Departmental

Religion
Religion is the basis of our school. We not only study our faith, we try to live it. Religion class meets four times a week, with Mass constituting the fifth class period. Seventh graders study Church History. Beginning with the apostolic age and the age of persecution, students will be introduced to the accomplishments of men and women of faith throughout the centuries. The successes and difficulties that the church has faced, both within and without, will be studied, but always with a view to help young Catholics of today face the challenges of their own time. As Catholics, we stand on the shoulders of giants. In helping others to know the story of this great Church community, we are preparing leaders for the new millennium. We make frequent use of the Bible in the seventh grade curriculum. Our homeroom will plan several liturgies during the year. Each student will have the opportunity to participate in a meaningful role. Tests and quizzes will compromise most of the grades in Religion class.

Math
All students will be proficient in numbers and operations, algebraic thinking, geometry, probability, and problem solving. Grades will come from homework, quizzes and tests.

Social Studies
Social studies for grades 7 and 8 meets daily. Seventh graders study the Eastern Hemisphere, eighth graders study American History to1877.

Language Arts
This class is broken up into two classes: Grammar and Literature. All of the Grammar activities are found in the Writer’s Choice workbook. We use this workbook Monday through Thursday. After each unit is complete students are tested on what they learned. The Literature text is also used Monday through Thursday. We read a short story weekly along with studying different aspects of literature as well as expanding our vocabulary. Every Thursday the students are quizzed over the short story and the vocabulary used in the story. On Fridays we have a novel study. This year we are studying Holes and Freak the Mighty. The novel study includes reading the novel in sections (as a class) and studying vocabulary and phonetic spellings. Every two weeks the students take a quiz over the section studied the week before. Quizzes include comprehension questions along with vocabulary and phonetic spellings.

Accelerated Reader (AR) points are required for all 7th graders. First and second quarters students are required to read three AR’s and Third and Fourth quarters students are required to read four AR’s. AR quizzes count as part of their Language Arts grade.


Science

Earth Science (1st Semester)
Group 1
Matter and Its Changes
Minerals
Rocks
Earthquakes
Volcanoes

Group 2
Plate Tectonics
Clues to Earth's Past
Geologic Time

Group 3
The Solar System
Stars and Galaxies

Group 4
Our Impact on Land
Our Impact on Air and Water

Physical Science (Semester 2)
Group 1
Exploring Motion and Forces
Acceleration and Momentum

Group 2
Energy
Using Thermal Energy
Machines - Making work Easier

Group 3
Electricity
Magnetism and Its Uses
Electronics and Computers

Group 4
Waves and Sound
Light
Mirrors and Lenses