Our St. Aloysius middle school program is centered on meeting the unique needs of 6-8 graders through a balance of high academic standards within a nurturing, Christ-centered atmosphere. Middle school teachers are committed to working collaboratively to meet students on their social and emotional levels as well as instructionally. Our small-school environment allows teachers to make observations to ensure students feel seen and supported while being challenged to grow in knowledge, character development, and spirituality. Courses are designed to strengthen organizational, study, and critical thinking skills and inspire intellectual curiosity. Twice a week WIN “What I Need” time built into our schedule provides an additional opportunity for small group and one-on-one differentiated instruction targeting specific skill reinforcement.
Community-building among grade levels and integrated leadership opportunities are important aspects of our middle school. Students are divided into groups with a combination of 6-8 graders who meet weekly to grow in faith, participate in service opportunities, and enjoy friendly competition. Our buddy program partners each middle school student with kindergarten, 1st, or 2nd graders providing opportunities to strengthen connections throughout our school family. Classroom instruction is designed to foster leadership and communication skills through a combination of whole class instruction paired with small group and partner work. Leadership opportunities also include roles within community groups, facilitating morning prayers and announcements, serving as 8th grade ambassadors, and assisting in our science lab.
Middle school teachers work diligently to challenge each student to reach his/her full academic potential while recognizing the crucial need for building positive self-esteem and a growth mindset during these formative adolescent years. Our goal is that students graduate confident in their abilities and self-worth, well-prepared for the rigor of high school.
