Grades 6-8 Curriculum

“When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.” 1 Corinthians 13: 11

Middle School serves as the transition from childhood to young adulthood. Forming the heart, soul, mind, and body of a child toward the Beautiful, Good, and True is the heart of the middle school years. There should be no separation between the intellectual and spiritual development of a child so we teach for the purpose of soul formation, understanding that all things, including mathematics, science, art, literature, history, and physical education come under the Lordship of Christ. Soul formation requires discipline and training in virtue – the daily work of honing our affections away from the things of the world toward, by the transformative power of the Holy Spirit, Christ-likeness in all aspects of our lives.

The gateway between childhood and adulthood requires fostering a desire to live a Christ-honoring life while developing the ability to think critically about the world around us. Teachers believe that all truth is God’s truth and salvation is found only through His son, Jesus Christ. This is not to suggest that all Truth is known or has been revealed to man and, as such, we enter into our vocation with humility and love utilizing the tools and framework of classical Christian education. Teachers provide experiences for students to engage in the Great Conversation, wrestling with big ideas while teaching them logic and reasoning to discern that which is True, Good, and Beautiful. Training students how to think, not what to think, best equips our children to reflect the love of Christ in all they do and endeavor to do.

We recognize that all people are created in the image of God, Imago Dei, and as such, each child carries an inherent dignity and is worthy of respect. However, with this reality is the truth of our broken, foolish, and sinful nature through the Fall of Adam.

Middle School provides the unique opportunity to challenge and hold high expectations for our students while the parent-school covenantal partnership comes alongside to encourage and guide them into maturity. Students, as Imago Dei, should learn to properly express dominion over their lives and learning. It is our ambition for our students to become independent thinkers who are enthusiastic, disciplined life-long learners.

Ultimately, we desire our students to develop a love for Christ that leads them to love those around them, each day becoming more like Christ. Virtue formation in Love, Hope, Faith, Justice, Courage, Temperance, and Wisdom provides a practical framework for students to orient all thoughts, words, actions, and ideas toward God’s design - revealing our Imago Dei.

6th Grade

Adjusting from Grammar School requires intentional habit formation in wisdom and temperance by emphasizing the importance of precision, time management, organization, and love of learning in all classes.

The Humanities curriculum seeks to order a child's loves through history, literature, poetry, grammar, music, and art. Students will learn how the Imago Dei is revealed in the Late Middle Ages, Renaissance, Reformation, and Age of Exploration. Through the stories of individuals, the student recognizes the amazing truth that all people collectively participate and have a role in God’s Great Story.

In science, through hands-on activities and experiments, students will explore the mystery of God’s design through measurement, landforms, biomes, ecology, and the expanse of space. They systematically observe and learn how to identify a faulty premise when rigorously applying the scientific method.

Through mathematics, the “language of God,” students learn how to think creatively and how to problem solve, identifying the patterns and mysteries of His language to be able to comprehend the order of His created universe. Students are placed at appropriate comprehension level courses based on entrance testing.

Bible class integrates the introduction of God’s Word and Christ’s presence throughout history to our present time, as well as His future plans for all of Creation.

Through the study of the Fine Arts, students will have their souls and minds oriented toward Truth and Beauty through the discipline of vocal or instrumental music.

A three-day study excursion to the Grand Canyon allows students to experience the integration of Bible, Humanities, Math, Fine Arts, and Science as they explore the wonder of God’s Creation here in our own state of Arizona.

7th Grade

This middle year of middle school requires intentional habit formation in wisdom, courage, and temperance by emphasizing the importance of excellence and accuracy, planning and meeting deadlines, persevering in the face of difficulty, standing firm in convictions - even if unpopular - and furthering a love of learning in all classes.

The Humanities curriculum seeks to order a child's loves through history, literature, philosophy, poetry, grammar, music, and art. Students will learn how the Imago Dei is revealed in the Early Modern Era during the Age of Reason, Golden Age of Piracy, and the Age of Revolution as it ushers in the dawn of the Modern Era. A particular emphasis is placed on the effects of man’s efforts to reconcile and manage power and governance when it is extricated from the authority of God. Through an examination of European and early American history, the student recognizes not only the individual’s role in God’s Great Story but the inherent responsibility and duty he or she has to the community.

