Amber Berry, Head of Middle School
“The Middle School years are such a critical time in a child’s learning development. It’s when they learn the habits that determine what kind of students they become. The quality of the foundation we build and the sense of empowerment we help students develop in fifth through eighth grade—will influence the course of their lives.”
The Middle School Experience at St. Luke’s
Building Critical Skills and Confidence
Rather than listening passively, St. Luke’s middle school (5th-8th grade) students are active participants in their education as they explore topics, discover interests, and forge their own paths under the care and guidance of exceptional teachers. Classrooms are joyful spaces, filled with students learning by doing and engaged in lively discussions.
Our middle schoolers develop the confidence, study habits, and skills in communication and critical thinking that they need to succeed in Upper School—and beyond. Declamations are a signature event and rite of passage, the culmination of weeks of public speaking training and practice.
Be it in class, on the stage, in the designLab, across the athletic fields—students at St. Luke's find they can accomplish much more than they ever thought possible.
Developing Confidence in a Supportive Community
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Blog: A Balance of Nurture & Challenge
Read why St. Luke’s parent Andrea Klein believes that “starting their SLS journey early gives kids a solid foundation and a level of confidence that just kept building.” Setting high expectations while offering warm guidance and support are St. Luke’s hallmarks.
A Positive Transition
St. Luke’s fifth grade academic program guides young students from elementary to middle school. A dedicated fifth grade hallway, separate yet connected to the rest of the community, enables children to feel secure in their own space while experiencing life as a middle-schooler. Our fifth grade teachers know the strengths and challenges of each student and work to inspire a deep love of learning in every child.
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Fun, Creative, Practical Curriculum
The St. Luke's Middle School is an exciting place to be on any given day. Teachers integrate real-world topics into our traditional curriculum, challenging students to make connections, think critically, and find their voices. Collaborative projects allow students to take risks as leaders and problem-solvers. In time, our middle schoolers become purposeful and spirited learners and leaders, confident in themselves and an integral part of our diverse community.
Our program is well-devised and proven. Fifteen out of our last twenty Valedictorians and Salutatorians started their St. Luke's journey in Middle School. By the time they graduate, students are well on their way to becoming whatever they wish to be—ethical leaders, insightful scholars, winning athletes, and talented artists. They are eager to move into the next phase of their lives, going above and beyond their own expectations.
Recent Middle School News
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Making Learning Fun: Trebuchet Project
A Kind, Inspiring, Multi-Age Environment
On the way into St. Luke’s, students are greeted by two messages. The first one, carved over the doorway, is our motto, Enter to Learn. Go Forth to Serve. The second one is this quotation from Henry James, engraved into our Be Kind Plaza: “Three things in human life are important: The first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind." Our culture of service and kindness encourages and empowers students as they grow on the St. Luke’s Hilltop and accompanies them through life.
And because St. Luke’s is a 5-12 school, we take advantage of age differences by intentionally connecting our older and younger students in a way that benefits all. Please see examples below of how students of all ages connect through theater, sports, designLab, STEM, and more.
S.T.E.M. Encouragement from Upper School Girls
Blog: Intentional Connection Between Middle and Upper Schools
Amber Berry, Head of Middle School
We know they are children and that they are developing into young adults. All of the challenges they may face in middle school years—emotionally, academically, socially—we're there for them.”
St. Luke’s School is a secular (non-religious), private school in New Canaan, CT for grades 5 through 12 serving 25 towns in Connecticut and New York. Our exceptional academics and diverse co-educational community foster students’ intellectual and ethical development and prepare them for top colleges. St. Luke’s Center for Leadership builds the commitment to serve and the confidence to lead.
