Middle School

List of 4 items.

• Grade 5

  Fifth grade is an exciting time for experiential learning and important traditions! In social studies, history comes alive as students celebrate Zeus’s birthday, compete in the Greek Olympics, and feast at a medieval banquet. The hands-on activities continue in science and math, where students build rockets and kites while developing fundamental concepts and expanding problem-solving skills.

   

  The annual overnight class trip to Birmingham, Alabama, is a favorite among students and features visits to the McWane Science Museum and the 16th Street Baptist Church which complement classroom lessons. This shared time among students and teachers yields personal rewards for the children as they develop friendships and become more independent.

• Grade 6

  As independent learners, sixth graders are encouraged to manage their classroom responsibilities and allot time and dedication to homework. They lead their parent conferences twice a year, setting personal and academic goals with their parents and teachers. 

   

  Group activities like the two-night trip to Savannah in the spring combine sixth graders’ growing academic and social skills. Students and teachers step back in time as they explore museums, military forts, beautiful downtown Savannah, and more.

   

  As they continue to develop into responsible young people, students serve their school and community—cleaning their classrooms and the lunchroom, leading the Middle School recycling effort, and collecting gifts for the Salvation Army. A year of sixth grade leads a child to increased self-reliance and confidence and further develops relationships with classmates and faculty.

• Grade 7

  At the start of seventh grade, each student is issued a Chromebook for school and home, encouraging their continued safe and responsible use of technology. In addition to their cyber responsibility, seventh graders take on increased accountability for their school work and accept leadership roles in service, athletics, and fine arts. They participate on Athens Academy athletic teams, perform in the annual Middle School play, and attend their first Middle School dances.

  
  Continuing their studies of English, mathematics, social studies, and science, seventh graders spend the year exploring world languages, including Spanish, French, and Latin. A highlight of the year is the week- long trip to Washington, D.C., in the spring, which offers students the opportunity for independence and personal growth while bonding with classmates and faculty.

• Grade 8

  As the student leaders of the Middle School, eighth graders pursue their interests in team sports and the arts, lead community service projects, organize a talent show, and more. In their final year of Middle School, students further develop their academic and study skills under the close guidance of faculty. They work to develop analytical thinking, research, and presentation skills across the study of English, mathematics, social studies, science, and foreign language.

   

  A fall retreat on campus and a three-day outdoor retreat in the spring give the students opportunities to focus on personal relationships within the class while working together as a cohesive team. Eighth grade is a year of closure and transition as the faculty guides them toward the next step in their educational experience.