Sixth Grade
ELA: The ELA program throughout junior high encompasses reading, writing, speaking, and listening components. Each year, students develop reading skills through novel studies of a variety of genres, augmented by shorter texts. Writing instruction aligns with the six traits of writing program. Vocabulary instruction focuses on the Vocabulary Workshop text series. Grammar study is integrated throughout the year. Students are assigned independent reading projects during the course of the school year, as well as summer reading assignments. Students participate in projects and presentations, honing their speaking and listening skills. Over the course of their years in junior high, students read increasingly complex texts, improving their analytical skills, as well as writing, speaking, and listening.
Religion: Our religion curriculum guides students through the Old and New Testaments. We explore the foundations of our faith through studying Bible passages as well as the teachings of Jesus. We learn about the structure and the history of the Catholic Church, as well as the significance of each religious season and holiday. Each week, we pray together and we celebrate our faith through weekly Mass participation.
Math: Students study ratios, rates, fractions, decimals, percents, computation, the number system, expressions, equations, functions, inequalities, graphing, area, surface area, volume, statistical measures and statistical displays.
Social Studies: Students focus on the development and eventual demise of several different ancient civilizations such as: Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, Greece, Rome and China. Cartography and geography skills are woven into the curriculum.
Science: Students study a variety of physical science, Earth science and life science topics throughout the year. Students also participate in our annual science fair.
Seventh grade
ELA: The ELA program throughout junior high encompasses reading, writing, speaking, and listening components. Each year, students develop reading skills through novel studies of a variety of genres, augmented by shorter texts. Writing instruction aligns with the six traits of writing program. Vocabulary instruction focuses on the Vocabulary Workshop text series. Grammar study is integrated throughout the year. Students are assigned independent reading projects during the course of the school year, as well as summer reading assignments. Students participate in projects and presentations, honing their speaking and listening skills. Over the course of their years in junior high, students read increasingly complex texts, improving their analytical skills, as well as writing, speaking, and listening.
Religion: The catechetical process of Alive in Christ mirrors the divine pedagogy-the gradual relational way God teaches us so that we can know him and his truth, be guided by the Holy Spirit to respond with faith and love, and accept the gift of new life in Christ. In this unique and effective pedagogy, each lesson encourages an ongoing relationship with God, beginning with God’s invitation through Sacred Scripture and leading students to reflect on his Word, deepen their understanding of our Sacred Tradition, and respond with a lived faith within the home and amongs friends, within the Church and in the community.
Math: Students mainly concentrate on pre-algebra skills. Negative numbers are introduced and computation of all real numbers is practiced before we start solving one and two-step equations/inequalities. Students are expected to graph linear equations using various methods including slope-intercept form. Students finish the year studying statistics, probability and geometry.
Social Studies: Students study the development of our nation, beginning with the thirteen colonies, through the Revolutionary War, ending with the Civil War. They also study the United States Constitution and Illinois State Constitution and take the state-mandated test on each.
Science: Students study a variety of physical science, Earth science and life science topics throughout the year. Students also participate in our annual science fair.
Eighth Grade
ELA: The ELA program throughout junior high encompasses reading, writing, speaking, and listening components. Each year, students develop reading skills through novel studies of a variety of genres, augmented by shorter texts. Writing instruction aligns with the six traits of writing program. Vocabulary instruction focuses on the Vocabulary Workshop text series. Grammar study is integrated throughout the year. Students are assigned independent reading projects during the course of the school year, as well as summer reading assignments. Students participate in projects and presentations, honing their speaking and listening skills. Over the course of their years in junior high, students read increasingly complex texts, improving their analytical skills, as well as writing, speaking, and listening.
Religion: Our curriculum centers around preparation to receive the sacrament of Confirmation. Students study their faith through the Chosen book used by all St. Raphael parish students preparing for Confirmation. Students also attend an overnight retreat in the fall to explore their faith and their relationship with God. Eighth graders are expected to complete twenty hours of service and participate in a class service project to practice putting their faith into action. The Religion curriculum is further augmented through multiple opportunities for Eucharistic adoration and Reconciliation, as well as participation in weekly mass.
Math: Students study algebra for the full year. Students solve multi-step equations, absolute value equations, quadratic equations, radical equations, exponential equations and graph all of these as well. Students also solve systems of equations/inequalities. Students end the year graphing, simplifying, multiplying, dividing, adding and subtracting rational functions. Students also learn how to use a TI 84 (83, 84+ as well) graphing calculator.
Social Studies: Students examine post-Civil War America, studying topics such as: the development of the West, immigration, the Progressive Era, the Great Depression and the various American Wars from the Spanish-American War to the Iraq War. The students also complete a study of the decades in America from the 1920s to the 1990s.
Science: Students study a variety of physical science, Earth science and life science topics throughout the year. Students also participate in our annual science fair.