Middle School

The formative middle school years are critical.  Middle school students still very much need guidance and protection, but they also need opportunities to make their own decisions and be responsible for their own learning.  Students are laying the foundation for 21st century skills they will need to be lifelong thinkers, learners, and problem-solvers. 

Middle school is a delicate balance of academic rigor and enrichment activities.  In all areas, students are challenged to be critical, creative, flexible thinkers and to learn to use their voice for communication and collaboration.

As teachers guide students to gain independence as thinkers and learners, it is important to remember that while grades are an important indication of where students are, grades alone may not tell the whole story in middle school.  Valuing the process over the finished product and the skills practiced over the graded content is key.  The middle school faculty understands that a variety of factors influence learning and development in the middle school years.

The scripture on the back of the middle school t-shirt is Psalm 28:7, “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him.”

The imagery of a heart leaping for joy because of who He is represents our hope for students. Transformation from a childlike faith into a personal responsibility and commitment often begins during middle school years.  Partnering with families and churches to train and challenge students to a deeper understanding of the Christian faith is the purpose of Biblical Foundations.   

Fifth grade students begin the year studying God’s promise of salvation in Genesis and God’s covenants with Noah, Abraham, Israel, and David.  Students then study the life of Jesus through the four Gospels and finish the year studying 1 Peter.

Sixth grade students study every book of the Old Testament and finish the year studying the Gospel of John.  Through each book of the Old Testament, students are challenged to answer the questions:  What do we learn about God?  How do we see God’s redemptive plan throughout Scripture?

This year in chapel middle school students are learning the truth found in Romans 8:37, “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”  Following The Warrior Way, outlined by Sarah Jones, middle school students memorize a verse of scripture each week.  The verse of the week provides the framework for chapel.  Chapel speakers and selected worship songs seek to help students further understand the context and meaning of the memorized verse.

The goal of the MS house system is to foster community, build relationships, and provide opportunities for healthy competition.  Middle school house names reflect our core values and a student’s ROLE at school.

Amare (love) - Love is action and by definition involves relationship.  Love challenges us to look for opportunities to serve others and to do what is in the best interest of the other person.

Consortio (partnership) - The triangle of partnership between middle school student, teacher, and parent mirrors the LRCA Golden Triangle and the relationship between home, church, and school.  The strongest of all shapes, the triangle retains its strength by all sides equally supporting each other.

Praestantia (excellence) -  Excellence means encouraging one another in the pursuit of excellence.  It means not only doing your personal best but encouraging others to do the same. 

Reverentia (respect) - The word reverentia naturally brings to mind the word reverence.  Reverence for God and the recognition that each one of us was created in His image is where respect for each other begins.  

Veritas (truth) -  It is from the perspective of the Truth that we build a solid foundation on which rests our values, attitudes, and actions as followers of Christ.