During the crucial adolescent years, self-esteem, family values, and healthy intellectual curiosity need to be fostered within a nurturing, moral and safe environment. By building on the skills developed in Lower School, the St. James Middle School focuses on the acquisition of strong basic academic skills, expands comprehension, analytical and questioning abilities, broadens creative and critical thinking, and enhances effective written and oral communication. Core academic subjects are addressed through specifically developed Central Theme classes.

Central Theme integrates literature, reading, process writing, history, and geography. The science curriculum is presented in a laboratory setting emphasizing the scientific method as a problem solving tool and utilizing special science software for experimentation. The Spanish program offers the opportunity to earn high school credits for Spanish Level I or Spanish Level II. Mathematics classes are grouped according to ability, allowing students who are developmentally prepared to complete Algebra I for high school credit in Grade 8. The transition years from fifth through eighth grades are critical ones in a young person's development and a wide variety of courses, enrichment, and programs have been developed to address the student's intellectual, physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
These include the following:

• Studio Art - Working with various media, painting, print making, sculpting, and drawing.


• Athletics -  After school team sports in volleyball, basketball, track (5th and 6th Grades) and tennis, basketball, and golf (7th and 8th Grades).


• Play Production - Acting, scenic and graphic designing, costuming, set building.


• Outdoor Education - Trips designed for each grade to integrate group interaction skills, personal growth, camping, canoeing, hiking, Central Theme and science
  • MO-Ranch, low elements of the Ropes Challenge Course - 5th Grade
  • Big Bend - 6th Grade, high elements of the Ropes Challenge Course
  • Canoeing - 7th Grade
  • Washington, D.C., Jamestown and Williamsburg - 8th Grade


• Life Skills -  Teaching self-reliance, motivation, self-esteem and sexuality education.


• Word Processing - Use of personal laptop computers for outlining, note taking, and editing in process writing.


• Speech - Public Speaking, debate, listening skills.


• Religious Education - Daily Bible Reading, weekly Chapel service, and a class taught by the staff of the Church of the Good Shepherd.


• Middle School Music - Choral music, recorder, rhythm ensemble with Orff instruments.


• Study Skills - Organization, time management, and note taking.


• St. James Service - Program to receive recognition for service to the school and to the community.


• Student Council - Student government held through "town meetings" during Advisory period.


• Advisory - Students meet for small group interaction with a staff Advisor.


• Special Events - Game days, picnics, lock-ins, dances, skate-ins, and intramural activities. The Middle School extends the St. James tradition of caring, while placing emphasis on developing high moral standards, responsibility, a respect for self and others, an enthusiastic pursuit of excellence, and a reverence for God and life.


• Preparation for High School - The Transition Program in Eighth Grade prepares the way for high school by offering:
  • Academic Fine Tuning - high school study skills, note taking from lecture, an extended independent study project called the Graduation Thesis and an advanced computer class
  • Social Readiness - special life skills curriculum and a panel discussion led by current ninth grade and alumni
  • Selection Assistance - visits from local guidance counselors, tour of local high schools and presentations by boarding school representatives as well as access to a large library of boarding school brochures and video tapes.

During the crucial adolescent years, self-esteem, family values, and healthy intellectual curiosity need to be fostered within a nurturing, moral and safe environment. By building on the skills developed in Lower School, the St. James Middle School focuses on the acquisition of strong basic academic skills, expands comprehension, analytical and questioning abilities, broadens creative and critical thinking, and enhances effective written and oral communication. Core academic subjects are addressed through specifically developed Central Theme classes.

Central Theme integrates literature, reading, process writing, history, and geography. The science curriculum is presented in a laboratory setting emphasizing the scientific method as a problem solving tool and utilizing special science software for experimentation. The Spanish program offers the opportunity to earn high school credits for Spanish Level I or Spanish Level II. Mathematics classes are grouped according to ability, allowing students who are developmentally prepared to complete Algebra I for high school credit in Grade 8. The transition years from fifth through eighth grades are critical ones in a young person's development and a wide variety of courses, enrichment, and programs have been developed to address the student's intellectual, physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
These include the following:

• Studio Art - Working with various media, painting, print making, sculpting, and drawing.


• Athletics -  After school team sports in volleyball, basketball, track (5th and 6th Grades) and tennis, basketball, and golf (7th and 8th Grades).


• Play Production - Acting, scenic and graphic designing, costuming, set building.


• Outdoor Education - Trips designed for each grade to integrate group interaction skills, personal growth, camping, canoeing, hiking, Central Theme and science
  • MO-Ranch, low elements of the Ropes Challenge Course - 5th Grade
  • Big Bend - 6th Grade, high elements of the Ropes Challenge Course
  • Canoeing - 7th Grade
  • Washington, D.C., Jamestown and Williamsburg - 8th Grade


• Life Skills -  Teaching self-reliance, motivation, self-esteem and sexuality education.


• Word Processing - Use of personal laptop computers for outlining, note taking, and editing in process writing.


• Speech - Public Speaking, debate, listening skills.


• Religious Education - Daily Bible Reading, weekly Chapel service, and a class taught by the staff of the Church of the Good Shepherd.


• Middle School Music - Choral music, recorder, rhythm ensemble with Orff instruments.


• Study Skills - Organization, time management, and note taking.


• St. James Service - Program to receive recognition for service to the school and to the community.


• Student Council - Student government held through "town meetings" during Advisory period.


• Advisory - Students meet for small group interaction with a staff Advisor.


• Special Events - Game days, picnics, lock-ins, dances, skate-ins, and intramural activities. The Middle School extends the St. James tradition of caring, while placing emphasis on developing high moral standards, responsibility, a respect for self and others, an enthusiastic pursuit of excellence, and a reverence for God and life.


• Preparation for High School - The Transition Program in Eighth Grade prepares the way for high school by offering:
  • Academic Fine Tuning - high school study skills, note taking from lecture, an extended independent study project called the Graduation Thesis and an advanced computer class
  • Social Readiness - special life skills curriculum and a panel discussion led by current ninth grade and alumni
  • Selection Assistance - visits from local guidance counselors, tour of local high schools and presentations by boarding school representatives as well as access to a large library of boarding school brochures and video tapes.