SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADE

HONOR ROLL

An academic honor roll based on a student’s grade point average (GPA) during each quarter is published. There are two levels in which a student may qualify:

Honor Roll: GPA of 3.0 – 3.499

High Honor Roll: GPA of 3.5 – 4.0 Honor Roll is posted quarterly. Students achieving Honor Roll and High Honor Roll status are recognized at our Honor Roll Brunch. This celebration is held after first, second, and third quarters of the school year.

STANDARDIZED TESTING

Standardized testing is a manner of judging not only how individuals are doing but gives an outlook on how an entire group of students is doing. The tests given include the EXPLORE test given in grade 8. This test is scored and developed in the same manner as the ACT test which is given to grades 11 and 12. Both tests consist of separate subtests including Science, Math and Reading. The PPST test is given to grade 11 students. This test is what the National Merit Scholarship is based on. The Minnesota Written Composition Test is the standardized test required in order to receive a High School Diploma. Students in grade 9 take this exam with the opportunity to take it once more each successive year until it is passed.

Curriculum Highlights:

RELIGION:

GOAL: To have the students develop a more personal friendship with Jesus in their daily life.

• Weekly Mass – 7th grade students will attend weekly Mass. All students are encouraged to actively plan and participate in the liturgy of the Mass.

RELIGION 8

Students will focus their attention on two main topics:

1. Apostles’ Creed – a study of the basic truths of our faith as outlined in the Apostle’s Creed. GOAL: To have the students gain an appreciation for these truths as guides in their daily lives.

2. Discipleship - a study of the challenges related to adolescence and the skills needed to respond to these challenges as a disciple of Jesus. GOAL: To have the students maintain a positive attitude toward themselves as they grow into a mature follower of Jesus.

• Weekly Mass – 8th grade students will attend weekly Mass. All students are encouraged to actively plan and participate in the liturgy of the Mass.

AMERICAN HISTORY 8

Students will cover these topics:

• Civil War

• Reconstruction

• Native American Revolution

• Industrial Power

• Immigration

• World War I

• The Great Depression

• World War II

• Cold War

• Civil Rights Movement

SCIENCE:

LIFE SCIENCE 7

Students will cover these topics using hands-on investigations, critical thinking skills, lectures, and note taking:

• Scientific method

• Cells

• Diversity of Organisms

• Interdependence of Life

• Heredity

• Populations

• Flow of Energy

• Human Body Systems

EARTH SCIENCE 8

Students will cover these topics using hands-on investigations, critical thinking skills, lectures, and note taking:

LANGUAGE ARTS

ENGLISH 7

Utilizing the writing process (including developing ideas, drafting, revising, and editing,) students will practice strategies for writing sentences, paragraphs, and short essays. Students will also learn ways to improve their writing and speaking skills through grammar studies and exercise.

Upon completion of this course students will be expected to accomplish the following objectives:

• Become better and more confident writers

• Become more familiar with the writing process (prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing)

• Develop the skills necessary to use their senses to write more descriptively.

• Develop a better understanding of standard English conventions including spelling, punctuation, grammar, and capitalization.

• Become familiar with both the Pacelli library and the Austin Public Library and the resources it makes available.

• Respectfully participate in academic discussions

ENGLISH 8

Utilizing the writing process (including developing ideas, drafting, revising, and editing,) students will practice strategies for writing sentences, paragraphs, and short essays. Students will also learn ways to improve their writing and speaking skills through grammar studies and exercise. At the end of this class, students will be expected to accomplish the following objectives:

• Become better and more confident writers

• Strengthen usage of the writing process (pre-writing, drafting, revising, and editing)

• Become able to confidently write descriptively

• Develop a better understanding of standard English convention including spelling, punctuation, grammar, and capitalization.

• Become familiar with both the Pacelli library and the Austin Public Library and resources it makes available.

• Respectfully participate in academic discussions.

LITERATURE 7

In this class students will study various aspects of Literature including theme, character, plot, settings, and vocabulary. They will be reading a wide array of Literature including short stories, letters, plays, essays, poems, periodicals, and novels. We will be concentrating on themes, reading both fiction and nonfiction materials related to them, and embarking on other activities that help students better understand them.

