Is there an ideal vision for educating middle school girls?

The purpose of education is to lead forth the young person to authentic freedom and truth.  This flies in the face of today’s utilitarian culture and common understanding of the objective of education.  To find a job, to get ahead, to make money, to be successful are the typical reasons given for education.  But as Catholic Christians we are called to recognize education’s higher, ultimate purpose.  We are called to see that a human being’s ultimate goal and thus, education’s goal should be heaven and union with the Creator.  It’s a lofty goal, no doubt, and it is a lifelong endeavor.  

At Oakcrest, the Middle School curriculum is guided by two principles: that love of reality is the foundation of authentic knowledge, and that holistic growth is only possible through many small steps taken over time. We love the truth.  We believe in objective truth.  We know that truth leads to freedom.  We also know that good, solid growth needs time, love, and nurturing to take place.  Again, contrary to current trends that demand action, speed, and immediate results, education needs slow contemplation, time for wonder, space to think, and room for roots to anchor themselves deep within one’s mind and soul.  We seek to cultivate curiosity and delight in the world through awakening the mind and senses to reality and to lay a firm foundation for the challenge of Upper School studies.

Throughout her Middle School years, the student discovers her own talents, develops organizational skills and study habits, practices self-advocacy, builds self-confidence, and nurtures a growth mindset. She learns to think in an orderly manner, develops clarity of thought and expression, and increases her storehouse of experience. Acquiring a love for learning enriches her work, increases her attraction to the truth, and inspires her to work her hardest. She does all this in an atmosphere that fosters deep friendships and a calm, peaceful place conducive to learning.  Our Student Life team, our teachers, and our deans work together to ensure that the learning environment is fun, cheerful, and full of joy.  

Our pedagogy is age-appropriate, respects our students’ development, and is reflected in our liberal arts curriculum.  Specifically, in 6th grade, students learn the art of observation, categorization, and memorization and in 7th and 8th grades, students begin learning the art of analysis and asking deeper questions.  They move from the “What?” to the “Why?”  They are encouraged to ask questions and think critically.  It is beautiful to see the switch get turned on sometime in these years that allows them to think differently.  I always say that there is a big difference between a seventh grader in September and an eighth grader in June.  It’s less than two years but the amount of growth that occurs during this time is astonishing.  The students mature physically, emotionally, and intellectually at break-neck speed.  At Oakcrest, the girls experience everything from hands-on lessons in science, memorized recitations in English, and analysis of events in history.  They are taught to appreciate God’s work throughout the world, making connections between the different disciplines and understanding the integration of knowledge.  We do all this while at the same time respecting their physical, emotional, and intellectual growth.  

 

Outside the classroom, students engage in experiences that allow them to encounter these broader ideas both at an individual level and as a class. In the sixth grade, students take time to get to know their new home through the eyes of the virtues of order, generosity of heart, and an attitude of wonder, primarily through a weekly lunch club that introduces them to the topics of what it means to be an Oakie. When students move on to the seventh grade, they are encouraged to contemplate what it means to be a good friend through the eyes of kindness and perseverance. By the eighth grade, students are branching out and reflecting on loyalty and justice through the eyes of great American heroes. 

 

Our educational vision allows us to keep our Creator at the heart of everything we do at Oakcrest and thus, keep the ultimate purpose of education at our core.  The chapel is the center of the school and the love of God and neighbor is taught throughout the curriculum and everyday life so as to be understood by the students to be essential to their lives.  An Oakcrest education not only prepares students for the here and now but also for the hereafter.