Middle School

While the study of French begins in our Lower School, Middle School students can opt to continue their study of French or begin Spanish in fifth grade. Emphasis is placed on the development of skills of speaking and aural comprehension skills, reading and writing with special attention paid to pronunciation and intonation. Classes are conducted in the target language. Students are expected to complete Level I of French or Spanish language prior to their entrance into our Upper School.

The Middle School mathematics program progresses from higher elementary mathematics through pre-algebra to algebra I. The curriculum encompasses comprehension and practical applications. The use of hands-on activities, calculators, and computers add variety and enjoyment to the mathematics classroom. Students are expected to advance to geometry and Algebra II once they enter our Upper School.

The religion curriculum in the Middle School presents a comprehensive study of Catholic tradition and doctrine. Each grade level is attentive to scriptural, traditional, and historical development of Catholic experience. The ongoing presence of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit is acknowledged, appreciated, and celebrated in the academically oriented curriculum. Liturgies are student-planned under the direction of the Campus Minister and religion teachers.

The campus ministry program allows students to share in faith-filled activities. The worship life of the school is reflected in school and class liturgies, as well as morning prayer in assembly. Campus ministry also provides additional regular and seasonal opportunities for service. The Mother-Daughter Liturgies are special highlights in the spiritual life of the Middle School.

Social action is an integral part of the academic and spiritual life at Stone Ridge. Students participate in a number of activities that help raise their awareness about the needs of their community and of their world. Social action activities are an essential part of the advisory program. Providing food and clothes for a homeless family shelter, working with a group to sew hats for children with cancer, partnering with another school and celebrating the holidays are some of the ways in which students respond actively to the needs of others.

Fifth grade covers a wide range of scientific disciplines including biological, physical, and earth science. The curriculum focuses on classifying organisms and allows students to compare and contrast different animals.  Sixth graders participate in a physical science program. The curriculum focuses on the metric system as well as force, speed, energy, motion, momentum, velocity and acceleration.  Seventh grade covers life science with concentrations in biology and anatomy.  The curriculum focuses on cell processes, genetics, and organ systems. Eighth grade science covers earth science and chemistry. The curriculum focuses on a large geology unit that examines the physical earth in detail, a meteorology unit and chemistry. 

Throughout all grades, the emphasis is on experiential, hands-on learning. In addition, the seventh and eighth grades compete in a spring science competition. This project allows them to rely on their mechanical science and engineering skills to construct a project during class time. Students then compete in various categories on a science type field day.

The social studies program in the Middle School is a broad examination of the human condition from the earliest world civilizations to modern societies. Focus changes periodically to emphasize particular areas of the world. Various research and study skills are reinforced throughout the program. Students also study the people of the world and explore the earth in all its variety by learning to how to use geographic tools such as maps, globes, graphs and charts.

The Middle School art program seeks to encourage students to take creative risks, develop an artistic voice and practice important problem solving skills.  Students explore a wide array of media including, drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, and mixed media.  At times, class projects are cross-curricular in nature with other disciplines to help enforce important concepts.  The program also helps students to establish a lifelong commitment to the arts by hosting visiting artists and exposing students to art in a museum setting.   The drama program develops and encourages an individual, vivid, presentational style by introducing performance techniques, working on self-awareness and exploring effective and affective behavior. The students work with costumes, props, scripted material, and improvisation, at the same time stressing disciplined approaches and respect for each other’s work.

The general music program focuses on the development of music literacy, theory and performance skills. The instrumental/vocal curriculum is influenced by the pedagogy and philosophies behind Orff, Suzuki and World Music Drumming. The Orff curriculum includes both solo and ensemble experience with recorders, voice, percussion, xylophones, and movement. World Music Drumming allows students to engage with a variety of musical cultures, while developing an understanding of key concepts such as community, focus, balance, respect, and teamwork. Music Mind Games is used to learn and enhance music literacy skills.  It is a hands-on system that accommodates visual, aural and kinesthetic learners. Eighth grade students may concentrate in a yearlong course in instrumental music, drama, dance, visual art, and multimedia.

Learn more about the Arts at Stone Ridge.

The Middle School at Stone Ridge recognizes and strives to accommodate the learning diversity of our students. Academic support is viewed as a shared responsibility that includes the efforts of advisors, teachers, learning specialists, counselors, and parents. In each subject area classroom, through direct instruction, guided practice, and differentiation, teachers work to meet the needs of their students. Additionally, during Study Hall periods, students have the opportunity to meet with their classroom teachers in either small groups or individually to receive prescriptive instruction and reinforcement of core curriculum skills. When alternative, learning support is required, the learning specialists will determine an individualized course of action and intervention.

Middle School Learning Specialists:

• Work as instructional coaches in collaboration with classroom teachers to offer strategies for curriculum design, differentiation, and direct instruction.
• Offer instruction in learning strategies to all students during Study Hall periods.
• Serve as liaisons between students, parents, and teachers for students with learning challenges.
• Recommend psycho-educational testing, tutoring, and academic coaching when appropriate.
• Create individualized Student Success Plans based on submitted documentation.
• Present individual student profiles to teachers and oversee the implementation of academic accommodations.
• Provide individual and small group instruction in learning strategies to students with documented learning differences.

Learning Specialist Team:

Sarah Bramble     
Learning Specialist  (Grades 5 & 6)

Maryann Will
Learning Specialist  (Grades 7 & 8)