We send our children to school to support learning, but it’s important to recognize that learning goes far beyond memorizing math facts and learning to read. At St. Barnabas, we like to say that we educate the whole student. By that, we mean that we focus not only on academics but also on Christian faith, character building, and leadership skills.

In the middle school years, personal development is a particularly important aspect of education. At this age, students really start to develop their own unique interests, form strong and lasting friendships, and work collaboratively with peers. We’re here to give them the space and support they need to develop these skills while remaining aligned with our shared values of faith, virtue, and excellence.

Confidence Building

Across a lifetime, confidence gives you the ability to face challenges head-on and persevere in the face of hardships. Students who build and develop their confidence in middle school will be better prepared to face challenges in high school, college, and beyond.

One of the ways we foster confidence in our middle schoolers is through participation in extracurricular activities. We offer a wide selection of activities, from fine arts to sports. So, whether you have a young Picasso or the next Michael Jordan, they’ll have access to a structured program where they can develop their skills and receive helpful feedback. We find that students’ confidence really grows when they get to choose their own activities and focus on honing their unique, God-given talents.

Leadership Development

What is leadership, really? It’s not just “being the boss” or the person in charge. A good leader leads by example. They know how to express their thoughts and objectives clearly. They also know how to compromise with others and take the needs of their team members into account.

By helping our students develop leadership skills in middle school, we help them succeed not only academically but also socially. We are proud to watch students navigate conflicts within their friend groups with grace and understanding. We’re equally proud to see students lead effective, productive discussions in the classroom setting.

Our teachers integrate group work into their lessons with care, introducing new challenges as students’ leadership and social skills begin to take shape. Students also develop leadership skills when they participate in our many clubs and athletic teams.

Faith Building

At our Christian middle school, we keep faith at the center of all we do. In the adolescent years, students begin to deepen their own personal connection with their faith. We give that faith space to grow and expand by surrounding our students with faculty and staff who serve as faithful examples in their community.

Our Middle School Christian Education class is a welcoming space where students can explore their faith more deeply. We focus on gospel messages that are relevant to students’ everyday lives and friendships. We also host a chapel service each week, giving students dedicated time to worship and celebrate their own faith alongside others.

Furthermore, as we’re encouraging students to pursue Excellence, our third virtue, we always keep the focus on God. At St. Barnabas, Excellence means using our God-given abilities to the fullest and giving Him the Glory for our success.

Friendship

What would school be without friends? For that matter, what would life be without friends? Through our focus on Virtue, our middle school students learn not just to make friends, but to be friends. They learn to be the kinds of friends who share each other’s joy and struggles. 

Our extracurricular programs are fine-tuned to support the development of healthy friendships and social skills. Our coaches teach their players to compete with integrity and to carry that trait with them far beyond the court or field. In clubs like Chess Club, students learn to celebrate not only their wins but also the wins of their peers. They find that they can learn from each other by working together. They also discover how rewarding it can be to spend time with others who share their passions and talents.

The middle school years are not always easy. At this age, students are growing rapidly, quickly becoming more independent, and developing their own ideas about the world. At St. Barnabas, we’re here to guide them on this journey of personal development, all while remaining steadfast in our core values: Faith, Virtue, and Excellence.

If you’d like to learn more about St. Barnabas Episcopal School, please reach out to schedule a tour of our DeLand campus. Our mission is to empower each student and each family, and we’d be honored to welcome you into our community.