Welcome to the Upper School
Barbara Shea
Barbara Shea
Upper School Director

Our tradition, serving as a model for both instruction and behavior, informs everyday school life at the Solomon Schechter Upper School – in the classroom, science and computer labs, the Beit Tefillah (chapel), on the playing field, or wherever our students may be. This thinking translates into everything we do and into our daily program.

The Intermediate Division – grades 4 and 5 – is based on the elementary school model. Students have two primary teachers in general and Judaic studies, plus specialists in science, art, music, library, and physical education. Teachers guide children to build upon the strong knowledge base established in the Lower School in all curricular areas, while offering more intense and formal study of history and Biblical text. We foster the development of strong organizational and study skills in preparation for the transition to the departmentalized structure of the Middle Division.

We encourage children to become independent thinkers while understanding their role and responsibilities as members of a larger community. Children can participate as leaders in an expanded congregation of daveners and chant from the Torah scroll as part of the service. All students can participate in student government and be involved in the planning of special division-wide activities.

Grades 6, 7, and 8 (Middle Division) follow the middle school model, with different teachers for each subject. Our staff members help develop each student’s knowledge base and skills in a creative manner using techniques that are innovative and engaging to young adolescents, while they deepen the understanding and analytical thinking capabilities of students in discipline-centered learning situations.

Each student belongs to a havurah, or advisory group, that meets several times each week. The havurah encourages team building, self-awareness, and the growth of social skills and relationships. The advisors monitor progress, involve students in Tzedakah projects, and celebrate learning with their advisees in an ongoing manner.

Our rigorous curriculum prepares students well for high school. By the time they graduate from Schechter, our students have graphed linear equations in algebra, completed a 3-5-page research report on a Holocaust survivor, written persuasive essays, and built programmable robots. They have also discussed Bible passages in Hebrew, engaged in high-level critical thinking as they examined traditional texts, led their classmates in prayer, and participated in an all-Hebrew production of a Broadway musical. In addition, they have taken on greater responsibility for the observance of mitzvot, explored issues related to ethics and spirituality, and developed their leadership capabilities through community service, student government, and sports.

Each Middle Division grade looks forward to a special multi-day trip each year. Sixth graders travel to the Berkshire Mountains to participate in Science Week, an outdoor environmental experience informed by Jewish values and teachings. Our seventh grade travels to Washington, D.C. to follow up on their study of American government. The entire Schechter experience culminates in a two-week Israel Study Tour for grade 8.

Upper School life at Schechter is full of academic, social, artistic, musical, and religious opportunities for students of varying learning styles, interests, and backgrounds. It is a wonderful place to learn, to make lifelong friends, and to grow as an individual and as a member of the Jewish people.

Barbara Shea

Upper School Director