Why Single-Gender Middle School?

Why Single Gender Middle School?

Saint Joseph’s Catholic School

Why Single Gender Middle School?

Wanda Jaraczewski

Saint Joseph’s Catholic School

“Only in Christ can men and women find answers to the ultimate questions that trouble them. Only in Christ can they fully understand their dignity as persons created and loved by God.”

Saint Pope John Paul II

God, in His master plan, so beautifully and purposely formed young men and women with traits and characteristics that are unique to each. In the splendor of it all, each man and woman is an exceptional creation, made in the image and likeness of God, always and forever equal to each other in dignity and strength of purpose. As our young men and women grow in wisdom and grace, Saint Joseph’s Middle School provides a community that supports their unique selves, that celebrates their essential gifts and complementary natures, and leaves them free to explore and verify our Christian proposal - what it means to grow and mature in relationship with Christ.

We’ve developed our middle school with an intentional focus on nurturing the intrinsic virtues and talents of

our young men and young women. This structural arrangement provides our students with freedom from some of the cultural and community distractions that hide or hinder progress and growth. Teachers, too, are free from navigating the social and cultural dynamics that influence student maturation and development. Our educators are able to promote what is good, true and beautiful in each of their students so that they have the best opportunity to discover God’s great plan for them.

At Saint Joseph’s Catholic School, we continually strive to more fully understand and embrace the needs and challenges of our young people. We believe that single gender classrooms provide the following benefits to our students:

y Being in class with all boys or all girls provides more opportunities for genuine friendships to develop. With more classmates of the same gender, students can feel comfortable and confident in expressing their thoughts and opinions, and in sharing their interests and hobbies. Authentic relationships have more room to blossom and flourish. While navigating middle school social dynamics brings challenges, we can lessen those challenges by providing an environment that limits extra dynamics.

y In a classroom of all boys or all girls, teachers can refine their instruction or assignments in areas to increase student interest and engagement. Overarching principles and concepts are always presented to both boys and girls and are never compromised. However, our attentive teachers have the flexibility to adjust a lesson or unit plans based on their observations of student response and focus. Students, too, appreciate the attention that is provided to their work.

y Young people today are inundated with a variety of messages and ideas from many sources - particularly social media, television, movies and music. Many times, these are not the messages we want our children to hear. We can limit their exposure in school by reinforcing expectations around appropriate material, language, and technology use. Sometimes, we see the impact of a particular social trend or influencer on one group of students - boys or girls - more than another. Single gender classrooms provide a platform for specific, targeted interventions that can be impactful and appropriate and more effectively encourage the behaviors we find good and desirable.

Our hope and goal is that each child in our school community feels genuine care and love from each member of our faculty, staff and one another. Our single gender design is one opportunity to shower our attention and focus on them at a crucial time in their development. V

Wanda Jaraczewski is a passionate advocate of Catholic education. She believes that our young people deserve exceptional formation that cultivates development of the whole person - mind, body and spirit. Key to this formation are relationships filled with hope and joy, rooted in recognition of the truth, goodness and beauty of our faith and the world. Currently in her 5th year as the Director of Middle School at St. Joseph Catholic School in Greenville, Wanda has over 30 years of experience in Catholic leadership, encompassing specific work in evangelization, faith formation, business operations, liturgical music and Catholic schools. Wanda holds a BS in Finance from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, and a MSE in Educational Leadership (Catholic Emphasis) from the University of Dayton. Wanda and her husband, John, are parents of four children and grandparents to one! With free time, Wanda and her family enjoy activities that immerse them in the beauty and warmth of Greenville.