MIDDLE SCHOOL - GRADES 6-8
The middle school years, coming at the onset of adolescence, are when a rigorous yet formative environment is crucial. It is during the middle school years that the habits and skills acquired during previous grades come to fruition. Our environment presents each student with a variety of teachers grouped by subject with an approach that cultivates the skills needed for high school in an atmosphere that supports, teaches and demands individual responsibility. Woodmont middle school students switch classes throughout the day as they attend to their core subjects of math, language arts, science, religion, history and geography. Their schedule also includes “specials” a few times a week, which consists of physical education, Spanish, art and music. Middle school students also participate in a Fine Arts Enrichment Program, which allows them project-based experience with art and music.
It is the combination of our small class sizes, formative environment and our balanced and academically challenging curriculum that prepares well-rounded individuals for a demanding college-prep high school program.
Middle School Language Arts Program
The middle school language arts program covers a variety of skills including vocabulary, reading, writing, critical thinking, listening, and speaking skills.
The literature program is novel based. Each year students read five novels while focusing on the five major elements: plot, setting, theme, characterization, and point of view.
Examples of novels:
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Short stories by various authors are read and discussed in detail to reinforce specific concepts such as climax and surprise endings.
The writing program encourages the application of grammatical skills (proper punctuation and correct verb usage) into formal and informal essays. Narrative, expository, persuasive, and descriptive topics are covered. Students have portfolios which contain pieces of their writings.
Listening and speaking skills are crucial as well. Each year students are asked to memorize a specific poem and participate in the Poetry competition held at the school. Oral projects and are routine in the classrooms as well as teachers work to further encourage appropriate rate and tone of voice as well as posture and hand gestures.
Middle School Math Program
7th Grade, Pre- Algebra- Integers
- Rational Numbers
- Equations, Inequalities, Functions
- Apply Algebra to Geometry, Statistics, and Polynomials
8th Grade, Algebra 1
- Expressions, Equations
- Linear and Non-Linear Functions
- Polynomials
- Radical, Rational Functions
www.glencoe.com
6th grade: applications and concepts
2004 edition
7th grade: pre-algebra
2004 edition
8th grade: algebra 1
2005 edition
Middle School Religion Program
Sixth Grade – The focus of sixth grade religion class is the Life of Christ. We explore the teachings and miracles of Jesus. We also explore and discuss how students can model their lives after Christ.
Seventh Grade – The topics in seventh grade religion class fall into two categories. For the first half of the year we study salvation history. This includes how we know God, the gifts he has given us, and how he wants us to live our lives. The second half of the year we focus on the Sacraments. We discuss what they are and how they guide our lives.
Eighth Grade – Eighth grade focuses on the life of the Church both in history and in modern day. We look at the founding and authority of the Church. We also learn about the saints as guides for our life in the Church and see how the saints carry on the teachings and traditions of the Church. We finish out the year by looking at how we are called to live in the Church.
Middle School Science Curriculum
6th Grade
Book- Prentice Hall Science Explorer- Earth Science
Topics- Astronomy, Rocks and Minerals, Plate Tectonics, Volcanoes, Earthquakes, Weathering and Erosion, Energy Resources, Earth’s Waters, and Weather and Climate.
7th Grade
Books- Prentice Hall Science Explorer
Topics- Cells, Genetics, Evolution and the Church’s Teaching on It, Classification, Plants, Animals, Human Biology and Health
8th Grade
Books- Prentice Hall Science Explorer
Topics- Chemistry, Matter, Atoms, Chemical Reactions, The Periodic Table, Motion, Forces, Energy, Sound, Light, The Electromagnetic Spectrum, Electricity, and Magnetism
Science Fair
Middle school student participate in the Science Fair each spring. Over the course of about one month, students design and conduct a scientific investigation, then document their research methods, results, and analysis. Students create a visual summary and / or example of their project to display at the Science Fair. On the day of the science fair, each student presents their findings to three judges. The team of judges will determine a First, Second, and Third place for each class. Judges also award a First, Second, and Third place for the entire fair.
Middle School Study Skills Program
The benchmarks included here are a sampling of the topics that will be discussed throughout the year.The students will appreciate the importance of:
6th Grade:
- Organizational skills
- Time management skills
- Co-operation with others
- Rules and regulations
- Test-taking strategies
7th Grade:
Developing effective test-taking strategies
- Math skills
- Comprehension skills
- Grammar skills
8th Grade:
Being better prepared for the Catholic High School Entrance and Placement Tests.
- Test strategies
- Practice tests
| Religion & Lang. Arts Teacher (6A Homeroom) |
Miss Sara Hall | ext. 172 |
shall@woodmontacademy.org |
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| Spanish Teacher (6B Homeroom) |
Sr. Jorge Cajigas |
ext. 174 |
jcajigas@woodmontacademy.org |
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| Math Teacher 6B, 7A, 8A (7A Homeroom) |
Mrs. Deanna Pichini |
ext. 176 |
dpichini@woodmontacademy.org |
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| Math Teacher 6A, 7B, 8B |
Mrs. Tricia Crossett |
ext. 184 |
tcrossett@woodmontacademy.org |
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| History & Geography Teacher (7B Homeroom) |
Mr. Justin Lamison |
ext. 169 |
jlamison@woodmontacademy.org |
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| Language Arts Teacher (8A Homeroom) |
Mrs. Katie Torrey |
ext. 173 |
ktorrey@woodmontacademy.org |
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| Science Teacher (8B Homeroom) |
Mr. Mark Moran |
ext. 177 | mmoran@woodmontacademy.org |
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| Art Teacher | Miss Britta Williams | ext. 180 | bwilliams@woodmontacademy.org |
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| Library/Media Specialist |
Miss Julie Mazcko |
ext. 143 |
jmazcko@woodmontacademy.org |
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| Music Teacher |
Mrs. Christine Bisson | ext. 181 |
cbisson@woodmontacademy.org |
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| PE Teacher |
Mrs. Regina Smutz |
ext. 145 |
rsmutz@woodmontacademy.org |