PROGRAM GUIDE MIDDLE SCHOOL
Dear All Saints’ Families,
The All Saints’ experience is centered on our mission to educate children, mind, body, and soul. The structure of our program is specifically designed for middle school students—one that promotes a love of learning and the desire to explore both intellectually and creatively. Robust core academic courses are at the center of our program, complemented by our offerings in the creative arts, athletics, electives, and clubs— providing opportunities to nurture new interests and develop wellrounded students who succeed in high school and beyond.
Our intention is to provide an environment where our middle school students gain exposure to a wide range of activities—to offer ongoing opportunities to inspire our students to think differently and take intellectual risks while having an exceptionally strong academic foundation and sense of self.
At All Saints’ we truly seek to educate children from head to soul, and we believe that this structure provides the ideal dynamic and engaging middle school experience, allowing students to flourish and become independent leaders who are challenged and invested in their future. As one graduate said, “At All Saints’, you learn how to think, and learn how to learn.”
Dr. Emma Whitman Head of School
Mrs. Jennifer Miller Head of Middle School
All Saints’ Graduates Are:
Lifelong Learners and Problem Solvers
An All Saints’ graduate sees themself as an academic leader. They are voracious lifelong learners. They view learning as a process, embrace a growth mindset, and are driven by inquiry and discovery.
Confident Communicators
An All Saints’ graduate realizes the power of his or her voice and recognizes their ability to advocate for themselves and others. They are confident, resilient, and feel empowered to make a positive difference in the world around them.
Steadfast in the Pursuit of Excellence
An All Saints’ graduate is a critical thinker, adaptable learner, and collaborator. Equipped to reach their full potential in any setting, they demonstrate grit, perseverance, and tenacity.
Healthy in Body, Mind, and Spirit
Leaders of the All Saints’ Way
An All Saints’ graduate is self-reflective and attuned to their physical and emotional health. They have a strong moral foundation, demonstrate strong character in their actions, and pursue the spiritual dimension of life.
An All Saints’ graduate has an empathetic understanding of local and global issues and takes an active approach to service learning. They are driven by the ethos of inclusivity and service to others.
Program Highlights
Robust Core Academics
Our core academic subjects include: English, social studies, mathematics, and science. In seventh and eighth grades, Spanish is also considered a core academic class. These subjects are taught in small classes with 15–20 students and meet regularly several times a week. We offer honors and advanced honors classes in mathematics, English, and Spanish. We believe that small class sizes and intentional placement allows for students to be challenged and supported academically.
Building Independence
In creating the ideal middle school experience for our students, we have developed a schedule to intentionally provide balance while helping them to build independence and agency in their learning journey. Four days a week, first period is reserved for chapel, extended advisory meetings, enrichment courses, or PE. What I Need (WIN) Time and advisory guides students as they apply their growing executive functioning skills while also placing emphasis on relationships, connection, and community.
Life After All Saints’
We work closely with our students and their families to find the right high school fit for our graduates. We help our students explore their interests, goals, and ambitions, and work with them to ensure their next step allows them to flourish.
Every eighth-grade student takes Ready to Launch, a course designed to help them navigate what’s next. They build organizational habits, practice independence, talk through social dynamics, and learn the ins and outs of the high school application process.
High School Matriculation
2021–25
Arcadia High School
Arizona Agribusiness and Equine Center
Baylor School
Bioscience High School
Blair Academy
Brophy College Preparatory
Cate School
Chaparral High School
Desert Mountain High School
Metropolitan Arts Institute
North High School IB Program
Notre Dame Preparatory
Paradise Valley High School CREST
Phoenix Christian High School
Phoenix Country Day School
Pinnacle High School
Shadow Mountain High School AP Program
Sunnyslope High School
Valley Lutheran High School
Xavier College Preparatory
Creative Concentrations
Middle school Creative Concentration classes are designed to allow students to dive deeper and graduate with an emphasis in one of the creative arts offered. Students will choose from art, band, theatre, technology, or storytelling.
Our model for creative arts in middle school is centered on the goal that every student graduates from All Saints’ with a specialization in a creative art area. Our graduates will have the skills to excel in their specialization, along with a developed sense of curiosity, passion, and an independent body of work that represents their learning. In fifth grade, students are exposed to all five creative
art concentrations. In sixth through eighth grades, they will focus on one creative art area across several years. This enables the curriculum to be tailored to the small group of students based on interest and skill development, allows for a deeper dive into study, and enables advanced skill development with a focus on independent abilities. In addition to Creative Concentration courses, seventh- and eighth- grade students have the opportunity to select an elective every trimester.
Students select their Creative Concentration in sixth grade to continue through graduation. In addition to their Creative Concentration, seventh- and eighthgrade students also select one elective per trimester.
Electives
Electives include classes in creative arts, technology, leadership, and more. Examples of past courses include:
Art
Robotics
Rock Band
Music
Leadership
P.E./Wellness
Project-Based Learning
Coding
Yearbook
Course Purpose and Progression
Advisory and WIN (What I Need) Time
All students start and end the day in their advisory. These small groups enable students to feel connected to our community and engage in robust discussions on topics and struggles relevant to their lives (some teacher-directed and others student-directed). Advisors are seen as an academic resource to help students focus on their studies, receive social support, strategize about classes, teachers, and peers, and set goals.
In addition, the extra WIN time twice a week provides students with extra time and support to manage their workload, engage in proactive discussions with teachers in the middle school, and focus on organization. Advisees check in regularly with their advisor on academic progress, learning habits, and character development.
Students in middle school take a life skills class. In seventh and eighth grades, conversations and discussions on life skills topics and overall health and wellness (responsible decisionmaking, healthy relationships, social awareness, self-awareness, self-management, and healthy physical, emotional, and social choices) happen. In eighth grade, students also take a “Ready 2 Launch” class, which guides them through important topics using interactive discussions and practical exercises. Throughout middle school, students are guided as they begin to use problem-solving based on the skills developed in earlier grades. The counselor supports the advisory program with topics and curriculum, as well as teaching specific classes throughout the year on ageappropriate subjects (e.g. social media).
Life Skills
PE/Wellness
Fifth and sixth grades have PE twice a week and benefit from a variety of discussions and activities promoting physical, emotional and mental health. In addition to a weekly PE class, seventh- and eighth- grade students have the opportunity to select a more specialized PE experience through an elective.
Public Speaking
From as early as kindergarten, students are presented with opportunities to begin sharpening their public speaking skills at All Saints’. In middle school, public speaking components are embedded in all courses across the curriculum. In seventh grade, students put those skills into practice in a weekly public speaking course.
Technology
Technology courses throughout middle school invite students to explore what it’s like to be a designer, using the design process to brainstorm, plan, and create solutions to real challenges. Students develop creativity, problem-solving, and innovation through digital and engineering design. Beginning with foundational design skills in sixth grade, they progress to coding, 3D modeling, and prototyping in seventh grade, and advanced design challenges in eighth grade. The program emphasizes collaboration, critical thinking, and responsible use of technology to prepare students for future success.
Sample Schedule: Fifth Grade
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Sample Schedule: Sixth Grade
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Sample Schedule: Seventh & Eighth Grade
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