ART:

Important historical periods of art will be identified, researched and arranged in a timeline. Artists and their styles from the 19th and 20th century will be explored. Careers in art will be visited and discussed. Students will learn to express individual thoughts and ideas about who they are through personal expression in their art work. Students will be able to verbalize and write various vocabularies and concepts of art.

MUSIC:

7-8 grade students are invited to be involved in a curricular choir. This is a non-auditioned choir that meets during the school day. Students involved in this choir should show a strong interest in singing as well as demonstrate cooperation and reliability.

• Shamrock Singers

A concert choir made up of 7 and 8th grade students.

DRAMA The Drama Department at Pacelli consists of two plays annually. They are open to all 7-12 graders. One production is a one-act play which is a competition play sanctioned by the Minnesota State High School League. There is also an annual junior high performance as well. Students are encouraged to get involved in all aspects of the production such as acting, lights, makeup, costumes, and directing.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION:

During physical education class your child will understand the importance of physical fitness while learning the rules and etiquette of various sports and games. We emphasize sportsmanlike conduct in all of our activities. It is our objective to promote a positive learning environment while in competitive situations guiding our students to be Christian in their attitudes both in and out of the gym. Your student will participate in the following team sports: indoor hockey, soccer, Frisbee, volleyball, basketball, and softball. In addition, students challenge themselves in the Presidential Physical Fitness Testing, plyometric stations, aerobic workouts, playground games, ice skating, and bowling.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE:

SPANISH:

Spanish is taught on a rotating, quarterly basis with three other enrichment classes. The goals for this class are to help students acquire basic Spanish skills while also building vocabulary. The topics covered include:

• Common expressions

• Cardinal and ordinal numbers

• Nouns, pronouns, adjectives

ENRICHMENT

SCHOOL NEWSPAPER

The school newspaper, The Shamrock, is put together by students with an interest in journalism. All students are encourage to submit articles.

STUDENT COUNCIL

The Student Council acts as a voice for the student body as a whole. Members exercise their leadership skills by organizing and sponsoring student activities.

DAWN PROJECT

Students are chosen to learn more about signs and symptoms of depression among their peers. They learn what to do if they are concerned about a fellow student. Those students then educate their fellow classmates about this important subject.

PROJECT ALERT

Project Alert is a nationally-recognized, middle grade prevention program that gives students insight, understanding, and skills to resist substance abuse. The curriculum is taught to the 8th grade during second semester. The goals of the program are threefold: to motivate students against drug use, to provide skills and strategies to stand up to pressures and resist drugs, and to establish non-use attitudes and beliefs.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Community Service is an important part of the community that is Pacelli Catholic School. Every student is expected to serve others in various ways both in school and in the community. Some examples of community service projects that have a long history at Pacelli Catholic are: Christmas baskets for the needy, food shelf, Christmas tree pick up and volunteer work.

• Christmas Basket Project: -Bringing the spirit of Christ to others was the purpose of the very first Pacelli Christmas Basket Project which was started in December, 1977. This tradition continues today. Beginning on the first day of the Advent season, students are asked to contribute their own money to the project, as well as collect some from family and friends. The students then use the money to shop for gifts for area families who are anonymously nominated by the pastors of the Austin Catholic parishes. The gifts are presented and blessed before the altar at the Christmas Basket Mass. PHS alumni deliver the wrapped presents to the families before Christmas.

STUDENT OF THE MONTH

Students are nominated for Student of the Month by the faculty and staff based on the fruits of the spirit. We look for students who demonstrate love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, or self-control. The students are randomly picked for a special award.

AFTER SCHOOL ACADEMY

The After School Academy is a place where students can do their homework in peace and quiet. A teac er is available to assist if there are any questions tha may arise

JUNIOR HIGH SPORTS:

Pacelli Catholic Junior/Senior High School co-opts its sports programs with both Lyle (LP) and Austin Public Schools (AHS). Sports that are co-opted with Lyle Public Schools are part of the Southeast Conference. Sports that are co-opted with Austin Pub Schools are part of the Big Nine Conference.

Pacelli Catholic has an active school council sports committee that helps to ensure representation in each sport cooperative. There is also an active parent run Booster Club that supports both the junior high and high school level athletes and their sporting programs.