2025-2026 Austin Prep Middle School Brochure

AUSTIN PREP Middle School GRADES 6–8 To inspire hearts to unite, minds to inquire, and hands to serve.

WELCOME TO AUSTIN PREP Welcome to the Middle School at Austin Prep, a Catholic, Augustinian, independent school.

At Austin Prep, we believe middle school is more than a bridge between childhood and adolescence; it’s a launchpad for self-discovery and growth. It’s a time when students begin to understand who they are and dream about who they might become.

Rooted in the 1,600-year-old tradition of St. Augustine, our program is built on the timeless values of veritas, unitas, and caritas - truth, unity, and love.

Middle school students are wired for wonder. They’re full of questions, bursting with energy, and eager to make sense of the world. We meet that excitement with an environment that is both nurturing and bold, where academic rigor is paired with discovery, creativity, and joy. Students explore new interests, challenge themselves in and out of the classroom, and grow through meaningful relationships with peers and faculty who know and care for them deeply.

We embrace the words of St. Augustine: “If you aspire to great things, begin with the little ones.” Every moment matters: every class discussion, every service project, every game, every rehearsal. These seemingly small experiences become the building blocks of transformation. They spark confidence, ignite imagination, and form the foundation of character.

At Austin Prep, learning is just the beginning. Our students light up with curiosity, dive into challenges, and find joy in discovery - whether writing a novel, performing on stage, serving the community, or building friendships that will last a lifetime. Middle schoolers at Austin Prep don’t just prepare for what’s next; they are actively becoming the people they’re meant to be - curious, compassionate, and confident young learners.

Guided by our mission to inspire hearts to unite, minds to inquire, and hands to serve, we help students grow into scholars who think deeply, friends who care deeply, and young leaders who live with purpose.

We invite you to experience a middle school journey where formation meets inspiration, tradition fuels possibility, and every day offers the chance to grow with heart.

Michael McLaughlin Head of Middle School

WHAT’S INSIDE Curriculum

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Learning In The Classroom

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Advisory

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Arts

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Athletics

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Beyond The Classroom

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Outcomes: Foundations For Growth

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CURRICULUM Where discovery shapes knowledge and character.

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e meet Middle School students where they are — full of curiosity, energy, and a desire to explore — and we channel that into rich, hands-on experiences that make education exciting and meaningful.

Our academic program centers on student agency, empowering learners to take ownership of their education. Whether they’re diving into a world language like Mandarin, Latin, French, or Spanish, or collaborating with their English teacher to select books that ignite their imagination, students shape their own learning path with the enthusiastic support of expert teachers.

Classes are dynamic and immersive, designed to spark curiosity and encourage innovation by engaging students directly in the learning process. Rather than simply absorbing facts, students explore concepts through hands-on projects, experiments, and problem-solving challenges that connect classroom ideas to real-life situations. They don’t just learn what’s possible—they actively practice applying their knowledge.

This approach ensures that learning is not only relevant but also deeply personal and empowering.

Signature capstone projects mark each grade with unforgettable milestones: sixth graders curate their own Egyptian Museum exhibits; seventh graders shift from readers to creators by crafting original novels; and eighth graders fuel their natural curiosity through an immersive science fair, where exploration and discovery take center stage.

This personalized, hands-on approach helps students grow not only as scholars but as whole people, blending intellectual curiosity with spiritual growth and character development. Through their coursework, middle schoolers develop a passion for learning that prepares them for success today and for the future they will create.

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LEARNING IN THE CLASSROOM How faculty inspire discovery every day.

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— Saint Augustine of Hippo

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You aspire to great things? Begin with little ones.

t Austin Prep, learning in Middle School is about more than absorbing facts — it’s about discovery, curiosity, and connection. Our faculty inspire students to think deeply, explore boldly, and grow with confidence. Each subject offers its own pathway to wonder, and teachers guide students to see how their studies shape both who they are and who they are becoming.

Leeann Blais, English Faculty Middle schoolers are on a quest to discover their identity and express it, and English class provides a meaningful space for that journey. Through reading and writing, students meet characters who validate their experiences while also transporting them to new places, ideas, and perspectives. When young readers connect with a story, they gain both confidence and curiosity. My goal is to nurture a love of books and, by guiding them as readers, help students better understand who they are becoming.

