Middle School
Middle School is an important time in every student’s academic journey, and at St. Paul’s, we focus on providing our oldest students with a supportive community where they can thrive as leaders and learners.
6th - 8th Grade
During these critical adolescent years, we provide a safe and supportive atmosphere in which young teens can blossom. Caring, knowledgeable teachers provide excellent instruction and sensitive guidance to meet the unique needs of everyone in the middle school community.
Course offerings and extracurricular activities are varied and allow students to make choices that will best prepare them for high school and beyond.
Middle school students are encouraged to recognize the value of service to others. These students assume leadership roles in supporting the church pantry and in raising scholarship money for children at our sister school in Haiti. Our student council, consisting of elected officers, is instrumental in raising money for local, national, and global efforts.
Explore our core curriculum, learning highlights, extracurriculars, anchor trips, and much more below. To see our middle school in action, contact admissions@speds.org to setup a private tour.
Middle School Students:
- Give speeches for peers, teachers, and parents on a range of topics
- Use digital mediums to create individual and group presentations
- Attend a variety of cultural arts experiences across Kansas City
- Plan St. Paul's community events, like Field Day and Annual Food Drive
- Travel on grade-level trips across the U.S.
Community Pledge
Everyday at Chapel, students say the St. Paul's Community Pledge.
As a member of the St. Paul's community, I pledge to be honest, to respect others, to take responsibility for my actions and words, to be kind and inclusive, and to help others do the same.
These words reinforce the St. Paul's mission and values and help students focus on the day ahead.
Core Curriculum
At St. Paul's, we're committed to building rigorous academic curriculum based on authentic, real-world problems and experiential learning. Students learn to construct effective arguments, ask complex questions, and develop innovative ideas across all core content areas. Our curriculum fosters these essential life skills through a variety of techniques including Project Lead the Way and Project Based Learning. Learn more about the topics and themes explored in Middle School below.
Starting in 5th grade, students are invited to sign up for select sports in the fall and spring including basketball, volleyball, and soccer. St. Paul’s competes in local athletic tournaments with other independent and parochial schools.
Our middle school students graduate with academic confidence and authentic leadership experience. Our graduates go on to attend prominent local schools like Rockhurst High School, St. Teresa's Academy, Notre Dame de Sion, Pembroke Hill School, Shawnee Mission East, and more.
STEAM projects are a primary part of middle school curriculum. One example pictured here 6th grade students pictured here used a borax solution and toothpicks to measure the distance a glacier moves in a certain amount of time. They then compared these results to glaciers that move through water. Projects like this allow students to get their hands dirty while learning about essential landforms on our planet.
Small class sizes allow for plenty of student collaboration and individualized teacher mentorship.
Service learning is an essential part of the St. Paul's experience. In addition to ongoing service projects, Middle School students and their families organize and collect more than 15,000 items annually for the church pantry.
Middle School Highlights
Whether it's through house council, service projects, or chapel program, Middle School students become active leaders in school-wide efforts. In addition, during these critical years, students are given space to develop their talents, travel with their peers, and explore the next step in their academic careers.
Middle School students pose for a shot in front of the school.
Students work on a STEM activity in the school Maker Space.
Middle school students work in a small group on a STEM activity.
Middle School students work on their individual art work.
Middle School students dress up as American Revolution figures for the annual Wax Museum.