8th Grade

In the 8th grade, the focus is on Catholic Social Teaching, Church History, and Morality. Throughout both grades there is an emphasis on the Liturgy, the Liturgical Calendar, the sacred times of Advent and Lent, and what it means to Live as a Catholic Christian in the world today. Students demonstrate learning through daily work, reflections, tests, and projects throughout the year. Students work towards being able to look at the world using their faith to guide their decisions. Catholic teachings and traditions will be reinforced to give students a base on which their faith can continue to grow and be enriched in the future.The hope is that the students become more engaged in their faith journey and become inspired and confident enough to live out their faith in an often challenging world.

To prepare students for the challenges of high school level English, 8th grade English Language Arts (ELA) will: engage students in intensive hands-on writing instruction to model and demystify the writing process; teach students about audience and purpose in writing; encourage growth through meaningful feedback; and use their understanding of grammar, usage, and mechanics to produce written pieces that address Common Core learning standards.
 

8th grade literature students turn outwards and engage with diverse, globally-focused narratives. The goal is to encourage students to broaden their view of the world and engage with text in a critical, analytic, and academic manner. All class texts have a specific emphasis on social justice and inspire students to think of their individual role and impact in the world. At its foundation, 8th grade literature focuses on identity versus society. Specifically, how characters--and all of us--relate and are sometimes challenged by societal expectations and norms. Students participate in weekly reading seminars, honing their critical questioning and discussion skills. Over the course of the year, the literature class integrates reading and writing skills, vocabulary, and literary terms and genres. All curriculum is Common Core aligned and prepares students for high school level English.

8th grade mathematics focuses on the number system, expressions and equations, functions, geometry, and statistics and probability. For more in-depth information, visit Kathy Marion's Weebly site.

With a splash of U.S. geography, a dash of presidential impact, and a dollop of innovation during wartime, students delve into the tumult and the prosperity of America's history. Students read from primary source documents, continue their development of writing skills, and engage in critical thinking discussions, such as those based on Supreme Court Landmark Cases. Through the study of all the presidents, presentations on the expansion of the nation, and researching and writing short biographies, students will gain an greater appreciation of American history.

8th grade science includes a half-year, exploration in Life Science followed by a half-year study of sound and light. Both courses are standards-based and emphasize hands-on learning to activate the intellectual curiosity of adolescent learners through guided inquiry. Students develop their inquiry skills as they explore science concepts. Students will be asked to observe, infer, predict, collect data, communicate, collaborate, and problem solve around science topics.