Middle School
Middle school is a time of great change, both physically and emotionally. As middle school educators, we shepherd children through this remarkable time of growth, opportunity, and discovery by honoring each student's curiosity, ingenuity, gifts, industriousness, and spirit. Our goal is not for students to 'win' middle school, but to equip them for a life of meaningful purpose.
- Jonathan Chein, Head of Middle School
ESD's middle school provides students with a supportive environment where they explore and develop their own intellectual, creative, and physical abilities while being a part of a community anchored in honor, respect, and integrity.
As a college preparatory school, our commitment to academic rigor is a given. Our commitment to community, service, and integrity is what makes us ESD. Students are challenged to think independently, embrace their love of learning, and act with moral and social responsibility within a life guided by faith.
Beyond the Classroom
Experiences You Don't Want To Miss
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The advisory program is a cornerstone of both ESD and the middle school. This program, where each advisory is comprised of 8-10 students and one faculty member, helps create a unique, supportive environment for our middle schoolers.
Advisories attend chapel together each day and eat together at lunch. This time spent together allows the advisor to know as much as possible about their students and be the best advocate for each student.
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Middle school computer science classes help students develop the necessary technology skills to be effective and productive in a digital world.
In Robotics courses, middle school students build robots and program them using feedback from touch, light, sound, and ultrasonic sensors. This hands-on class allows the student to experiment with engineering design and research and development of a project to be presented at competition.
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Within ESD's robust fine arts program, middle schoolers have six different artistic disciplines to choose from: Sculpture, Drawing & Painting, Theater, Choir, Band, and Strings.
In middle school theater classes, students have the opportunity to perform several dramas throughout the year for family, friends, and classmates. They are also encouraged to audition for the annual spring musical. This year's musical was "Oklahoma!"
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In addition to the chickens in our outdoor chicken coop, fifth-grade students have several class pets, including fish, guinea pigs, a bearded dragon, and a rabbit named Cinnamon!
Visit our Directory to see more of our "Classroom Learning Assistants."
News and Notes From the Middle School
![SMU Football Selects A Student-Made Helmet Design For The Spring Game]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1712336945/episcopaldallas/g4kkt1xkl9xoeikldjje/SMUHelmet.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1712336945/episcopaldallas/g4kkt1xkl9xoeikldjje/SMUHelmet.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1712336945/episcopaldallas/g4kkt1xkl9xoeikldjje/SMUHelmet.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1712336945/episcopaldallas/g4kkt1xkl9xoeikldjje/SMUHelmet.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1712336945/episcopaldallas/g4kkt1xkl9xoeikldjje/SMUHelmet.png","width":1280}])
ESD Seventh-Grader Annabella S. Artwork Will Be Displayed on April 5.
![ESD Wrestling Tackles State Rankings]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1710963159/episcopaldallas/bivqzxvhwqh877gldkch/ESDWrestling.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1710963159/episcopaldallas/bivqzxvhwqh877gldkch/ESDWrestling.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1710963159/episcopaldallas/bivqzxvhwqh877gldkch/ESDWrestling.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1710963159/episcopaldallas/bivqzxvhwqh877gldkch/ESDWrestling.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1710963159/episcopaldallas/bivqzxvhwqh877gldkch/ESDWrestling.png","width":1280}])
As the ninth-ranked independent school, ESD’s Wrestling Program is on the rise.
![Teacher Feature: Katrina Hallman]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1699979408/episcopaldallas/b7vfwsiejrfiu5sdghbt/Untitleddesign_1.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1699979408/episcopaldallas/b7vfwsiejrfiu5sdghbt/Untitleddesign_1.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1699979408/episcopaldallas/b7vfwsiejrfiu5sdghbt/Untitleddesign_1.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1699979408/episcopaldallas/b7vfwsiejrfiu5sdghbt/Untitleddesign_1.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1699979408/episcopaldallas/b7vfwsiejrfiu5sdghbt/Untitleddesign_1.jpg","width":1280}])
In her profile, sixth and seventh grade history teacher Katrina Hallman shares how her professional development experience this summer is impacting her teaching and learning.
![Belonging and Advocacy in Middle School]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1699919043/episcopaldallas/ik8etm3valtfyhcadjzq/Copy-of-IMG_2338_1.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1699919043/episcopaldallas/ik8etm3valtfyhcadjzq/Copy-of-IMG_2338_1.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1699919043/episcopaldallas/ik8etm3valtfyhcadjzq/Copy-of-IMG_2338_1.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1699919043/episcopaldallas/ik8etm3valtfyhcadjzq/Copy-of-IMG_2338_1.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1699919043/episcopaldallas/ik8etm3valtfyhcadjzq/Copy-of-IMG_2338_1.jpg","width":1280}])
In this reflection, Mr. Chein shares examples of how middle schoolers enjoy belonging, collaboration, and self-advocacy through community, self-expression, advisory, and conference days.