Valuing & Supporting Students

MEETING STUDENTS WHERE THEY ARE

Known & Valued

Severn is committed to providing a challenging program that supports and champions students who are growing through various developmental and emotional stages and who change daily as they experiment with who they are becoming.

We recognize the unique challenges and opportunities for profound personal growth in this critical three-year span of a child’s development. We meet those challenges by providing a structure that emphasizes the development of healthy work and study habits to ensure students can keep pace with increasing academic demands. However, we also focus on providing this age group opportunities to explore new ideas, take intellectual risks, and begin to make their own choices as they develop as independent individuals.

Not only do Severn Middle School students complete eighth grade with skills that build their character and social awareness, but they also build the academic skills that will set them up for success in the Upper School and beyond.

Kathleen Donovan, Dean of Students, Severn MS

Severn School values the whole child. If you send your student here, they’re not only going to walk out with skills that build their character and social awareness, but they’re also going to build the academic skills that will set them up for success in the Upper School and beyond.

VIDEO: Known & Valued at Severn School

In this Section

MIDDLE SCHOOL VALUES PROGRAM

CHARACTER

Severn is a community, and with that comes the expectation of respect for others. The Values Program is a series of tangible lessons and activities that reinforce character education. Founded in Severn’s core values, the program content touches on the practical application of them. Instead of just assuming that middle schoolers “get” it, core ideas— such as inclusion, respect, kindness, integrity, courage, and excellence—are woven into games, discussions, activities, and more. This ensures that every student can make a meaningful connection to the material.

THE MONTHLY PROGRAM WILL FOCUS ON TEN TOTAL VALUES:

List of 4 items.

Inclusion

Inclusion: Inclusion is the act of helping someone else feel like they belong
Respect

Respect: treating others with kindness and recognizing their value and rights.
Gratitude

Gratitude: Feeling thankful for what you have or what someone has done for you.
Kindness

Kindness: Being nice and helpful to others.

List of 3 items.

Responsibility

Responsibility: Being dependable and taking care of your duties or obligations.
Empathy

Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of another person.
Growth

Growth: The process of developing or improving over time.

List of 3 items.

Excellence

Excellence: doing something to the absolute best of your ability.
Courage

Courage: Facing fears or challenges bravely, even when it’s difficult.
Integrity

Integrity: Being honest and having strong moral principles.

NURTURING SUCCESS BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

Middle School Academic Support (MSAS)

Middle School Academic Support (MSAS) offers additional academic support to all middle school students on campus during after school hours. During MSAS, faculty offer individualized support to students, checking their planners, scaffolding assignments, and offering strategies to chunk studying or for more effective test-taking. Middle School students can also be matched up with National Honors Society peer tutors through MSAS.

MSAS is a resource offered at no additional cost through Severn's Learning Resource Center (LRC), and is open to all Middle School students as a drop-in service.

Another valuable resource available to Severn Middle School students is the After-School Program (ASP) - full details can be found by following the below link.

STUDENT OF THE MONTH

The Middle School Student of the Month program recognizes middle school students who demonstrate behaviors that directly reflect the value that is the focus for the month.

Faculty and staff each may nominate up to two students per month who are found to be demonstrating the theme both inside and outside of the classroom. The purpose of this award is to acknowledge positive contributions to the Severn community that are a direct reflection of the specific value that students have been discussing throughout that month.

Students are recognized publicly and are given a special maroon wristband to wear that reads "Student of the Month."

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HONOR CODE

Severn's major school rules are based upon integrity, respect, and personal responsibility. Students are expected to treat others as they would wish to be treated, as civility is central to the School's mission. In accordance with Severn’s mission statement, students in the Middle School are expected to pursue excellence in character, conduct, and scholarship. This applies to all facets of student life in the Middle School. A strong community relies on respect for work, property, and one another. Our expectation is that Middle School students will not give or receive help on assignments unless permitted by their teacher and will not copy work from another student or other source and present it as their own. Middle School students are expected to be honest and trustworthy and are expected not to lie, cheat or steal.