New Middle School Programming Supports Social Skills, Self-Awareness and Friendship 

Through the Shorecrest Center for Academic Excellence and Student Well-Being (CAE), the 5th-8th grade Middle School has launched new programming designed to help students strengthen self-awareness, build healthy friendships, and navigate the unique challenges of adolescence with confidence. The programming features distinct tracks for boys and girls, respectively, designed to support each group's specific developmental needs. 

For Middle School girls, Shorecrest has welcomed nationally recognized friendship coach, educator, and author Danielle Bayard Jackson. Through four engaging workshops held during Community Time, Jackson guides students in exploring topics such as navigating social dynamics, improving communication, and managing conflict with kindness. Her work empowers girls to form positive, lasting connections while modeling the Shorecrest Core Values of respect, compassion, and responsibility.

For Middle School boys, the new Navigator’s Course provides a framework for better understanding themselves and others. Led by Assistant Head of School / Middle School Head Kris Grant and Assistant Head of Middle School Amy Brill, this four-session program encourages boys to reflect on their individual “owner’s manual” while developing tools for self-awareness, teamwork, and maintaining respectful friendships.

Both initiatives are designed to help students enter their teenage years with confidence and resilience. Just as importantly, parents and guardians are invited to be part of the process. Each program will conclude with a dedicated virtual evening session for families, offering insight into the strategies students are learning and ways to support them at home. These parent sessions will be held in October—stay tuned for dates and details.

As an extension of the programming, the Middle School also has sessions planned on digital citizenship and the responsible use of technology, including artificial intelligence. 

Kris Grant shared, "We are so happy that our Middle Schoolers are embracing these opportunities, and we look forward to seeing the impact these lessons will have both now and in the years ahead."