Our Program is designed to nurture the Whole Child, addressing each student’s social, emotional, intellectual, and physical development as they navigate the early adolescent years.  Here’s a glimpse into how we do it:

• Expeditionary learning:  An exceptional educational approach that emphasizes high achievement through active learning, character growth, service, and collaboration. Through extended “learning expeditions” students delve deeply into academic topics, meet experts from the greater community, do field work outside the school, and apply their learning in real-life projects. 

• Sanctuary School: We believe in respecting, accepting, and including all members of our community, and offer a safe haven to our students and families.  Middle School students work to create a Class Constitution through in-depth discussions about the agreements they want to make with one another about how everyone is to be treated.  As one 7th grader put it, “at my old school the teachers said ‘no bullying’, but here, we say ‘no bullying’!”

• Portfolio Presentations/Student-Led Conferences: Throughout the school year students reflect on their learning and compile samples of work that they feel exemplify their growth in academics and the arts.  At the end of the year, students present their portfolios to teachers and families.  This process helps them to cultivate self-reflection and communication skills, and to develop a sense of accomplishment and pride in their work. 

• Electives: As young adolescents, our Middle School students love having the opportunity to choose from a variety of electives each semester, empowering them to explore what most sparks their interests.  Offerings include Fine Arts, Drama, Music, Student Government, Coding, Literary Magazine, Robotics, Creative Writing, Business, and more.

• Service Learning:  Opportunities for meaningful community service allow students to serve the school and the larger community. Currently middle school students work with younger students as buddies and mentors, with elders at the Kingston Residence, do preservation and restoration work at the Santa Fe River, and volunteer with Food Depot and community farms.

• Crew/Advisory: During daily Crew time, students participate in interactive, community-building activities and discussions, which foster a culture of collaboration and compassion for self and others.  Advisors provide support for monitoring academic progress and overall student growth.

• Mentorship Program: Based on their own passions and interests, 8th grade students are paired with community leaders and professionals. This program allows students to experience the value of mentorship and prepares them to seek and take advantage of mentorship opportunities in high school and beyond.

• 8th Grade International Trip:  We take the global perspective one big step further: our 8th grade travels to Costa Rica, where they participate in homestays, do service work in orphanages or the rainforest, and learn to appreciate a foreign culture and language. (This trip is postponed this year).

General School Profile

• Independent expeditionary learning school
• Pre-School (age 3) through 8th Grade
• Founded in 2000
• 5 acre campus on the south side of Santa Fe
• Total Enrollment: 135 students 
• Total Full and Part-Time faculty: 22 teachers
• Over 30% of students receive Financial Aid

Our Middle School at a Glance

• Total students enrolled in Middle School: 46 (23 per grade for 7th & 8th)
• Full and part-time Middle School Faculty: 11
• Faculty to Student ratio for Middle School Program:  less than 1:5
• Culturally and socioeconomically diverse student body 
• National standards integrated into expeditionary learning curriculum
• Challenging academic curriculum focused on high school preparation 
• Assessments: Expeditionary learning portfolios as well as traditional grading system with quarterly and semester report cards
• Annual 8th Grade International Service Learning Trip to Costa Rica (Postponed this year)
• Course Offerings for Middle School: English, History, Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, Science, Drama, Fine Arts, Music, Moving Images, Spanish, ASL (American Sign Language), Physical Education, Student Government, Literary Magazine, Coding, Robotics, Mentorships, Community Service, Life Skills, Leadership
• After School Enrichment Program offers individual music lessons including voice, piano, violin, cello, ukulele, and guitar, as well as Homework Club, Dungeons & Dragons, Drama, Animation, Art, Math Club, Rhythm Club, and additional enrichment classes each semester (Some of these are being offered via Zoom this year)
• 2020-2021 School Year: September 8th-June 10th; School Day: 8:40am-4:10pm 

(Our typical School Year is from late August-Late May, School Day 8:10am – 3:25pm, with after school options until 5:30pm)