St. Luke's 2023 Middle School Viewbook

aspire

ST. LUKE’S SCHOOL

MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADES 5–8

prepared to thrive

Middle School is so much more than just “getting ready” for Upper School. It’s a precious time to discover who you are and what interests you. It’s an opportunity to build confidence, stoke curiosity, and instill a deep belief that you, regardless of your age, have something valuable to contribute to the world.

Yes, Middle School will prepare you for the challenges of Upper School. But even better, what you learn during these wonderful years will prepare you to thrive into the future.

“Our goal is to make the Middle School experience unmissable. This is where we begin to explore who you are and who you can be in the world. ”

MARY HALPIN CARTER, PH.D. HEAD OF SCHOOL

For the most up-to-date information about St. Luke’s, please visit www.stlukesct.org

together

Our community drives student success. With the support and encouragement of teachers and peers, Middle School students flourish—both academically and socially— in a diverse environment that recognizes and celebrates individual contributions. As they grow, students gain the self-assurance they need to set high expectations and discover new interests. They develop strength of character, speaking up and speaking out on behalf of themselves and others. Our students root for one another; they want to do well and want their classmates to do well too. Together, they learn, lead, and make a difference.

Learn more about St. Luke’s exceptional teachers.

Leadership

Our students find their voices and make a difference—in their school, their community, and the world—through leadership opportunities. Faculty members create student experiences that foster a global perspective and encourage a service orientation.

St. Luke’s builds skills such as teamwork, leadership, and communication in students of all ages.

St. Luke’s Middle School students, led by the Middle School Service Board, support neighbors in need by hosting a summer essentials drive where they collect toiletries, cleaning supplies, and student-friendly food, to donate to four local nonprofit organizations.

“My fifth grade English teacher showed me how to write poetry and interesting stories using my inner ideas and creativity. I will remember her forever. ”

Sixth grade students investigate the world of Earth science by studying the mechanical and physical layers of Earth and exploring how shifts in tectonic plates can cause earthquakes and volcanoes. They construct volcanos and use chemistry to devise the perfect formula for eruption.

Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve. Throughout the Middle School experience, students are exposed to a variety of ways to live the School’s motto. Themes such as the environment or hunger and homelessness are woven into classroom activities and provide opportunities to connect with different organizations. The broad scope of service in Middle School is designed to help students think about what type of service they feel most passionate about.

stlukesct.org/leadership

LEOPOLD GRADE 6

Did you know?

It all starts here. Balancing a traditional curriculum with interactive, hands-on learning and exploration, our 5th grade academic program successfully transitions students from elementary to middle school. Students in 5th grade benefit from their own hallway, separate yet connected to the rest of the School, where they feel comfortable to be themselves. Dedicated faculty get to know each individual student, identifying strengths and guiding students to do and be more. Small class sizes ensure that each student plays an active role in the learning process. Step by step, students form deep relationships and build their confidence in the classroom, on the stage, and across the playing fields.

16 of the past 24 St. Luke’s Valedictorians & Salutatorians started their journey with us in Middle School.

“Middle School is a time of exceptional growth–physically, socially, cognitively, and emotionally. We build our St. Luke’s Middle School program to support the developmental changes that our students navigate and ensure that with encouragement, guidance, and appropriate challenge, students can independently learn with purpose.”

KATIE BOORSE HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL

Habitat for Humanity Project:

When students have a say in what and how they learn, there is a transformative shift from “doing school” to learning with real purpose. Projects become more personal, more self-directed, and more challenging. With every success, and perhaps more importantly —every failure—confidence, capabilities, and resilience grow.

Working in our state-of-the-art designLab, a 3,500 square foot makerspace that encourages exploration and experimentation, Middle School students are challenged to create sustainable neighborhoods and present their work to peers, teachers, and guests from Habitat for Humanity and clean energy consulting firm MHR Development.

KIMBERLY GERARDI ST. LUKE’S MIDDLE SCHOOL DESIGNLAB DIRECTOR

Skills acquired: Research, writing, teamwork, communication

Added benefits: Experiential learning, creative expression, independence

A Day in the Life of a 5th Grader

8:50 AM Homeroom – review today’s schedule

9:10 AM Art - prep sculpture for the kiln

10:00 AM English - lead Book Club discussion

10:50 AM Science - design level for “Cut the Rope” project

11:35 AM Lunch - eat, play a game—perhaps soccer or chess

12:10 PM Advisory - share a snack with friends and discuss today’s topic

12: 35 PM Social Studies - edit oral history podcast interview

1:25 PM Clubs & Teacher Office Hours - plan a fundraiser & get started on my homework

1: 45 PM Math - solve the Problem of the Day

2: 35 PM Computer Science & Engineering - send prototype to 3-D printer

3: 00 PM Afternoon Activities – ready for practice!

