We view adolescents as young men and women, made in the image of God, designed to reflect the glory of their Creator.

Progressing from the more structured and routine lower school years, our middle students are inspired to take ownership of their education. Their intellectual curiosity is stimulated and their faith is rooted through the exploration of great ideas and texts in classrooms grounded in a biblical worldview. Students develop leadership through meaningful opportunities to present, organize, create, and guide.

MIDDLE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE

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Our Middle School Curriculum

Our middle school curriculum centers around five core subjects: English, history, math, science, and Latin. Differing from lower school, which is organized by one teacher instructing in all subjects, middle school begins to meet adolescents’ desires for variety and utilizes different teachers to teach each core subject. The transition to more responsibility is gradual, with Class Five students staying in the same room and teachers rotating to each class, to Class Eight students rotating classmates, classrooms, and teachers every period. With all subjects, we are training our students to think critically, which is especially important in today’s world.

ENGLISH

We understand that the written word has great power, so we place a strong emphasis on building reading and writing skills. We study challenging texts that are above grade level so students will not grow complacent in their learning. We allow students to stretch beyond their current abilities and think for themselves. We employ a unique writing program, incorporating traditional practices like diagramming sentences, designed to incrementally prepare students for excellent writing. We train our students to clearly, nobly, and engagingly articulate their thoughts on paper and in verbal discussion. With vibrant conversation centered around great literature, we encourage a love of reading and a confidence in their own powers of expression.

HISTORY

In our study of history, we train students to see all of history as His Story. All world civilizations and events point to the goodness and providence of our faithful God. Focusing on the Western tradition, our history courses provide the contextual backdrop for the literature we read. Middle school students study the following eras:

Class Five: Ancient Greece and Mesopotamia

Class Six: Ancient Rome, Byzantine Empire, Early Church, Middle Ages

Class Seven: Reformation, Texas History

Class Eight: American History

MATHEMATICS

MATH

Mathematics witnesses God's nature in the orderly finitude of the material universe. It also cultivates discipline in students, enabling them to participate in the scientific and technological stewardship of this world for the service of God and man. Like Lower School, our math courses in Classes Five and Six use the Saxon method to reinforce foundational math concepts so that students are ready for more complex math equations.

As they transition to pre-algebra and Algebra I in Classes Seven and Eight, respectively, students are able to engage concepts more deeply in part due to the emphasis on math fact mastery in earlier grades. Because students have achieved mastery over math facts, they are able to devote their full attention to problem solving and conceptual discovery.

Science

SCIENCE

Science reveals God’s unchanging faithfulness and orderliness by teaching students to understand the language of creation. The goal of our science courses is to expose students to a broad overview of the scientific world of study, allowing students to see how the natural world speaks to the reality and presence of God. Additionally, the problem solving and critical-thinking skills developed in the process of studying science are transferable to other disciplines. Our science classes focus on the following areas:

Class Five: Physical Science (physics and chemistry)

Class Six: Earth Science

Class Seven: Life Science (biology)

Class Eight: Physical Science (in-depth)

LATIN

Because Latin is the base for most Western languages and because elements of the Roman Empire continue to influence modern society, our Latin program centers around an intensive study of Latin grammar, mixed with a diverse background in the elements of Roman life and culture. Whether our students continue with Latin in high school and read Cicero and Caesar, or whether they begin a new foreign language, Providence students understand the basic components of the language and appreciate the traditions and values of the Roman Empire.

Take an in-depth look at our curriculum for each grade.

CHARACTER TRAINING

We know that our graduates will leave Providence and enter an increasingly dark culture and world, so it is of the utmost importance to continue gradually forming their character with each lesson, conversation, and assignment. With each year building on the former, our middle school years continue the habit formation of the early learner and lower school years. We want students to leave Providence ready to face the challenges of life, to know the value of perseverance, and to influence their culture positively as a result of their Christ-like character.

