Holy Redeemer

Middle School Language Arts
Literature courses for both 7th and 8th grades will follow the Academic Standards and Curriculum established by the Archdiocese of Washington Catholic Schools, which focuses on word recognition, fluency, vocabulary development, reading comprehension, and literary response and analysis.  Students will respond to literature using a variety of methods, including discussions, book reports, journal responses, artistic explorations, and technology-enhanced presentations. 

English/Grammar/Vocabulary courses for 8th grade will follow the Academic Standards and Curriculum established by the Archdiocese of Washington Catholic Schools, which focuses on writing clear, coherent, and focused essays.  Students will progress through the four stages of the writing process: drafting, proofreading, editing and revising.  8th grade students are expected to be able to format and produce a 750-1000 word essay demonstrating a command of Standard English conventions, an awareness of the audience (the reader) and the purpose for writing. 

Middle School Science
In middle school science, students will study a wide variety of topics ranging from cells to volcanoes to the universe.  Each grade is narrowed down into a specific discipline (Life Science, Earth Science, and Physical Science).  We heavily utilize technology and focus on student creations. Students have many opportunities to participate in fun and engaging activities, such as: edible cells, shoebox planetariums, growing plants, growing crystals, making a natural disaster video, creating pop-up books to share with the children in the lower school, making and testing “rocket launchers”, testing acids and bases, using microscopes, and much more.  Each middle school student participates in the Holy Redeemer Science Fair which takes place in the spring.  Students work on their own individual projects and then share them with others in the evening during the Science Fair.

Middle School Social Studies
In the 8th grade will discuss American History from the beginnings of our nation through the Civil War.  After that we will review how America started and the conflicts between Native Americans, and the many European countries who staked claims in North America.  Then we will analyze the different feelings and beliefs that caused a change in thought in the American colonies.  We will discuss the formation of our new nation and the many issues that it faced in its infancy.  Then we will analyze the problems that faced our nation before and throughout the Civil War.  We will conclude the year by learning how the United States handled the reconstruction period and healed the wounds of the Civil War.  In addition to studying American history and culture, we will also learn about geography and how humans interact with the land and how this affects history.  We will learn about early forms of the constitution and how our founding fathers shaped our country. 

Holy Redeemer Upper School Math Program

 The Upper School Math Program at Holy Redeemer utilizes the Saxon Math Series for all 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students. The program emphasizes the use of incremental instruction of basic math concepts with continual, daily practice.  Every assessment is cumulative and, thereby, reinforces and monitors progress on a regular basis.  Facts  practice, Warm-Ups, and Hands-On demonstrations are also incorporated into lessons.  There are adaptations to the program for special needs students on all math levels.

  6th Grade Math – Course 1
  7th Grade Math – Course 2
  8th Grade Math – Course 3

   *Numbers and Operations
   *Algebra & Algebra Topics
   *Geometry
   *Measurement
   *Data Analysis & Probability
   *Problem Solving

  Algebra 1

   *Algebra Foundations
   *Functions & Equations
   *Polynomials
   *Quadratic Equations
   *Radical Expressions & Functions
   *Systems of Equations & Inequalities

Middle School Religion

The eighth grade course of study will center on the foundation and structure of the Church, its nature and mission in the world, and their place in it.  We will begin with the early Church as outlined in the Acts of Apostles and proceed from their.  Key concepts through the year will include Church, Communion of Saints, mystery, sanctification, Ecumenical Councils, canon law, Pentecost, Liturgy, Liturgy of the Hours, ecumenism, Beatitudes, Works of Mercy, vocation, witness, Marks of the Church.  Doctor of the Church, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, interreligious dialogue, heresy, virtue, Protestant Reformation, indulgences, schism, deacon, martyr, Mendicant Order, infallibility, diocese, collegiality, vow, sacrament, sacrilege, precepts of the Church.  Confirmation preparation will be part of the structure of the class and will entail a review of Catholic truths and practices.  At the end of this year students will hopefully possess a firm grounding in their faith and understanding of the teachings of the Church commensurate to their age, and relative to other religious groups.