“Fifth grade is a fundamental year here. The quality difference between my two sons’ experiences—one in public school and one here at St. Luke’s—is enormous. So much more is expected of my son here, and that is what makes him such a good student today. ”

KATARINA

ST. LUKE’S PARENT,

ROWAYTON,

CT

“When children learn early that they can solve problems —that’s a powerfully good thing for them and for a world that needs their ideas.”

Walk into any classroom, and you’ll find lively discussion and an interactive exchange of ideas. Students learn by doing and experiencing. Teachers integrate real-world topics into our traditional curriculum, challenging students to make connections, think critically, and find their voices.

Supported by the St. Luke’s Center for Leadership, our emphasis on public speaking starts in Middle School, when students learn to articulate their ideas, support their positions, and communicate persuasively in many forums. Collaborative projects teach teamwork and allow students to take risks as leaders and problem solvers. Students develop an awareness of our global environment, and the confidence, competence, and compassion to explore our complex, interconnected world.

The Advisory Program

Our advisory program helps students navigate both the academic and social aspects of school. Advisors become students’ primary guides and an important link for students, parents, and teachers. Students meet with their advisors at least twice a week to discuss a range of topics, from academic performance and course selection to community service and citizenship. Advisory ensures that each student is known, resulting in an appropriate course of study and co-curricular activities.

“Our team-teaching model allows the freedom to create a rigorous curriculum that forges real discussion. Students actively create, organize, debate, problem solve—and just as important—make mistakes. In doing so, they not only build specific strengths, but also become responsible thinkers, presenters, and citizens. ”

JENNIFER POKORNEY

MIDDLE SCHOOL HISTORY TEACHER

with confidence

New Ways to Learn & Share

Students at all grade levels use technology as part of their St. Luke’s education. We believe that responsible use comes with exposure, reflection, and guidance.

All students are equipped with their own piece of technology for school-related work when they begin at St. Luke’s (Chromebooks for Grades 5-6 and MacBooks for Grades 7-12). Once students move into the Upper School, they have the chance to explore several online and hybrid (a mix of traditional and online) classes. Throughout their time at St. Luke’s, students are empowered to make smart, responsible, and respectful decisions pertaining to technology.

Parents Are Students Too

In addition to teaching students about technology use, St. Luke’s offers parents a hybrid course that helps them navigate raising children in a tech-infused world. The course is designed to give a cursory overview of current tools, open discussions about best practices, and help parents connect and learn from one another.

Skills acquired: Technological literacy, digital responsibility, collaboration

Added benefit: Enhanced ability to learn at your own pace, Chromebook (grades 5-6), Macbook Air (grades 7-12)

8th Grade Declamations

Who inspires you and why?

What story can only you tell? This is the guiding question of the capstone 8th Grade Declamations Project. Students complete a rigorous 6-week writing process developing their pieces - personal narrative, short fiction, poetry, dramatic monologue - culminating with an oral presentation to faculty, parents, and classmates. Declamations tie together our Middle School goals on several levels. Students expand critical thinking, organizational, and public-speaking skills. They reflect on the qualities they aspire to have, and the St. Luke’s mission instills: a deep love of learning, a strong moral compass, the commitment to serve, and the confidence to lead. As students help and root for one another, the class unites and bonds deepen.

Skills acquired: Self-reflection, improvement through multiple revisions, written and oral communication

Added benefits: Agency, self-confidence, pride, a sense of accomplishment

Watch past presentations: www.stlukesct.org/declamations

Read and see more about Learning and Technology at stlukesct.org/technology

From art to band to choir to theater, Middle School students take advantage of the many fine arts offerings incorporated into the curriculum. In our beautiful Arts & Jensen Family Humanities Wing, students paint, sculpt, and enhance digital images; while in our state-of-the-art Seldin Performing Arts Center and Wyckoff Family Black Box Theater, students shine on stage and work behind the scenes as part of the tech crew. St. Luke’s showcases talents, and students admire and celebrate the artistic and musical achievements of their peers. Essential to students’ growth and development, our arts program inspires creative thinking, gives students the chance to express themselves, and broadens their perspectives.

