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Eighth Grade

 

Our seventh- and eighth-grade classes make up our junior high program. Situated in their own upstairs wing, the junior high students utilize lockers and rotate between each of their classes. Students are based in a homeroom class and rotate between classes together as a homeroom with the exception of math and language arts, for which they are ability grouped. Students learn from the teaching styles of multiple teachers and enjoy meeting peers from other classrooms in the rotation periods and bond with their classmates during homeroom time.

 

In addition to rigorous academics and community service learning, eighth-grade students prepare to become community and global leaders. As students depart St. Louise School at the end of their eighth-grade year, they are faith-filled individuals who have a strong set of academic, social, and emotional skills which promote success in high school.

 

Religion

Teacher:    Mrs. Herridge and Mrs. Aitken

Focus:        Church history, the background of our beliefs, examination of doctrine, moral teachings, prayers and precepts of the Church, scripture, contemporary Christian problems, liturgy, prayer, and service. Every eighth-grade student serves in a ministry position for school liturgies: Altar Server Captain, Audio Visual Aid, Eucharistic Minister, Minister of the Word, Music Minister, Sacristan, or Usher.

Text:           Sadlier, We Live Our Faith: Disciples – Catholic Identity Parish Edition

 

Language Arts

Teacher:    Mr. Alex Gallant

Focus:        Development of literary skills through reading various genres: poetry, short stories, tales, novels, biography, drama, nonfiction. Development of writing as a process through narrative, expository, and persuasive writing as well as completing a major research paper. Development of speaking skills through Shakespeare recitations and research paper presentations. Development of grammar skills, including: parts of speech, agreement, verb usage, pronoun usage, modifiers, phrases, clauses, sentences, complements, kinds of sentences, writing effective sentences, capital letters, punctuation, and spelling. Development of vocabulary through: Greek and Latin roots, prefixes, and suffixes.

Text:           Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Elements of Literature/Second Course

Novels:       To Kill A Mockingbird, The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Taming of the Shrew

 

Math

Students are grouped by ability into standard or accelerated math groups to best meet their needs, helping them to grow in skills and confidence.  Both groups cover the same curriculum and content. The accelerated group works at a faster pace and goes into more depth in problem solving.  Students are separated into groups based on math grades, testing, and their ability to stay organized and turn assignments in on time.

Teachers:   Mr. Ostrander (Accelerated Math)

                    Mrs. Williams (Standard Math)

Focus:        Expressions, equations and functions: solving linear equations including multi-step equations and ratios and proportions, graphing and writing linear equations and functions, solving and graphing linear inequalities and systems of equations and inequalities. Applying properties of exponents with products and quotients, writing and graphing exponential growth and decay functions. Polynomial operations and factoring polynomials, solving quadratic equations and functions, data analysis, and probability.

Text:           Holt, Larson Algebra 1 , Holt, Algebra 1

 

Social Studies

Teacher:    Mr. Ostrander

Focus:        American democracy in action, the Reconstruction Period, Closing of the Western Frontier, Industrial Revolution, Progressive Reform, America’s Rise to World Power, and Washington State Civics and Government, current events section inclusive.

Text:           Holt, Call to Freedom: 1865 to Present.

 

Science

Teacher:    Dr. Karen Cole

Focus:        Brief study of cells, tissues and organs, diffusion and osmosis, dormant and recessive traits, genes, meiosis, DNA and genetics, evolution, Darwin and species, the human body systems, diseases, vaccines, nutrition, drugs and alcohol, experiments, and labs on the digestive, respiratory, circulatory, musculoskeletal systems, and frog dissection.

Text:           Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, Cells, Heredity, The Human Body and Health

                    Science and Technology for Children (STC) Kit: Human Body Systems

 

Spanish A

Teacher:    Mrs. Sharilyn Lux

Focus:        Basic understanding of the grammatical structure of the language and how to form sentences, both written and spoken.  Students will build a foundation of verbs and learn to conjugate them, as well as establish a vocabulary base.

Text:           Prentice Hall, Realidades A

 

Additional Subjects

Weekly specialist classes in the subjects of art and physical education.

 

Electives

Combinations of seventh- and eighth-grade students meet once a week. Students look forward to choosing from a variety of elective options, which change every trimester and may include: study skills, contemporary world issues, Junior Achievement economics, fitness, leadership/service, musical theater, digital photography, first aid & CPR, printmaking, and video broadcast journalism.

 

Service Projects

The eighth graders' class service theme is based on the corporal work of mercy "Feed the Hungry". Our eighth graders assist with the local community meal program at Salvation Army. The students and their families prepare a meal each month and then go to the Crossroads location to serve dinner to the less fortunate in our area. Additional food and supplies are donated to help support families in need. In addition to the meal program, eighth graders help raise awareness about the St. Vincent de Paul Society. The eighth-grade classes also work together with the entire school on two school-wide annual service projects;

  • The November Thanksgiving Basket collection teaches the importance of stewardship and giving to others. With the leadership of the 6th graders, the entire student body creates about two dozen complete, traditional Thanksgiving meal baskets. Together with the Parish and St. Vincent de Paul, the baskets are delivered to needy families in the community. 
  • Throughout February and March, each homeroom teacher promotes "Operation Rice Bowl," teaching the importance of fasting and alms-giving during the Lenten season; students donate to Catholic Relief Services, helping the less fortunate in our community and worldwide. This 40-day season of giving begins on Ash Wednesday with a school-wide “Soup Lunch,” when all the students and staff give up their usual lunch that first day of Lent for a simple cup of soup, and the money they would have spent on an ample meal is donated to Operation Rice Bowl.
 

Field Trips/Special Projects

Eighth graders participate in several field trips and activities over the course of the year.

 

Field trips that take place every year are:

  • Fall: Washington State Fair in Puyallup
  • Spring: State Capital in Olympia
Tentative field trips that take place when the opportunity arises:
  • Theatrical production
  • James Cathedral/Chapel of St. Ignatius
Summer travel (optional and attended by some):
  • East Coast Trip to Washington, D.C. and New York City (odd years)
  • International Trip (even years: destination varies but has included: Italy, Costa Rica, France, England, Ireland, Switzerland)

  

As a celebration of their accomplishments, there are several activities planned for graduating eighth graders and their parents:

  • BBQ Picnic at Vasa Park on Lake Sammamish
  • Faculty vs. 8th graders volleyball game
  • Graduation Mass and Commencement
  • Morning and Evening receptions
  • Graduation Dance