Our Mission

Our Middle School Academy (MSA) aims to empower our students to take action and leadership early on. Our students crafted our MSA Mission Statement and have taken the initiative needed to become leaders, both academically and socially, through establishing their goals and purpose as SJNA middle school students:

The purpose of St. John’s Northwestern Academic Middle School is to build leadership, discipline, strong bonds of friendship, and fortifying our faith. In a challenging environment, we will grow together as a community through team building and developing character living in integrity and ultimately thriving.

Creative, Engaging Learning Environments

With our small class sizes, the instructors of the MSA are able to tailor engaging and rigorous lessons to meet the academic needs and interests of our students. Whether it is the study of proportional ratios by making smoothies or a mock trial based on Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe, our students experience a new side of learning.

We know how important it is for your child to learn both inside and outside of the classroom, which is why we plan quarterly field trips and class excursions throughout Delafield, Madison, and the Greater Milwaukee Area. Whether it is journaling outside on our campus, attending a play at a local theater, exploring a nearby zoo, or visiting the Illinois Holocaust Museum, we facilitate our students with real-world learning so that they can think broadly, make learning experiences more memorable, and give them the resources needed to drive their intellectual curiosity.

Students in grades 7 and 8 follow a standard course sequence, but those who excel in Mathematics or other core subjects may take high school courses for high school credit upon approval. For students to advance to high school, students must demonstrate success in the content areas of English, Math, Science and Social Studies.

Learning To Be Leaders

With an emphasis on leadership and self governance, students rise to rigorous personal and academic expectations. Through positive encouragement with peers, teachers, and staff, your child’s self confidence will begin to advance. There are many ways we encourage self governance, with the guidance of the instructors, to set the tone for our future leaders.

While our high school students take leadership courses designed for their chosen Academy (Military JROTC or Prefect Civil Leadership), all middle school students take the SJNA Aspiring Leaders classes. In the 7th grade, students examine the foundational competencies that all leaders must develop: social awareness, self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision-making, and relationship skills. Students learn to recognize their own strengths and challenges in these areas, and explore personal interest, aptitudes, strengths, and areas of challenge and learn about careers and the world of work. In the 8th grade, students gain an understanding of how they build relationships, communication, work on a team, appreciate diversity, and engage in the world around them. Students also build upon the previous year of social and emotional competencies as they shift toward application of their strengths, identifying problems, analyzing solutions, and reflecting on moral and ethical principles.

Destination Imagination

Destination Imagination is a fantastic program that challenges students to expand and exercise their creative and technical minds. Through challenges in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (S.T.E.A.M), students learn to better understand the world, communicate effectively on a team, and collaboratively design solutions.

Click HERE to learn more about Destination Imagination and HERE for more information on the Destination Imagination Wisconsin Affiliate.