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 into high school.  They gain confidence in their academic abilities as they collaborate with one another in all subject areas.  This development of critical thinking skills empowers them to succeed.  

Religion:
The textbooks we use are RCI Benzinger, Family Life and Sadler, We Live Our Faith Volume II.   The focus in religion class includes: becoming leaders and good role models, finding our moral compass, the Ten Commandments, church history, the Rosary and the Stations of the Cross.  Each week our Pastor teaches a lesson the students. 

Spiritual Growth:
Students attend mass weekly, as well as participate monthly in the all-school mass with their kindergarten buddies.  They also attend a retreat at the Sacred Heart Center.  In addition, students will have the opportunity to participate in the sacrament of reconciliation twice a year.  Student present a Living Rosary in the fall and the Living Stations of the Cross on Good Friday to the school and the church community. 

Community Service:
Students perform 5 hours of community service during 7^th and 8^th grade years.

English:
Writing: Students following 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, time 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 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 and any 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 of the following textbooks are published by Sadlier and are used in 7-8 grade English:
Grammar for Writing; Vocabulary Workshop

Math:
Our program follows the Common Core Standards for Math.  Pre-Algebra, Algebra IA, Algebra I and Algebra II are taught in this grade.  McDougal Littell Algebra I Common Core textbook, Accelerated Math and the Simple Solutions Program are used in the classroom. 

Science:
Physical Science is the main topic studied.  Lessons incorporate hands-on experiences as well as reading and discussing.  Each student participates in our annual Science Convention where students teach science concepts through interactive and creative booths.  We are currently transitioning from the California State Standards to the Next Generation Science Standards.  

Social Studies:
Students  study the idea, issues, and events from the framing of the Constitution through the Civil War/Reconstruction era.  Students trace the development of American politics, society culture and economy, and relate them to the emergence of major regional differences.  They learn about the challenges facing the new nation, with an emphasis on the causes, course, and consequences of the Civil War.  Finally, students will make connections between the rise of industrialization and contemporary social and economic conditions.

Literature:
Our literature program follows the Common Core Standards.  In addition, summer reading is required from an 8^th grade list and Accelerated Reading points are required with specific genres throughout each trimester.  The focus is on literary elements, figurative language, comparing and contrasting between different literary texts, nonfiction and historical fiction genres, developing the skill of drawing inferences from text, and citing evidence from text.  Books and novels include:  The Outsiders, Walk Two Moons, and the textbook, California Edition Prentice Hall Literature.

Field Trips:
Retreat to Sacred Heart
Tri Theater Play
Museum of Tolerance
Court House/Mock Trial

Special Events:
Jr High Dances
Holiday Activities with Kindergarten buddies
Geography Bee
Olympic Day
Graduation Dance, Mass, Awards Breakfast, Picnic
Graduation Ceremony