Doral Campus Middle School Program

Letter from our Middle School Principal

Welcome to Divine Savior Academy’s Middle School!

The middle school years of a child's education are important for building the educational, emotional, and spiritual foundation that will benefit your child for years to come. Starting in sixth grade, Divine Savior students are exposed to not only a solid foundation of core classes, but also a variety of elective course offerings that include STEM, music, art, industrial arts, chess, computer, robotics, and leadership courses. In addition, our high-achieving students have the opportunity to take advanced courses to further promote their academic development. Middle school students are encouraged to develop their independence and organizational skills that will allow them to be successful high school students and adults in the future. In addition, you will find a similar environment in middle school that exists in our early childhood and elementary programs, and this includes a variety of extracurricular opportunities and teachers who care about their students and are readily available to parents when needed.

The middle school years are important ones for your child. We are excited to work together with you to reach your child's full potential. Our students will continue to grow in their knowledge of the world around them, and their faith will continue to develop as they learn more about their Savior's love through daily instruction in God's Word. It is my prayer that all of our students feel safe, secure, and are able to thrive academically, emotionally, and spiritually. I look forward to working with you as a parent of a Divine Savior Academy student!

Ryan Loberger, M.Ed
Elementary and Middle School Principal
Divine Savior Academy

College-Prep Academics

Divine Savior offers a comprehensive and varied curriculum to prepare students for the rigors of college and the workplace. All subjects are taught from a Christian perspective to educate the whole child: academically, socially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Divine Savior’s rich curriculum is designed with flexibility to meet the needs of each student as it fosters exploration, critical thinking, problem solving, and sound study habits. As a community of learners, students are given opportunities to collaborate and explore. The ultimate goal is to cultivate and maximize each student’s unique talents and abilities.

In middle school, our academic program is focused on mastering the core classes of math, grammar, literature, science, and history. This schedule of classes is fully departmentalized and also includes enrichment instruction in art, music, physical education, foreign language, and technology.

College Counseling at DSA

The college counseling program at Divine Savior begins in sixth grade. With over 40 years of experience, Divine Savior’s college counseling department is eager to assist students in planning for the future. Our counselors partner with parents and students so that families are able to meet the challenges of the college application and decision process. DSA’s college counseling program also seeks to guide parents and students with individualized attention and frequent communication: weekly updates, parent-student planning meetings, on-site financial workshops, and one-on-one consultations. Visit our college counseling website for more information…

Advanced Classes

Students in eighth grade are also given the opportunity to take high school level classes in math, science, and foreign languages. These high school classes can be placed on students’ high school transcripts. Another college-prep class offered is middle school STEM, an advanced Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics program.

A Christian Environment

Christian education is Christ-centered education. Our Savior and His love for us are at the heart of all we think, say, and do. All subjects in our curriculum are taught from a distinctively Christian point of view, and all activities are centered in a Christian environment.

Divine Savior Academy is a place where the Bible serves as the framework for guidance and truth. It is a place where a love for God and His Word are instilled and nurtured in our precious children. It is a place to learn Bible stories and apply them to everyday life. DSA is a place where children grow in their relationship with the Lord on their journey toward Christian maturity.

Divine Savior Academy is supported by Divine Savior Church which serves families with Bible classes, family counseling, and worship services in a loving, supportive community. Learn more at www.DivineSaviorChurch.com.

Supportive Teachers

Divine Savior’s teachers care about our students and their families. They partner with you to provide your children with one-on-one attention to cultivate their unique talents and abilities.

DSA is dedicated to providing excellence in education for all our students. Our highly-degreed and continuously-trained teachers are committed to achieving this excellence by maintaining

• High academic standards
• A safe, disciplined, and nurturing environment
• Individualized and personalized attention
• Proactive home-school communication
• A low student-teacher ratio

At Divine Savior, our teachers tailor their instruction to challenge each student, not a class average, by encouraging, engaging, and motivating students to use their unique abilities and talents. The faculty also focuses on educating the whole child: spiritually, socially, emotionally, physically, and academically.

Preparation for Lives of Service

Divine Savior students express love for their Savior through acts of service, not only within the walls of DSA, but also within the community of Doral, the city of Miami, and beyond.

Student Council

With the motto of “Learning to Lead, Learning to Serve,” DSA’s Student Council is an active group of students who learn not only to lead their fellow students, but to serve others in our hallways and in our community.