Through scientific observation and experimentation students integrate the ideas of the Age of Reason as they examine the structure of the atom, elements, chemical reactions, acids and bases. From these foundations, students explore God’s creation through the study of marine biology and geological processes. Students may also choose to explore science more deeply by taking an elective course in which they design and create various projects.

Through mathematics, the “language of God,” students will learn how to think creatively and how to problem solve, identifying the patterns and mysteries of His language to be able to comprehend the order of His created universe. Students will be placed at appropriate comprehension level courses based on entrance testing.

Bible class focuses on the lives and character of the key figures of the New Testament. Students begin with Christ’s life, study the birth and growth of the church, travel along with the missions, incorporate the Epistles as written historically, and finish with an overview of the Revelation of Jesus. Emphasis is placed on the application of scripture in daily living.

Through the study of the Fine Arts, students will have their souls and minds oriented toward Truth and Beauty. Students in seventh grade may choose to further their study of fine arts through vocal or instrumental music, or drama, or by developing their drawing and painting skills through the visual arts.

A marine biology adventure to Catalina Island in California integrates Bible, Humanities, Math, Fine Arts, and Science and is a high point of the 7th grade year.

8th Grade

This final year of middle school requires intentional habit formation in wisdom, justice, courage, and temperance by emphasizing the importance of recognizing setbacks as opportunities for growth, more broadly presenting oneself in a genuine and sincere manner, considering the perspectives of others while not letting personal feelings bias decision-making, and growing in love of learning in all classes.

The Humanities curriculum seeks to order a child's loves through history, literature, poetry, grammar, music, and art. Students will learn how the Imago Dei is revealed in the Modern Era. A particular emphasis is placed on the foundational Christian mandate to ‘love God and love others’ and the effects of man’s efforts to establish “the last great experiment, for promoting human happiness, by creating a reasonable compact, in civil Society." [George Washington, 1790]. Through an examination of American history, the student recognizes the individual’s role in God’s Great Story, the inherent responsibility and duty the individual has to the community and the necessity of engaging in community by acting justly, loving-kindness, and walking humbly with God. [Micah 6:8]

8th graders explore the physical sciences through direct observation, experimentation, and projects. Students are introduced to basic organic chemistry, motion, waves, and energy as they discover the intricacy and order of God’s marvelous Creation.

Logic – In 1 Peter 3:15, we are told, “… but in your hearts, honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…” That, at the heart, is the purpose of logic. Students explore how God communicates His unchanging, orderly, truthful character in love through the art of logic. Teaching students how to form a reasonable argument from a posture of gentleness, humility, and respect is the most powerful way we can equip our children to engage in the world and be ‘ambassadors for Christ’ [2 Cor. 5: 20] .

Bible class for 8th grade students is a historical study of Old Testament characters. Their great adventures show their strengths and weaknesses and God’s plan to redeem their lives for His glory and point to the coming of Christ from the very beginning of time. Our emphasis will be the application of scripture in daily living.

Beauty orients the soul and the mind toward Truth. As such, students will encounter Truth through the study and performance of the Fine Arts in either the discipline of vocal or instrumental music. Students in eighth grade may choose to further their study of fine arts through music or may consider exploration of performance through drama or application through the visual arts.

Through the study of the Fine Arts, students will have their soul and mind oriented toward Truth and Beauty as they deepen their musical skills through vocal or instrumental music, or elect to pursue the dramatic or visual arts.

Students in the eighth grade may elect to begin their world language journey by beginning their study of Spanish.

The application of virtue and living in community is experienced through an 8-day, 7-night trip to Washington D.C. and various historical landmarks surrounding the area. Precise tours and sites vary from year to year but have historically included Williamsburg, Baltimore, Gettysburg, New York, and Philadelphia.

The middle school’s interscholastic athletic program offers 11 different sports each year, over fall, winter, and spring seasons.

View the Middle School Course Catalog
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Grades 6-8 Curriculum

Grammar School (grades DK-5)

Upper School (grades 6-12)

South Campus (grades K-2)