Grades 7 & 8

Religion:
The seventh grade students learn about the life of Jesus and his Jewish heritage, and the eighth grade curriculum focuses on Church history and traditions. Students regularly plan Masses and prayer services to enrich the prayer life of the school community. Students are asked to live their faith by participating in various service projects throughout the school year.

Language Arts/English:
Students are introduced to classic literature as an independent subject. They are exposed to various genres, such as short stories, poetry, novels, and drama. Our goal is to help students discover, appreciate, and analyze fine literature through the critical thinking process.

Seventh and eighth grade students will have a firm foundation in English grammar and rise to the challenge of the art of diagramming. Students are challenged to improve their writing and editing skills following a step-by-step process. Creative writing and thinking are encouraged through poetry writing and warm-up exercises. Many students have their works published in a national poetry anthology.

Mathematics:
Seventh and eighth grade math classes study a variety of topics, including integers, percents, geometry, graphing, trigonometry, and algebra. Algebra is the primary focus in our course of study, and logical, algebraic thinking is established and developed. Projects and manipulatives deepen understanding in various areas. Programs such as MATHCOUNTS, the Stock Market Game, and Challenge 24 enrich the curriculum.

Social Studies:
The curriculum focuses on teaching students the knowledge necessary to prepare them for life, as well as providing them with the skills needed to make sense out of the increasing volume of information in the world today. To help students become lifelong learners, our curriculum is designed to develop their abilities to question, read, analyze, interpret, and evaluate information and to be able to communicate this information in an appropriate manner. U.S. History/Pre-Civil War, is presented in 7th grade, while Post-Civil War and contemporary issues are covered in 8th grade.

Science:
Seventh grade science focuses on life science. Students learn about cells, cell processes, reproduction, heredity, and the human body systems. Eighth grade science deals with physical science. Topics include matter and its properties and changes, atoms and their structures and bonds, chemical reactions, and motion and forces. Through these subject areas students are well prepared for high school sciences. Seventh and eighth graders produce individual projects for possible presentation at the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science Competition.