Art
    Art is taught by a teacher who has a B.S. degree in K-12 Broad Area Art Education.  The students meet once or twice week for 40 minutes for the entire year.
    Art in the eighth grade centers on mediums, art careers, and personal-global social awareness. The eighth graders get to experience many different art mediums from silk screening to acrylic paints, and pen and ink. They will also reflect on social issues around the world and depict them in their art. They will also have an elective art career homework project, which will be due at the end of the first quarter. In Middle School our projects are more in-depth and detailed, so the students may only be working on and graded on one to three projects a quarter. 

Computer Technology
    Students meet second semester twice a week for 40 minutes.  Computer Technology class is taught by a knowledgeable instructor who incorporates the use of technology while learning about other subjects.  All students in the school have their own user log-on and e-mail address for educational purposes.  The school had filtered high-speed internet for students to use for research and learning.  
    In computer class in the eighth grade we colonize the moon. The students first learn facts about the moon and things related to travel to the moon and create a PowerPoint explaining their research. The student present these PowerPoints to the whole class and are graded on preparedness and presentation.  The students then research the government and constitution of a few specific countries and come together as "Founding Fathers" to create their own government and constitution for their moon colony.

Math
    Eighth grade math This curriculum is the final leg in their preparation for HS Algebra 1. The years jumps right into integers, rational numbers real numbers, and the Pythagorean Theorem. Proportional reasoning follows. We solidify geometric concepts as well as probability and statistics. The year finishes out with algebraic equations, inequalities, linear functions, nonlinear functions, and polynomials in preparation for Algebra 1 at the HS.

    Algebra 1  Students are guided through a course that places greater emphasis on the conceptual understanding of using algebra as a problem solving tool. Confidence and ability in using variables and functions to patterns and relations are developed.The use of ing as a tool for solving difficult problems is reinforced. Algebraic expressions, equations, and functions are reviewed before delving into linear equations,  polynomials, nonlinear equations,.and graphing relations and functions. Analyzing and solving linear equations takes up the bulk of the winter, after which we jump into radical and rational expressions. The home stretch has us reinforce skills in statistics and probability.

Language Arts 
    This class is composed of three related topics: vocabulary study, grammar review, and writing.  The goal of language arts is communication through the written and spoken word.  Students have the opportunity to expand their creative and functional writing capabilities.  Students study the six traits of writing:  ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, and conventions, as well as audience.  Students in eighth grade enter essay and story-writing contests.

Literature 
    The goal of this study is to help students appreciate well-written works as well as  to encourage them to become life-long readers.  Students read both fiction and nonfiction selections that are analyzed and appreciated.  They also visit the Gutherie Theater for a live performance.

Religion
    Eighth grade Religion focuses on how faith can influence one's life and impact the world around us.  Students use the Catholic Social Justice Teachings to examine issues and problems facing their community and world.  They discuss their role in society and what impact they may have on such issues.  Students also examine Church history to see where the Church has been,  how it has grown, and what role they will have in the future of the Church.

Parent/Student RenWeb Portal