Advisory
The purpose of Advisory at St. Elizabeth’s School is to:
- Build community, fostering a sense of belonging for every student.
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Explicitly teach social and emotional skills through a culturally sustaining lens.
Advisory consists of small groups of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. Community-building activities, including contests and games, help students form connections beyond their grade level. When students feel a strong sense of belonging, they are better able to focus on academic learning.
Social and emotional learning is drawn from the Wayfinder curriculum and covers self-awareness, goal-setting, healthy relationships, conflict resolution, digital citizenship, and stress management.
Advisory also partners with Girls Inc. to provide age-appropriate sexual education for all middle school students through a scientifically accurate, values-based lens.
Social Studies
This course introduces students to the world through four key lenses: geography, history, economics, and civics. By exploring these perspectives, students develop the ability to analyze different aspects of a country and engage in meaningful discussions. They refine research skills, learn to articulate arguments effectively, and strengthen their individual and group presentation abilities. Socratic seminars provide opportunities for in-depth discussions, fostering critical thinking and collaborative dialogue.
The curriculum focuses on the Western Hemisphere, covering South America, Central America, early North America, the U.S. civics system, Western Europe, the westernmost regions of Africa, and Western Antarctica.
Throughout the course, students sharpen intellectual skills such as critical thinking, textual analysis, research, writing, presentation, teamwork, project management, and problem-solving. By questioning information and engaging in thoughtful discussions, students develop a deeper understanding of the world and their role within it.
Language Arts
6th grade Language Arts empowers students to develop their authentic voices as writers, engage thoughtfully with literature and peer discussions, and master the complexities of the English language. Through exposure to a variety of genres, students strengthen their writing skills, refine their understanding of language conventions, and build confidence in their ability to express ideas with clarity and purpose.
By emphasizing collaborative meaning-making and the power of a learning community, the course fosters social-emotional growth and deepens connections between coursework, personal experiences, and the world. Course themes—family, sacrifice, loss of innocence, power of culture, and power of youth—provide a lens for students to explore their evolving perspectives and recognize their ability to shape the world as readers, writers, and critical thinkers.Math
6th grade Math follows the Big Ideas curriculum by Houghton Mifflin, offering three levels of challenge to ensure students are both supported and stretched. The course builds on prior knowledge while strengthening foundational skills and introducing more advanced concepts. Key topics include number systems, rational numbers, algebraic expressions and equations, ratios and proportional relationships, geometry, probability, and data analysis. Through a structured yet flexible approach, students develop confidence in mathematical reasoning and problem-solving, preparing them for future success in mathematics.
Science
6th Grade Seminar
6th-grade Seminar focuses on executive functioning skills to help students stay organized and support their academic success. Students develop strategies for managing their coursework by utilizing planners for assignments and projects, organizing materials with folders and binders, and maintaining their lockers efficiently. They also practice time management to ensure they can effectively use these tools for high-quality academic work.
Beyond academics, the seminar also emphasizes conflict resolution skills, recognizing that conflict is a natural part of life. Through guided discussions and practice, students learn to navigate disagreements in healthy, constructive ways, fostering positive communication and problem-solving abilities that will serve them in school and beyond.
