Middle School

Middle School students have opportunities to pursue their academic interests through competitive programs such as MATHCOUNTS and Youth Legislature, as well as Student Vestry, Student Council, Craftastic, Breakfast Club, and Geography Club.

Middle School students choose at least one of two world languages, French or Spanish. Students studying French have a long tradition of electing an immersion experience in Quebec. Students studying Spanish can choose a  similar experience in Costa Rica. There are also clubs available for students interested in exploring other cultures in a non-classroom environment.

​Middle School students benefit from small classes, the nurture of caring teachers who understand and enjoy the middle school age group, and an advisory curriculum designed to empower them to successfully navigate the transitions of this developmental stage. School counselors meet with students on an individual basis or in small group settings to support them with school, friendship, family, or mental health needs. 

Our Learning Support Services Program provides appropriate support and accommodations for students with diagnosed learning differences and attention challenges.

​​Middle School teachers are organized in academic departments with subject area Upper School colleagues. Departmental collaboration ensures alignment of curriculum and professional growth and supports a smooth transition to Upper School for our students.

​​​Empowered by and engaged with the curriculum, the Middle School’s one-to-one iPad program offers students an expanded set of learning opportunities for both collaborative and self-directed learning. With a personal iPad available to them at all times, students possess an integral learning tool to gain the 21st century skills required to excel and compete globally.

​​​The core values of the school’s Honor Code, respect and honesty, are incorporated into four key statements which we expect all members of our community to uphold: respect yourself and others, take care of Episcopal’s environment and materials, be honest and fair, and respect others’ rights to learn. Our school rules, procedures, and guidelines support these principles; our discipline strategies are designed to enable students to reflect and to restore respect when they make mistakes. Our goal is to support students as they learn and move forward positively.

Middle School students have opportunities to grow spiritually through regular chapel worship, yearly religion coursework, and service-learning projects. Daily life supports reflection and prayer. Students actively serve and participate as Student Vestry members, Chapel Readers, Praise Band musicians and Acolytes.

Service learning empowers students to understand the challenges facing our local and global community and to discover ways to make a positive difference. The Center for Service Learning provides opportunities and support as students learn, serve and reflect.

Opportunities to realize their leadership potential and to learn the skills of collaboration, responsibility, communication, and problem-solving abound for Middle School students. An active Student Council and Student Vestry support class and community projects, plan and lead worship, and design fun social activities for the Middle School division. Peer Leaders receive training to support and orient new students and to help resolve conflicts among their classmates. Club officers provide support and structure to ensure appropriate student engagement and responsibility in a variety of club activities.

Each grade-level class has opportunities to build strong bonds of friendship and community through retreat experiences and travel. Typically the sixth grade class enjoys a friendship retreat early in the school year to begin to establish their class identity. Later in the year, sixth graders travel together for a local service-learning experience. The seventh grade class has a tradition of traveling to Memphis, Tennessee each spring to explore interesting curricular connections offered there, while the eighth graders travel to Hunt, Texas each fall to participate in Mo Ranch’s Environmental Leadership Program.

We welcome and depend on a positive partnership with parents in the education process. Volunteer opportunities abound through our active Parents’ Guild. Parent/Faculty conferences are available upon request at any point during the school year. The Counseling Department sponsors regular education programs and a yearly book study for parents. Parents U-Knighted, a support group program for parents of students with learning differences, provides monthly opportunities for connection and communication.