Junior High School

The Junior High School is located in the center of our beautiful campus. This state-of-the-art building opened in August of 2005, after years of planning and design informed the raising of this child-centered, education-inspiring structure. With the exceptions of instrumental music, physical education, and lunch, all Junior High classes are self-contained in one building. Classrooms are spacious, bathed in natural light, and equipped with SMARTboard technology. Three outdoor patios and an amphitheatre provide great play space for free time.

The Junior High School division is composed of grades six, seven, and eight with approximately 550 girls and boys. The average class size is about 15 students to one teacher. Students take seven courses in a rotating, six-periods-a-day schedule, which causes each course to meet four days per week. Class changes, morning fruit break, and lunch provide enjoyable “down time” with friends. At each grade level, students take four exam classes and three non-exam classes. School-wide gatherings and assemblies enrich the experience every week.

The Junior High program is rich, challenging, and fast-paced, and focuses on the development of the emerging young adolescent. In a comprehensive program that maintains a deliberate and careful balance of traditional and innovative teaching methods, the faculty celebrate students’ creativity, concentrate on their skill development, and support the students in their personal growth. Throughout the disciplines teachers emphasize study strategies, technology use, experiential learning, and critical thinking skills.

Each day begins with homeroom, which helps to get the day off to a good start. In homeroom, announcements are read, attendance is taken, and a devotional is shared. Homeroom groups are single-gender and also serve as advisement cohorts. One day each week, students meet with their respective grade chair in single-gender, grade-level meetings. Character education is part of the advisement program but is also integrated throughout the curriculum.

Extra Help is a period at the end of each day, Monday through Thursday, which provides flexible time for students to check-in with teachers, make up missed work, ask additional questions, or start and finish some homework.

More than any physical or program resources, though, the teachers and students are what make Westminster’s Junior High the truly amazing community that it is. There are over 70 adults, most with advanced degrees, who are committed to this age group and fabulously talented in teaching their disciplines. Many work with students outside the classrooms in numerous co-curricular and extra-curricular clubs, sports, and activities. Each student is assigned a homeroom advisor and grade chair to ensure that every child is well taken care of during the school day. Our students are gifted individuals who benefit greatly from their regular interactions with our superb faculty and student body. Together, the Junior High students and teachers enjoy powerful relationships in an environment and community committed to high standards, academic excellence, and, more than anything else, development of good, well-rounded people.