A DAY I N T H E L I F E M I D D L E S C H O O L
O F. . .
By Andrea Canfield
S
tudents in each St. Margaret’s division have access to important campus resources, such as the Library’s 21st Century Learning Lab. They use shared spaces that bring the campus community together, such as the Chapel and Sillers Hall. Yet each division has a distinct culture that revolves around the academic and social needs of its students. Headmaster Marcus D. Hurlbut, Academic Dean Dr. Regina McDuffie, Middle School Principal Jeannine Clarke and Assistant Principal Michael Allison together create and maintain a Middle School atmosphere that supports leadership, athletics, visual and performing arts, community service and academic enrichment for the approximately 300 students in the Middle School.
Middle School students develop positive traits both on-campus and off-campus with the support of their administrators, teachers and peers. Mr. Allison is in the position to witness these positive interactions daily. He relates, “One of my proudest moments came three years ago—these students are now juniors in the Upper School—when I went on the grade 8 trip to Washington, D.C. I can’t tell you how many times people came up to me to tell me how impressed they were with all aspects of our students. A former military general, our airline attendant, strangers on the street . . . they all were amazed by the behavior and decorum of our eighth-graders, as they saw in them the great traits that we see every day.”
8:55 a.m. Wednesday
> > 7:45 a.m. Monday–Thursday Instruction begins. Students follow the Middle School block schedule and report directly to their classes. Each day’s schedule is different, and students share responsibility for being in the right class on time. Fridays, instruction begins at 8:40 a.m., allowing time for faculty and staff development 7:30–8:30. 16
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Advisory. Students meet in small groups with their assigned advisory leader, a teacher or administrator who will be available for their advisees throughout their Middle School years.
9:15 a.m. Monday Convocation. In this student-led gathering, faculty raise their hands to make announcements, as the Student Council keeps the meeting moving and the students informed about club activities and other weekly happenings.