Collegiate Middle School - Where minds are challenged, bodies are active, and hearts grow strong.
Middle School at Collegiate is comprised of Grades 5 through 8. Each grade functions as its own team with academics at the center. Our students enjoy a rich and deep curriculum combining the most important elements of an accelerated classical education taught in a way that recognizes the way students learn. In all grades students read novels, plays, and poetry. They write, research, and create projects. Their work in math focuses on problem solving. In science they are engaged in the discovery process daily with experiments, demonstrations, and other hands-on tasks. Middle school students complete a three-year course in American History, World Geography, and Ancient History. Latin is introduced at the 7th and 8th grade levels.
Around this core, students are exposed to a full range of fine arts offerings including drama, vocal and instrumental music, music tech, and art. They also take PE, Computer, and Transitions every year; Spanish as 5th and 6th graders; and choose from electives such as Entrepreneurship, Reading Club, Values in Action, Old and New Testament, and Computer Creations. These experiences round out their middle school education and help build the foundation for a lifetime of varied interests and talents.
Much of the learning in middle school is experiential. At every grade level there are simulations, overnight trips, field trips, guest speakers, community service projects, class projects, and parties.
While we are busy keeping the minds challenged and the bodies active, we are always aware that character building is an important part of the educational process. From daily meetings in advising to special week long units, lessons about kindness, courage, friendship, and determination are woven into the fabric of daily school life. Students are encourage to think, not just in the classroom, but within the social context as well.
All students are known at Collegiate. Every middle school student has an advisor who first meets the student at his/her home before school even starts. The advisor is not only a wonderful link for the parent but also a mentor and friend to the student at school. Much of our organization training, study skill education, and personal goal setting is conducted by the advisors.
The 5th grade year in middle school is a transition from Lower School to the world of changing classes and new responsibilities. During this most important year, 5th graders travel to Kansas City for an overnight trip that includes the Renaissance Faire and Science City. They create a Medieval Faire at school for the Lower School students complete with josting and turkey legs! Their lessons lead them through many beloved children's classic novels, new and old; an introduction to mythology; the early years of American History; a science curriculum that includes building robotics; and a space mission with the Mars Probe Simulator.
5th and 6th graders participate in intramural sports and can try out for the play. They also will be involved with Fine Arts Academy classes if they choose.
By 6th grade the students are seasoned middle schoolers with a confidence that preceeds them down the hall. Early in the year they read Tom Sawyer and take a trip to Mark Twain's home, Hannibal, Missouri. Included in that trip is a study of caves. One of the highlights of the year is an Immigration Simulation that places each student in a European identity, as a person coming to America through Ellis Island in the early 1900's. World Geography is mixed in with the American History study. Students continue to read novels and to write, to learn vocabulary, and to understand English grammar. Their math study will complete their six-year course of Everyday Math, the University of Chicago landmark program. In science they concentrate on Earth Science including rocks, minerals, climate, and weather...Kansas weather, in particular. There is a weather station in the science room to aid in their work.
5th and 6th graders participate in intramural sports and can try out for the 5th and 6th grade play. Many choose also to take Fine Arts Academy classes after school.
Seventh grade is the year students begin to participate in interscholastic sports; they get to go to other towns to play their ballgames and wear Collegiate Spartan uniforms. Year in and year out, 95% or our students participate in at least one of our sports. The plays, musicals, and concerts that have already been a part of their Collegiate lives continue as these young people exercise the well-rounded behaviors that characterize our students. Seventh graders continue their academic lives by adding Latin. Through this program they learn about daily life in Rome. English students will write more and read more including the story of Aeneas and their first full-length Shakespeare play. History moves quickly to the 20th century and current day; the skills continue to build here in a research paper project. Science students will study life science and will do many things parents would remember from their own high school days. The math students will begin their preparation for Algebra. Early in the year they study a special World War unit that culminates in a USO dance that includes parents and grandparents. Their interdisciplinary unit on baseball in the spring culminates in a trip to St. Louis to see a Cardinals game as well as other great educational options. As the list of available activities grows, so do the social events with a couple school dances and more parties.
Eighth grade includes an emphasis on leadership development. Their academic work is crafted to lead directly into the college preparatory program of the Upper School. History in 8th grade moves to the Ancient World which integrates well with a second year of Latin, and works like The Odyssey and Julius Caesar in English class. Students are taking Pre-Algebra, Algebra, or Algebra II depending on their stage in math and being introduced to the physical science world of physics and chemistry. Independence is certainly a goal of the 8th grade program as these middle school leaders prepare for the challenges of Upper School. Their interdisciplinary units include Archeology and World Hunger with a trip to Heifer Project International to participate in the world hunger simulation in the Global Village. Plays, concerts, academic competitions, and athletic events round out the lives of 8th graders.