“In Middle School Art, our goal is to nurture students’ creativity and confidence. While learning the nuances of various media and taking inspiration from artists and the world around them, students find their own voices as young artists.”

SAMANTHA MONGARDI MIDDLE SCHOOL ART DEPARTMENT CHAIR

Events in the Arts

• Blues Band Concert

• Fall & Spring Choir Concerts

• Fall & Spring Theater Productions

• Middle School Musical

• Music & Poetry Performance

• Thespian Awards

• Winter & Spring Art Shows

“St. Luke’s is not a one size fits all school. What makes this place unique is the relationships kids form with the faculty. Each student and each teacher is different, so no two experiences will be the same. ”

VANESSA

ST. LUKE’S PARENT, NEW CANAAN, CT

your passions

Everyone at St. Luke’s participates in an afternoon activity. Our Middle School philosophy is simple: everyone makes a team, everyone plays, and everyone matters. St. Luke’s students are multi-dimensional, eager to try new activities and engage in new experiences, such as Makers Club, Squash, Math Team, and Digital Music. As students sing in the School’s musical or throw the gamechanging pitch, they learn to be leaders in big and small ways. They take pride in their school, their accomplishments, and themselves.

Clubs & Activities

• Art Club

• Blues Band

• Chess Club

• Debate

• Drama

• Makers Club

• Musical Production

• Technical Theater

• Yoga

Explore Something New

As a member of St. Luke’s Debate Team, students engage in different styles of debate with a focus on parliamentary debate. While learning to argue both sides of issues, debaters develop confidence, open minds, oratorical skills, listening and note-taking skills, and the abilities to think and organize ideas quickly. Members compete throughout the school year at tournaments hosted by local leagues and universities. Debaters consistently rank in the top 10 in nearly every competition including winning the #1 statewide championship title. In the Upper School, our debaters have even been invited to the competitive World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships with St. Luke’s students participating in the Hong Kong and South Africa competitions.

Athletics

Over 90 percent of Middle School students play one sport or more during their years at St. Luke’s.

• Baseball

• Basketball

• Cross Country

• Field Hockey

• Flag Football

• Ice Hockey

• Lacrosse

• Ski Team

• Soccer

• Softball

• Squash

• Tennis

• Volleyball

“In Middle School, I was able to try many different sports—so now in the Upper School, I know which sports I want to play. ”

GRIFFIN GRADE 9, NEW CANAAN, CT

middle school

By the time they finish 8th grade, students have acquired the communication and critical thinking skills they need to succeed in Upper School —and beyond. With teachers, advisors, friends, and teammates by their side, they are engaged, confident learners and leaders, and integral members of our diverse community. On a daily basis, our students demonstrate the tenets of the St. Luke’s honor code: kindness, responsibility, honesty, and respect. With a strong academic foundation in place, they are prepared to thrive —now and into the future.

“One of the best ways to prepare students for Upper School is to put them in the driver’s seat right away. This is especially true for academic advising. Students need to own and understand their course trajectory, talk about their own goals and plans, and work with their parents and the SLS faculty to achieve what they strive for. My job is really fun and rewarding: listening to students, sharing information about our curriculum, and seeing them go above and beyond what they thought they could do. ”

JIM YAVENDITTI DIRECTOR OF STUDIES

“When we see the 5th and 6th graders at activities, they don’t view us as college counselors; they’re just themselves, and we’re able to get to know them really well. When the time comes to talk about college, they’re comfortable, and we’re better able to help them through the process. ”

SONIA BELL DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING & ENGLISH TEACHER

Students celebrating after their Eighth Grade Promotion Ceremony

See where St. Luke’s graduates go to college.

St. Luke’s Mission

An exceptional education that inspires a deep love of learning, a strong moral compass, the commitment to serve, and the confidence to lead.

St. Luke’s is a secular, college-preparatory day school in New Canaan, Connecticut, for grades 5–12. A combination of challenging academics and exceptional community support distinguishes St. Luke’s and encourages students to go above and beyond their own expectations. St. Luke’s offers an inclusive environment where differences in race, culture, and personal beliefs are embraced as assets that enhance education. An accomplished faculty, administrators, and parents join forces to foster students’ intellectual and moral growth, preparing them for college and giving them the tools they need for success, leadership, and service in the world.