Program Highlights for each grade level:

Sixth Grade

• Study of the Old Testament and The Leaders of the Old Testament
• Their role in Church History
• How their actions affect us today
• C.A.R.E.S. Program
• Breakthrough Children’s Bible

ENRICHMENT

• Bible Game Show
• Mock-Trials
• Performing Skits (developing public speaking
• skills)
• Role-Playing

Seventh Grade

• Study of the Life of Jesus and The New Testament
• Seven Sacraments
• The Lives of the Saint
• Morality and Chastity
• Catechism of the Catholic Church
• Profession of Faith
• Celebration of the Christian Mystery – How Catholics
• Worship
• Life In Christ
• Christian Prayer

ENRICHMENT

• Role-Playing
• Mock-Trials
• Journal Writing
• Meditations
• Special Projects

Eighth Grade

• Study of The History of the Church
• The Faith of the Catholic Church
• The Growth of Christendom
• Reason Rebellion and Reform
• Returning to the Roots of Christianity

ENRICHMENT

• Socratic Circles
• 8th grade Retreat
• Community Outreach
• Service Hours

Religion

Non-Catholic students also participate in Religion classes at Saint Bridget School and are called upon to share their beliefs and insights in an effort to make students aware of the many religions of the world and foster tolerance of and respect for people of all backgrounds.

English/Language Arts

The middle school English Language Arts and Literacy curriculum is a progressive course of study in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and effective use of language in accordance with the Massachusetts edition to the Common Core State Standards.  Developing and reinforcing these skills is essential for academic achievement in a variety of content areas and future career success. Through critical reading of high-quality literary and informational texts, students will build knowledge, enlarge their personal experience, and expand their view of the world and their place in it.

ENRICHMENT

• Dramatic readings and performance
• Collaborative technology-based projects
• Editorials:  Making Our Voices Heard
• Cross-curricular connections, including the Arts and Humanities
• Analytic Journaling
• Literary Critique

Mathematics

The middle school math curriculum follows the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) outlined below.

Like the elementary level, middle school teachers are also expected to ensure each student meets grade level benchmarks and that each  is challenged to meet his or her highest potential. Math classes are grouped in levels. Students may switch level during the year when teachers see fit.

Middle School math is divided into two levels in 6th and 7th grade, and  offers Pre-Algebra and Algebra 1 in 8th grade.

Mathematical practices and skills include:

• Making sense of problems and the perseverance to solve them.
• Reasoning abstractly and quantitatively.
• Constructing viable arguments and critiquing the reasoning of others.
• Modeling with mathematics.
• Using appropriate tools strategically.
• Attending to precision.
• Looking for and making use of structure.
• Looking for and expressing regularity in repeated reasoning.

Grade 6 competencies include:

• connecting ratio and rate to whole number multiplication and division and using concepts of ratio and rate to solve problems
• completing understanding of division of fractions and extending the notion of number to the system of rational numbers, which includes negative numbers
• writing, interpreting, and using expressions and equations
• developing understanding of statistical thinking

Grade 7 competencies include:

• developing understanding of and applying proportional relationships
• developing understanding of operations with rational numbers and working with expressions and linear equations
• solving problems involving scale drawings and informal geometric constructions, and working with two- and three-dimensional shapes to solve problems involving area, surface area, and volume
• drawing inferences about populations based on samples

Grade 8 Pre-Algebra competencies include:

• formulating and reasoning about expressions and equations, including modeling an association in bivariate data with a linear equation, and solving linear equations and systems of linear equations
• grasping the concept of a function and using functions to describe quantitative relationships
• analyzing two- and three-dimensional space and figures using distance, angle, similarity, and congruence, and the understanding and application of the Pythagorean Theorem

Grade 8 Algebra 1 is a high school course taught in the middle school for college and career readiness.  The five critical areas of instruction include:

• Relationships between quantities
• Linear relationships
• Exponential and Quadratic Relationships
• Advanced Functions and Equations
• Data Analysis

At the end of 8th grade, Algebra 1 students will be ready to enter Geometry and/or Algebra 2 in 9th grade while Pre-Algebra students are prepared to enter Algebra 1 in 9th grade.

Social Studies

The Social Studies Middle School curriculum at Saint Bridget School correlates to the National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies and the National Geography Standards.  Through the study of ancient world cultures, world geography, and American history, the program develops concepts and skills in history, government, economics, geography, culture and sociology, as well as technology and progress.  The goal of this course of study is the development of educated and responsible citizens.

ENRICHMENT

• Current Events: Local, National, International
• Primary Source Analysis
• Collaborative Technology-Based Projects
• Integration of the Arts and Humanities
• Cross-Curricular connections
• Engineering-Design Projects
• Dramatic readings and performance
• Civil War Newspaper:  North and South Editions
• Oregon Trail Mural
• 3D Maps
• Dynasties of Ancient China Dragon Timeline

Science

The Science program at Saint Bridget School is designed to encourage hands-on and interactive learning.  The students will become proficient in identifying and solving problems through observation, hypothesizing, hands-on experimentation, investigation and interpretation of results.  Saint Bridget School uses a Massachusetts Interactive Science curriculum where students will get a survey of Physical Science, Life Science, Earth Science, and Technology/Engineering.

Each year’s curriculum builds upon the previous years and covers the following topics:

Physical Science:

• Motion and Force
• Work and Machines
• Energy Transformation
• Thermal Energy and Heat
• Chemistry
• Elements and the Periodic Table

Life Science

• Cells and Heredity
• Systems of the Human Body
• Microscopic Life to Mammals
• Plant Life

Earth Science:

• Soil and Minerals
• Rock Formations
• Geologic History
• Weathering
• Oceans and Waterway

Technology/Engineering:

• Material, Tools, and Manufacturing
• Engineering Design
• Technological Systems

ENRICHMENT

• Hands-On Lab Experiments
• Oral Presentations
• Science Journals
• In-School Enrichment Programs

Spanish

Our Spanish program follows the standards of the five “C’s” set out by the National Standards for Foreign Language Education and adheres to the Massachusetts version of Common Core guidelines.

• Communication: Reading, Conversing, Presenting, and Listening
• Cultures: Studying the practices and products of other cultures
• Comparisons: Understanding relationships between individual languages, culture and viewpoints.
• Connections: Appreciating the link between Foreign Language study and other subject areas.
• Communities: Encouraging use of the language at home and in their communities

Our program helps students expand their view of the world while encouraging a critical reflection on the relationships between language, culture, and thought.  Emphasis is placed on developing a respect for other peoples through cultural awareness and literacy.

ENRICHMENT

• Field Trip to Museum to view Spanish Art and Culture and lunch at a Spanish restaurant using student’s language skills to order and converse totally in Spanish.
• Foreign Language Dinner
• Use of Technology (SMARTBOARDS, Netbooks computers, etc.) to enhance classroom curriculum