A Day in the Life

of an Ellis Middle School

Girl

The Ellis School is for girls in pre-kindergarten (aged 3) through 12th grade (17- and 18-year-olds). It is in the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is a beautiful campus in a beautiful city!

To learn more about Ellis: www.theellisschool.org

Arrival7:30 - 8AM

This is the entrance to our school. Students come from many places…

Most come on school busses…

Some walk…

Others are driven by their parents. During most months, students arrive before the sun!

Classes8:10AM - 3:10PM

Middle School includes grades 5-8. This is a 5th grade English class.

Other main classes are history and math (general, Algebra, and Geometry)…

World Languages (Latin, Spanish or French), and science. This is a science lab.

7th and 8th graders also have a variety of electives they can choose, including our class—Global Perspectives!

Students often visit the library. It is full of books for reading and research, as well as several computers.

We have nine 45-minute periods each day. Other classes include music, visual arts, performing arts (choir, strings, band or dance)…

…and gym class!

Here are some students enjoying an art class in the Middle School studio…

We and our teachers use many types of technologies, including laptop computers, SMART Boards, GigaPan cameras, “clickers,” iPads, nooks, smart phones, and more!

Ellis Middle School students are enthusiastic and polite. They work hard in classes that are advanced.

There are about 440 students in the entire School, 140 are in grades 5-8.

They represent many backgrounds, neighborhoods and towns in and around Pittsburgh.

Snack9:40-9:55 AM—everybody’s favorite part of the day!!

This is a nice break during morning class to eat a little …

…and socialize!

Lunch12:15PM—more food and fun!

There are many choices…

…and the cafeteria is always lively, but not as much as “Open Gym” where we play games like dodge-ball.

Every day ends with an advisory study hall. This gives students time to meet with our advisors (who are also our teachers) and begin homework.

Leaving Ellis3:10PM

At the end of the day, students leave to go home…

…but many stay after school to play on sports teams. The most popular are field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, basketball, and tennis.

…and that is a typical day!