Middle School in a N
utshell
utshell As part of our three-year Middle States plan, a Middle School was formed within St. Anthony of Padua School. Our Middle School consists of grades 5, 6, 7 and 8, and they work together as a departmental part of the school.
Some of the privileges of Middle School students are lockers in the hallway, a separate lunch time, and recess time, and the focus of our program is taking on responsibility. In preparation for high school, students begin each week with a responsibility chart which starts off with 100%. As the week goes on, if an infraction occurs, points are deducted from the 100%. At the beginning of next week, the sheet goes home for parental signature. The grades from the responsibility sheets are averaged to find the general conduct grade that the student has earned for each marking period. This is significant since, along with the appropriate grades, students must have a G or VG in General Conduct to achieve the honor roll at the end of the marking period.
Students in the Middle Grades are also asked to complete service for the school, the parish, and/or the community. Service projects include work in Student Council, working in the Afterschool Literacy program, working at lunchtime, working on the Scoop school newspaper, etc. The goal is 25 hours per half year, for a total of 50 hours a year. There are benefits on the Midterm and Final exams for service completed, and a pin at the last awards ceremony in June.
Our Middle School teachers work in concert to promote respect and integrity among the students, providing them with a good example of professionalism and enthusiasm for learning. They are:
Grade 5 homeroom and Middle School Math – Mrs. B. Fleming
Grade 6 homeroom and Middle School Language Arts – Mrs. K Trunzo
Grade 7 homeroom and Middle School Social Studies – Mrs. M. Bulas
Grade 8 homeroom and Middle School Science – Mrs. C. Touw
Our Middle School grades provide us with wonderful opportunities when we work on projects including our Multiple Intelligences showcase to pair up a lower grade with an upper grade and work together. Our Middle School students develop patience and understanding as they work with younger students to model the good practices we have developed in the Middle School. (See “Buddy” Program under Faith Development).
St Anthony’s Middle School combines the privileges of achieving success in Grades 5 -8 as preparation for high school, with the increased responsibility of working to the full potential of each student.