Kristen Donnelly, History Faculty At Austin Prep, we give students the tools to understand how the world works and the role they play within it. In History, interactive and collaborative activities bring the past to life and encourage students to see connections across cultures and time periods. This process builds both knowledge and empathy, helping them develop appreciation for people and ideas different from their own. By the end of Middle School, students feel confident in their skills and eager to add their voices to history’s story.

Cori Russo, World Language Department Head Latin students at Austin Prep explore the language and culture of ancient Rome while uncovering connections to their daily lives. They delight in discovering how vocabulary from other classes stems from Latin roots, investigate Roman daily life through hands-on projects, and take their first steps into Latin literature, from prose and poetry to the works of St. Augustine. Watching students experience that wonder—seeing how the distant Mediterranean world continues to shape their studies today—is one of the most gratifying parts of my role.

Additionally, Austin Prep has launched a new Center for Integrated Learning to support students with diverse learning needs and help them realize their potential. Offering services such as literacy tutorials, executive functioning coaching, and small-group skill-building, the Center equips students with strategies and confidence to succeed.

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ADVISORY Where every student is known and supported.

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ur Middle School Advisory program at Austin Prep is intentionally designed to be the heartbeat of our community, where every student is known, supported, and encouraged to grow.

Advisory groups serve as close-knit communities where meaningful relationships take root.

Older students grow into trusted mentors, guiding and supporting their younger peers, while all members benefit from a culture of care, belonging, and mutual respect that deepens across the middle school years.

Each advisory group is led by a dedicated Middle School educator who listens closely, fosters connection, and supports each student in discovering their own strengths and voice. Advisors understand when to offer guidance, when to step back, and how to cultivate an environment where trust, open dialogue, and personal growth can thrive.

As mentors and advocates, advisors walk alongside students and partner closely with families, helping young people navigate the academic, social, and emotional rhythms of adolescence. With a 10:1 student-to-teacher ratio, advisory provides a daily opportunity for students to pause, reflect, set goals, and tune into their own development—together.

Our program is more than just effective—it’s nationally recognized. The Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE) has highlighted Austin Prep’s Advisory model as a best practice and profiled it in their Handbook on Advisory. This honor affirms what our families already know: when young people are nurtured within a strong, intentional community, they flourish.

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ARTS Cultivating creativity, confidence, and expression.

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he Arts at Austin Prep are not electives — they are an essential part of the academic program.

Students discover new interests, develop new skills, and gain confidence through experiences that honor their creativity and celebrate their voice.

In the Arts, the Austin way is about more than practice: it’s about purpose. Courses are not a final destination; they are the foundation for something bigger: authentic expression, meaningful collaboration, and real-world sharing. Whether it’s performing in a concert, staging a theatrical production, showcasing work in a gallery opening, or presenting a digital media project, students know that their creative efforts will reach an audience beyond the classroom.

A diverse menu of offerings allows students to follow their passions and take ownership of their learning.

Each course is built around hands-on projects that invite risk-taking, encourage experimentation, and foster reflection. Technology plays a vital role in empowering students. In a number of courses, students work with professional tools and platforms to edit film, mix sound, craft digital compositions, and design visual media.

They develop not only artistic skill but also digital literacy that prepares them to engage with the world as makers, performers, and communicators.

In every aspect of the Arts at Austin Prep, students are challenged to create boldly, share proudly, and grow as confident, expressive individuals. Some topics include: •

Acting and Stagecraft

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Contemporary Dance

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Music Theory

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Ballet

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Digital Art

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Tap

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Choir

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Filmmaking

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Technical Theatre

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Coding

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Jazz

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Urban Design

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Studio Art

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Robotics

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Topics in Technology

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ATHLETICS Building skills, spirit, and teamwork.

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ustin Prep Middle School Athletics is an incredibly unique and diverse program. Austin Prep provides opportunities and pathways for all students to participate at the level of competition of their ability, all of which complement our unwritten curriculum. With at least one no-cut sport each season, students have the opportunity to be physically active and part of a team throughout their Middle School years.

For student-athletes looking to compete at an age appropriate level, experience the social benefits of being on a team, or simply try a new sport, Austin Prep offers a variety of Middle School specific athletic programs.

