Middle School (6-8)

List of 9 items.

• English

  Vision/Mission Statement: The Middle School English program is rooted in Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop’s pedagogy of literature: that books serve as “mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors.” Through the use of a multicultural literary curriculum that decentralizes the white experience, the program focuses on the development of reading, writing, and language skills, and emphasizes critical thinking and analysis.

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• Mathematics

  Vision/Mission Statement:

  The Sacred Heart Math program strives to prepare middle school students to be expert problem-solvers with a strong foundation in fundamental mathematical concepts. Our lessons encourage perseverance and critical thinking through a mix of collaborative work, classroom discussions, and individual practice. We seek to create an environment where students push themselves beyond mastery of skills to use multiple strategies in order to communicate and apply concepts to novel situations.

   

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• Science

  Vision/Mission Statement: The Sacred Heart Science program nurtures a deep understanding of science by engaging in content, developing practices, and reinforcing the crosscutting themes relevant to all scientific disciplines. Using a student’s natural curiosity about the world as the foundation of learning, concepts in Earth, Life and Physical Science are explored. At all grade levels, students solve problems, collaborate with each other, and communicate their ideas to improve their critical thinking skills.  Our hope is that students will confidently apply their knowledge and skills to new scientific investigations.

   

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• History

  Vision/Mission Statement: The Middle School History Department is dedicated to enriching students’ understanding of their world through the study of peoples and cultures who came before. The curriculum is grounded in:

  • Historical thinking and analysis
  • Critical writing and research
  • Real-world application
  • Global citizenship

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• Religion

  Vision/Mission Statement: During their middle school years, students will progress through spiritually and academically challenging coursework in the Religious Studies Department that will result in a foundational understanding of the Old Testament, New Testament, and the Person of Jesus. We use a Catholic framework that incorporates the RSCJ charism while developing a deep understanding and respect for other faith traditions. We incorporate experiential service opportunities in and outside the classroom that encourage a lived faith experience.

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• World Languages

  Vision/Mission Statement: The Middle School World Language Department offers French, Latin, and Spanish classes which focus on the “five C’s” of language learning: Communication, Cultures, Comparisons, Communities, and Connections.

   

  Through a variety of engaging, meaningful, and fun classroom activities, assignments, and real-life projects, students have ample opportunities to develop each of these areas while also practicing each of the three modes of communication: interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational.

   

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• Fine Arts

  Vision/Mission Statement: Sacred Heart’s Middle School Fine Arts program includes Drama, Chorus, String Orchestra, Band, and Visual Arts. The Fine Arts program strives to enhance creativity, improve self-esteem, develop collaborative work habits and give students a foundation in Arts appreciation. Students hone their technical skills while cultivating critical thinking and creative expression.

   

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• Physical Education

  Vision/Mission Statement: Development of the whole child is at the core of the values of a Sacred Heart education. Athletics at SHS are an integral part of the daily life of the school and are designed to complement the work that takes place in the classroom. The Physical Education program is designed to develop skills, encourage personal responsibility and increase confidence in physical abilities while fostering social and emotional development through teamwork, commitment, and fun. It is imperative that students, parents, and faculty work together to encourage positive attitudes and conduct necessary to make the athletic program a rewarding one for the student-athlete.

  
  Unit/Sport Descriptions:
  

