The program for the eighth grade stresses emerging individual identities, personal and group leadership skills, writing and analytical skill enhancement, proficiency, and accomplishment. The curricular offerings provide opportunities for students to practice skills important throughout secondary and higher education that were introduced in seventh grade and to continue to explore their talents in a wide range of subjects. Leadership, teamwork, and community are important themes for this year. Coursework includes the following:
English
The eighth grade English program integrates writing, grammar, and vocabulary skills with dramatic and literary units. The reading and improvising of one-act plays leads to a fuller study of contemporary drama, including such works as Sorry, Wrong Number; TwelveAngry Men; The Miracle Worker; and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Students read contemporary novels with a focus on the adolescent in society. The novels read include The Pigman and To Kill a Mockingbird. The reading of Animal Farm presents an introduction to and culminates in the writing of a satire. The reading of selected biographies fosters an understanding of non-fiction. Creative and expository writing assignments are an integral part of all units.
History: U.S. Topics – Washington and Wall Street
How does the United States government make decisions? This question is answered as students explore the U.S. Constitution, as well as the actual operations of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the U.S. government. How does the United States’ economy function? Students answer this question after examining the basic principles of the U.S. mixed market economic system. In both units, special emphasis is placed on concepts and vocabulary.
Mathematics: Algebra I
Algebra I reviews the concept of variables and emphasizes operations on variables. A major portion of the course focuses on solving various types of linear equations and translating verbal sentences into mathematical equations. Students learn graphing, quadratic equations, probability, linear systems, factoring, exponents, radicals, and rational expressions. The course emphasizes a problem-solving approach. Students must purchase a TI-83 Plus Graphing Calculator.
Religion
The eighth grade course is the study of the Catholic Church. The students are exposed to the value of church history in understanding God and our Catholic faith. They acquire a familiarity with the history of the Catholic Church and knowledge of the structures and functions of the church community. Additionally, they are given a variety of opportunities to explore their own participation in the current history of the Catholic Church as they learn about social justice and discuss actions they might take. Activity-based learning experiences provide a unique vehicle to foster learning at this middle school level.
Science: Introductory Physical Sciences
This course introduces basic concepts of chemistry and physics through hands-on explorations that involve students in applying the scientific method. The first half of the year is devoted primarily to chemical applications of physical science. The second half of the year emphasizes concepts studied further in traditional physics courses. The topics explored include matter, solutions, elements, mixtures and compounds, forces, motion, and energy. Laboratory investigations involving modeling, chemical reactions, and simple machines give students opportunities to work with and interpret scientific data.
Latin—Grades 7 and 8
The Latin curriculum serves as a basis for future studies in Latin and the Romance Languages. It introduces students to important lexicon and syntax that will assist in English. While considering a linguistic system different from their native one, students increase their flexibility to think critically about alternate solutions to problems in other areas. The pedagogical approach is holistic. Students learn to read for global meaning while acquiring knowledge of alternate sentence structures and important productive processes. Since Latin is lexically close to the Romance languages and English, students build vocabulary and learn to decode new words without a dictionary. In 7th and 8th grade Latin, students learn declensions and conjugations as tools for reading simple Latin texts, parsing sentences and discovering language patterns all within the context of the rich history of the Roman culture.
Spanish or French—Grades 7 and 8
Foreign language courses at this level focus on listening comprehension, accurate pronunciation, vocabulary building, and correct use of elementary grammatical structures through reading and writing. Through the dynamic nature of these classes, students discover that French and Spanish are living and changing languages. Films, music, songs, storytelling and magazines are an integral part of the course. As students build their linguistic skills through a functional approach, they tackle increasingly complex grammar topics. When feasible, projects in French or Spanish will be combined with other courses.
The language department selects either French or Spanish as the beginning language in a given year. These courses are open only to students with prior knowledge of French or Spanish.
Physical Education
The seventh and eighth grade physical education program follows the National Standards set forth by the National Association of Sport and Physical Education. This program implements a wide variety of activities to support student learning in the development of sport skills, lifetime health fitness, critical thinking and responsible social behavior. Each trimester there is a team sport, an individual or dual sport, a fitness focus and a fitness performance activity. The program provides opportunities for enjoyment, challenge, self-expression and social interaction in the context of a physical activity setting. Team sports rotate each year and may include soccer, volleyball, team handball, basketball, wiffle ball. Individual and dual sports may include tennis, badminton, paddle ball, Project Adventure activities, track, and orienteering.
In addition to the seventh grade core, students take cycle courses in art, computer literacy, dance, music and health.