Middle School
Your Best Self

Know and appreciate yourself and others

At PCDS, we are deliberate about developing character, encouraging personal growth, guiding students to have self-awareness, exploring their self-perception, and understanding the role they play in being part of a community.

Students are supported through the Middle School advisory program, classroom observations, feedback from teachers, and a social-emotional learning course called "You and Others," or more affectionately, "Y.O."

With an age-appropriate approach, Middle School students take Y.O. in order to better understand themselves and to foster positive relationships with each other. The themes of trust, gratitude, empathy, community building, growth mindset, inclusion, resilience, and citizenship guide our Y.O. classes and dialogues. A particular focus is paid to factors that promote a healthy lifestyle, such as adequate sleep, balanced nutrition, practicing mindfulness, self-care, and self-compassion.