Middle School

Grades 6–8
School Day: 8:00 AM–2:58 PM

Porter-Gaud believes that each student should be equipped intellectually, morally, and spiritually to meet successfully the challenges of higher education and modern life. Emphasis is placed upon a mastery of basic subject matter, yet the curriculum is designed to stimulate thinking and broaden perspective. The school year opens in late August and continues until late May, encompassing 175 days of instruction.

Small classes ensure that students receive individual attention.

With a maximum number of 20 students, small classes ensure that students receive individual attention. Students in the Middle School (grades 6–8) receive departmentalized instruction in seven 45-minute periods. Academic subjects include English, math, science, history, computer, foreign languages, fine arts, religion and physical education. Coaches hold junior varsity and bantam sports practices in the afternoon. Assembly or chapel programs are held one day each week.

Effective time management is crucial for success at Porter-Gaud. The school day allows completion of some homework before leaving campus; however, students should plan to devote additional time at home, the amount depending upon course demands and individual abilities. The academic departments coordinate their testing schedules so that no student has more than two major tests on any day.

Each faculty member offers extra-help sessions and individual conferences upon student request. The school’s philosophy places emphasis upon students anticipating their problems as early as possible and using their initiative to seek help and to work out solutions. New students unfamiliar with Porter-Gaud’s academic demands, as well as students who have a previously identified problem in a particular subject, are encouraged to take advantage of extra-help sessions early in the year before problems develop.

The school year is composed of three terms of equal length. Term examinations are given before Thanksgiving and at the end of the school year. Progress reports are issued to parents midway in each term and at any time a significant change in performance occurs. After examinations at the end of each term, report cards go home and are followed up by conferences, if appropriate, with guidance counselors and the principal.

Term reports also include evaluations of the student’s performance in such categories as attitude, participation, and behavior.

Each Porter-Gaud student in grades 6–8 has a faculty advisor who works with a group of 10–15 students on an individual basis. Advisors assist in scheduling courses, discussing academic difficulties and successes, and handling routine administrative problems. Advisors also receive copies of all progress reports sent to their advisees and have conference time scheduled into each grading period.

Clubs and Activities

Junior Great Books Discussion Group — Group members meet once a month to share thoughts and questions about selected age-appropriate literature.

Junior National Honor Society — Members who have attained high academic standards in the sixth, seventh, and eighth grade are elected to the society.

Student Council — The council is composed of a representative from each Middle School homeroom. The council listens to and responds to student concerns, participates in community service, and organizes events to promote fun and festivity on the campus.

Daze Between — Students may contribute to a bi-yearly, published, Middle School literary magazine.

Latin Club — Members promote Latin on campus and compete in local and state Latin forums.

Quiz Bowl — Team members are chosen to represent Porter-Gaud in local and state competitions.

Chess Club — Members play on a daily basis and have the opportunity to advance to regional, state and national competition.

S.W.A.T. (Students Working to Advance Technology) — A Middle School Club that serves many roles here at Porter-Gaud. They volunteer as lab assistants during classes and breaks, help faculty create websites and presentations on PowerPoint, troubleshoot hardware and software issues, help out with AV equipment in auditorium, help struggling teachers to understand topics in faculty computer classes, and help with software installation.

MathCounts — A program in which teams of middle school students compete against other teams from around the state and country, solving challenging math problems. Team membership is open to all 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students who love math!

Porter Gaudzette — The Porter Gaudzette is the student run newspaper for the Middle School. The paper comes out twice a term and covers news, sports and features for, about and told by middle school students.

Peer Mediators — Middle School students are trained to facilitate discussions regarding issues that confront Middle School students on a day-to-day basis.

Life Skills — A school counselor trains Middle School students in decision-making and other skills needed in the maturation process.

Human Growth and Development — Trained professionals discuss issues of sexuality and maturity with Middle School students.

Religious Life

Porter-Gaud has an historical relationship with the Episcopal Church and offers a religious program, required of all students, based on the Judeo-Christian heritage. This program is led by the School Chaplain, an Episcopal priest. Middle School chapel meets every other week (Jewish students gather separately). Students may participate as acolytes, readers, and musical performers in these services. Eighth graders take one term of Old Testament.

Athletics

Porter-Gaud School believes that athletic competition is an integral component in the development of young people and that a comprehensive athletic program is essential to the overall curriculum. The school offers various athletic opportunities to its students throughout the entire school year.

The certified Athletic Director supervises the entire Middle School program that includes junior varsity and bantam teams in a variety of sports and physical education classes. State-of-the-art competition facilities are available for all levels of play and a fully equipped weight room and speed and strength programs are available for use by all students. The school seeks to ensure competent coaching and instruction for all teams at every level. A full-time certified athletic trainer is also employed by the school and available to all athletes.

A certified Athletic Director supervises the entire Middle School program that includes junior varsity and bantam teams in a variety of sports and physical education classes. State-of-the-art competition facilities are available for all levels of play and a fully equipped weight room and speed and strength programs are available for use by all students. The school seeks to ensure competent coaching and instruction for all teams at every level. A full-time certified athletic trainer is also employed by the school and available to all athletes.

The girls’ athletic program includes interscholastic competition in volleyball, basketball, tennis, softball, golf, sailing, track, cross-country, soccer, and cheerleading. The boys’ athletic program includes interscholastic competition in football, basketball, tennis, baseball, track, cross-country, soccer, golf, and sailing.

The finest facilities available and excellent coaching help to give our student athletes their greatest chances for success. However, the lifelong benefits of athletic competition and lessons in sportsmanship are the primary goals of the program.

Fine Arts

Teachers in the fine arts department offer all students in all grades opportunities for creative expression in the visual, dramatic, and musical arts. The Berkeley Grimball Center for the Arts, a 10,000-square-foot center, and Gwynette Hall are the fulcrum for creative expression at Porter-Gaud. Middle School students attend a term of fine arts classes during grades 6, 7, and 8. In music, students study music history from Bach to rock, as well as having hands-on performance opportunities on ukuleles, keyboards, handbells, guitars, and kazoos. Art classes provide experience in a wide variety of media — including drawing, sculpting, painting, collage, and pottery. Students are able to participate in Middle School Boys Choir, Middle School Girls Choir, the Middle School Drama Club, and the Middle School Musical.

Community Service

Community Service is strongly encouraged by all students at the Middle School level. For seventh and eighth grade students, community and /or school service is one of the requirements for admission into the National Junior Honor Society. Throughout the school year, school sponsored activities are available to students. In addition, students may perform service to community agencies. A record of service hours is kept on file in the Coordinator of Special Services office.