8th Grade
In eighth grade, the students embrace their role as leaders of the school as they culminate their years at Holy Family and prepare for the transition to high school. They gain confidence in their academic abilities as they collaborate with other students in all subject areas. Instruction focuses on the four Cs essential for the success of 21st-century learners and future career readiness: communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity.
Religion:
The textbooks we use are Christ Our Life and Growing With God by Loyola Press, Our Catholic Identity Scripture Workbook, and Friendzy, a Scripture-based social-emotional learning program. The focus in religion class includes: becoming leaders and good role models, finding our moral compass, Catholic Social Teaching, the liturgical seasons, the Rosary, and the Stations of the Cross.
Spiritual Growth:
Students attend Mass weekly, as well as participate monthly in all-school Masses with their kindergarten buddies. They also attend a class retreat at Mater Dei High School. In addition, students have the opportunity to participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation twice a year and adoration once a month. Students present a Living Rosary in the fall, a Nativity play during Advent, and the Living Stations of the Cross during Holy Week to the school and church community.
Community Service:
Students perform 10 hours of community service during their eighth-grade year.
English:
Writing: Students follow the writing process as they think, organize, and articulate. Students produce quality creative work with an organized structure of sentences and paragraphs, along with incorporating the proper use of grammar. Students create formal essays of different genres, timed writings, and written responses to literature. In all writing assignments, students produce coherent writing with an awareness of purpose and audience. Grammar: Students develop a command of the conventions of English, learning to correctly define and identify all parts of speech and use correct grammar in all written and oral assignments.
Vocabulary: Students enrich their written and oral language as well as increase reading comprehension through the discovery of new words. Students learn the definition with the denotation and connotation of the word, along with parts of speech, synonyms, and antonyms.
Oral Communication: Students organize formal and informal presentations containing relevant information and valid reasoning. Students practice the skills necessary to become confident communicators.
Both in seventh and eighth grade, English students use Sadlier’s Vocabulary Workshop and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s Grammar Practice textbooks.
Math:
Our 8th-grade program encompasses all the skills necessary to prepare students for high school. We offer three different levels for learning, allowing us to meet each student at their level and provide a learning experience that supports at least a one year of growth: Algebra 1A Class ( First half of Algebra)- Book: Reveal Algebra 1 McGraw Hill, Algebra ( Full course of Algebra) Book: Reveal Algebra 1 McGraw Hill, Advanced 8th Grade: Introduction to High School Geometry- Glencoe Geometry McGraw Hill (First part of Geometry). Our students are well prepared for high school mathematics.
Science:
Physical science is the main topic for students in 8th grade. Students will hone their research and scientific skills through collaborative group work, hands-on lab activities and write-ups, scientific literacy, and independent research using the online Discovery Science platform.They will implement and familiarize themselves in the process of scientific method. The units of study include the periodic table, matter and energy, energy and waves, force and motion, electricity and magnetism, and they will be participating in the “National Algae Foundation” two week algae project.
Social Studies:
Students study the ideas, issues, and events related to the founding of our nation, the framing of the Constitution, the territorial expansion of the United States, and the emergence of major regional differences. They will learn about the challenges facing the new nation, with an emphasis on the causes, course, and consequences of the Civil War. Students use an online textbook, Discovery Education Social Studies Techbook. In addition to our study of the past, students practice historical thinking skills and learn to analyze and think critically about primary and secondary sources. They develop an appreciation and respect for all people and cultures through our study of the Holocaust, including a field trip to the Museum of Tolerance and participation in the Chapman Holocaust Art & Writing Contest. The eighth-grade social studies curriculum culminates with a class trip to Washington, D.C., and other sites on the East Coast.
Literature:
Our literature program follows California Common Core Standards. Students read the following literary works: The Diary of Anne Frank, The Outsiders, and a selection of works from the textbook, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s Into Literature. In addition, summer reading is required from an eighth-grade list, and Accelerated Reader points are required each trimester. The focus is on literary elements, figurative language, comparing and contrasting literary texts, and analysis of informational texts. Students also develop skills to effectively draw inferences from text and cite textual evidence.
Field Trips:
8th-grade class retreat at Mater Dei High School
Museum of Tolerance Nixon Library
Orange County Superior Courthouse
Special Events:
Jr High regional dances
Holiday activities with kindergarten buddies
Olympic Day Outsiders Day
East Coast trip to Washington, D.C. and NYC Disneyland Fun Day
Graduation Mass, dance, and awards ceremony
Graduation Ceremony
