The middle school teachers are committed to ensure a safe, orderly, and caring environment for student success. We provide high expectations and exceptional instructional leadership. We work as a team to provide the opportunity to learn using varied methods. We regularly monitor student progress and develop excellent home-school relations.
Eighth grade at St. Hugh’s is an exciting year. It is filled with special events and responsibilities unique to this grade such as: the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation, Catholic high school investigations and selections, the King’s Dominion class trip, a graduation luncheon hosted by the school staff, and finally a ceremony to celebrate the successful completion of the challenging curriculum here at St. Hugh’s.
Eighth Grade Curriculum:
Religion - Our goal is to develop in the students an appreciative awareness of the tradition, mystery, and witness of the Church. We will also prepare for the sacrament of Confirmation.
Math: Our school uses the Saxon Math series. There are two important aspects of the program. The first is its incremental development approach which refers to the division of math concepts into small, easily understood pieces that are taught over several lessons. Secondly, this program provides continuous practice of the fundamental skills to produce proficiency. All of the knowledge, concepts, and skills develop in complexity as the student progresses from grade to grade. The eighth grade class is divided into two math groups – Prealgebra and Algebra 1.
Language Arts - Our goal in spelling and vocabulary is to introduce new words to the students with a combination of learning devices such as definitions, analogies, synonyms, antonyms, and crossword puzzles. Our spelling program builds on the knowledge that children have when they come to school. A variety of strategies are employed to help in the mastery of spelling. These strategies include: phonetic information, etymological information, mnemonic clues, and dictionary use.
Our goal in grammar is to help our students have the ability to think and to write effectively. Grammar skills are studied to give the students the means with which to express their thoughts more exactly.
Our goal in literature is to provide quality literature for study of the various ways to express one’s thoughts and to study literary skills in an organized way as they relate to the works that we read in class and at home.
Science - Our goal is to prepare children to use critical thinking skills to solve problems and develop concepts. We integrate reading, writing, and mathematical thought processes to develop understandings in science. Questions and experiences are designed to be appropriate to the general cognitive abilities of the children at each grade level. Hands-on activities are provided at each level to help the students learn and understand new concepts.
Social Studies - Our goal is to help students develop a knowledge of the geography and history of various regions of the world. Students will learn how the geography of a region affects the history and culture of its people. Eighth grade students focus their studies on America from the Civil War to WWII.
