Seventh Grade To Open in 2008--

Grace To Launch A

Full Middle School

In 2009-2010

Carol H. Franek, Head of School, has announced that Grace Episcopal Day School will launch a full middle school program by 2009-2010, a milestone that will coincide with Grace’s 50th anniversary year. The seventh grade program will start in September 2008, and the eighth grade program will begin in September 2009, as outlined in the vision statement approved by the Grace Board of Governors. Grace will begin accepting applications for middle school this September (2007).

“Creating a vibrant middle school is our foremost goal,” says Mrs. Franek, “and our exciting plans will proceed in stages. First, the Kensington building will be renovated to accommodate seventh and eighth grade. Renovation will probably begin next summer (2008), and our architects from Cox Graae & Spack are now developing concept designs.”

The next step, according to the head, will be the construction of a gym that would enhance PE and sports for all grades. Later, the school might add an arts building that would offer a modern auditorium for performing and studios for music and dance.

“As we look beyond physical plant upgrades to middle school programming,” Mrs. Franek says, “we will be placing major emphasis on cross-cultural communications. This came about because we thought about who we are as an institution and asked the question: How will we grow? We are trying to integrate the school’s mission in a way that allows students to live it out at different points in their educational and emotional development.”

The Grace student population is increasingly diverse, so the Spanish/Latin program will include another language at seventh or eighth grade, possibly French or Chinese. Another idea administrators will explore is partnering with another Episcopal School in a cultural exchange program. That school might be located in another region that Grace students could visit, and their students might in turn travel to Maryland.

Service learning will also play a bigger role. Seventh and eighth graders might tutor younger children at Grace, or students in another local school. This would be a volunteer activity for which Grace would provide transportation. Another activity could happen before graduation when Grace eighth graders might visit another country—perhaps Honduras where the Episcopal Diocese of Washington has ties—and use their Spanish language skills in a new environment. The school will research opportunities for service learning projects with Habitat for Humanity and other organizations.

Grace administrators have already developed a solid foundation for the middle school curriculum. “This summer,” explains Carol Franek, “we’ll have a forum for all teachers who will be impacted: the teachers of science, music, math, and Spanish, and of course the fifth and sixth grade teachers. We want the curriculum to flow well through eighth grade. Naturally, we will continue our sixth grade departmentalization through seventh and eighth grades, and each student will have an advisor. We will also address the social and emotional issues of adolescents. Leadership and ethics training, both begun in earlier grades, will continue.”

Mrs. Franek, now marking her eighth year as head, couldn’t be more thrilled about the prospect of growth. “I take it day by day,” she says, “because I’m the kind of person who breaks everything down into the smallest incremental steps to reach a goal. But I’m excited that our board is unanimously behind the idea.” She praises the leadership of Leonard Kennedy, former board chair, who guided the writing and adoption of the vision statement, and Joseph Nyitray, current board chair, who is working tirelessly to bring the school’s vision to fruition.

“We are fortunate to have lots of interest in our current school population,” Mrs. Franek concludes. “I’ve polled fourth and fifth grade parents, and many told me they would support the program—and here I mean really support us! We are also getting calls and emails from parents of alumni who’ve heard about our plans and want to be part of them. Grace has a special place in the hearts and minds of families long after students have moved on to their next school. I believe our expansion will only increase this sense of commitment and loyalty.”

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