Middle School
Middle School is an important time in every student’s academic journey, and at St. Paul’s, we focus on providing a supportive community where students can thrive as leaders and learners.
Middle School can be a challenging time, but it's also a time of immense personal growth. St. Paul’s harnesses the unique developmental characteristics of this age to foster an environment where students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
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.
Explore our core curriculum, learning highlights, extracurriculars, anchor trips, and much more below.
Middle School students pose for a shot on St. Paul's playground for upper grades.
Students work with circuity on a STEM activity in the school's newly renovated Maker Space.
Middle school students use Halloween candy to create the rock cycle! What a great way to utilize old candy and experiment with heat to display erosion over time.
Middle School students work on their individual art work in the St. Paul's art studio.
6th Grade studetns host a Medieval Fair to celebrate the end of their unit exploring Medieval art, technology, history, and culture. Students perform their own versions of Medieval music and poetry and show off their models of chariots, trebuchets, and catapults. They also quiz family and friends on Medieval trivia.
Middle school students paint beautiful pastels on canvas during their "Painting along with Bob" elective. While listening to the soothing sound of Bob Ross, students learn about alla prima painting techniques (applying wet paint on wet paint without letting earlier layers dry).
After studying Andy Warhol's Pop Art and this famous portraits, 8th grade students pick their own famous person to celebrate with paint. They enlarge their posterized image using a grid system before painting with tints and shades to create large scale artworks.
7th grade artists work to create 3D representations of American artist, Keith Haring's famous Pop Art symbols. Students learn about his study of symbology and visual languages. They construct cardboard armatures and diligently paper mache before painting.
2nd grade artists wdesigned fantastical creatures and their 8th grade buddies produced them as 3D textile creations! 8th graders had to use their engineering thinking caps to create patterns and produce felt stuffed creatures. They learn to use sewing machines and traditional needle and thread while sewing on buttons and stripes.
Middle School students work on creating their own original compositions using a variety of instruments and digital tools. They present their final work in a recording session which is shared with family and friends.
St. Paul's Girls Basketball Winter 2023 player shoots a lay-up
Boys Basketball Winter 2023 player shoots a basket
St. Paul's Boys Soccer Fall 2022 player dribbles the ball
St. Paul's Boys Soccer Fall 2022 player dribbles the ball
St. Paul's Girls Volleyball Fall 2022 players setup for a volley
St. Paul's girls volleyball players cheer after scoring a point.
St. Paul's Running Club Spring 2023 at the Chiefs Kingdom 5K
8th Grade students travel to Key Largo, Florida for the final St. Paul's anchor trip! Students conduct experiments at Marine Lab, snorkeled while searching for marine debris, explore the reef, and had some boating fun. They also share a few beachside chapels together.
5th grade students travel to the YMCA of the Ozarks for their first Anchor Trip! They enjoy fun outdoor activities like climbing challenges, archery, mini golf, campfires, hiking, sand volleyball, and some barn dancing.
7th grade travels to the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado for their anchor trip. Students build shelters in the forest, explore wildlife and ecology, complete team-building activities, and make some memories around the campfire. It's a great opportunity for students to unwind and unplug with friends.
6th grade students travel to to St. Louis, and they enjoy canoeing, paddle-boating, exploring the Arch Museum, and the Science Center. They also squeeze in a team-building activities!
8th grade students have the opportunity to travel to Madrid, Spain for a two-and-half week trip as part of an exchange program with our partner school. While abroad, students visit historic sites, eat delicious food, and immerse themselves in Spanish culture. Some of the best experiences are spending time with their generous host families!
7th grade students can choose to go on the optional 3-day trip to Spanish program in the Concordia Villages. While in Minnesota, students speak exclusively Spanish with each other and teachers. They participate in cultural activities, research Hispanic influence in the USA, play games, and make delicious food.
“I love the opportunities you get to experience, the sportsmanship on the court, and the encouragement in the classroom from friends and teachers. I love the relationships you can build with students. And our teachers are amazing, they are so approachable and willing to help with any problem no matter how silly it is.” St. Paul's Middle School Student
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.
Middle School Playbook
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. After a visit from a spokesperson from KC Water, students built water sheds and glacier models to help them understand how water moves through landscapes over long periods of time. 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.