Middle School Grades

Middle School Grades

Grade 6

This is an exciting year of transition to the middle school years. No longer in a self-contained classroom with one main teacher, students begin changing classes with a different teacher for each subject. Early in the school year, they travel to Marin Headlands for a 3-day science camp. Students also get an incentive to remain check-free: free dress on Fridays! There is a class service project that all of the students vote on to decide which area of our community they want to help. Many new exciting experiences accompany the 6th grade year, preparing students academically, spiritually, physically, and socially, in order to be ready for high school.

Religion

The theme in religion class this year is how God's people are continually challenged, throughout history and today, to follow the teachings of Jesus as seen in Hebrew and Christian scriptures. Students will study and practice a variety of prayers, and research current events regarding our Catholic faith. Caring for the Parish Rosary Garden, preparing one of our monthly school Masses, and serving our community through a community service project are also ways we practice our faith.

Math

Students will master the concepts necessary for their success in Grade 7 Math or Grade 7 Math Accelerated Pacing. Instructional time is focused on the following areas: (1) connecting ratio and rate to whole number multiplication and division, and using concepts of ratio and rate to solve problems; (2) completing understanding of division of fractions and extending the notion of number to the system of rational numbers, which includes negative numbers; (3) writing, interpreting, and using expression and equations; and (4) developing understanding of critical thinking.

Accelerated Pacing: – Students will master the concepts necessary for their success in Grade 7 Math or Grade 7 Math Accelerated Pacing. Instructional time is focused on the same material as above.

Science

St. Rose School is aligned with the Diocese of Sacramento Content Standards which are based on the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Students will focus on three units of study throughout the course of the school year: Earth’s Place in the Universe; Earth’s Systems; and Earth and Human Activity.

Language Arts

The Language Arts program focuses on interpretation of literature, writing composition, language and grammar, and vocabulary development. Students are asked to read stories and literature, as well as more complex texts that provide facts and background knowledge. Students are challenged and asked questions that push them to refer back to what they’ve read. This stresses critical-thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills that will help them understand and enjoy complex works of literature. Students learn to use clear reasoning and evidence collection skills when responding to literary analysis questions. In addition, students apply the 6+1 Traits of Writing in order to demonstrate an increasing sophistication in all aspects of language use, from vocabulary and syntax to the development and organization of ideas. Utilizing cloud technology, students are able to collaborate, critique, and complete writing assignments at home and at school.

Social Studies

Ancient world history is the area of study in sixth grade Social Studies. Curriculum covers prehistoric humans, Middle Eastern civilizations, Egypt, India, Israel, Greece, and Rome. Geography themes are included throughout.

Parent Overview Common Core State Standards | Grade 6

Grade 7

Overnight field trips provide unique opportunities for learning and community building. Seventh grade students take a 4-day trip to Westminster Woods. The program is devoted to Character Development that focuses on team building initiatives.

Religion

Beginning in seventh grade, students enter into their faith formation by building more deeply their relationship with God, their family, their friends, their coaches, team members, and other adult mentors in their lives. Instruction centers on Jesus’ life, his teachings, and the sacraments he instituted. The students enter into Jesus’ call to each person to become his disciple and the ways in which his teachings, his sacraments, and his Church nourish people for discipleship. Students also delve into other supporting resources, such as the YouCat (Youth Catechism), New American Standard Bible, and internet sites such as the United State Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) and the www.vatican.va.

Seventh grade students also attend the parish Mass once during the week.

Math

Students will master the concepts necessary for their success in Grade 8 Math. Instructional time is focused on the following areas: (1) developing understanding of and applying proportional relationships; (2) developing understanding of operations with rational numbers and working with expression and linear equations; (3) solving problems involving scale drawings and informal geometric constructions, and working with two- and three- dimensional shapes to solve problems, involving area, surface area, and volume; and (4) drawing inferences about populations based on samples.

Accelerated Pacing students will master the concepts necessary for their success in Grade 8 Math or Algebra I. Instructional time is focused on the same material as above, and incorporates powers, roots, percents, linear functions, and probability.

