The middle school provides a dynamic environment for students to acquire substantial knowledge and develop problem-solving skills that are imperative as they progress to and through high school.
Students are taught to think critically and take intellectual risks as they become more self-confident in their academic skills. NSCD also recognizes that intellectual, physical and social emotional skills are interdependent, and the best learning emerges in an environment with supportive relationships. A focus on social emotional learning helps early adolescents develop empathy, establish and maintain positive peer relationships, set and achieve goals, and make responsible decisions.
Core Curriculum
The core curriculum in middle school provides a well-rounded education that equips students with fundamental knowledge and skills across various subjects, fostering cognitive development and preparing them for more advanced studies.
Distinctive Programming
At NSCD, we value the benefits of spending time in community with one another and include grade-level, divisional, all-school and Chicagoland community times in our schedule.
Advisory
The relationship strengthens the partnership of students, parents and faculty by increasing meaningful communication, and it supports the educational growth by providing academic guidance.
Common Work Period
The Common Work Period is designed to allow students to meet with teachers and their classmates in one-on-one or small group settings to collaborate and extend their learning beyond classes.
Community Engagement Week
Each year, students participate in a weeklong interest group of their choice to more deeply engage with a topic related to the concept of community.
Co-curricular Programming
The middle school experience doesn’t end when the bell rings. We have opportunities for students to learn more about themselves and grow their interests and skills both in and out of the classroom.
Athletics
Students are required to play at least one season on a sports team. Options include: baseball, basketball, cross country, field hockey, flag football, soccer, track and field, and volleyball.
Clubs and Activities
Clubs and activities are designed to connect students with common interests across grades. Students are encouraged to lead and participate in clubs during the school day.
Science Olympiad
This national organization holds competitions for more than 20 science events at the regional, state and national levels. Our teams have competed at the state level for the past 25 years.
Student Council
Students develop leadership skills and serve the school community as a part of Student Council. This group consists of elected students who represent the middle school students.
Meet the Head of Middle School
Tim Sheehan came to North Shore Country Day in 2015 as the head of lower school, then in 2021, expanded his responsibilities to oversee the middle school as well. He holds a B.A. and M.Ed. from DePaul University, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania. Previously, he worked at Latin School of Chicago, where he taught fourth grade and served as curriculum coordinator, co-director of the lower school assistant teacher program and coordinator of the after-school program.
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Middle School
Grades 6-8 at a Glance