Middle School

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A journey toward

Personal growth, exploration, and change

In Steward’s sixth, seventh, and eighth grades, students will experience a journey toward individual growth and self-advocacy through high-quality academics, exploration, engagement, and open dialogue in a caring community. During the transformative Middle School years, students are laying the academic, social, and emotional foundation for their future in Upper School, college, and beyond. We recognize that adolescence is a pivotal time when academic and personal choices take on greater significance, and we want our students to stretch beyond their expectations.

Our small classes and advisories allow teachers to truly get to know their students, to closely monitor progress, and to provide extra help and encouragement when needed in partnership with Middle School families. To develop the whole child, we value and promote all curriculum areas, including the core academic subjects, fine arts, health and wellness, innovation, and service learning. We offer authentic learning opportunities that allow our students to hone collaborative skills, to build resilience by experiencing failure as well as success, and to organically learn how to be a leader.

Middle School students demonstrate Steward’s core values, learn to adapt, and benefit from developing lifelong skills as they work toward becoming the best version of themselves.

Tour the Middle School!

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Activities
- Athletic teams, outdoor adventures, service projects, fine arts performances, clubs, and dances are integral to life in the Middle School, where being challenged and having fun are considered equally important.
- More than 80% of Middle School students participate on athletic teams. Although sports with larger participation can be divided into multiple teams, a no-cut policy at the Middle School level means everyone can play.
- For one week in the fall, Community Week is a highly anticipated activity for all students. Sixth graders spend some time on campus getting acclimated to Middle School and explore Richmond through various field trips; seventh graders participate in community service projects and an overnight adventure in Charlottesville; and eighth graders head back to nature at a wilderness adventure program in the mountains outside of Roanoke.
- Students may join clubs in virtual reality, science, outdoor fitness, Harry Potter, cooking, hip-hop poetry, and other areas of interest. Student Council also meets regularly to plan fundraisers and events.
- Every student at The Steward School is a “steward” and is expected to participate in our community service program. Throughout the year, Middle School advisory groups visit The Reinhart House on select Wednesday mornings to cook breakfast for the guests. Students also provide in-kind gifts and services or raise money for various community agencies each year. In recent years, the Middle School has supported ASK Childhood Cancer, FeedMore, Red Cross Hurricane Relief, and Special Olympics.
Facilities
The Middle School currently includes:
- 11 classrooms
- Science Labs
- Middle School/Upper School Library
- Middle School/Upper School Dining Commons
- Bryan Innovation Lab

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Meet the Director of Middle School

Susan Atkinson
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Susan Atkinson, who has served as director of Middle School since 2013, earned her
B.A. in biology from Duke University and her M.Ed. in science education from The University of Virginia. Before joining the Steward community, Mrs. Atkinson served as Director of Studies and Director of Middle School at The Langley School (McLean, Va.) as well as a science and math teacher at St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School (Alexandria, Va.), Ursuline Academy (Wilmington, Del.), and Harpeth Hall School (Nashville, Tenn.). She is passionate about helping students successfully navigate the transformative Middle School years by learning to be self-advocates, building resilience, and honing collaborative skills.