Middle Years

Middle Years at Baymonte Christian School is a unique, developmentally appropriate program created for fifth and sixth graders. For a student who attends Baymonte kindergarten through eighth grade, there is a measured progression from elementary (kindergarten through fourth grades) to Middle Years (fifth and sixth grades) to Middle School (seventh and eighth grades). Ten and eleven-year-olds in fifth and sixth grades are ready to advance to a broader program than can be provided in a self-contained classroom where they’ve grown and flourished in kindergarten through fourth grades. The many benefits of the Middle Years program include:

• Students have the same six core teachers for two consecutive years creating a consistent, familiar learning environment with cohesive teaching staff. Their Bible, English, history, math, and science teachers are unchanged, and their art, music and PE teachers are continuous with our elementary program.
• Core teachers designated to Middle Years can focus on the unique developmental needs of this distinct age group.
• Students receive additional subject exposure broadening their experiences. Using shared resources with our Middle School program, we can offer additional classes to our Middle Years program including a weekly art class, band, robotics and a wide range of electives.
• Students have access to a broader range of support services with designated staff for individual students (who struggle or excel) including IPI (Individualized Program of Instruction – for continuing fifth graders), a math resource class, STARI reading support class, GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) literature class, and an advanced math team.
• Evidence of a smoother student transition between elementary and middle school has been observed because of our Middle Years program.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Although transitioning from the elementary grades into Baymonte’s Middle Years program is exciting for many, we understand it can be a time where questions arise. Below are the answers to many frequently asked questions.

1. Will I change classrooms? Yes, fifth and sixth graders in Baymonte’s Middle Years program have five core subject teachers (Bible, English, history, math, and science) as well as art, music and PE. They change classrooms every 45-50 minutes throughout the school day. Studies show improved concentration, memory, focus and behavior among students at this age who physically move between classrooms.
2. Will I get a locker? No, fifth and sixth graders do not have hallway or PE lockers.
3. Will I dress out for PE? Fifth graders will not change into a PE uniform for PE. Sixth graders have the option to change into a PE uniform, but it is not required. Our PE instructors do require students to wear appropriate athletic shoes for PE.
4. May I play on the Baymonte middle school sports teams? Baymonte participates in BASCAL (Bay Area Schools Christian Athletic League) for girls’ softball, boys’ flag football, girls’ and boys’ soccer, and girls’ and boys’ basketball. We also have cross country and golf teams. Sixth, seventh and eighth graders comprise our school teams and sometimes fifth graders are invited to join if team numbers are low. Sometimes there is an additional fifth/sixth grade developmental team established.
5. May I participate in band? Fifth graders participate in band and have a scheduled class during the school day designated for music/band. Sixth graders have the option to participate in band.
6. Will I eat lunch with seventh and eighth graders? No, fifth and sixth grades have a separate lunch time at the lunch tables as well as lunch recess time. 
7. Do I get an elective class? Yes, all fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth graders will choose an elective each quarter. Elective classes will have fifth-eighth graders enrolled in each of them. 
8. May I choose to be on the student council? Yes, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth graders have the option to participate on student council. Each class has a representative and the council runs for one semester then rotates with new class representatives.
9. Will I go to science camp? Yes, fifth and sixth graders at Baymonte will attend a week of science camp during Adventure Week (usually the first week of May). Fifth grade science camp is at Mount Hermon Christian Camp and sixth grade science camp is at Campus by the Sea Christian Camp on Catalina Island.
10. Who do I ask if I have a question? If you have a general question about school, contact your homeroom teacher. If you have a class-specific question, contact that teacher directly. The best way to communicate with Baymonte teachers is through email. All email addresses are the teacher’s first initial and last name and can be found on our website here: Contact. General school questions can also be sent to the school office: officestaff@baymonte.org.
11. How will I know where to go? During the first week of school, teachers will direct students through their class schedules. Students move with their homeroom classmates to each of their classes. If you are lost, find a friend from homeroom or ask a teacher, they are everywhere!
12. How do staff support their students? Each student is placed in an advisory class – a small group of same-grade-level students along with a teacher, at the beginning of fifth grade. This class is consistent through fifth and sixth grades with the same students and teachers. Advisory for fifth and sixth grades use the FORGED curriculum from Lifeway. The group gets to know each other, discuss questions and issues that come up, and engage in activities that help develop a biblical worldview. Advisories also join together to celebrate birthdays, accomplishments, and milestones.
13. May I continue in IPI? Baymonte’s Individualized Program of Instruction is designed to assist students who struggle or may have learning differences in the area of reading, writing and/or spelling. Our IPI instructors work with students starting in first grade and continue through fifth grade. Typically, our sixth graders who need continued support transition to our STARI reading/writing support class.
14. Do students get recess with scheduled playground time? Yes, our fifth graders have scheduled playground time three times a week and our sixth graders have scheduled playground time once a week. Both grades have access to the basketball court, field and track during recess and lunch recess every day.