Academics
Upper School

Grade 7

Responsible Risk-Taking, Resilience, and Student Advocacy
Seventh grade finds our students squarely in the midst of the developmental process of forming and exploring their identity.  Our advisory program optimizes this transformative period by utilizing evidenced-based exercises that help students begin to identify current character strengths and those they wish to cultivate.  Students are asked to explore questions such as: Who am I? Who do I want to be in the world?  How can I develop and enhance my strengths? They ponder such personal qualities as resilience, kindness, grit, empathy, courage, humor, and curiosity among others.

Research reveals that character building helps create positive emotional and mental well-being. The advisory structure allows students to explore, reflect, and make connections with their peers. Additionally, students learn to internalize and take ownership of skills that make them unique, which results in them excelling at what they are good at and finding their place in the world.  Advisory continues to be a time to assist students as they find their place socially, to allow them to feel secure academically, and to celebrate special days and milestones.  

Academically, students at LFCDS continue to strive for excellence as they explore areas such as drama technique, art history, world music and drumming, world culture and US history, and Lego Robotics. More opportunities to embrace critical thinking and abstract reasoning occur. Students begin to have greater grade awareness as they see what a cumulative GPA looks like, and they seek to improve their academic achievements even as they enjoy more meaningful social interactions. 

Highlights of the Seventh-Grade Experience

List of 11 items.

  • Outdoor Education

    Experience team building during an overnight trip to Camp Matawa in Wisconsin

  • Extracurricular Experiences

    Attend School dances and participate in student government

  • Field Trips

    Go on downtown Chicago field trips including the Oriental Institute and the Smart Museum at the University of Chicago

  • Robbie Bermingham Speaking Contest

    Take part in the annual Robbie Bermingham Speaking Contest

  • Performing Artists

    Experience world culture through African drumming

  • History Comes to Life

    Portray a Russian historical character in social studies

  • SSAT

    Take the SSAT and start exploring options for secondary school

  • Varsity Sports

    Participate in varsity sports

  • World Language Cultural Experience

    Enjoy a world language immersion lunch at a local restaurant

  • Community Service

    Engage in the North Chicago community partnership opportunity with neighboring schools

  • Future Scientists

    Participate in the First LEGO League Robotics Tournament

Curriculum Guide

Faculty

List of 20 members.

A co-educational independent school for students age 2 through Grade 8.
Graduating students of strong character with a passion for learning since 1888.

Lake Forest Country Day School

145 South Green Bay Road
Lake Forest, IL 60045
P: 847-234-2350
F: 847-234-2352