OUR APPROACH TO CHARACTER TRAINING

Our first task in the middle school is to help students develop self-governance. If a student cannot lead himself well, he will not lead others well. Progressing to Classes Five and Six, we coach students in how to be responsible for their own actions and strongly encourage parents to do less and less for their children. In the final years at Providence, Classes Seven and Eight, we offer various leadership opportunities that teach students skills that will help them to be influencers as they move into high school.

FREEDOMS AND

RESPONSIBILITY

As students enter middle school, the Logic phase of development, they need increased opportunities for independence and personal responsibility. We want to offer such opportunities in a framework that will allow for loving guidance when students make mistakes. When students enter Class Five, we train them to take more ownership of their own work, relying less on parental guidance than they have in the earlier grades. We also want them to learn to conduct themselves in appropriate ways, both in the classroom and in their social interactions. As they gain a firmer footing in these areas, students gain greater privileges that allow them more independence. When students graduate from Providence, our design is that they would be ready and able to handle the challenges that will come as they move into the Rhetoric phase.

PARENT PARTNERSHIP

Scripture teaches that the responsibility for educating the child lies primarily with the parents (Deuteronomy 6:7-9). Because of that command, we maintain high expectations of our parents while acknowledging that their responsibility often requires help and guidance. We are strongly committed to partnering with parents in a number of ways. First and foremost, we actively look for ways to equip parents as they guide their children spiritually. Our teachers, many of them parents themselves, understand preteens and teenagers and readily offer wise insight as to how to guide these image bearers without exasperating them.

Second, we offer quality instruction in the classroom that gives parents confidence in the academic education that their children are receiving. As parents work with their children on particular concepts at home, we are ready and willing to provide useful resources that will enhance their effectiveness. Third, we are mindful that our work deals not only with the whole child, but also the whole family. We desire to minister to each family through our daily interactions, and we are eager to do what we can do to help each family find success in the middle school years. We remain abundantly grateful for the active role our parents play here at our School, and we encourage their involvement for the good of the community.

Class Trips

Believing that a child’s education extends beyond the walls of a classroom, we have purposefully designed a trip for each grade level in the middle school:

CLASS FIVE

JOHN BUNKER SANDS

WETLAND CENTER

Class Five

Class Five visits the John Bunker Sands Wetland Center in Seagoville, Texas, each year for a day of teambuilding and bird watching. The one-day retreat allows for class unity to be strengthened while enhancing the nature studies and science curricula that students have begun studying.

CLASS SIX

DISCIPLESHIP RETREAT

Class Six

Class Six takes a three-day Discipleship Retreat to a camp about an hour away from Providence. This event affords them time to learn from scripture about following Christ and leading well, and it also allows the class to bond in a meaningful way as they prepare to move into Classes Seven and Eight. The retreat is designed to enrich the English and history curricula that students have been examining for several weeks prior to the trip.

CLASS SEVEN

TEXAS HISTORY TRIP

Class Seven

Class Seven tours Texas for four days, visiting Austin, San Antonio, Gonzales, and Houston in an effort to better understand the Texas history they have been studying. They visit several sites that are active and instrumental in our modern culture (like the Texas capitol and the NASA Space Center) and other sites that give them a first-hand experience with the past (like the Alamo and Gonzales). Like the other trips, this gives each class the chance to solidify their class identity, which becomes important as they head into Class Eight.

CLASS EIGHT

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Class Eight

Class Eight visits Washington, D.C., and the surrounding areas for seven days. This action-packed trip exposes students to various aspects of our nation’s history to enhance their year-long study of American history. Students visit the Smithsonians, the Capitol building, the White House, Mount Vernon, Monticello, and Williamsburg to give them a comprehensive understanding of the workings of our nation’s government. Students typically have the opportunity to engage with state and national leaders that can encourage them to be Patriots and citizens.

MIDDLE SCHOOL HOURS

Class Five: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 2:40 p.m.

Classes Six through Eight: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with Athletics from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Faculty

MIDDLE SCHOOL

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OUR PHILOSOPHY

EARLY LEARNERS (PK-K)

LOWER SCHOOL (1-4)