Middle School (Grades 6-8)
The Middle School provides a warm, welcoming environment and an educational program designed to prepare students for life beyond the middle school years - in and out of the classroom. The focus is on learning as a process and developing skills that will lead to thoughtful and effective problem solving in each subject. Our teachers understand that each student will approach material a little differently and at a slightly different pace. Teachers are focused on ensuring that all students master the course material, and they use multi-sensory methods to make certain that those goals are achieved.

Our experienced teachers are passionate and dedicated educators. Their approach to teaching reflects a belief that the middle-school years, when young people are taking their first steps toward the freedoms of adolescence, can be a time for extraordinary learning. We tap into this natural curiosity with a program that gives each child the structure and support he or she needs to feel comfortable and successful.

Morning Meeting
Three times a week, the Upper School and Middle School meet in Keats Theatre for Morning Meeting. This community event (run by senior class officers) provides an opportunity for announcements, celebrations, and appreciations. It is a special time for the community to come together and share common goals and ideals, and has become the bedrock of life at St. Andrew's.

Advising Program
At St. Andrew's, we believe that student success is connected to strong and frequent contact between teachers and students. Nowhere is this more evident than our advisory program; at St. Andrew's, every student is assigned an adviser who remains with that student throughout each academic year. The adviser meets with advisees before classes begin and also at the end of each day. This twice-daily connection provides immediate support and follow-up on academic or social concerns. Advisers get to know their advisees, and Advisers contact parents on a regular basis by phone or e-mail to keep them up to date on their child's progress. For many students, it is the adviser who becomes the most influential person in their Middle School life.

Athletics and Physical Education
The goal of our athletic program is to help all students develop a lifelong enthusiasm for activity and fitness, so St. Andrew's is a place where staying fit is about having fun. During the school day, students take a fitness-oriented physical education class that includes introduction to tennis, lacrosse, basketball and physical training. These classes are held in our impressive gymnasiums, Jones or Sage, the new fitness center, our lighted tennis courts, or our numerous athletic fields. In the afternoon, the middle school fields a competitive soccer team in the Fall and participates in intramural sports during the remaining seasons.

The Arts
In an environment where we traditionally look at the world in various ways, the Arts are an important venue for expression; all Middle School students are introduced to the Arts through a course that exposes them to music, theater, visual arts and computer graphics. During each quarter, students explore a new media that allow them to experience various areas of art. When you walk through our impressive McCulloch Center for the Arts, you feel the buzz of activity; the two visual art rooms, ceramics studio, music room, theatre room, computer graphics lab, and 286-seat state-of-the-art theatre and scene shop ensure that there is always something going on. In addition, with the chorus, theater productions, visual arts and technical theatre classes, visiting artists, monologue contests, and more, it's no wonder that many of our students continue on to the best art schools in North America.

Learning Services
Given our belief that all children learn differently, it's no surprise that St. Andrew's is one of the very few private schools in the country that is state-certified in programs for students with learning disabilities, including attentional difficulties. Because of our commitment to individualized teaching and a focus on learning how to learn, St. Andrew's is well suited to students who need additional academic support.

Plan a Visit
The best way to discover all that St. Andrew’s has to offer your student is to visit the school and experience our community firsthand. A personal interview is a required part of the Admissions process, and it’s a great time for you to ask questions and get to know us better. You’ll meet the Admissions Director, R. Scott Telford, tour the campus, and experience our wonderful facilities. If you have further questions, do not hesitate to call us at 401-246-1230 ext. 3025 or e-mail the Admissions office at inquiry@standrews-ri.org.