Middle School Program
Welcome to Connelly Middle School of the Holy Child!
Connelly Middle School of the Holy Child forms the foundation of the Cornelia Connelly Center by teaching girls grades four through eight. We combine a joyous holistic education that strives for academic excellence with a commitment to fostering a personal relationship with each student and her family. At CMS, students aspire to the highest of expectations, embrace changes, demonstrate tremendous effort, accept failure as a means to success, and work together as a family, and in doing so, CMS students thrive and shine.
Below, you can read about our curriculum and all the unique components that make our middle school so effective. Continue exploring our website for more information on our long-term support and to see the pure joy that our students exude while they are in our care.
As you learn more about our school and our students, I hope you are as inspired as I am every day.
Sincerely,
Shalonda Neeley Gutierrez
Head of School
About Our Curriculum
CMS offers a holistic education that allows all of our students to grow, succeed, and become their best selves. Our curriculum is rooted in Cornelia Connelly’s philosophy of education, which is based on trust and reverence for the dignity of every human being, and it is constantly updated to reflect the needs and experiences of our student body.
Below are brief descriptions of each grade’s priorities. For more detailed descriptions, please contact our Head of School, Shalonda Neeley Gutierrez, at [email protected].
Our Lower School curriculum for girls in fourth and fifth grade focuses on accelerating growth and strengthening foundational skills to prepare students for the Upper School. In fourth grade, we emphasize a growth mindset, collaborative learning, self-advocacy, and an introduction to problem-solving, and in fifth grade, the focus shifts to critical thinking through collaborative group norms, inquiry, connection of ideas, and courageous expression.
In Upper School, which serves girls in grades six through eight, students engage in a high school preparatory program that ignites lifelong curiosity. We help students embrace their full potential with excellent academic experiences, sports and arts programming, and social-emotional learning. Our curriculum reflects our students' diverse voices and preferences, promoting engagement and love of learning.
In sixth grade, the curriculum supports a seamless transition to Upper School with a focus on confidence-building and exploration of identity. The seventh grade curriculum explores resistance and change-makers while developing skills in collaboration and communication through group work and discussion, and the eighth grade curriculum allows students to finesse their collaboration and problem-solving skills, which not only prepares them for high school but also helps them realize their future as leaders in the world.