Middle School

Middle school students begin and end each day in an Advisory session. This special group not only forges community, but also offers a forum to discuss the unique set of experiences, challenges, and responsibilities that face students during the middle school years. While students move from class to class, experiencing the richness of different teachers' approaches, and gaining in-depth subject area knowledge, Advisory is a critical anchor in the day, providing each student with a key adult that serves as a coach, advocate, guide, and mentor.

Advisory activities include:

Goal setting and reflection Personalized learning Study skills Class meeting time Service learning Buddy activities Test-taking skills Time management Health and personal education

Leadership training Character education Presentation skills Research skills Library access Exploration of brain research High school placement Interview training Career development

 

Students assume increasingly larger leadership roles as they journey through Middle School.

Buddies

Buddy programs with younger grades draw out a special leadership skill set as middle school students serve as guides and mentors to younger children. The older students develop a deeper sense of responsibility and grow in understanding of the profound influence they can have on their school community. The buddy relationship is a significant and joyful one for students of each age.

Leadership Lab - 7th Grade

In addition to serving as student ambassadors at Open Houses and key leaders in the school Senate, 7th Graders have a weekly leadership class known as Leadership Lab. In the first trimester, middle school students connect with younger students while completing an apprenticeship in our Early Learning Center. They gain understanding of the profound developmental changes that occur in early childhood as they mentor younger students. The second trimester is focused on preparing to lead Chapel lessons for the whole school and learning social and emotional traits based on Daniel Goleman’s research on social and emotional skills. The last trimester sees the class develop and act upon a service learning project of their own creation beyond the walls of the school.

Service Lab - 8th Grade

We view leadership and service as intertwined. Unique to St. Thomas School, our 8th Graders have a weekly Service Lab that connects closely to Social Studies and English classes, where they examine contemporary global issues and use The Teen Guide to Global Action to design service projects to address these critical needs. The 8th Graders’ projects become part of a final exhibition at our school, where students will capture their growth, service, and learning in a meaningful way. The 8th Grade graduation ceremony speeches feature this service as a major theme – a wonderful way to leave the world of STS!

Middle School students need to sense that what they are studying has meaning and is relevant to their personal lives, as well as the wider world. At St. Thomas School we have crafted a set of experiences that reflect students’ developmental stages and growing interest in the broader world. We have sought to define each year’s experience with a unifying idea that gives shape and identity to that year, but also connects with the overall Middle School journey:

• 4th Grade: Exploration
• 5th Grade: Origins
• 6th Grade: Discovery: Entering New Worlds
• 7th Grade: Revolutionaries
• 8th Grade: Engaging with the World

8th grade - international travel

The 8th Grade trip is a special adventure that connects closely with the many elements of the year. The 7th and 8th Grade years are designed to help students build a picture of the globe today. Reflecting this, the class visits a Spanish-speaking country, incorporating language, social, academic, and leadership challenges. The trip will include the following focal points:

• Global issues (Social Studies course)
• Spanish (Foreign Language course)
• Culture and social customs exploration

This international trip represents the culminating experience for our 8th Graders before Graduation. It is a wonderful, paradigm-shifting moment of community reflecting each individual’s profound changes as they travel from one continent to another, experiencing the vibrant life of different culture as well as exploring the art and history of a fascinating set of civilizations.

7th grade - outdoor adventure - Joshua Tree National Park

The wilder corners of our country become the 7th grade classroom each spring as students spend a week exploring the natural world in a program that compliments their study of history, geography, and science. In the unique, high desert environment of the Mojave Desert, students engage in hands-on activities at cultural sites, explore riparian ecology zones, and rock climb. This incredible adventure sees our students return transformed with a new way of seeing the natural world after physical challenges, social/leadership challenges, an in-depth connection to 7th grade science and social studies programs.

6th grade - WASHINGTON, D.C.

A two year study of U.S. history, geography, and culture culminates in a week long trip to Washington, D.C. for the 6th grade. History comes to life as students explore Jamestown, Williamsburg, Monticello, Gettysburg, and the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

5TH GRADE - islandwood

Located on Bainbridge Island, IslandWood is home to our students for four days in the opening weeks of the 5th grade. The experience fosters teamwork, community, and a sense of civic responsibility.

Our admissions experts work with graduating students and their families to determine the best-fit high school for their learning profile, interests, and goals. Private school, public school, or boarding school—wherever a student continues their journey after St. Thomas School, our team is an advocate for their successful transition. Each graduating student is provided with interview and school visitation preparation, application assistance, test preparation classes, and admissions essay review.