Upper School

Welcome to Saint George’s Upper School

Saint George’s mission is to develop your students' intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential. We challenge and support our students in all facets of their lives, and they regularly achieve excellence.

See our Upper School Profile for more details about what makes our students, our faculty, and our curriculum unique in the Spokane area.

Saint George’s students capture state championships in Knowledge Bowl, Math is Cool, and Debate. Their artwork appears in regional exhibits, while their musical performances have earned Saint George’s visibility as the top vocal school in Eastern Washington. On the athletic field their legacy of teamwork and “best efforts” have produced a long list of regional and state titles. Saint George’s has received the Scholastic Cup, a recognition that our students are among the highest academic and athletic achievers at any small school in the state. In addition, Saint George’s is the first school in the region authorized to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, the most prestigious high school curriculum in the world.

Along with these quantifiable measures, we prize the less tangible accolades our students collect from those who meet them – “polite,” “confident without being arrogant,” “interested,” and “good kids.” Small class sizes, devoted teachers, and purpose-built facilities are a few of the secrets to our success. Our teachers know their students beyond the classroom. Many coach sports, debate, or robotics teams and all lead outdoor adventure programs intended to foster trust and self-confidence. In all areas, Saint George’s strives to inspire its scholars, athletes, and artists to serve and lead others.

Our student body may be the most diverse in the area. Our students come from all over the greater Spokane area. Our international and exchange programs include students from Asia and Europe. Financial aid ensures that all students who want to attend Saint George’s have the opportunity to do so. A unifying factor in all our students is that they seek opportunities to reach their full potential.

Being an independent school, our teachers have the freedom to meet their students where they are and lead them where they want to go, providing them with 21st century thinking skills, instead of simply “teaching to a test.” When Saint George’s students get to college – including the most competitive schools in the nation – their professors routinely report that they are better prepared than their peers. SGS student rates of graduation from four-year institutions far exceed the national average.

If the aim for your child is to strive for excellence in a caring and supportive environment, please visit the Upper School to see how we can help you reach your goals.

Francesca Mulazzi, Ed.D.
Head of Upper School

Francesca's Latest Letter to Upper School Parents (PS Learning)

EVERYONE WHO PASSES THROUGH SAINT GEORGE’S RECOGNIZES A SPECIAL SENSE OF COMMUNITY. PERHAPS IT IS THE FACT THAT WE ALL KNOW EACH OTHER AND ARE CONSTANTLY ENCOURAGING EACH OTHER TO EXCEL.

FRANCESCA MULAZZI, Ed.D.,
HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL

Upper School News

Juniors & Seniors Back in Their Classrooms

Most of the juniors and seniors returned to in-person classes on Oct. 20-21. From English Literature and Chinese to Math Analysis and Physics, they added some welcome activity to their Upper School classrooms. See photo galleries of the 11th Graders in various classes, the 12th Graders in their classes, and a IB Spanish Class Video of them moving along with a Spanish Zumba video during an exercise break!

Freshmen & Sophomores Return to Classrooms

Most of the freshmen and sophomores returned to in-person classes on Oct. 22-23. From Spanish and Chemistry to Government and Advanced Geometry, it was good to have their energy back in their Upper School classrooms. See photo galleries of the 9th Graders in different classes and the 10th Graders in some of their classrooms.

Dragon Leadership Academy Prepares Student Leaders

The Dragon Leadership Academy, a new six-week program to develop leadership skills, launched on Thursday, Oct. 15. Twenty-two Upper School students accepted nominations to the Academy from their team coaches or activity advisors. The Academy is the creation of Mark Rickard, who teaches Leadership at SGS and Sports, Exercise & Health Science classes, as well as advising the Associated Student Body officers. "I strongly feel that a program teaching crucial components of leadership could be of great benefit to the students and their teams, strengthening our kids' abilities to lead and inspire their peers," says Mark, who sent out the nominations to students sealed with a wax dragon.

The leadership curriculum consists of 90-minute online sessions over six consecutive weeks with a focus on three key facets of leadership: finding your purpose, broadening your perspective, and developing tangible leadership skills.

Keynote speakers will open several of the sessions, including two SGS alumni. Natalie (Farias) Holloway '16 earned a hospitality management degree and graduated from the Center for the Advancement of Leadership at Utah Valley University, where she currently works organizing executive events. She will speak on cultural intelligence and creating an inclusive team culture on Oct. 29.

Natalie "Chessey" Thomas '10 played on the nationally ranked University of Tennessee women's golf team before filling assistant coaching roles at the University of Idaho and the University of Washington. Chessey is now the associate head coach of women's golf at the University of Nebraska. She will speak on team chemistry, an attitude of gratitude, and crucial peer confrontations on Nov. 19.

Additional keynote speakers include Dr. Tade Ayeni, Director of Diversity and Equity at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall University. His multiple graduate degrees and wide experience in higher education has helped him understand how systems and programs can help or hinder students in their academic pursuits. He will speak at the Nov. 5 session on equity, inclusion, and leadership through storytelling.

Francesca Mulazzi, SGS Head of Upper School, will keynote the session on Nov. 12. She has taught at international schools in Morocco, Singapore and China and been a school administrator on the island of Aruba and in Zambia before coming to SGS. She will speak on effective communication, including verbal, non-verbal, and listening skills.

The Academy is the result of Mark's master’s degree program at Whitworth University in Administrative and Non-Profit Leadership. "I looked into what extent we, as coaches and advisors, endeavor to provide leadership education during the season for those who we expect to be leaders on their respective teams, clubs and organizations," he says. After completing the six sessions, Academy students will develop and implement a leadership-based experience within their own teams. A celebration at the end of the school year will give each graduate an opportunity to present their experience to the Academy class.

"I believe this program will provide another practical way for us to live our mission of inspiring scholars, athletes and artists to serve and lead," says Mark. "My hope for the Academy is to lay the foundation for these students to become those who lead."

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