Growing Boys
We love boys for who they are them to be proud of who they’re becoming.
A LOOK INSIDE OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL
Every boy is unique. So is our teaching style!
For more than a century, parents have chosen St. Christopher’s because we know boys.
Your son’s middle school years are full of developmental milestones that are critical to his future success. That’s why we’re here for our boys every step of the way with an active, holistic curriculum designed to encourage the mind, body and spirit.
Here, we don’t manage boys’ energy – we embrace it. Our faculty have chosen to dedicate their careers to the education of middle school boys because they are passionate about teaching this age group. Your son’s teacher will help cultivate a love for learning by getting to know him on a one-to-one level.
MIDDLE SCHOOLWHAT A GREAT PLACE TO BE A BOY!
Middle school is a time of rapid growth and change. These years are bound to be a little awkward, very challenging and (best of all) exciting! We’re here to help boys develop a strong sense of personal responsibility and organizational skills with a lot of laughter along the way.
All students are able to explore a wide range of interests through classes in art, music, drama, coding and woodworking. As your son grows and matures, he’ll enjoy coeducational experiences and extracurriculars through our Saints Coordinate Program with our sister school, St. Catherine’s.
In our recent accreditation with the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS), they assessed that
“ With research and outreach nationally and internationally to understand and promote boys’ learning, the visiting team believes the school has become a model for how to effectively educate boys.”
THE SUPPORT OUR BOYS AND THEIR PARENTS NEED
Keeping our boys on the right path starts in 6th grade with special programming on cybersafety and digital citizenship. In 7th grade, we hold a dialogue night on decision-making. And in 8th grade, our boys and parents participate in another dialogue night focused on drug and alcohol education.
In addition, we have a Wellness Team dedicated to supporting the academic, emotional and spiritual needs of each boy, composed of our School M.D., Middle School Nurse, Middle School Counselor, Director of Student Life and Chaplain.
A time for growth and timeless values
01. We love and understand boys.
02.
03.
We take pride in our Whole Boy approach to education.
We are committed to academic excellence and preparing boys for both college and life.
04. We recognize that we are part of something greater than ourselves.
05. We value the power of relationships and community.
06.
We believe that every boy has both the capacity and responsibility to have a positive impact on the world around him.
07. We care most about developing young men who possess character and integrity.
Our Community Pillars
The St. Christopher’s experience is shaped by three foundational Community Pillars that guide and inform our curriculum and institutional priorities in educating our boys and creating an inclusive and welcoming community.
We promote choosing the hard right over the easy wrong because men of character begin as boys with values.
HONOR & INTEGRITY
Saints strive to be honest, kind and compassionate, choosing the hard right over the easy wrong. We care most about developing young men who possess honor and integrity.
PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE
Saints strive to do their best in every endeavor. We value hard work and perseverance both inside and outside the classroom, focusing on process more than outcome.
COMMUNITY & BROTHERHOOD
Saints strive to understand and act upon the notion that we are part of something larger than ourselves. We value leadership, service, and the lifelong relationships that are formed in our community.
Charting a course for his future
The level of mental and physical development from 6th grade to 8th grade is matched only by the three years from birth to age 3.*
Our curriculum is designed to build year upon year, always positioning a boycentered approach at the heart of our classrooms, where curiosity comes to life. That’s because we understand how boys think and interact with the world around them. Our Saints enter Middle School as concrete and literal thinkers in 6th grade, and in just a few short years, they’ve grown into complex and abstract thinkers fully prepared for Upper School.
*Source: National Institute of Mental Health
Sixth Grade
6th
From their first day at St. Christopher’s, we help our 6th-grade boys fit right in. There’s an opportunity for everyone to find a home with class bonding events, games and service activities designed to help each boy make friends and forge meaningful relationships.
ACTIVE BODIES, ACTIVE MINDS
Your son will always feel mentally and physically engaged with a schedule of six different classes – plus PE and two daily recess periods – to get him up and moving from classroom to classroom.
