Grade 6 through Grade 8:

The Core Curriculum

Overview
The middle school curriculum follows the Diocese of Raleigh standard course of study. Students deepen and extend knowledge and skills learned in earlier grades and they begin to specialize. Students change classes for different subjects. All disciplines emphasize research skills and critical thinking. At points throughout the program, students learn appropriate computer skills including the use of spreadsheets and databases. Field trips enhance the curriculum.

Religion
In grades 6-8, students focus on the texts and lessons of both the Old and New Testaments. They reflect to understand and act on their roles as Christians in the community. Religion instruction centers on living the Gospel.

Language Arts
The language arts program, with two periods each day, develops increasingly sophisticated reading, writing, and speaking skills. One class period focuses on writing and grammar.  The other period focuses on literature and vocabulary.  Both classes use a workshop approach to instill ins tudents an intrinsic desire to read and write well.  Seventh graders take the Diocesan Writing Test.


Social Studies
In middle school social studies, students develop knowledge and skills that provide a foundation for critically thinking about and understanding the world today. In grade 6, students explore history, cultures, and geography of Europe and Latin America. In grade 7, students study Africa and Asia. Particular attention is paid to the political, economic, and social structures of geographic regions. In grade 8, students investigate the history of North Carolina and its connections to U.S. history. In all grades, students develop the tools of active citizens: map reading and interpretation, critical thinking, and public issue problem solving.

Science
The aim of middle school science is to develop students' scientific thinking and problem solving through the study of the solar system, ecosystems, energy transfer, the atmosphere, cell theory, interactions of matter, the hydrosphere, genetics, population dynamics, change and constancy, and motion and forces. Students learn to prepare slides for microscopes, use microscopes, measure accurately and precisely, think critically about the impact of science on society, and design and conduct their own scientific investigations.

Mathematics
All middle school students take mathematics as a course that supports the differences in pace and development of concepts.  Course content is presented in a variety of formats that provide options for learning among students. In grade 6 students review and expand upon concepts using whole numbers, decimals, fractions, data representation and geometry.  Students learn and expand upon new concepts such as factoring, scientific notation, percents, metrics, probability, surface area, volume and ratio. In grade 7, students take Foundations of Pre-Algebra and Pre-Algebra.  The Foundations of Pre-Algebra course combines advanced 7th grade math concepts with fundamentals of Pre-Algebra.  The Pre-Algebra course reviews real number operations involving one and two step equations and inequalities. Students review factors, exponents, ratio and probability. They also learn percents, graphing linear functions. right triangles, perimeter, surface area, volume data analysis, angle relationships, square roots and transformations. In grade 8, students take Foundations of Algebra or Honors Algebra I.  The Foundations of Algebra course combines advanced Pre-Algebra with the fundamentals of Algebra I. The Honors Algebra I course focuses on the synthesis of information.  Students work with variables, inequalities, radicals, laws of exponents, algebraic functions and parabolic and circle functions.  The student is led to think in terms of applying their mathematical skills in solving work problems.  All Honors Algebra I students take the North Carolina end-of-course test for Algebra. 

Electives
Middle school students enjoy special courses two times a week that allow them to explore interests more deeply. In the past, electives have included community service, drama, chess, guitar, scrap booking, art club, math challenge, and public speaking. Students change electives periodically to gain exposure to a variety of activities.