Middle School

“I hope by the end of the year my students learn to be the students they are capable of being, each reaching her individual potential,” said St. Mary’s veteran teacher, Lynda Lyttle. For 36 years, Ms. Lyttle has taught St. Mary’s Middle School students how to tackle equations, giving them the skills they need to confidently solve for any variable. 

After 26 years of teaching at St. Mary’s, Middle School Art Teacher Elizabeth Garat says she finds joy in teaching girls to express themselves artistically. “I love teaching girls because they are eager to learn and try new things,” Garat said. 

Middle School is a time of transformation. Our dedicated faculty know both the ins and outs of their subject matter, as well as the ups and downs of a girl’s life during these critical years. Students are challenged to develop the reading, writing, and thinking skills they need for Upper School, college, and life.

Thirty-four Middle School students took the stage for three fun-filled performances of the musical Matilda JR, a gleefully witty ode to the anarchy of childhood and the power of imagination. After four weeks of rehearsals, the students thrilled and delighted audiences with the story of the special little girl with an extraordinary imagination.

Eighth Grade English teacher and JV Lacrosse Coach Claire Zagrodzky loves teaching because “it allows me to pass along my passion for learning and reading. There's nothing I love more than helping students read difficult texts and watching them understand and grasp new ideas. It inspires me to keep learning and reading, too!” ⁠

I am thrilled to be teaching 6th and 7th grade English at St. Mary’s this year! My husband Greg and I have three daughters, and two of them are Turkeys. I am excited about this new adventure. Prior to joining the St. Mary’s team, I taught at Holy Rosary in The Learning Center, a specialized program for students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences. Our oldest daughter's struggles in school ignited a passion within me to help all students realize their full potential. All students can learn; we just have to find the way each student learns best. It is like cracking a code!
 

Middle School French teacher Leanne Hinkle loves to share her passion for the French language and culture with her students. Her favorite lessons involve French history. “I love teaching about French history, particularly the Norman Conquest and how it changed the trajectory of Franco-English relations as well as the English language.”

The 7th grade participates in Turkey Cents, a course that teaches personal financial management skills. Our 7th Grade Algebra Teacher Marcy Kueffner uses Junior Achievement’s financial literacy program to teach valuable lessons about basic money management. The program’s curriculum covers the importance of saving and how to save, taxes, an overview of debit cards and credit cards, key tips on using credit wisely, and how to create a personal budget. 

Middle school is an important time for social, emotional, physical, and academic development. During this time, mind and body wellness is pivotal to healthy adolescent development. Throughout middle school, our students focus on mind and body wellness in various ways. 
 

Our 7th-grade students participate in the Community Connections class. This course is focused on helping our girls become engaged with the local community by learning about the challenges facing our city such as homelessness, food insecurity, and health inequity. The course partners MIFA, a local nonprofit that supports vulnerable seniors and families.