Fall Sports

Winter Sports

Spring Sports

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Cheerleading

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Basketball (Boys, Girls)

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Baseball

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Cross Country (Boys, Girls)

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Dance Team

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Lacrosse (Boys, Girls)

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Field Hockey

Ice Hockey (Boys, Girls)

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Outdoor Track & Field (Boys, Girls)

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Football

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Softball

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Golf (Co-ed)

Indoor Track & Field (Boys, Girls)

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Tennis (Boys, Girls)

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Soccer (Boys, Girls)

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Volleyball (Girls)

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Ski Team (Boys, Girls)

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Swimming (Boys, Girls)

For student-athletes looking to compete at the highest level, Austin Prep is one of very few schools whose Middle School students are eligible to take part in Upper School athletics. With many Upper School athletic programs offering freshman, sub-varsity and varsity levels, Middle School students are sure to find the opportunity to tryout for a level that aligns with their competitive spirit and athletic ability.

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BEYOND THE CLASSROOM From Willow Street to the world.

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t. Augustine reminds us, “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page”—and at Austin Prep, our students are joyfully turning page after page, living the story, not just studying it.

Constitutional Underpinnings In Grade 8, the Civics program culminates in a capstone journey to Washington, D.C. — not just to witness democracy in action, but to engage with it. Students step into the role of tour guides, presenting their own research at historic landmarks and national institutions. It’s an experience that builds confidence, deepens understanding, and reinforces the importance of informed citizenship.

Beyond the Bay State Austin Prep’s travel experiences invite middle schoolers to step into the wider world one passport stamp at a time. A culinary journey to Canada introduces students to French-Canadian culture through handson cooking classes and local food traditions. Our summer study abroad experience in London immerses students in British history and culture from medieval castles to the fast-paced world of British sport. Past trips to Italy have had students translating Latin inscriptions at the Coliseum and singing for the Holy Father in the Vatican.

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OUTCOMES: FOUNDATIONS FOR GROWTH Habits of mind and heart that last a lifetime

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iddle School outcomes are not defined by grades alone. They are experienced in the way students think, act, and belong. Guided by habits of the mind and heart — curiosity, reflection, compassion, and resilience — students grow both academically and socially. They learn how to ask meaningful questions, listen with empathy, and begin to understand who they are and how they fit in.

Outcomes here are not always quantifiable, but they are unmistakable: the confidence to present, the creativity to build, the resilience to persist, and the kindness to serve.

Experiences That Shape the Journey •

Getting Hands-On – In the Egyptian Museum project, students bring the Humanities alive by curating artifacts and displays.

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Finding Their Voice – The Novel-Writing Project lets students step into the author’s role and create original stories.

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Asking Big Questions – The Science Fair challenges students to design and conduct independent research driven by curiosity.

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Unlocking Creative Potential – Lego Metropolis invites students to collaborate on designing and building a vibrant cityscape brick by brick.

These examples show how Middle School experiences at Austin Prep build more than skills. They nurture identity, confidence, and community — laying foundations for growth that last well beyond Middle School.

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A Message from the Head of School When your Middle School Journey at Austin Prep concludes you will be ready for the challenges of Austin Prep’s Upper School. Some of our Middle School students, by the time they reach their senior year at Austin Prep, become part of a special cohort of students who pass our way and are affectionately known as “lifers” - students who spend seven years at Austin Prep! It’s not lost on the “lifers” that they’ll never spend as much time at any other school.

Whether you enter our Middle School in the sixth grade or some point thereafter, by the time the faculty celebrate the milestone of your transition to high school, you will be well prepared and well positioned for continued success. The “Prep” in Austin Prep alludes to preparation for the next step. For some it’s being prepared for high school. For others it’s being prepared for college. Yet for others it’s being prepared for life. In reality they are all correct because Austin Prep prepares you for the voyage ahead, a journey that is unique to you.

An enduring journey in the footsteps of St. Augustine, an Austin Prep education is steeped in a heritage that is more than 1,600 years old. Some have observed that the life of Augustine is a “life interrupted” - a life that goes in a direction you have not planned. In thinking about enrolling at Austin Prep and learning with Augustinian educators, you have taken your first step in the direction of your own “life interrupted.”

St. Augustine loved community - a hallmark of Austin Prep. In that spirit, I invite you to join our community - and our journey.

In the spirit of veritas, unitas, and caritas,

James Hickey, Ph.D.P’22,’23,’24,’27 Head of School 19

Give your child the gift of a Catholic Augustinian education that inspires hearts to unite, minds to inquire, and hands to serve.

Admission is selective and spaces are limited — begin your application today at austinprep.org/admissions.

Contact Admissions Austin Preparatory School 101 Willow Street Reading, MA 01867 781-944-4900 austinprep.org/admissions

Austin Preparatory School is an independent Catholic school in the Augustinian tradition serving young men and women in grades 6–12 Austin Preparatory School

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