Middle School

In today's digital age, managing the influence of social media and constant connectivity is a significant challenge for teens and their families. St. Mary’s Middle School is taking proactive steps including phone lockers and providing resources and curriculum at school and home. 

When most of us think of P.E., the words "trust" and "communication" are not necessarily what first comes to mind. However, after 24 years of teaching Middle School physical education at St. Mary’s, Coach Kari Duncan has learned that these two attributes are critical for student engagement.

When St. Mary’s seventh-graders first enter their requisite Life Science class, most of them think they will walk away learning the basic tenets of biology; however, what they don’t know is that science teacher Kate Fairless is going to equip them with essential lessons in organization and executive functioning, preparing them for Upper School – and for life.

Every 7th grade student at St. Mary's takes Community Connections, a quarter-long service class designed to help students understand the needs of their community, grow compassion and empathy, and develop as leaders.

Eighth-grade students in Ms. Lynda Lyttle’s Honors Geometry Class brought math to the Makerspace with a creative final project. Students designed and built birdhouses as their final project. Girls considered several mathematical factors to ensure that their birds would have a safe and comfortable environment in their new homes.

Do you ever wish you could go back to the simplicity of first grade? Last weekend, members of the Middle School cast of Junie B. Jones, The Musical did just that, taking audiences down memory lane through the eyes of a rambunctious first-grader. The cast brought Barbara Park's best-selling books to life, showcasing the adventures and antics of Junie B. Jones.

Instead of visiting "a galaxy far, far away," last week 6th graders brought outer space to the South Campus. With guidance from 6th-grade science teacher Rachel Giampapa and Innovation Lab Director Meagan Michael, students researched, wrote, filmed, and produced short educational videos about specific astronomy topics. Then, once their videos were compiled, the students held a watch party inside a planetarium they constructed themselves!

“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.