aspireS t. Lu k e ’S S c h o o L

m i d d l e s c h o o lG r a d e s 5 – 8

“students learn better when they feel connected in school to peers and adults. Knowing that they are known motivates students and gives them the confidence to work hard, to seek new experiences, and to take intellectual and extracurricular risks. ”

m a r K dav i s , h e a d o f s c h o o l

from the moment you enter st. luke’s

middle school until the day you transition to

our 9th grade, you’ll be part of a dynamic

community that will take you above and

beyond your expectations and prepare you

for the rigorous experiences that lie ahead.

actively involved in learning that instills

confidence, inspires curiosity, and fosters

creative thinking, you will aspire to more

here. You’ll experience the wonder of

discovery, form lasting relationships, and

transition to Upper school prepared to

excel and expand your world.

togetherour community drives student success. With the

support and encouragement of teachers and peers,

middle school students flourish—both academically

and socially—in a diverse environment that

recognizes and celebrates individual contributions.

as they grow, students gain the self-assurance

they need to set high expectations and discover

new interests. They develop strength of character,

speaking up and speaking out on behalf of

themselves and others. our students root for

one another: they want to do well and want their

classmates to do well, too. Together, they learn,

lead, and make a difference.

eighth grade students observe and discuss the properties of molecules in science class.

our students find their voices and make a difference—in their school, their community, and the world—through opportunities provided by the center for leadership (cfl). The cfl collaborates with faculty to create student experiences that foster a global perspective, encourage a service orientation, and build “Tlc” skills (teamwork, leadership, and communication) in students of all ages.

all middle school students partici-pate in community service by class, focusing on the following themes:

5th – the elderly 6th – the environment 7th – homelessness and hunger 8th – children in need

Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve. every day our middle school students take the st. luke’s motto to heart.

together

communit y | 3

“Teachers encourage us to be creative and use everything that we’re learning. They also teach us more than just academics—we learn how to work together, listen to each other, and be part of a community. ”

P e r r Y G r a d e 7 , N o r Wa l K , c T

www.stlukesct.org

Sixth grade students and faculty pitch in together to clean up a local beach.

Center for Leadership

it all starts here. Balancing a traditional curriculum

with interactive, hands-on learning and exploration,

our 5th grade academic program successfully

transitions students from elementary to middle

school. students in 5th grade benefit from their

own hallway, separate yet connected to the rest

of the school, where they feel comfortable to be

themselves. dedicated faculty get to know each

individual student, identifying strengths and guiding

students to do and be more. small class sizes ensure

that each student plays an active role in the learning

process. step by step, students build confidence,

form friendships, and succeed in all areas, on the

playing field, on the stage, and in the classroom.

“our 5th grade program gives students a jump-start on their path to academic excellence. They have the ability to look ahead, to aspire to more. The tools we provide enable them to take risks and experience new things. it all starts here. ”

G a r e T h fa N c h e r h e a d o f m i d d l e s c h o o l

www.stlukesct.org

5th grade academics | 5

Experiential Learning Living History to Learn It

What better way to learn history—with its interplay of social, cultural, and economic influences—than to immerse yourself in the period?

fifth grade students pack their bags and head to mystic seaport for a taste of the seafaring life. Prior to departure, students research how people lived and worked on america’s waterways and coastal towns. during the trip, they delve into history, exploring historic ships, a recreated 19th-century village, and a working shipyard. When they return to st. luke’s, students apply what they learned by mapping their own whaling expedition and creating a ship’s log to report on their voyage.

The trip brings american history to life, but the benefits go well beyond the history lesson—students develop an appreciation for the factors that influence the course of history, and embrace the opportunity to learn by doing.

Skills acquired: research, writing, teamwork, communication

Added benefits: experiential learning, creative expression, independence

“st. luke’s is excited about each and every child. Teachers set expectations for the class, but treat students as individuals. from the moment i first met with the admissions staff, i’ve felt that my daughter could be anything she wants here. ”

B e T h a N Y 5 T h G r a d e Pa r e N T, N e W c a N a a N , c T

A Day in the Life of a 5th Grader 7:55 AM Homeroom – review today’s schedule 8:00 AM Latin – “Salve, Magistra!” 8:50 AM Language Arts – interpret “leviathan,” a poem about a whale 9:45 AM Break – share a snack with friends 10:05 AM Language Arts – lead literary circle discussion on The Journal of Brian Doyle 11:00 AM Lunch – eat, play a game of ping pong or soccer 11:35 AM Science – present lab findings to class 12:15 PM Social Studies – role-play a whaling expedition and write up the ship’s log 1:05 PM Art – prep sculpture for the kiln 1:55 PM Math – solve the Problem of the day 2:45 PM Afternoon Activities – ready for practice

