Grade 8 Curriculum Overview
	Mission The mission of Holy Spirit Episcopal School is to provide a unique and outstanding high school preparatory education, which combines the best traditions of learning with relevant and contemporary programs that promote excellence in scholarship, richness of soul, godly character, and physical well-being.   Core Values   A heart stands for our loving, nurturing, joyful environment, which is essential to the healthy development of our students.   A sunburst represents our spirit of optimism and a commitment to diversity, which prepare our students for the larger world.   An open book symbolizes our strong, research-based academic programs, which combine traditional and experiential learning methods.   A leaf signifies enrichment and growth through offerings that allow each student to follow their unique path.   These elements are bound together by the symbol of the cross, in recognition of the strong core of faith-based character that we strive to build in every member of our school community.   Introduction  Eighth grade is the second year of preparation for the transition to high school. Students continue to do all of the same things they did in seventh grade: wear the same uniform, attend classes according to the middle school daily schedule, attend most classes on the second floor of the middle school building, take semester exams, run for an office on the Student Council, elect class representatives that attend all of the middle school Student Council meetings, attend middle school assemblies, attend middle school dances, and use locks on their lockers in the locker rooms as well as their upstairs lockers. However, eighth grade students are the only students allowed to run for the President’s office of the Student Council. The eighth grade teachers actively support students in the development of the self-discipline and study habits that will enable them to make a successful transition to high school.   Curriculum   The eighth grade integrated language arts program provides a comprehensive literature, writing, grammar, and vocabulary program that incorporates extensive student research and utilizes a variety of technology in producing presentations. The novels for the year focus on the 1700-1900’s in American History. Class discussions focus on plot analysis, character motivation, and literary technique, which enhance the students’ ability to distinguish factual, inferential, and experiential information. Grammar concepts and rules are studied and then applied to editing and proofreading. Diagramming is taught to provide students with a visual way of understanding word relationships within sentences. In vocabulary, Greek and Latin prefixes and roots are studied systematically. Thesauruses are utilized to study more precise connotations to specific vocabulary within the context of applying it to student writing. Descriptive, narrative, expository, and persuasive writing techniques and styles along with a variety of poetry forms are studied over the course of the year. Each student is required to “take to publication” at least one writing within each style. An annotated formal research paper utilizing multiple resources is required. Students also learn to write complete essays in a limited time in preparation for the ISEE and SAT exams required for high school admissions.     The middle school math program systematically distributes instruction, practice and assessment of related concepts and skills throughout the academic year as opposed to concentrating the instruction, practice and assessment of individual concepts and skills into a short period of time. This distributed approach produces significantly higher levels of student learning than in programs with a chapter-based approach. The frequent, cumulative assessments used in our math program evaluate both the acquisition and retention of content. This unique approach to math instruction ensures that students not only gain but also retain essential math knowledge and skills. Eighth grade mathematics includes Algebra and Advanced Algebra courses that concentrate on concepts related to graphs on the coordinate plane, the set of real and complex numbers, dimensional analysis, exponents and roots, statistics and probability, simplifying expressions, simplifying and solving equations (linear, quadratic, and other types), algebraic skills, and geometry. In addition to these, Advanced Algebra introduces trigonometry and logarithms. In both classes, students have opportunities to recognize and understand algebraic principles and their relevance to real life situations. The math curriculum includes refinement and extension of mathematical problem-solving strategies so that all students can use these with increasing confidence to investigate and understand mathematical and scientific content.     Physical science at the eighth grade level is a high school honors integrated physics and chemistry (IPC) course. Students spend a semester studying an introduction to each science discipline. Chemistry topics include the study of matter, its properties and identity, as well as how matter interacts. Physics topics include the study of electricity, magnetism, energy forms, simple machines, motion and forces.  Approximately 40% of the classes are labs based on the scientific concept being studied. Successful completion of IPC may earn one high school science credit.      Eighth grade students may participate in the HSES Science Fair in January. Those who participate develop a long-term investigation that is student selected and experimental (i.e., not a demonstration). Much of the project is done at home and with minimal, if any, parental assistance. Science projects are displayed for public viewing during Spotlight on Holy Spirit Night.     Eighth grade United States history focuses on the people and geography of the United States, emphasizing American economic and political institutions. Students study the rich saga of the development of the United States as a nation after the Civil War. Through this course, students come to understand the changes produced by new technology and urban growth as well as the ramifications of the emergence of the United States as a world power.     