Middle School

Except during infancy, there is no stage of life when young people go through more changes in such a short time — and in every aspect of their lives. Our program is designed to develop students' specific knowledge and skills, yet it has a larger mission to inculcate healthy habits of mind, heart, and action. At Savannah Country Day, we offer our Middle Schoolers opportunities to grow confidently as individuals. We understand how important it is for our students to feel safe and have a sense of belonging or a place where they can openly express themselves without feeling exposed or embarrassed. We want our students to learn how to handle small setbacks and failures and celebrate humbly when they find great success. Students are encouraged to explore as many things as possible to discover their place and uncover their true passions.

In the Middle School at Country Day, we want to encourage your children to try new things and stretch their boundaries academically and socially—we want them to learn to be comfortable in their own skin and to celebrate who they are and what they are passionate about."jeremy hammond, head of middle school

Our faculty understand that interacting with such curious, energetic students requires patience, humor, and sensitivity. Middle School teachers must simultaneously challenge and nurture, encourage independence, provide structure, and reach curricular objectives while meeting each child’s needs. Essentially, the Middle School program must address the complex nature of adolescence in a supportive academic environment – one that makes the transition from Lower School to Upper School and from childhood to young adulthood as rewarding and productive as possible.

Leadership & Organizations

The Middle School offers its students a wide array of co-curricular activities.  Virtually every teacher sponsors some club, activity, or sport. 

Before & After School Program

Students attending the After School Program will find a distraction-free environment in which to complete homework and possibly time to relax following a structured day.

Advisor/Advisee Program

Our faculty advisors serve as advocates to a small group of students assigned to him or her at the beginning of each school year. Each week, students meet with their advisors to discuss both personal and academic-related topics.

Mini-Mester

Mini-mester is an amazing week of learning without worrying about grades -- experiential learning at its best.

Outward Bound

Eighth grade students have the opportunity to participate in a five-day Outward Bound excursion in the Florida Everglades’ Ten Thousand Islands.

Social & Emotional Wellness

The Middle School Counseling Program nurtures and supports students during this transitional stage through a multifaceted program.

Middle School At a Glance

1:1 Apple macbook laptop program fosters collaboration, creativity and problem-solving. Middle School families purchase laptops for use in Upper school.Innovative, talented, and knowledgeable faculty. 65% possess master’s degreesTeacher-to-student ratio: 1:7Three full-time and one part-time Learning SpecialistsONE full-time school counselors supervise an extensive advisor/advisee program and help students adjust to adolescenceA diverse array of clubs from Beekeeping and Robotics to the Diversity Club and Quiz Bowl
 

Middle School News

Eighth Grade Places First in JEA Holocaust Remembrance Art and Writing Contest

On the morning of May 16, the eighth grade class was presented with a check from the Jewish Educational Alliance (JEA) as a reward for winning first place in the Holocaust Remembrance Art and Writing Contest. The winning art piece is a collaborative watercolor work inspired by the Terezin Ghetto, in which each student chose an image, quote, or map that memorializes the Holocaust, and created individual scenes that were assembled to model "Exercise — color theory" by Hana Lustigová (1931–44), May 30, 1944.

Boone Wiesner was also recognized for placing in the writing contest. Congratulations, Hornets!!

Chase Brown '28 Wins Poetry Award

Congratulations to sixth-grader Chase Brown! He submitted a poem for the first annual Savannah Park and Tree Commission Arbor Day contest and won in the middle school literary work category. On Friday, April 29, Chase was honored at McCauley Park in Ardsley Park and presented with his award and a tree of his own! His poem will be posted on the Savannah Park and Tree website.

Awesome Trees by Chase Brown

Savannah’s trees are amazing to explore
They are shady, beautiful, and so much more

The limbs are bright green after the rain
And, they never look like they have a stain

The Candler, Majestic, and Live Oak
Can always keep you from getting soaked

The Spanish moss hangs low from the trees
And moves beautifully in the cool summer breeze

The Live Oaks are more than 100 years old
But their colors are always bright and bold

Stop and take a picture with a large Live Oak
Or drink a Coke with a Majestic Oak 

The Southern Magnolia is known for white flowers
You can look at them for many, many hours

The Pecan trees are my grandparents’ fav
They’d rather eat pecans than see Laurel Grove graves

The Ginkgo's a name that you don't hear in the south
It’s hard to say: an awkward sound from your mouth

I love the trees in my beautiful city
Everyone should go see them ‘cuz they're really pretty

Guest Speakers in Middle School Drama

Middle School drama class welcomed guests from First City Films today for an "On-camera Film and Television Workshop.”

First City Films is owned and operated by Chip Lane and Angelique Chase. Both are actors, screenwriters, producers and have cast several feature films and commercials as well completing their own crime drama feature several years ago, Untouched.

Thank you to Chip and Angelique for sharing your expertise with our students!

SCDS Mathletes Compete in the Georgia Southern Invitational Math Competition

On Saturday, March 26, the Middle and Upper School Math Teams competed at the Georgia Southern Invitational Math Competition in Statesboro. In the Varsity division, the team of Aden Adjei, Avi Heyman, Ethan Wheelock, and Alysa Young won the second place team trophy! The team of Aidan Eyth, Ned Henneman, Rachi Wilson, and Alex Zhang came in fourth in their division. In the Middle School division, the team of Nicholas Chiozza, Edison Zhao, Wesley Zhao, and Jiayi Zheng took the second place trophy, and the team of Dylan Gensheimer, Kohki Maeda, Oskar Johnson-Liu, and Keating Taylor won third place! Congratulations Hornet Mathletes!

6th Graders Rumble for The Outsiders

It was Socs versus Greasers in sixth grade English class! A long-standing tradition for Country Day, students honed their knowledge of the classic book The Outsiders by having a rumble — with their smarts, of course! Students donned their 50's best and joined teams to quiz each other prior to the final assessment on the novel.