  • Track/Cross Country - Students will review basic skills of dynamic stretching, static stretching, sprint technique and distance technique. They will work to identify strategies to improve individual times, why arm swing is important in sprints, exercises to improve distance runs, demonstrate proper technique when performing dynamic stretching, sprints and distance runs. Additionally, students will come to understand the importance of pacing, how to pace using the clock as well as how interval training improves the overall level of aerobic fitness, the importance of warming up, cooling down and stretching as it relates to injury prevention and fitness
  • Lacrosse: Students will review the basic skills of lacrosse: throwing, catching, grip, ground balls, and shooting. All students will be instructed and learn concepts of playing offense and defense in a game like situation They will work to identify strategies and field positioning during drills and games. Additionally, students will come to understand the vocabulary as it relates to the game of lacrosse, basic strategies of offense and defense and how to transition from drill to drill in a timely manner.
  • Swimming: Students will review diving, freestyle, breaststroke, and backstroke. All students will be instructed on how to execute a headfirst dive without landing on their stomach first. Furthermore, students will develop an understanding of both upwards and downward kick propulsion. They will work to identify and implement proper kick technique for each stroke.
  • Soccer: Students will review basic dribbling, passing, and shooting. All students will be instructed on how to execute long passing and weak footed skills and how to identify when the athlete or their teammates are offsides. Furthermore, students will develop an understanding of basic offense and defense zones and positions. Additionally, students will be asked to demonstrate the ability to work cooperatively and with support for teammates.
  • Life Fitness: Students will review exercises that promote the development of the four fundamentals of fitness: muscular strength, muscular endurance, aerobic endurance, and flexibility. They will work to identify activities and games that are played throughout life such as circuit training, boot camp, kickboxing, yoga racquet sports, ultimate frisbee. Students will work to demonstrate the ability to perform circuit training using HITT method, proper technique in fitness activities such as yoga, core strength exercises and while using free weights and TRX. Additionally, students will come to understand how interval training (HITT) improves physical fitness, exercise affects mood and energy level, how to participate in a variety of activities while working cooperatively with peers.
  • Basketball: Students will review basic dribbling, passing, and shooting technique. They will work to identify proper situations to do a layup versus a jump shot and implement proper BEEF technique for shooting outside. Additionally, students will come to understand different zones of the court and the meaning of lines on the court. Finally, students will be asked to demonstrate the ability to play on a team and understand the importance of skill development and mastery.
  • Water Polo: Students will review head-up swimming and water-related skills. They will work to identify proper technique for dribbling with the ball between elbows and implement proper throwing and catching skills with one hand only. Additionally, students will come to understand different concepts and verbiage like weak or down the line. Finally, students will be asked to demonstrate sportsmanship and teamwork by helping teammates and remaining positive.
  • Volleyball: Students will review base body position, forearm passing, serving technique. They will work to identify proper setting form and technique and implement a basic 4/2 offense. Additionally, students will develop an understanding of positions, communication, and spatial awareness on the court. Finally, students will be asked to demonstrate sportsmanship and cooperative participation skills.
  • Racquet Sports: Students will review basic skills of racquet sports: forehand, backhand, volley and serve. They will work to identify strategies and court positioning for playing singles and doubles, the lines on the court which includes the baseline, service box, and allies. Additionally, students will come to understand tennis court etiquette when playing a match, as well as how to support a teammate, how to position for a return of serve and serve in both singles and doubles play. Finally, students will be asked to demonstrate the ability to keep score in a game and in a set, proper grip to create topspin on groundstrokes, technique, and form of the serve
  • Flag Football: Students will learn the rules of a game of football, such as the number of plays per quarter, extra points, kick-off and kick receive first downs. They will work to identify strategies to perform the proper technique of flag pulling, snapping, blocking, running, throwing and catching. Additionally, students will be asked to communicate and execute the roles and responsibilities of all defensive and offensive positions. Finally, students will be asked to demonstrate sportsmanship and cooperative participation skills.
  • Baseball: Students will learn basic skills such as fielding ground balls, catching fly balls, throwing and pitching, batting, and the fundamental concepts of offense and defense. Safety comes first on the field and students are taught proper warm-up techniques and proper base running styles. Team concepts are stressed on defense. Offense is focused on hitting and baserunning.

• Electives

  Eighth grade electives are unique learning experiences offered to students in their final year of middle school.  Electives are experiential learning opportunities, designed by faculty who often use these courses to share knowledge and interests outside of their recognized domain of expertise. Electives have both an experiential and an intellectual component and culminate in a presentation of student learning that extends beyond the class itself.
  
  

  Our current elective offerings are:

  • Voce (Advanced Chorus)
  • Robotics
  • Designing and Creating in the Hub
  • Student Publications
  • Symphony 
  • Advanced Studio Art
  • One Act Play/Film