ABOUT

In middle school, students learn to set goals in personal, social and academic areas. Leadership experiences, athletics, and after-school programs support young adults as they step into new responsibilities and challenging academics. Our artist-in-residence programs enlist diverse voices and talents; students may learn Haitian and/or Indonesian dance, photography, and mural arts. Students continue their artistic evolution and showcase their learning at Friday gatherings, a weekly event that builds community among our young artists.

Rigorous Learning + Arts!
Students are challenged with rigorous reading, writing, and math instruction. Additionally, there is daily instruction in the arts both during regular classroom instruction as well as during specialist classes. The arts classes are taught by trained specialists in the areas of: visual arts, drama, instrumental music, and dance.

Middle School Experience
After completing their elementary years at the Lower Campus, students step seamlessly into the 5-8 Upper Campus, where they join our 5th grade class.  5th Grade continues the same format students are familiar with at the Lower Campus with elementary classroom teachers.  In addition, other opportunities are opening to them to join and learn with middle school students.  Options to get involved in theater programming as a performer or in set production, join clubs, and experience middle school through mentorship, support students in transitioning to 6th grade and beyond.  At the middle school level, students receive the same content area instruction delivered at other Saint Paul Public Schools, and continue with their arts-infused learning.  In addition, students in grades six, seven, and eight will take a Foundations course; a graded course in vital skills for student and personal success. 

Arts Partnerships
Global Arts Plus Upper Campus has a well developed set of partnerships and residencies with agencies such as U.S. Bank, Macalester College, Perpich Center for Arts Education, and The Ordway Center for Performing Arts, just to name afew. Because of these partnerships, students of all ages have opportunities to experience arts through a variety of field trips throughout the year. Each week students also show what they have learned through performance at the school wide Friday Gathering.

Our Core Values
The Global Arts Plus approach to teaching and learning is grounded in the belief that the arts can play a central role in how children learn, and in helping them to excel in their course of study. At Global Arts Plus, we have created an academic/arts partnership that enhances the classroom learning environment and academic performance of all of our students.

Global Arts Plus students are challenged in a safe, joyful and appropriate academic environment. Our relatively small size, for a middle school, ensures that each child is known and celebrated in a community with strong relationships. Respect, responsibility, and support for the needs of each child are promoted. Our goal is to provide every Global Arts Plus student with a world-class education and to inspire an enduring love of learning.

The program at Global Arts Plus is based on the A+ Model which features daily arts instruction in music, visual art, drama, literary arts and dance. Teaching concepts across subject areas (an interdisciplinary approach) helps students find connections between subjects and provides opportunities for all types of students. The educational needs of diverse students are met in two specific ways. The academic program is supported by the Theory of Multiple Intelligences, developed by Harvard professor Howard Gardner, where classroom teachers help students learn by using language, numbers, physical surroundings, the body and more. The Schoolwide Enrichment Model provides opportunities for students who need additional challenges. Students engage in creative, hands-on experiences that use the arts to support academics and promote lifelong learning.