Middle School

The Middle School is a cohesive community designed to nurture and challenge girls during early adolescence. Girls are encouraged to ask questions, to seek creative solutions and to take risks — all important skills for life. It’s a time to deepen their understanding of honor and integrity, and the girls are expected to take responsibility for their own academic work and behavior. At St. Catherine’s, we create a safe and dynamic environment where girls build confidence and are empowered to discover their voice.

Five discoveries made in our Middle School

List of 5 items.

Connectedness

Girls in grades 5-8 come together in our Strong Circles program to explore themes of honor, friendship, inclusion and service. They work on special projects throughout the year and with Lower School students, in which each girl’s voice is heard and celebrated.
Digital Citizenship

Expert teachers help the girls navigate the digital world with classes that teach research methods, coding and designing websites with an emphasis on safety and responsibility. The girls explore how to create and maintain a positive digital footprint that will serve them well in the years ahead.
Global Mindedness

Global education is embedded into every grade level and across all disciplines. Middle School teachers collaborate with schools in other countries. Some examples include the Global Read Aloud initiative, Global Monster Build project, and the Peace Cranes project. In addition, global studies and skills come alive with a trip to the U.N. Headquarters and Ellis Island in NYC in grade six. In grades seven and eight, girls have opportunities to compete in Model UN. We also host Guatemalan students in the fall.
Self-Awareness

Every girl showcases her increasing confidence, unique strengths and academic goals during conferences with her parents and advisor. Girl-centered personal growth classes address nutrition, body image, self-defense and drug and alcohol awareness.
Skills for Academic Success

The Study Skills class in fifth grade helps girls identify and apply their personal learning style. The Thinking Skills class in sixth grade expands girls’ analytical thinking. Required coding and Latin classes give girls a leg up for success in Upper School and beyond.

Curriculum

List of 5 items.

Grade 5

English
Math
Ancient History
Physical Science
Mandarin Chinese
Spanish
Visual Art
Music
Physical Education
Student Skills
Personal Growth
Aware
Theatre and Dance
Library Skills
Grade 6

English
Math
World Geography
Life Science
Mandarin Chinese
Spanish
Visual Art
Pre-Algebra
Music
Physical Education
Thinking Skills
Transitions (personal growth)
Theatre and Dance Exploration
Grade 7

English
Pre-Algebra
Algebra I
Music
Medieval and Early Modern World History
Earth Science
Mandarin Chinese
Spanish
Visual Art
Dance Creations
Physical Education
Bible Survey
Passage (personal growth)
Grade 8

English
Algebra I
Geometry
American History
Physics First
Coding
French
Mandarin Chinese
Spanish
Latin
Visual Art
Dance Study
Fundamentals of Technical Theatre
Physical Education
Connections (personal growth)
Theatre and Technical Theatre
Integrated Science 8
STEAM (Science Technology, Engineering, Art, Math)
Optional

Band
Strings
Guitar Ensemble
Chamber Orchestra (grades 7-8)
Chorus
Grace Notes (grades 7-8 advanced choir ensemble)
La Petite Joni (grades 5-6 dance)
Just Joni (grades 7-8 dance)
Joni Fusion (dance)
Robotics
Outre Theatre

"Our Middle School girls thrive because we support them as individuals and praise them for taking risks. We encourage them to entertain a myriad of perspectives on the way to forming their own ideas."

— Tonya Walker
Director of Middle School

Let's Get Started

The best way to get started is to come to St. Catherine’s for a campus tour, to catch a glimpse of School life, to meet our teachers and to see teaching and learning up close.