Upper School Grades 5-8

Each house, centered around the virtues of a saint, helps our students build stronger relationships with each other and with Christ.

"This initiative is about more than just a new way of organizing students—it’s about creating a family within our school where every student feels supported, valued, and connected."

Upper School Grades 5-8

Grade 5
House System

Grade 5

Grade 5 is specifically designed as Our True Middle—a crucial preparatory year that acts as a bridge to the Upper School. While not yet formally integrated into the student-led House System, our Grade 5 students follow the same academic schedule as the older grades and are taught by the Upper School specialist teachers.

This structure allows for a carefully paced introduction to the middle school environment. They begin using lockers and navigating the building with greater independence, learning the important habits of organization and hard work that define academic rigor. This transitional year is intentionally crafted to guide students through this important time, building their confidence, autonomy, and familiarity with Upper School routines before they fully step into grades 6-8.

House System

What is the house system?

Designed to build community, faith, and friendship, this initiative connects students in Grades 6-8 across grade levels in a Christ-centered way.

Mixed-Grade Communities: 6th, 7th, and 8th graders form tight-knit groups that meet daily to start and end the day.
Academic classes are grouped traditionally by grade level.
Replaces traditional homerooms, fostering mentorship and friendship

How It Works

Six Houses, One Family:

St. Francis of Assisi, St. Joan of Arc, St. Peter, St. Lucy, St. Thomas Aquinas, and St. Gabriel the Archangel
Each saint represents virtues that inspire faith, courage, and love.
A Christ-Centered Experience: Encourages spiritual growth, teamwork, and leadership.
Strengthens bonds between students, creating a supportive school environment.
The House System isn’t just a program—it’s a tradition in the making, shaping students into compassionate leaders rooted in faith!

Curriculum

In the Upper School we transition students from concrete learning to a more sophisticated, academically rigorous application of learning. Our curriculum is designed not just to transmit knowledge, but to cultivate the essential habits of organization and hard work that lead to success in high school and beyond.

Lessons are centered around active, project-based learning that challenges students to excel in:

Developing Critical Thinking and Creative Problem Solving
Mastering Public Speaking and Argumentative Writing

Our educational approach is deeply woven with the All Saints core values and virtues, ensuring that every academic challenge contributes to the spiritual and ethical development of our students.

To support this dynamic learning environment, every student in Grades 6-8 utilizes a Chromebook-enabled tablet purchased as part of their supplies. Google Classroom serves as the hub for daily lessons and communication, providing access to both digital and physical media.

The Capstone Project

This commitment to rigor culminates in the CAPSTONE Project. Starting in the third quarter of seventh grade, each student develops a comprehensive project that demands interdisciplinary skills. At the end of eighth grade, these CAPSTONE projects are reviewed and scored by judges from area high schools, providing a professional assessment of their readiness for the next level of academic pursuit.

Religion

As part of their commitment to God, students attend monthly masses, reconciliation services during Advent and Lent, and spirituality and prayer are emphasized as a deepening understanding of their relationship to God is forged.

This emphasis on faith directly supports the development of the virtues outlined in our Portrait of a Graduate, which seeks to form students who love God and serve others.

Through both formal instruction and the daily practice of these virtues, we aim to prepare students to be lifelong learners and responsible citizens serving God and others.

Community Service

As a culmination of the Upper School experience, service becomes a tangible expression of the Faithful, Compassionate, and Generous virtues outlined in the Portrait of a Graduate.

Students in grades 7 and 8 are expected to participate in community service activities that transition their critical thinking and problem-solving skills from the classroom into the community.

This is designed to:

Forge a Relationship with God through Action: By serving others, students deepen their spiritual understanding and commitment, putting their faith into practice.
Develop Global Citizens: Students move beyond argumentative writing to actively engaging with real-world needs, cultivating a sense of responsibility and a commitment to justice.
Strengthen the House System: Many service projects are organized through the six student Houses—modeled after the virtues of saints—fostering collaboration and shared purpose across grade levels as students work together for the benefit of the wider community.
This focus ensures that our graduates leave All Saints not only with academic rigor but also with the practical experience of being a service-oriented leader.

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