“our team-teaching model allows the freedom to create a rigorous curriculum that forges real discussion. students actively create, organize, debate, problem-solve—and just as important—make mistakes. in doing so, they not only build specific strengths, but also become responsible thinkers, presenters, and citizens. ”

J e N N i f e r P o Ko r N e Y d i r e c To r o f m i d d l e s c h o o l c U r r i c U lU m & h i s To r Y T e ac h e r

The Advisory ProgramBeginning in 6th grade and extending throughout our students’ years at st. luke’s, our advisory program helps students navigate both the academic and social aspects of school. advisors become students’ primary guides and an important link for students, parents, and teachers.

students meet with their advisors at least twice a week to discuss a range of topics, from academic performance and course selection to community service and citizenship. advisory ensures that each student is known, resulting in an appropriate course of study and co-curricular activities.

with confidence

Walk into any 6th, 7th, or 8th grade classroom, and you’ll

find lively discussion and an interactive exchange of

ideas. students learn by doing and experiencing. Teachers

integrate real-world topics into our traditional curriculum,

challenging students to make connections, think critically,

and find their voices. supported by the st. luke’s center for

leadership, our emphasis on public speaking starts in

middle school, when students learn to articulate their ideas,

support their positions, and communicate persuasively

in any forum. collaborative projects teach teamwork and

allow students to take risks as leaders and problem-solvers.

students develop an awareness of our global environment,

and the confidence, competence, and compassion to explore

our complex, interconnected world.

8th Grade Declamations Who inspires you and why?

This question is at the heart of the capstone 8th Grade declamations. focusing on an individual who has made a difference —dag hammarskjöld, Pat Tillman, and maya angelou are recent examples—students complete a rigorous, semester-long research and writing process, culminating with a speech to faculty, parents, and classmates. “declamations tie together our middle school goals on several levels,” says english Teacher Jim decatur. “students expand critical-thinking, organizational, and public-speaking skills. They reflect on the qualities they aspire to have, and those st. luke’s instills, such as leadership and integrity. as students help and root for one another, they galvanize as a class. ”

Skills acquired: research, media literacy, written and oral communication

Added benefits: self-confidence, pride, a sense of accomplishment

Interdisciplinary Projects, Global Solutionseach year, st. luke’s 7th grade partners with schools in other states and countries to take on a large-scale global issue and brainstorm solutions that can be implemented at the local level. recently, students tackled biodiversity and ecosystem loss; they compared their local ecosystem to that of schools in North carolina and mexico, and posted their responses to a shared blog. outside the classroom, students traveled to long island sound to investigate its ecosystem and the effects of a nearby power plant. in history class, students put the pieces together as they examined how sustainable

choices can affect their health, as well as the health of their community. “This program shows students that we don’t work in isolation,” says history Teacher chris Phelps. “What they’re learning in science has an effect on what’s going on in history, and what’s going on in history has an effect on english. We’re all in this together—not just in terms of academics, but in terms of the greater real-world picture. ”

Skills acquired: collaboration, cross-curricular thinking, leadership

Added benefits: Global awareness, social responsibility, sustainable choices

6th, 7th, & 8th grade academics | 7

with confidence

Seventh grade students take advantage of the proximity to Long Island Sound to study biodiversity and local habitats.

Declamations are streamed live and watched by friends and family around the world.

“our music program gives students real-world skills, enabling them to pursue music in any capacity later in life, and instills in them an appreciation for the arts. ”

da l e G r i f fa m U s i c d e Pa r T m e N T c h a i r

from art to band to choir to theatre, middle school

students take advantage of the many fine arts

offerings incorporated into the curriculum. in

our one-of-a-kind art house—solely devoted to

creativity—students paint, sculpt, and enhance

digital images; while in our state-of-the-art seldin

Performing arts center, students shine on stage

and work behind the scenes as part of the tech crew.

st. luke’s showcases talents, and students admire

and celebrate the artistic and musical achievements

of their peers. essential to students’ growth and

development, our arts program inspires creative

thinking, gives students the chance to express

themselves, and broadens their perspectives.

www.stlukesct.org

Discovering Voicesdiscovering voices is a cross-curricular series of workshops that provide middle school students with a wide range of creative opportunities. The workshops help students make connections among the arts, sciences, technology, and other academic disciplines, and provide avenues for self-expression through poetry, music, art, drama, and dance.

