I Am a Spartan. MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS Grades 6-8
Welcome to Middle School!
This is a time of big changes and big ideas. As a Spartan in Middle School, you have more freedom, but that also means you have more responsibility. Being a Spartan now means recognizing your place in our community and the impact you have on others, both in person and online.
Spartans Prioritize
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
SPARTANS PRIORITIZE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT What it looks like: I am a self-advocate. I communicate with my teachers about my progress. I am resilient when facing a difficult assignment or receiving a poor grade. I learn from my mistakes instead of getting discouraged. I focus on being my best self in the moment.
Prioritize socializing, activities, or other commitments in ways that make it difficult to focus on academic responsibilities. Become overwhelmed, discouraged, or afraid of making mistakes, which can make it hard to stay resilient and ask for help. .
Rely on others to solve problems or focus only on grades and outcomes, rather than take ownership of our growth and learning.
SPARTANS PRIORITIZE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
Spartans choose not to:
Spartans Show
CARE AND RESPECT
SPARTANS SHOW CARE AND RESPECT What it looks like: I try to treat everyone with dignity and kindness, regardless of their background, interests, or identity. I am a positive and inclusive member of our community. I reach out to new students, and I stand up for those who are being bullied or find a trusted adult to help. I contribute positively to the school environment, taking pride in our shared spaces and showing respect to all community members.
Allow peer pressure, fear of standing out, or wanting to fit in to cause us to neglect to include others or speak up when someone is being hurt. Avoid taking accountability for our choices, blame others, rush through situations, or fail to follow through with respectful actions. Act without fully considering how our words, actions, or humor may impact people or our community. We may need support, education, or honest conversations to better understand topics in order to make more respectful choices moving forward.
SPARTANS SHOW CARE AND RESPECT
Spartans choose not to:
Spartans Engage in
CIVIL DISCOURSE
SPARTANS ENGAGE IN CIVIL DISCOURSE What it looks like: I listen to understand, not just to respond. I understand that different points of view enrich our community and help me grow. I strive to ask good questions to learn more about someone else’s perspective.
Focus more on responding, proving a point, or being heard than on listening to understand someone else’s perspective. Hesitate to ask questions, share ideas, or engage in difficult conversations because we worry about judgment, conflict, or saying the wrong thing. Speak disrespectfully, even when emotions or strong beliefs make conversations challenging.
SPARTANS ENGAGE IN CIVIL DISCOURSE
Spartans choose not to:
Spartans’
INDIVIDUAL STRENGTHS Enrich our Community
SPARTANS’ INDIVIDUAL STRENGTHS ENRICH OUR COMMUNITY What it looks like: I celebrate my own and my friends’ successes and achievements. I strive to be confident in my identity and not to feel pressure to be someone I’m not. I am developing critical thinking skills.
Compare ourselves to others or feel pressure to fit in, which can make it harder to appreciate our individual strengths and identities. Focus on competition, grades, or constant access to data (on MySchoolApp), as it makes it difficult for us to celebrate growth, effort, and the strengths of others. Neglect seeking opportunities to be aware of and learn about others’ successes to recognize and celebrate the contributions of my community.
SPARTANS’ INDIVIDUAL STRENGTHS ENRICH OUR COMMUNITY
Spartans choose not to:
Spartans
INNOVATE
SPARTANS INNOVATE What it looks like: I am not afraid to take a risk and try a new approach, even if it might not work. I am an engaged problem solver, team builder, and creative thinker. I use technology as a tool for learning and creating, not just for entertainment.
Fear failure or avoid taking risks, working with others, and engaging in creative problem-solving. Place an overemphasis on grades or immediate feedback, which can limit our focus on creativity, growth, and exploring ideas. Allow a lack of stamina to affect our ability to stay engaged and use technology intentionally as a tool for learning and creating.
SPARTANS INNOVATE
Spartans choose not to:
SPARTANS INSPIRE and Spartans Are Inspired
SPARTANS INSPIRE AND SPARTANS ARE INSPIRED What it looks like: I am a positive role model for younger students. I am a leader by example. I am engaged in our school community through clubs, teams, and service learning and seek out opportunities to be inspired by others in my community. I share my personal interests and passions with others because I believe in my story.
Allow limited opportunities or time challenges to prevent us from connecting meaningfully with those in other divisions and engaging in shared school experiences. Focus more on our own responsibilities rather than seek opportunities to engage with, learn from, and be inspired by others in my community. Miss out on recognizing and being inspired by the positivity happening around me.
SPARTANS INSPIRE AND SPARTANS ARE INSPIRED
Spartans choose not to:
OUR MISSION is to prepare our students for college and for life in a community defined by robust academics, inspiration, engagement, and care.
OUR CORE VALUES are academic achievement, care & respect, civil discourse, individuality, innovation, and inspiration.
We are the Steward Spartans.