inquiry and discovery.
Confident Communicators
An All Saints’ graduate realizes the power of his or her voice and recognizes their ability to advocate for themselves and others. They are confident, resilient, and feel empowered to make a positive difference in the world around them.
Steadfast in the Pursuit of Excellence
An All Saints’ graduate is a critical thinker, adaptable learner, and collaborator. Equipped to reach their full potential in any setting, they demonstrate grit, perseverance, and tenacity.
Healthy in Body, Mind, and Spirit
An All Saints’ graduate is self-reflective and attuned to their physical and emotional health. They have a strong moral foundation, demonstrate strong character in their actions, and pursue the spiritual dimension of life.
Leaders of the All Saints’ Way
An All Saints’ graduate has an empathetic understanding of local and global issues and takes an active approach to service learning. They are driven by the ethos of inclusivity and service to others.
CORE ACADEMICS Robust
Our core academic subjects include: English, social studies, mathematics, and science. In seventh and eighth grades, Spanish is also considered a core academic class. These subjects are taught in small classes with 15–20 students and meet regularly several times a week. We offer honors and advanced honors classes in mathematics, English, Spanish, and eighth-grade science. We believe that small class sizes and careful placement allows for students to be challenged and supported academically.
INDEPENDENCEBuilding
In creating the ideal middle school experience for our students, we have developed a schedule to intentionally provide balance while helping them to build independence and agency in their learning journey. The first period of the day is reserved for chapel, advisory meetings, independent study, and enrichment courses. Extended morning advisory meetings guide students as they apply their growing executive functioning skills while also placing emphasis on relationships, connection, and community.
ProgramHIGHLIGHTS
• Students attend six periods per day, with five-minute passing periods between classes.
• 8:00–8:50 is reserved for content outside of core academics (advisory, social-emotional learning, independent study, chapel, enrichment courses, and electives).
• Fifth grade rotates among the creative arts offerings to gain exposure to various areas before selecting their Creative Concentration.
• Seventh and eighth grades take one Creative Concentration class per week to allow for an additional electives course.
Creative
CONCENTRATIONS
Middle school Creative Concentration classes are designed to allow students to dive deeper and graduate with an emphasis in one of the creative arts offered. Students will choose from art, band, theatre, or craft and design.
Our model for creative arts in middle school is centered on the goal that every student graduates from All Saints’ with a specialization in a creative art area. Our graduates will have the skills to excel in their specialization, along with a developed sense of curiosity, passion, and an independent body of work that represents their learning. In fifth grade, students are exposed to all four creative art concentrations. In sixth through eighth grades, they will focus on one creative art area across several years. This enables the curriculum to be tailored to the small group of students based on interest and skill development, allows for a deeper dive of study, and enables advanced skill development with a focus on independent abilities.
In addition to Creative Concentration courses, seventh- and eighthgrade students have the opportunity to select an elective every trimester. These will include classes in creative arts, technology, leadership, and more.
Electives & PROCESS Selection
SKILLS COURSES
Electives
Art
Robotics
Rock Band
Music
Dance
Design Thinking and Technology
Leadership
PE/Wellness
Project Based Learning
Yearbook
Enrichment Courses
Executive Functioning
Life Skills
Writing and Reading Lab
Leadership
Writing, Reading, and Research Lab
Students select their Creative Concentration in sixth grade to continue through graduation. In addition to their Creative Concentration, seventh- and eighth-grade students also select one elective per trimester.
OF COURSES Purpose and Progression
Advisory and WIN (What I Need) Time
All students start and end the day in their advisory. The advisory/ WIN time allows students to come together as a group to launch the day. These small groups enable students to feel connected to our community, engage in robust discussions on topics and struggles that are relevant to their lives (some teacher directed and others student directed), and to focus on getting organized for the day. In addition, the extra WIN time several times a week allows students to independently manage their workload, engage in proactive discussions with teachers in the middle school, and focus on organization. Opening the day with chapel twice a week and Advisory/WIN time helps students feel settled, in control, and models their high school experience.
Life Skills
Students in middle school take a life skills class. In seventh and eighth grades, conversations and discussions on life skills topics and overall health and wellness (responsible decision-making, healthy relationships, social awareness, self-awareness, self-
management, and healthy physical, emotional, and social choices) happen. In eighth grade, students also take a “Ready 2 Launch” class, which guides them through important topics using interactive discussions and practical exercises. Throughout middle school, students are guided as they begin to use problemsolving based on the skills developed in earlier grades. The counselor supports the advisory program with topics and curriculum, as well as teaching specific classes throughout the year on age-appropriate subjects (e.g. social media).
PE/Wellness
Fifth and sixth grades have PE twice a week and benefit from a variety of discussions and activities promoting physical, emotional and mental health. In addition to a weekly PE class, seventh- and eighth- grade students have the opportunity to select a more specialized PE experience through an elective.
Public Speaking
From as early as kindergarten, students are presented with opportunities to begin sharpening their public speaking skills at All Saints’. In middle school, public speaking components are embedded in all courses across the curriculum. In seventh grade, students put those skills into practice in a weekly public speaking couse.
Technology
Technology courses in middle school move students from foundational skills to application. In fifth grade, students explore the fundamentals of middle school applied technology and engineering practices. Sixth grade expands upon these topics, with the option to select craft and design as a Creative Concentration. In seventh and eighth grades, students can continue their exploration through the craft and design concentration or as an elective. Technology is also embedded throughout our program and courses.
FIFTH GRADE Sample Schedule
MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY ADVISORY/WIN
SIXTH GRADE Sample Schedule
MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY
SEVENTH & EIGHTH GRADE
Sample Schedule
MONDAY TUESDAY