The discovering voices theme changes each year, but always inspires students to experiment and discover something about themselves. Workshops, such as harlem Jazz infusion, electronic music Poetry, stop motion animation, Yoga, and acoma Pottery, spark new thinking and passions.

each series concludes with a performance that features the creative outcomes of the workshops. recently, internationally celebrated violinist alexander markov rocked the audience with a high-voltage finale accompanied on stage by several students. Art teacher Peggy Van Acker guides a Stop Motion Animation workshop.

“at st. luke’s, art doesn’t just happen in the art house. it runs through many of my classes, from the focus on nature in science to the study of michelangelo in history to illustrating my own fairy tale in english. ”

K i T, G r a d e 6 , N e W c a N a a N , c T

Events in the Arts• 5thGradeInternationalNight• BluesBandConcert• DiscoveringVoices• Fall&SpringChoirConcerts• FallDrama• HolidayBand&ChoirConcerts• MiddleSchoolMusical• Music&PoetryPerformance• SpringTheatre-in-the-Round• ThespianAwards• Winter&SpringArtShows

the arts | 9

“in middle school, i was able to try many different sports—so now in the Upper school, i know which sports i want to play. ”

G r i f f i N G r a d e 9 , N e W c a N a a N , c T

Clubs & Activities• ArtClub• BluesBand(Grades7–8)• ChessClub• ComputerAnimation• Dance• Drama• EnvironmentalClub• ImprovisingthroughtheArts• MathTeam• Musical• MusicClub• Rock’n’Record• TechnicalTheatre(Grades7–8)

your passionseveryone at st. luke’s participates in an afternoon

activity. our middle school philosophy is simple:

everyone makes a team, everyone plays, and

everyone matters. st. luke’s students are multi-

dimensional, eager to try new activities and engage

in new experiences, such as squash, math team,

and computer animation. as students sing in the

school’s musical or throw the game-changing pitch,

they learn to be leaders in big and small ways. They

take pride in their school, their accomplishments,

and themselves.

over 90 percent of middle school students play one sport or more during their years at st. luke’s.

Athletics

www.stlukesct.org

your passions

Middle School students cheer on upper School students as part of the 6 1/2 Man club.

• Baseball• Basketball• Crew(Grades7–8)• CrossCountry• FieldHockey• Football• IceHockey• Lacrosse• PaddleTennis• SkiTeam(Grade8)• Soccer• Softball• Squash• Tennis• Volleyball

co-curricular activities | 11

By the time they finish 8th grade, students have

acquired the communication and critical thinking

skills they need to succeed in Upper school—

and beyond. With teachers, advisors, friends, and

teammates by their sides, they are engaged,

confident learners and leaders, and integral

members of our diverse community. on a daily

basis, our students demonstrate the tenets of the

st. luke’s honor code: kindness, responsibility,

honesty, and respect. declamations serve as a rite

of passage as students push their ideas to the

limit, defend their findings, and transition to our

9th grade. With a strong academic foundation in

place, they are well-prepared to reach for—and

achieve—more.

middle school

“Without my 8th Grade declamation, i wouldn’t have had the chance to discover my passion for dr. Paul farmer’s work with haiti’s health care delivery system. This has since become the basis of my study in the Global scholars program in the Upper school, as well as one of my life passions and interests. ”

m c K e N z i e s T. lU K e ’s a lU m N a , aT T e N d i N G s Ta N f o r d U N i v e r s i T Y

Middle School students team with upper School students to win a homecoming Week race.

middle school

“When i see the 5th and 6th graders at activities, they don’t view me as the college counselor; they’re just themselves, and i’m able to get to know them really well. When the time comes to talk about college, they’re comfortable, and i’m better able to help them through the process. ”

s o N i a B e l l d i r e c To r o f co l l e G e co U N s e l i N G & e N G l i s h T e ac h e r

377 North Wilton RoadNew Canaan, CT 06840

203.966.5612 | www.stlukesct.org

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Above & Beyond

St. Luke’s is a secular, college-preparatory day school in New Canaan, CT for grades 5–12. A combination of challenging academics and exceptional community support distinguishes St. Luke’s and encourages students to go above and beyond their own expectations. St. Luke’s offers an inclusive environment where differences in race, culture, and personal beliefs are embraced as assets that enhance education. An accomplished faculty, administrators, and parents join forces to foster students’ intellectual and moral growth, preparing them for college and giving them the tools they need for success, leadership, and service in the world.