Religion
The course on Catholic morality deals with the reason for our existence. Modeling our lives on Christ we must reject sin and choose to do what is moral that is to do what is right through God’s Law and God’s grace.
Fully Alive helps parents impart to their children a Christian vision of sexuality, personal relationship, and the right use of human freedom.
The preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation allows the student’s union with Christ to become deeper, encourages more active participation in the Church, strengthens their ability to spread the Faith, and increases their readiness to accept the spiritual fgifts of the Holy Spirit.
General Math:
This course will reinforce skills necessary in performing the basic arithmetic operations using integers and rational numbers, solving equations and inequalities, and graphing points and shapes on a coordinate plane. Geometry concepts will be explored in comparing corresponding parts of similar figures, using scale factors, ratios, and properties of similarity to calculate distances and heights not directly measurable.
Pre-Algebra
This course will introduce students to the elementary concepts of Algebra while reinforcing arithmetic operations with real numbers. Geometry conceots will be explored as they relate to equations and formulas in Algebra.
Algebra I (Honors)
Eighth grade students in Honors Math will cover most of the material that is presented in Freshman Algebra I. Students who complete the year with a sufficient grasp of the concepts will be recommended for the next Honors course of Mathematical study offered by their high school.
English
This Middle School English class reviews grammar terms and concepts presented in the previous grades. The writing focus is on sentence structure and paragraphing. Both formal and creative writing are explored as students utilize the writing process to generate drafts, edit, revise, and hand in final drafts.
Honors English
This advanced English class reviews grammar terms and concepts presented in the previous grades at a quicker pace. Literary analysis of different genres is explored. The writing focus is on sentence structure and paragraphing. Both formal and creative writing are explored as students utilize the writing process to generate drafts, edit, revise, and hand in final drafts.
Reading
The students will continue to enjoy reading the world of literature through novels selected for their age level.
Physical Science
This is a general course on the study of physical science: the study of the non-living world. The course covers many aspects of physics, and gives the student a general idea of how they relate to their lives and to the environment
Geogrphy
Students will use their knowledge of the basic themes of geography to learn about the human and physical geography of Asia, Africa, the South Pacific, and Australia.
Information Literacy
Information Literacy is defined as the ability to locate, understand, evaluate, organize, use, manipulate, present information and apply it to daily life. During the course of the year the students will use technology to form essential questions, narrow or refine topics to be researched, effective research process and strategies, critical website evaluation, proper forms of citation for research sources, not taking skills, and ethical use of the information they have located. The sudents will present the results of their experience through a culminating project on a specific topic. Many Web 2.0 tools will be introduced and add to their technology skills in the goal of having them become lifelong technology users and 21st Century learners.
World Languages
French II: This class continues the concepts taught in the 7th Grade French 1 class. Vocabulary is once again increased. There is an increased focus on forming sentences, asking questions. More verbs and their conjugations are introduced. Grammar is stressed.
Spanish II:
This class continues the concepts taught in the 7th Grade Spanish 1 class. Vocabulary is once again increased. There is an increased focus on forming sentences, asking questions. More verbs and their conjugations are introduced
Electives
- Art: This year, middle school art students will be learning about diverse cultures, artists, and art movements through critiquing and creating specific characteristics in a variety of artworks. Students will experiment with a variety of mediums and techniques in creating two and three-dimensional works of art. Students will be following specific guidelines yet strongly encouraged to express their own unique, creative style. Each lesson will be related to the elements and principles of design as well as the National Art Education Standards.
- Band: This class is for students who are interested in playing in band. Many of the students in this class will have already played in 4th and 5th grade but the class is open to everyone.
- Choir: This class will continue the singing experiences began in elementary school. Students will improve their singing skills with daily singing, emphasizing proper vocal technique. Music theory, notation, history and interpretation will be integrated and applied in each lesson. Students will sing at weekly mass and perform in one or more concert(s). This class may be taken multiple times throughout middle school.
- Drama: This is an introductory course to Drama and it will go over the basics of acting, in addition to learning about non-acting jobs involved in presenting plays.
- Physical Education: Students will receive a sequential educational program that provides students with the knowledge, skills, fitness, and attitudes necessary to lead a healthy lifestyle.
- Yearbook: A combination of writing, editing, and photography are blended together for this one semester fall class. This class will prepare the yearbook for the Elementary/middle School. In yearbook, students will explore the correct methods of taking and choosing pictures for layouts. Cropping is another skill that will be developed. Some basic journaling skills will be explored. Students will write creative headlines, captions, and body copy.