Grade 8 Finishes Year With Learning Blocks, Cross-Divisional Seminars Based on Student Interests

St. Margaret’s grade 8 students closed out the school year with a series of seminars based on student feedback that took learning in new, fun directions.

 

Several seminars were set up based on results from a student survey led by St. Margaret’s innovative faculty. They included a digital music creation class, a panel of college athletes who went to St. Margaret’s, a smartphone photography challenge, a mindfulness class and much more.

“It all started with our hope to give the Class of 2024 something different and something special,” Middle School assistant principal Mike Allison said. “The last 12 weeks of their school year ended at home, and they handled it all with so much grace and understanding. We wanted to create an experience that would be based on their interests.”

 

In addition to new learning avenues, the Middle School worked with other St. Margaret’s divisions for additional experiences. More than 25 grade 8 students participated in a “Be a Leader” seminar in which they met in Zoom breakout rooms with grade 5 students to provide advice, support and enthusiasm for what is to come for the rising Middle School students.

 

Grade 8 students also had a chance to meet with Upper School student leaders to learn about opportunities in the coming years for leadership roles with groups like ASB, Admission Ambassadors, Peer Counseling and Honor Committee. There was also a panel discussion with St. Margaret’s College Counseling Office.

 

“During a time when we are socially separated, we are excited that the students had this opportunity to connect with students from various divisions,” Mr. Allison said.

 

The most popular seminar was a cooking class led by chef Danielle Kuhn from Maison Café in Dana Point, in which more than 35 students learned to make French toast.

 

“There was amazing creativity and ingenuity by so many people who created classes that the grade 8 students would enjoy,” Mr. Allison said. “We really love this group of students, so each person who led a group put their heart into it for them.”