Upper School… Fourth through Seventh Grade


St. Matthew’s Upper School strives to meet the unique needs of pre- and early adolescent young people within the framework of the purpose of the school as a whole. We believe a curriculum for this age group must allow for, and indeed treasure, the individuality of each student and teacher. We do not see this particular time in life as one to be endured, but rather a time to be celebrated.

We recognize that young people learn best when they are totally involved in the material or process to be learned. Each St. Matthew’s teacher strives to create motivational learning experiences within the classroom. We also recognize our students’ varying learning styles by insuring that each lesson contains components which will reach each student.

Positive physical development is an important component of positive attitudes and self-image. Physical education classes four days each week provide a safe environment for this development. The program fosters a sense of fair play and sportsmanship, commitment to a team, and development of individual skills.

One of the primary developmental tasks for Upper School students is gaining a sense of one’s own identity and examining how that identity fits with the rest of one’s world. St. Matthew’s addresses these concepts in the way we teach and in every interaction among members of the St. Matthew’s community.

Our program supports students in the transition from the “home” of the Lower School to the departmentalized atmosphere of the Upper School in an appropriate and healthy fashion. Each grade level’s organization is a stepping stone in this process. We believe parents are an essential part of the team that facilitates each Upper Schooler’s journey. We expect a partnership with parents to form a safety net for our Upper Schoolers. Parents help with service, class activities, and outings. Our “open door” policy encourages collaboration with faculty and administration to meet individual student needs, and parents supporting parents through this potentially turbulent time in a child’s life can be invaluable.

We are dedicated to maintaining standards of excellence for our students without creating undue stress in their lives. This is becoming more of a challenge in today’s world and one which requires cooperation and coordination between home and school. In this age of the “hurried child”, we hope to be a place of caring, joy, and safety.