BECOMING MEN OF CHARACTER
We emphasize the importance of integrity and set the stage for the rest of our boys’ Middle School experience with their introduction to the Honor Code.
IN THE COMMUNITY
Our Global Thinking course engages 6th-grade boys in contemporary issues to nurture curiosity and instill a sense of global citizenship.
In the classroom
Students are incentivized to meet goals by earning points through Gamified Science. In this course, we tap into the boys’ competitive spirit without having them openly compete against one another – all points are kept secret until the end of the term when prizes are awarded.
Seventh Grade
7th
With one year of Middle School under their belts, our 7th-grade boys are ready to take even greater ownership of developing their time management, teamwork and organizational skills.
ACTIVE BODIES, ACTIVE MINDS
Boys are now able to choose from 13 interscholastic team sports and a Robotics team to exercise their mental muscles and learn how to work together to achieve their goals. There is a team for every boy.
BECOMING MEN OF CHARACTER
All 7th graders take Forum, a lively discussion-based course that covers topics of social, emotional and spiritual health.
IN THE COMMUNITY
Adventure becomes the classroom when our boys take their class trip to Challenge Discovery – a local team-building course where they have a blast learning valuable problem-solving skills.
In the classroom
All novels in 7th-grade English tie back to inclusivity. Boys gain in-depth insight from visiting authors.
Eighth Grade 8th
This is the year when it all comes together – our boys are maturing into complex, abstract thinkers. By the end of 8th grade, your son will be confident in his abilities and well prepared to begin Upper School.
ACTIVE BODIES, ACTIVE MINDS
Eighth graders head west to the mountains of Virginia for a bonding overnight trip. This outdoor experience enhances the boys’ learning and health through individual growth and team building.
BECOMING MEN OF CHARACTER
With World Language offerings in Chinese, French, Latin and Spanish, our boys develop communication skills that will aid them in connecting with people from all backgrounds and walks of life.
IN THE COMMUNITY
This year, the boys can choose three electives, including Woodworking, Creative Writing, Leadership & Communication, and EngageRVa, a local service experience.
Leadership opportunities
Eighth graders have the opportunity to be elected into traditional leadership roles within the Honor Council, DEIB Leadership Council and Missionary Society. Other leadership roles abound in clubs, sports and arts groups.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Our boys do it all
In the afternoon, every Middle School boy can play his favorite sport each season, take part in a club or develop his creative side by performing on stage through Outré, our coed theatre program.
THERE’S SOMETHING FOR EVERY BOY
• Choose from 13 interscholastic sports over three seasons
• Band, strings, choir, guitar or percussion
• Robotics
• After-School Clubs –baking, fishing or gaming
• Outdoor Adventure Program – offered in the spring featuring biking, kayaking, canoeing and climbing
Saints in Service
St. Christopher’s encourages service to others. Each month, boys can participate in a community service project in the greater Richmond area with our sister school, St. Catherine’s.
“That’s Lit” Magazine
Boys can contribute to a studentproduced arts and writing magazine. From two-sentence scary stories and poems to sports reviews and illustrations, the publication allows boys to creatively express themselves, use their imaginations and work together on a creative project.
The Middle School Library
Our newly renovated library is curated to the interests of middle schoolers, who can choose from short stories, nonfiction, book series, graphic novels and audiobooks. Boys compete in friendly reading challenges throughout the year to encourage the love of reading.
Our Episcopal Heritage
The School’s Episcopal tradition provides the foundation for developing young men who possess honor and integrity. While our chapel services are based on the Episcopal faith, all faith traditions are recognized and encouraged. Here, all boys are welcome
Just like our boys, we are always learning
The Center for the Study of Boys, our research and professional development center, helps train our faculty in best practices to engage and teach boys. The success of this program has helped us become a global leader in boys’ education.