6th grade is a year full of good learning, and exciting and challenging experiences. Here at SJES, 6th grade is the first year of middle school. This means that students have a homeroom, but they also have many different teachers who specialize in different subject areas; middle school students are no longer in self-contained classrooms. This allows middle school students to learn from the same teacher for all three years of middle school for any given class. 6th graders rotate classrooms throughout the day, to attend the following classes: Religion, Literature, English, Social Studies, Math, Science, Spanish, Art, Technology, Music, and PE. All of these classes focus on strong academics, and emphasize both individual and collaborative learning. Additionally, teachers place a strong focus on helping all students work towards mastering the Student Learning Expectations (SLEs) of the school. The middle school teachers work in collaboration to help all students rise to their fullest potential.
To supplement the 6th grade curriculum, students get to participate in a number of fun activities throughout the school year. For example, 6th grade students buddy with the Kindergarten class to focusing on building relationships and promoting literacy and a sense of community. Also, 6th graders attend a number of educational field trips. Past examples have included: Levi Stadium (focused on STEM within sports), the Rosicrucian Museum (focused on Egyptian history), the Alameda Coast Guard Base (to see the “USS Hornet” ship), the Chabot Space & Science Center, and more. The 6th grade students are also lucky to participate in a right-of-passage called Caritas. Caritas is a week-long overnight camp that is focused on outdoor education, leadership, and faith.