The eighth grade ECO-link trip is a five-day experience in the Chicago area. This trip is the final ECO-link experience for HSES students and draws upon all the skills and understandings developed throughout previous ECO-link trips, as well as their science and history classes, providing a culminating experience. Some of the most exciting activities include a boat tour of the canal, architecture, and Lake Michigan; an African American history tour; visiting the Pullman Museum and the Museum of Science and Industry; and a physics day at Six Flags. Throughout this May trip, students gain memories they never forget.     Spanish is considered a core subject and is taught through an experiential approach that includes interactive conversations, skits, videos, technology, and written activities. Since a familiarity with Spanish-speaking countries enhances the motivation for learning the language and provides a global perspective, Holy Spirit has carefully developed a sister-school relationship with St. Michael Archangel School in San Jose, Costa Rica. Our students have contact with the Costa Rican children through the sharing of class projects and an annual student exchange program in grades five through eight.     The health and fitness program provides an opportunity for students to acquire lifetime skills, knowledge, and positive attitudes toward their health and physical well-being. Individual physical conditioning, coordination and fitness, team sports, and health education are integral parts of our program.     Elective classes consist of a variety of choices which may include (but are not limited to) speech, debate, art, graphic design and visual arts, performing arts, techno-theater, and web design. All middle school students have the opportunity to participate in the middle school play that is presented in April. Our goal is to provide a wide range of experiences that may spark an interest in students that they may choose to explore in more depth in high school.     Technology is integrated throughout the entire eighth grade program. Students use Microsoft Word™ and Power Point™ to generate reports, tables, presentations, and other written or visual products. They also use Microsoft Access™ to develop data bases and Excel™ to construct data tables and various types of graphs. Eighth graders use the Internet as one of several sources to collect information for research and other class activities, as well as a means for taking “virtual field trips” and participating in simulations and hands-on activities related to units of study in the classroom. Students also may elect to take one or more technology elective courses.     All middle school students have an advisory period at the beginning of the day, which includes chapel on most Tuesdays and Thursdays. The purpose of an advisory period is to further develop students’ social, emotional, and spiritual growth. Students study a multitude of desirable attributes and how they can develop these within themselves. The specific attributes are rotated through a three-year cycle. This year students will focus on the virtues of: Self-discipline—Self-control, self-restraint, self-reliance, independence Choices and Accountability—Making decisions, accepting consequences, being responsible for your choices Empathy—Understanding, compassion, charity, sensitivity, concern Honesty—Truthfulness, sincerity, honor, fairness, trustworthiness, being genuine Leadership—Setting a good example, leading others, being a good follower Courage—Bravery, boldness, daring, confidence, resolve Conservation—Preservation, thriftiness, moderation Homework Homework assignments are an integral part of the eighth grader’s education. Its purpose is to provide reinforcement and extension of understandings and skills introduced in class. On average, students should plan to spend 80 to 120 minutes per day during the school week to complete homework, work on extended assignments (independent reading, essays, research projects, extensive readings), and study for exams. Students are expected to spend a minimum of ten minutes per subject every night reviewing the material presented in class. They need to plan their time judiciously to complete extended assignments. Even though homework is listed on our website (www.hses.org), students are expected to keep their school-issued planners up-to-date with daily assignments, tests, quizzes, and future projects. Blackout dates are listed on the school calendar when no homework is to be assigned.   Athletics  Holy Spirit believes that athletics are an important part of the student’s physical, mental, and spiritual education. Even though striving to be the best we can be and winning are desirable parts of any athletic program, the development of the athletes’ skills, sportsmanship, and leadership qualities are also major objectives. We strive for our athletes to enjoy the athletic experience with the hope that the continued involvement in athletics and fitness will be a lifelong pursuit for each of them.   Holy Spirit Episcopal School offers competition in coed soccer and girls’ volleyball in the fall, boys’ and girls’ basketball in the winter, and boys’ baseball, girls’ softball, and coed track in the spring. The sports of soccer, volleyball, and basketball have junior varsity and varsity teams. Baseball, track, and softball only have varsity teams.   Conclusion  Eighth grade is a busy and exciting year at Holy Spirit Episcopal School. Through a challenging curriculum, children move into increasingly more complex disciplines. As opportunities for extra-curricular activities increase in and outside of school (such as competitive athletics, dance, music, etc.), students must learn how to make choices in order to maintain a balanced life. Students are given more responsibilities at school that require the development of self-discipline. In addition, eighth graders are taught how to prepare for and successfully take semester exams as part of their preparation for high school. The middle school faculty and administration, together with the students’ parents, work as a team to help each student reach his or her academic, physical, emotional, and spiritual potential and strive to make this final year at Holy Spirit Episcopal School both memorable and cherished.