Science

St. Rose School is aligned with the Diocese of Sacramento Content Standards which are based on the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Students will focus on four units of study throughout the course of the school year: From Molecules to Organisms; Ecosystems; Heredity; and Biological Evolution.

Language Arts

The Language Arts program focuses on interpretation of literature, writing composition, language and grammar, and vocabulary development. Students are asked to read stories and literature, as well as more complex texts that provide facts and background knowledge. Students are challenged and asked questions that push them to refer back to what they’ve read. This stresses critical-thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills that will help them understand and enjoy complex works of literature. Students learn to use clear reasoning and evidence collection skills when responding to literary analysis questions.In addition, students apply the 6+1 Traits of Writing in order to demonstrate an increasing sophistication in all aspects of language use, from vocabulary and syntax to the development and organization of ideas. Utilizing cloud technology, students are able to collaborate, critique, and complete writing assignments at home and at school.

Social Studies

Early world history is the area of study in seventh grade Social Studies. The culminating activity during the study of the Middle Ages is a Medieval Banquet. Geography themes are emphasized throughout.

Parent Overview Common Core State Standards | Grade 7

Grade 8

Eighth Grade students begin their final year at St. Rose School with a fall trip to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland. Students stay at Southern Oregon University for four days and enjoy theatre arts classes and theatre productions. Students benefit from a Health Education Lecture Program that is presented by a doctor twelve times throughout the year.

Religion

Eighth graders attend Liturgy and hold class prayer services on a weekly basis. Along with their Bibles and textbooks, students use the YOUCAT to further their understanding of the teachings of the Catholic Church. Many eighth graders receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in the springtime. Each student lives out their faith by performing twenty-five hours of service for their parish, community and family. The class attends a retreat at Christ the King Retreat Center in Citrus Heights.

Math

Students will master the concepts necessary for success in their high school-level Algebra I course. Instructional time is focused on the following areas: (1) formulating and reasoning about expressions and equations, including modeling and solving linear equation and systems of linear equations; (2) grasping the concept of a function and using functions to describe quantitative relationships; (3) analyzing two- and three-dimensional space and figures using distance, angle, similarity, and congruence, and understanding and applying Pythagorean Theorem.

Accelerated Pacing students will master the concepts necessary for success in their high school-level Algebra course or to challenge High School Algebra I. Instructional time is focused on the following areas: (1) deepen and extend understanding of linear and exponential relationships and contrast linear and exponential relationships with each other; (2) engage in methods for analyzing, solving, and using quadratic, radical, and rational functions; (3) extend the laws of exponents to square and cube roots; (4) apply linear models to data that exhibit a linear trend; and (5) analyze and interpret statistical models and solve permutations and combinations.

Science

St. Rose School is aligned with the Diocese of Sacramento Content Standards which are based on the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Students will focus on four units of study throughout the course of the school year: Matter and its Interactions; Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions; Energy; and Waves. As part of our unit on energy, students build a car powered by a 0.91kg mass.

Language Arts

The Language Arts program focuses on interpretation of literature, writing composition, language and grammar, and vocabulary development. Students are asked to read stories and literature, as well as more complex texts that provide facts and background knowledge. Students are challenged and asked questions that push them to refer back to what they’ve read. This stresses critical-thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills that will help them understand and enjoy complex works of literature. Students learn to use clear reasoning and evidence collection skills when responding to literary analysis questions.In addition, students apply the 6+1 Traits of Writing in order to demonstrate an increasing sophistication in all aspects of language use, from vocabulary and syntax to the development and organization of ideas.Utilizing cloud technology, students are able to collaborate, critique, and complete writing assignments at home and at school.

Social Studies

Eighth Graders study U.S. History that dates from the 1600’s until the late 1800’s. In addition, students utilize a current events news magazine several times a month. Technology is utilized extensively by producing Civil War movies, Google Slides, assignments on Google Classroom and usage of The Library of Congress primary sources.

Parent Overview Common Core State Standards | Grade 8
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