National Junior Honor Society

National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) is a national organization that recognizes outstanding middle school students who have demonstrated leadership and excellence in the areas of scholarship, service, and character.

Camp South Summer Camp

Every summer, our students have the opportunity to be encouraged in their faith in a fun atmosphere by attending Camp South, a regional summer camp for students entering fifth grade to eighth grade. Watch the Camp South video to learn more.

Mission Projects

Offerings collected during chapel services are donated to our annual mission project and have been used to fund a school in Africa and an orphanage in Haiti. Our students have traveled to Antigua, Peru, and St. Lucia on past mission trips.

Technology at Divine Savior

At Divine Savior Academy, technology plays an important role in the classroom learning environment. Our 1:1 iPad program and our campus-wide WiFi connect our students to valuable online resources in every class. Intentional integrations throughout the curriculum foster communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity, 21st-century skills necessary for college and career readiness. Our faculty combines technology with learning assessments, allowing students flexibility and originality as they demonstrate their knowledge.

While our 1:1 iPad program puts a device in the hands of every student, Divine Savior Academy also provides other opportunities for students to regularly interact using technology. Each classroom is equipped with a digital display or projector, capable of displaying content from any device. Our robust network is set-up to provide students with a safe learning space, while offering access to a multitude of tools for research and innovation.

Fine Arts

While more and more schools cut the arts from their curriculum, Divine Savior Academy has a growing, thriving fine arts program. Designed to create a well-rounded education for all its students, DSA’s fine arts program also seeks to develop the God-given abilities of each individual student.

Music is a focus and strong tradition within our school system and among our faculty. Music classes offer units like world drumming and music theory, while private piano, instrumental, and voice lessons are offered after school from our large panel of passionate music teachers. Students can also explore their vocal skills in one of our performance choirs.

Visual arts is an ever-expanding program taught in our beautiful art studio. Students take classes that include classical instruction in pottery and painting or modern art instruction in creative photography, video production, and graphic design.

Athletics

The mission of Divine Savior’s athletic program is to strengthen the talents and abilities of our student-athletes, as well as develop qualities such as teamwork, dedication, sportsmanship, and humility.

Divine Savior Academy encourages its students to have healthy lifestyles through physical education classes in our high school curriculum. Courses like health, lifetime sports, and weight training teach students the skills they need to be active adults.

Divine Savior Academy is a member of the South Florida Middle School Conference and the Florida High School Athletic Association. Our competitive teams are led by a qualified coaching staff. Trained and experienced in their fields, Divine Savior’s coaches are dedicated to improving athletic skills and developing character traits that extend beyond the field of athletic competition. Our expanding sixth to twelfth grade program has middle school, junior varsity, and varsity teams that require tryouts and commitment on the part of the student-athlete.

Athletic Teams

• Cross Country
• Volleyball
• Soccer
• Basketball
• Golf
• Track and Field
• Tennis

Extracurricular Activities and Clubs

Student Clubs

At Divine Savior Academy, students are encouraged to pursue their individual gifts and interests in a variety of opportunities that exist beyond the classroom. Students develop their educational interests and passions in a wide variety of after-school clubs. Leadership, teamwork, and a service mentality are developed in addition to the enjoyment of pursuing personal interests.

Students are encouraged to start new clubs yearly. Our growing list of extracurricular clubs includes robotics, drama, teen safety, business, and many more.

Chess at Divine Savior

Divine Savior Academy has a nationally-recognized competitive chess team, as well as a chess program for kindergarten to twelfth grade students. Whether students choose to take chess as an elective course or as an after-school activity, they are exposed to the intricacies of chess including skills training, strategic planning, and tournament play under the tutelage of a chess grand master.

Past championship highlights include: 2017 U1000 Florida State Champions (K8 and K12), 2015 K12 Super Champions, 2015 K8 U900 Regional Champions, 2013 National U1600 High School Champions, 2012 High School All Star Champions, 2011 National Youth Action East Champions.

We are always adding new programs to our offerings. For a complete listing of fine arts, athletics, and extracurricular opportunities on the Doral campus, please contact our school office at 305-597-4545.

Additional Programs and Offerings

• Exceptional Education Program
• English as a Second Language Program
• English Language Learners Program
• Hot Lunch
• On-site Tutoring