Middle School

As a Preschool through eighth-grade school, St. Michael’s offers both Lower School and Middle School on one connected campus. This structure creates a close-knit community where middle school students serve as role models for younger children, building meaningful relationships across grade levels.

Our Middle School program challenges students to build strong academic foundations while supporting their growth as confident, compassionate, and capable individuals. Through a rigorous curriculum and a wide range of co-curricular and extracurricular opportunities, students develop the skills and character needed for success in high school and beyond.

St. Michael’s provides a strong foundation for high school through:

A rigorous, well-rounded academic program
Leadership and service opportunities
Development of time management and organizational skills
Individualized support for each student

Our graduates are well-prepared to thrive in top high schools in Sacramento and beyond.

Grade-Level Highlights

5th Grade

Fifth grade students are paired with a kindergarten buddy for the year — Fifth graders receive a kindergarten buddy

Transition to middle school with a departmental schedule, including multiple teachers and movement between classrooms
Experiential connections to U.S. history through interviewing a veteran, presenting their learning in chapel, and exploring military traditions, including learning official fight songs
Leadership and community building through the Buddy Program, connecting kindergarteners with fifth-grade students
In-depth novel studies covering realistic fiction and historical fiction genres, including both class discussions and written responses to literature
Development of organizational systems and study habits to support increased independence
Inquiry-based science skills developed through hands-on, project-based learning, including creating recycled-material sphere models of Earth’s systems, researching and presenting on global biomes, and leading a HallowSTEAM project in which students teach younger peers about physical and chemical changes
Introduction to Spanish literature through reading a Spanish novella
Experiential learning through school-day field trips and overnight educational experiences, including an outdoor education field trip

5th Grade 2025-26 Grade-Level Summary

6th Grade

Development of independence through the use of lockers and increased responsibility for materials
Integrated units of study, including a math career project focused on financial literacy, research, and creative presentations on ancient Egyptian mythology and ancient Greek achievements, and a creative Starbucks Holiday Cup Design Challenge
In-depth novel studies covering historical fiction and dystopian genres, including both class discussions and written responses to literature
Explicit skill-building in note-taking, study strategies, and academic organization
Collaborative performance experience through a Shakespeare-inspired production, where students work with a teacher-director through all stages of theater, including auditioning, rehearsing, set design, costuming, lighting, and performance
Leadership opportunities through the student council and active participation in school events, such as organizing seating at morning chapel services
Health and wellness education classes led by the school nurse
Community engagement through middle school traditions, including the first school dance
Experiential learning through school-day field trips, multiple overnight educational experiences, including outdoor education and spring science trip

6th Grade 2025-26 Grade-Level Summary

7th Grade

Seventh graders perform in our annual Spring Shakespeare Festival — 7th grade Shakespeare production

In-depth novel studies of classic literature, including direct instruction in how to annotate while reading
Growth in writing skills through short fiction units, essay response writing in response to literature, and creative writing opportunities
Collaborative performance experience through a spring Shakespeare production, where students engage in all aspects of theater production, including acting, set design, costuming, lighting, and technical support
Differentiated mathematics instruction through leveled Algebra and Pre-Algebra courses
Service learning through participation in programs with Ronald McDonald House Charities
Language and cultural exploration through Spanish projects, including a food and video project
Collaborative musical experience through participation in a classwide bell choir, with opportunities to rehearse and perform at multiple school events over the seventh and eighth grade years
Opportunities for leadership development through the school-wide Peer Mediator Program
Experiential learning through school-day field trips and multiple overnight educational experiences, including the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, outdoor education, and the Catalina Island science trip

7th Grade 2025-26 Grade-Level Summary

8th Grade

Eighth graders in the snow on their outdoor education trip — 8th grade on their outdoor education trip

Advanced writing opportunities, including a Writing for Television project
Leadership and community building through the Buddy Program, connecting first-grade students with eighth-grade students
In-depth novel studies of classic literature, including direct instruction in how to annotate while reading and how to write a literary essay response
Historical inquiry through the U.S. History Wax Museum project, where students culminate their study of the Civil War by taking on the role of a historical figure, dressing in costume, and presenting in character as a “living museum” for the school community during Open House
Differentiated mathematics instruction through leveled Algebra and Geometry courses
Applied science learning through interactive projects, including the Roller Coaster Design Challenge
Collaborative performance experience through a spring Shakespeare production, where students take on advanced roles in acting and production, contributing to set design, costuming, lighting, and overall stage management
Language and cultural exploration through Spanish projects, including a Fashion Show project
Service learning through projects supporting Shriners Hospitals for Children in collaboration with the school’s Grandparents Club
Guidance and support through the high school application process
Experiential learning through school-day field trips and multiple overnight educational experiences, including the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, outdoor education, and the East Coast Trip

8th Grade 2025-26 Grade-Level Summary

Academic Program

Our middle school academic program is built on a strong core curriculum that includes language arts, mathematics, science, history, and world languages, and is enriched by visual and performing arts as well as athletics.

Language Arts

Mathematics

Students develop a deep understanding of mathematical concepts and procedures, and apply them to solve challenging problems in a variety of contexts. The progression of the program is thoughtfully designed to build both skill and conceptual understanding:

Grade 5: Focus on general mathematical operations and their real-world applications
Grade 6: Introduction to Pre-Algebra concepts and problem-solving strategies
Grade 7: Students may advance to Algebra I or continue with an in-depth study of Pre-Algebra
Grade 8: Students take Algebra I or Geometry, based on prior placement

Careful articulation between grade levels, along with placement assessments, ensures that each student is appropriately challenged and supported. This approach prepares students for continued success in high school mathematics and beyond.

St. Michael’s Math Pathways Document

Science

History

World Languages

Fine Arts

Physical Education and Athletics

Signature Programs and Enrichment

Beyond the core subjects taught at St. Michael’s, the school offers signature programs and opportunities that enrich the academic experiences of our middle schoolers. Here are some key highlights.

Shakespeare Program

Service Learning

Outdoor Education and Trips

Student Government and Leadership Programs

Mary Heise Enrichment Program

Homework Expectations

Students in fifth through eighth grades receive daily homework, which is posted on each subject’s Google Classroom page. Homework is designed to reinforce classroom learning while fostering independent work habits.

As students progress through Middle School, the amount and complexity of homework increase in a developmentally appropriate way. Assignments are purposeful, manageable, and aligned with grade-level expectations.

Homework also continues to support the development of personal responsibility, organization, and time management skills, helping students build a strong foundation for future academic success. Our alumni are recognized by local high schools for their strength in these areas, reflecting our consistent expectations around homework.

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