Our middle school centers on preparing students for the rigorous demands of high school and beyond. Emphasis is placed on the development of fluid, articulate writing skills and solid analytical thinking. All students graduate with high school credits in Algebra I as well as French I or Spanish I.
These demands and responsibilities also offer rewards. 7th and 8th graders take elective classes, which allow them to explore their interests in topics beyond the traditional curriculum. Some classes offered include knitting, life skills, yearbook, and The Clarion, a news broadcast show. In 8th grade, students enjoy the long-standing tradition of leaving campus to visit one of the nearby eateries for lunch on a weekly basis.
In middle school, formal character lessons are part of the advisory program curriculum, which is supported by the teacher advisors and our school counselor. Students also participate in a number of in-service projects that benefit local charities throughout the school year such as a community garden outreach project, work with the Charleston Animal Society, a yearly book drive, and a winter coat drive organized by the Student Council. All students participate in our annual Day of Service. Service activities provide opportunities for students to build meaningful relationships with their peers, teachers, and members of the community, fostering a sense of belonging and connection.
As students move into our middle school in the 6th grade, weekly character lessons transition into an Advisory Program. Advisors and students meet several times a month. The advisors, who are a mix of members of our faculty, provide guidance in the following layers of the middle school experience: Academics, Arts, Athletics, Character, Personal Effectiveness and Service. Each advisor supports a group of 5-8 students and provides guidance, oversees the students’ management of responsibilities, and helps them strive for personal levels of excellence academically, socially, creatively and physically. They help our older students chart a course of success for their middle school years.
The Advisory Program builds personal relationships between teachers and students by carving out time for them to spend together in a less formal setting.
Students in 6th grade regularly make presentations in all academic classes. Technology skills become another element to the public speaking experience as students become adept at building slideshow presentations to enhance their public speaking projects. Presentations require students to articulate their thoughts clearly and effectively. By using technology, students have the opportunity to practice public speaking, develop their communication skills, and learn how to engage with an audience.
By 7th grade, CDS students expect to speak in front of their peers in all academic classes. During an age when many students are coping with social changes, presenting to classmates helps students step out of their comfort zones, take risks, and build their interpersonal skills, which are essential for success in various aspects of life.
A capstone of Charleston Day’s public speaking curriculum is the 8th grade speech. After reflection and consultation with the homeroom teacher, each student writes and delivers a speech to the entire school community during weekly assemblies throughout the year. Giving a speech to the whole school about a personal topic is a transformative experience that enhances students’ personal growth, communication skills, leadership abilities, and sense of belonging within the school community.
We often hear from alumni about how grateful they are to have an arsenal of public speaking skills that many of their contemporaries in high school (and beyond) do not have. Michael David Catlett-Fernandez, class of 2020, reminisced about the friendly teaching environment at Charleston Day and preparation he had with presentations and group work. He remarked, “I am comfortable in front of a crowd and am capable of speaking aloud to groups without being stressed.” Hunter Dawson, class of 2022, had similar comments. “I am better at speaking with other people because I had practice.”
Research proves that exposure to different languages at a young age opens the mind to different cultures and ways of life. Research also proves learning a second language encourages problem-solving, critical thinking and listening skills, in addition to improving memory, concentration, and the ability to multitask.
From 5th to 8th grade, students strive for grammar proficiency in the pursuit of fluency in their language of choice. Because students are exposed to French or Spanish cultures and actively engage in speaking the language, the classroom experience is vibrant and motivating. This proficiency level approach to world language study in the middle school produces confident graduates who are ready to successfully enter their high school language programs.
Almost every day, students leave our campus by foot to explore nearby historic sites or museums. Local experiences in the middle school include field trips to see live performances at nearby Dock Street Theatre, a tour of the Charleston Museum to enrich the study of Ancient Egypt, and regular visits to The Gibbes Museum by our 8th graders during their Junior Docent project each spring.
Beginning in 4th grade, Charleston Day students travel with their classmates on overnight trips in addition to the numerous local day-trip adventures. Whether on a barrier island at Jekyll Island or in Colonial Williamsburg, these trips provide countless learning opportunities both academically and socially. Field trips are an essential component of our curriculum and as such, the cost is covered by tuition.
Read more about our off-campus learning experiences.
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Charleston Day is proud to share that Keller Smith is the 2024 recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award. ...
Charleston Day opened the first day of the school year by gathering the whole school in the parking lot ...
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Attention, pie enthusiasts of all ages! Get ready as we recap the annual 3rd grade pie writing contest and ...
