Middle School

ELA
ELA is a combination of grammar, writing, reading, and vocabulary growth. Creative writing is the main focus with a few pieces of research writing. Students are also introduced to understanding, enjoying, and writing poetry through song lyrics. Within the writing assignments, grammar is both embedded and specifically stated. Vocabulary is built into the writing pieces as well with lists of new words utilized in many forms.
 
Reading
Reading is a combination of trade books and nonfiction articles. Students complete Cornell Reading Notes which research states is a concrete way to unravel the story behind the words, understand the roll that the setting plays, discern the significance of the characters and their roles, as well as the acquire and comprehend specific vocabulary.
 
Math
In Math, we use the Sadlier suite of texts, designed for continued reinforcement of mathematical procedures and ideas from Grades 1-8. All math classes are a year advanced, with pre-algebra studied in seventh grade, and algebra being studied in eighth. We use our new Chromebooks to graph and visualize mathematical data while the techniques are taught with an idea that understanding why they work is as important as how they work. Many of our students go on to Algebra 2 or Geometry classes at the high schools of their choices.
 
Social Studies
Social Studies comprised of 6^th grade Ancient History, 7^th grade Geography and 8^th grade U.S. History. Overall, the courses emphasize historical specificity, change over time, and the analysis of historical artifacts and documents.
 
6^th grade Ancient History takes students from humanity’s first societies in Africa and the Middle East, through the civilizations of India, China and Greece, to the end of the ancient period, with the fall of Rome. Students begin to learn how to analyze historical sources, both artifacts and documents, and learn about the range of human achievement across the ancient world.
7^th grade Geography sends students on a tour around the world. Students are introduced to the two major fields of geography: physical, which deals chiefly with the Earth’s natural processes and features, and human, which examines how people interact with their environments. Through the 5 Themes of Geography including location, place, human/environment interaction, movement and region, students examine areas of the globe.
 
8^th grade U.S. History has students study the development of the United States. Starting with the humanity’s first migration to the Americas, the course quickly moves to European colonization of the continents and the creation of the country. We then examine the major events and themes in U.S. History, from the American Revolution and the Cold War, to westward expansion and immigration. Emphasis is placed upon the analysis of primary sources, documents written by those who were present at the time of historical events.
A highlight of the Social Studies curriculum is the annual History Fair, hosted by the 5^th, 6^th, 7^th and 8^th grades. Students choose topics according to their interests.. Some recent topics included 6^th grade Ancient History students presenting on The Silk Road, 7^th grade Geography students presenting on countries such as Brazil, and 8^th grade U.S. History students presenting on The Cuban Missile Crisis.

Religion
The St. Agatha Middle School is fortunate enough to have a religion program that is funded by a theology grant given to us by an unanimous donor.  This grant calls for a class where the students are taught about the Catholic faith, building a Catholic identity, promoting the teachings of the Church in social justice, and community outreach and services. The middle school works with Miss Perez in a variety of ways to strengthen their faith, learn about world religions, debate current religious and moral issues, and give back to the community.
Textbooks:  6^th Grade:  You Were Made to Make a Difference
7^th & 8^th Grade: The Catholic Connections Handbook for Middle Schoolers 2^nd. Edition
Novels:
Tuesday with Morrie
The Acorn People
The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates
The Shack
Stella By Starlight
The First Phone Call from Heaven
Same Kind of Different As Me
The Five People You Meet in Heaven
Movies:
Facing the Giants
Little Boy
The Shack
Miracles from Heaven
A Long Way Off
The Case of Christ
The Case for Christ
 
Latin
In Latin, we use Ecce Romani, a Latin reader. The design of the book is such that students are translating Latin from the very beginning. Students will follow the course starting in sixth grade and completing a Latin 1 regimen by the end of eighth grade. We use interactive computer games, games in class, and a generally fun attitude toward learning that makes the translations go by. Many of our students qualify for Latin II Honors programs at the high schools they are accepted at, with occasionally even higher placements.
 
Spanish
Spanish is divided into language acquisition and cultural knowledge.  Students acquire language, “when they understand messages, when they understand what people tell them, and when they understand what they read.” (Stephen Krashen)  This comprehensible input works best with messages students want to hear.  In the 6th-8th grade at St. Agatha, we use short books like Billy y Las Botas and Brandon Brown dice la Verdad to engage students’ interests and desire to find out more.  Students are reading and writing in Spanish.  Middle school Spanish also focuses on the Spanish-speaking countries of the world with lessons related to Catholicism, history, food, the arts and current events.
 
Science
Science is broadly comprehensive and encompasses Earth, Life, and Physical Sciences over the course of the 3 year program.  All classes incorporate the Scientific method outline in lab work. A Science Fair is held each year, and students participate in the Regional Science Fair.
 
6^th grade topics include: Plate tectonics (Earth’s interior, sea-floor spreading, continental drift); Earthquakes; Volcanoes, Rocks and Minerals, Weather and Climate, Earth’s Changing Surface mapping, erosion and deposition, fossils, geologic time scale.
7^th grade topics include: Cell Structure, function, processes and energy, Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration, Mitosis and Meiosis, Genetics(patterns of inheritance, DNA, genetic disorders), Evolution, The body systems (Skeletal, Circulatory, Respiratory, Excretory, Nervous, Endorcrine and Immune)
8^th grade topics include: Motion and Forces (acceleration, friction, momentum, Newton’s 3 Laws of Motion, Forces in Fluids), Energy (forms of energy, energy conservation and transformation, thermal energy and heat transfer), Chemical Building Blocks(states of matter and change, atoms, periodic table of elements, radioactivity), Atomic bonds, Chemical reactions and interactions, Acids, Bases and Solutions, Carbon Chemistry.
All classes incorporate the Scientific method outline in lab work.
 
Music
Covers a varied curriculum consisting of Music Theory, The History of Music, Music
Appreciation, Genres of Music & Musical Composers
·          Two school wide performances each year: Christmas and Spring.
·          School Chorus which serves as leader of music at all school masses & special events.
·          Middle School Drama Club which presents a musical each spring. Past shows include: Alice in Wonderland Jr., Aladdin Jr., Annie Jr, The Little Mermaid Jr., Godspell Jr., Peter Pan Jr., The Music Man Jr., & Seussical Jr. (This year’s musical: Madagascar Jr. - April 2019)
·         St. Agatha School Band open to students in grades 3-8
 
Art
The Art Program services the entire student body. The range of the art experience encompasses water color drawings, ink drawings, sketching, 3-D imaging, crafts, self-portraits, recycling projects, and a plethora of new and exciting experiences. All experiences are grade level appropriate.