Our Sixth Grade Program
Our Sixth Grade Program runs from 8:10 a.m. – 3:25 p.m. each day. Extended Care is available before school from 7:15 a.m. and after school until 6:00 p.m. Students may also benefit from our community programs to enhance their school experiences.
Throughout the Middle School Program at St. Anne’s School of Annapolis, essential questions provide a unifying framework for each grade, which allow for our teachers to use an integrated approach to all subjects. The Sixth Grade topic, “How are we responsible for changing the world?” helps students make connections across subject areas and provides a path to guide their thinking and exploration.
The departmental focus of the Middle School Program uses teams of teachers dedicated to Fifth and Sixth Grade studies to promote interdisciplinary projects and collaboration. The school’s social curriculum is interwoven into all activities and is designed to build self-discipline, respect, responsibility, leadership skills, life skills and service learning. Three programs – Advisory, Life Skills and Service Learning – set the tone for developing the whole child in every aspect of school life. Middle School students also have the opportunity to build leadership skills and serve as positive role models for our Early Childhood and Lower School students.
Advisory
Advisory is a place to craft community and a structure to support healthy, inclusive communication and relationship building. Students meet by advisory group nearly every day – in Buddy Groups, during Middle School advisory periods, or during afternoon study halls.
Advisory periods include prayers, a greeting, sharing, an activity and daily news. Students formulate hopes and dreams during advisory and set goals to reach them. Advisors work with their advisees to support their academic and social goals.
Life Skills
The life skills program provides students with pertinent information on subjects such as human sexuality, drugs and alcohol, friendships and other age- and grade-appropriate topics. Students then have an opportunity to discuss these topics within a caring environment and receive guidance on many personal and interpersonal issues and choices that emerge in adolescence.
Service Learning
We place great emphasis on community service as a fundamental part of the educational experience. The Sixth Grade is involved in a year-round service learning project – an extension of our academic program that instills the values of service to the community, sharing and working for the common good.
Technology
At St. Anne’s School, the use of computers, software and other technologies is an integral part of the education process to promote learning and to support instruction in all curricular areas. In addition to our Media Center and laptop classroom carts, all classrooms have computers with teacher-supervised Internet access. The wireless laptop program allows students to access and process information from anywhere in the school. SMART Boards in Middle School classrooms support our engaging curriculum and fosters interactivity and collaboration.
Students receive direct instruction about technology programs and applications including Microsoft Publisher, Excel, and Power Point in the core academic subjects. Students are taught how to use the Internet for research and how to effectively evaluate the credibility and usefulness of Internet sites.
In addition to departmental studies in Humanities, Science, Mathematics, Spanish, Religion, Art, Music and Physical Education, students choose electives that meet weekly throughout the year.