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Seventh Grade

Seventh Grade

the middle years
 

A seventh grade student at Presbyterian School engages in dynamic conversation with adults and classmates to achieve out-of-the-box thinking and personal growth. Specifically, learners in seventh grade consider through observation and analysis of how the differences of opinion and belief can create heterogeneous environments that may result in conflict. It is managing this conflict that we as individuals and as a society must address to create a healthy world. A unique approach towards this theme exists in the development of blended content areas, interweaving English, and history classes where applicable in order to share topics and explore ideas in greater depth and understanding. Teaching a novel, such as Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson, allows for us to focus on a historical perspective alongside a literary analysis of the content, providing students a healthy, global approach to their learning. A beautiful result of this process arises as students recognize more about themselves and how they are unique in the world around them - all for the sake of improving the immediate and global community.

 

Curriculum Highlights

7th grade students enjoy an authentic approach to scientific research, conversations in Spanish, literary analysis, dynamic concepts in algebra, and American history. Additionally, much of the curriculum, from math to vocabulary, focuses on individual challenges by allowing students to advance at a pace designed with various levels of readiness in mind. With an elective program developed for children to pursue and perform STEAM-based courses, our curriculum has no limit. Our 7th grade students learn the power of empathy and mutual respect for themselves, each other, and the environment.

 

Character Development: Advisory & Squads

All students are assigned to an advisor. The middle school promotes character development through daily connection to a charismatic adult with reflection serving as a key to personal development. In addition to advisory, a fun, community, leadership-minded house system, which we call Squads.  The Squad program distributes all middle school students and teachers into four distinct groups that focus on collaboration, construction, competition, and fun. Older kids counsel younger and faculty members guide teams towards building community and unifying our incredible school culture.

 

Place-Based Learning: Museum Partnerships

While our classrooms begin in the somewhat traditional sense, the Presbyterian School classroom extends its boundaries into the many incredible museum resources Our faculty utilizes permanent and special exhibits to enhance the curriculum, spending time in the museums. The opportunity to deepen our learning by walking to new and exciting spaces right outside our walls vastly enhances the programming we can offer to middle school students.

 

Art Every Day

7th and 8th grade students take a fine arts class every single day... and these classes aren't just your run-of-the-mill electives. Classes include Scientific Illustration, Expressive Sculpture, Paper Art, Mock Trial, Guitar, Main Street Singers, Yearbook and more! The School has offered 80 different fine arts classes to students in the following genres: drawing & painting, multidimensional Art, Digital Art, Museum Art, Expressive Art, Music, Film, Dance, and On Stage.

 

The Power of Play: P.E., Fitness & Athletics

As a way to focus on the mind, body, and spirit of a middle school child, Presbyterian School facilitates intentional time for structured and unstructured play. 7th grade students attend P.E. and Fitness classes which include cross training to improve cardio and agility. Our no-cut athletics program after school is open to all 7th grade students and offers over 35 teams. 7th grade students have the opportunity to play on varsity level teams and compete with other middle schools in Houston. 

 

Spiritual Growth: Bible & Chapel

We invest in each child’s spiritual development through Bible class every other day. Our faculty offers the consistent message of sound character as supported by our school's Core Values: respect, perseverance, courage, compassion, gratitude, and integrity. Middle School students have opportunities to learn God's word, talk about current issues, and dive into matters of the heart in Bible Class and lunchtime bible studies. Students also attend a weekly chapel to worship together as a Middle School.

 

Confidence in every Child

Middle School students at Presbyterian School are expected to demonstrate their learning by creating, collaborating, and presenting. Students grow as a result of intentional reflection and challenging goals for improvement. Our model for learning focuses beyond “what we know” and challenges students to think about “what we do with what we know.”

Class Trips

The mission of the Presbyterian School Outdoor Educational Program focuses on developing confidence in every child through intentional, active experiences beyond the classroom centered on age-appropriate challenges, personal reflection, and spiritual growth. In 7th grade, students spend four days and three nights at Mo-Ranch Assembly, a Presbyterian Camp in Hunt, TX. This trip is a full day longer than the 6th grade class trip and is meant to be an even greater stretch physically, intellectually, and spiritually. Students spend their time at Mo Ranch deepening their connection with each other and their teachers on some of the most challenging team-building challenges that Texas has to offer. Each challenge is followed by a reflection, assessment, and goal setting before beginning the next. While deepening their connection, they learn valuable lessons in group cooperation, communication, servant leadership, and responsibility. Downtime at Mo Ranch is spent swimming in the lake, playing outdoor games at the youth plaza, or just relaxing in one of the most serene surroundings that the Texas Hill County has to offer. We wrap up every night with chapel and small groups led by students with the assistance of the School chaplain. Our goal for these chapels and small groups is for students to reflect on their growth from 6th to 7th grade and imagine how God calls them to continue growing during the coming year. On this trip, we worship, reflect, challenge ourselves, and make goals for how to be even better when returning to campus.

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