Follow Along our Eighth Grade Students
at the School of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen!
Get to know our eighth-grade Mustangs! Our students are the trailblazers for the future. Maya, Leo, and Caroline are future leaders that are highly involved in the student life activities such as the school Basketball, Prayer Buddies Program, Student Council, Middle School Musical, and the SCMOQTV broadcast. Each with their own skills and talents, the one uniting factor is their love of the community and atmosphere of the School of the Cathedral.
The School of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen offers a strong foundation in spiritual strength, academic excellence, and 21st century learning. Cathedral is a co-ed private Catholic school in Baltimore, MD which educates students in Pre-K4 through 8th grade.
Morning Mass, Prayer Buddies to Lower School
On a Thursday morning at the School of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, Maya and the entire student body are found at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen celebrating Mass and praying for the world.
“It’s fun, honestly, listening and talking about God is very inspirational. Having to watch a Prayer Buddy while you do it – she makes it very fun,” Maya, an eighth grade student and basketball player, is a part of the middle school Prayer Buddy program which accompanies lower grade students at Mass.
“We make sure they are standing instead of sitting at Mass, not goofing around…I usually get the [liturgy] book and take my hand and follow the words for her, so she knows where we are while we are singing.”
Leadership During Classes
After Mass, classes begin where Caroline is found leading discussions and presenting projects in class.
“I look forward to all my classes. I am more interested in math and science. That’s really fun for me to learn in those two classes every day,” says Caroline, Basketball player, SCMOQTV director, and Middle School Musical lead role. The School of the Cathedral has a rigorous academic program, where teachers are encouraged to continue their professional development in working toward an advanced degree. “The Cathedral has such an amazing atmosphere of people…I have been able to become close friends with everybody…which I honestly love about the Cathedral. I am able to be friends with the 7th graders and 6th graders too.”
Student-Led Activities
At the School of the Cathedral, middle school students are offered multiple leadership opportunities for the school. Leo is the leader of the Student Council and Caroline directs the SCMOQTV broadcast.
“One of the reasons [I picked] student council here is that it’s run by the students mostly. The administrators really do a good job in letting us lead it, and I really wanted to take that time to work on my leadership skills,” shares Leo, Student Council member and Student Ambassador. “ [I am] the Commissioner General, so I run the meetings and make sure it all goes to plan. I chose to be a student ambassador because I get to show parents around the school and share my story. Since I have been here since Kindergarten and I have had such a great time, and I know their kids will too.”
Caroline co-directs SCMOQTV, the student-led afternoon announcements for the school. SCMOQTV “is like a broadcast for announcements at the end of the day. I work with the Student Council to make videos and upload the announcements. I do projects on iMovie, we make fun Christmas intros, and it’s really fun to be able to work with a bunch of grades and upload onto Youtube to share with the whole school.”
Preparation for Future Education
These leadership opportunities further prepare them to succeed in high school. Throughout the eighth grade school year, students are prepared and guided in their high school application process.
“At the beginning, [high school applications] seemed a bit overwhelming, but when the teachers broke it down into the steps that we take, it was something that we could visualize and understand and grasp. So, it made me really calm about the process,” expresses Leo.
“Right now I am looking into two high schools, and Cathedral has done a great job at walking us through the process of that – guiding us through what we have to do. We have discussed high school application forms, shadow days, and we just took our HSPT which is the big entrance test to get in.”
In 2021, our students at the School of the Cathedral were awarded up to $654k in scholarships for independent high schools.
After School Activities
After school, students stay for the CED (Cathedral Extended Day) Program, clubs, or for sports practices. Maya and Caroline are a part of the girl’s basketball team and stay after for Basketball practice.
“I’ve played basketball since the fourth grade. It’s amazing here…The coaches are very, very strict about the rules. They want you to do good but they know you can do it. Honestly, you can do it,” shares Maya.
“Basketball is fun to be in. Personally, I am better at soccer, but it’s more about the experience with your friends and being a part of the school spirit,” adds Caroline.
Not just an athlete, Caroline also is involved in theater and the lead of the Middle School Musical, Matilda, Jr.
“I thought it was a really great chance to bond with middle school….I joined for fun and to be able to sing with my friends, and I enjoyed being a part of the dance parts and singing. I think it’s a really fun experience, especially as a middle schooler,” expresses Caroline.
Leo can speak for the entire student body and staff when he shares, “I look forward to working with the school community. I love being with my friends and the teachers are really great here. It’s just like a second family,”
Ready to Explore The School of the Cathedral?
This is a small glimpse into the day in the life of a Mustang here at the School of the Cathedral of Mary! Come and visit us for a private tour and have all your questions answered, view ongoing classes, and meet our wonderful faculty and staff. You don’t want to miss it!
Registration is requested at:
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