The curriculum for sixth graders has recently been updated to create a program that reflects current best practices in education for middle school age children, as students of this age have unique academic, social, and emotional needs. The newly-developed curriculum reflects the school’s Middle States Accreditation Goals to develop critical thinking skills, nurture personal responsibility and academic integrity, as well as the Goal of Schools of the Holy Child Jesus, “To provide an intellectually challenging and creative program of study that fosters academic excellence."
Academic Program
Expanding upon the intermediate-level academic program, sixth graders participate in a multi-disciplinary, integrated, and thematic unit of study, based upon the tenets of project-based learning. Creative block scheduling allows students to meet in flexible groups on two mornings in the six-day cycle to explore and develop the theme of “Making a Difference.” Within the context of the study of the Renaissance, sixth graders study historical figures, such as Galileo and DaVinci, who have made a difference in the world. Engaging in hands-on activities and thoughtful critical thinking discussions enhances the learning process. Each student then embarks on a major research project, by identifying a contemporary individual who has made a difference in the world. Children receive copious mentorship from their teachers on the fundamentals of reviewing literature, accessing information, note-taking using NoodleTools software, organizing information, writing and editing, and providing a bibliography of resources - all activities that culminate in a three-page research paper. The final component of the year’s theme requires students to identify a way that they, as individuals, can make a difference in the world.
Team Building
The importance of working cooperatively with each other is developed through an overnight team-building experience at Fairview Lakes in western New Jersey. To help students cope with the variety of issues related to adolescence, all sixth graders meet frequently in small group advisories with teacher mentors. Sixth graders are encouraged to act as leaders of the school.