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REQUIRED
COURSES
GRADE
8
This course incorporates reading, writing, vocabulary, speaking, and
language study. Grammar concepts
are reviewed and expanded to achieve a mastery level of knowledge of all parts
of speech. The structure of simple,
compound, and complex sentences is taught.
Study skills and test taking skills are reviewed and expanded.
A major project is a term paper that incorporates research, note taking,
outlining, composing, and use of the word processor. Spelling words are taken
from the “Vocabulary Workshop” series from Sadlier. A portfolio of
student’s creative writing is also assembled throughout the year.
This literature-based course emphasizes the skills and techniques used in
evaluating stories, poems, plays, novels and other works of literature.
Emphasis is placed on vocabulary, comprehension, and understanding
inference. In order to develop an
appreciation of reading, time will be set aside for silent reading of books.
The “Accelerated Reader” program is used to encourage independent
reading.
This
is a pre-algebra course. The
connection between the four operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication
and division) and their application to algebra is explored.
Topics included in eighth grade mathematics include problem solving,
probability, measurement, and use of variables, integers, patterns,
relationships and equations.
OR
This
class is taught as a high school level course.
Completion of Algebra enables the student to take Geometry as a freshman.
Topics include: expressions, equations, functions, rational numbers,
linear equations, proportions, graphing, inequalities, systems of equations,
polynomials, factoring, quadratic and exponential functions, and rational and
radical expressions and equations.
Physical Education meets two times per week throughout the school year.
All classes are co-educational. The
units are designed to incorporate fundamental skills, physical fitness and
knowledge of various lifelong sports. Emphasis
is placed on participation, good sportsmanship and effort.
Students are required to bring proper PE clothes to each class.
The course covers the history of the Church from its very beginning to
the present day. When students
learn when, why, and how Church traditions were formed, they will be better
able to understand and deepen their own faith.
World religions, Marks of the Church, Trinity, Laws of the Church and
other doctrines are studied in the curriculum.
Students express their faith through participation in prayer services,
liturgies, and retreats. Sexuality catechesis and alcohol and other drug abuse prevention
education is part of the religion program. The focus is on choices, consequences
and Catholic moral teachings.
This is an Earth Science course. Topics
covered included: the nature of science, matter and its changes, rocks and
minerals, the changing surface of the earth, the earth's internal processes,
change and earth's history, the earth's air and water, astronomy and the
environment. Each of these topics is covered through classroom instruction
coupled with laboratory experiences. The
keeping of an individual classroom notebook and a team laboratory report book is
required.
This course covers American History and the following themes: 1) Environment,
2) Migration, 3) Cultural diversity, 4) Values and beliefs, 5) Free enterprise,
6) Technology, 7) Constitutional government, 8) Civil rights, 9) National identity,
10) Cooperation and conflict. These
themes are developed progressively from prehistory to the present day.
Students learn to celebrate the multi-cultural, pluralistic nature of
American society, and gain a strong, empathetic sense of what it was like to
live in different eras and places.
The use of technology is integrated into the core curriculum and consists
of instruction in using word processing, data base, spreadsheet and presentation
software. Students will become acquainted with widely used computer applications.
The topics to be studied include: word processing – inserting and deleting
text, searching for and replacing text, cutting and pasting blocks of text and
print formatting; data base – inserting and deleting records, searching for
records, and sorting records; spreadsheets – entering alphabetic and numeric
information, using functions, and printing.
Students also make use of presentation software and the Internet in the
course of their studies.
ELECTIVE
COURSES
GRADE
8
All
SJMS art classes aim to develop student creativity, ascetic sensibility, artistic
workmanship, and art theory. After classic drawing exercises, eighth grade art
student's study and master the complexities of one-point perspective in an architectural
study. Watercolor completes the first term.
Art theory exercises help second semester students prepare for giant
sculpture units. Various media
are used. Independent sketchbook
work is required.
(Full
Year Course)
Band rehearsals are held three days per week.
Students receive a weekly individual lesson. Students participate in
band festivals, solo-ensemble festivals, Jazz Band, winter and spring concerts,
pep band functions, and marching with the Xavier High School Band for football
halftime show. Participation in Jazz Band, which is offered in the second semester
of the year, is by audition. Band instruments may be rented through the school
with director approval depending on availability or from local music stores.
(Semester
Course)
In chorus, the main objective is to provide the middle school student
with a background in the fundamentals of good basic vocal production. The student will sing a well-rounded variety of music, from
popular to sacred. Interval
training and basics of notation will be taught.
The students will perform as a group at least once per semester.
(Full
Year Course)
Music literacy, history, styles and appreciation will be studied through listening, writing, and creating. This course is an in-depth study of music especially in the areas of composing music and studying composers.
(Full Year Course)
Orchestra is available to students in grades 6-8. (If students are beginning
orchestra for the first time, summer lessons are highly recommended.) The course
meets two times per week and each child has one 10-15 minute private lesson
per week. Students perform in two public performances per semester and are required
to perform at the annual Fox Valley Christian Music Association Solo and Ensemble
Festival.
(Semester
Course)
Health education provides information and students are influenced to
take positive action regarding their own health.
In three main areas: physical, mental/emotional, and social health. Students
learn that good health habits can prevent illness.
Good health habits also can improve the way they feel about themselves. Lessons on wise decision-making, goal setting, along with journaling
help the student develop overall health and well-being. Units covered included:
peer pressure, friends, nutrition/fitness, drugs, alcohol and tobacco and first
aid (including CPR).
(Semester
Course)
Students in this class learn the fundamentals of preparing and delivering
different types of speeches. Students
learn about effective delivery and how to analyze their audience. They participate independently and with groups to research
and prepare speeches to persuade, inform, and demonstrate on various topics of
their choice. The speeches include
– demonstration, news reporting, and advertising (using PowerPoint),
introductions, special occasion, and monologues. Examples of speeches from famous writers are used to learn
the techniques of effective writing and delivery.
This is a one-semester course and stresses good communication skills.
FOREIGN
LANGUAGE – (Full Year Course)
Students
must have received passing grades in the first year of a foreign language in
order to take the second year course.
After a review of French I concepts, students continue to expand their
knowledge of French through vocabulary building and further development of oral
and listening skills. The
additional grammar concepts introduced include past tense, future tense and more
complicated word structures. Students
continue to learn about the French culture and are exposed to French literature.
Classroom work is primarily in French.
The 7th and 8th grade sequence prepares students to enter French II in
high School.
After reviewing the concepts of German I, the students continue to expand
their knowledge of German through vocabulary building and further development of
oral and listening skills. More advanced grammatical concepts are also
introduced. The 8th grade course
also exposes the students to extended reading selections where the students will
read graded readers and be expected to discuss the content in German.
The 7th and 8th grade sequence has been established to enable the
students to enter German II in high school.
After a review of Spanish I concepts, new grammar and vocabulary units
are added. Grammar units include adjectives/agreement, reflexive verbs, ser/Estar,
present progressive and present perfect tenses, and the related use of gerunds
and past participles. Conversational
skills are constantly reinforced. Frequent oral and written exams test students'
comprehension of the target language. Classroom
work is primarily in Spanish. This
2-year sequence prepares the student to enter Spanish II in high school.