In Writer's Workshop, our sixth-grade writers have been learning more about the steps needed to write a convincing argumentative essay. Next, we will focus on writing informational essays, as well as descriptive and problem-solution essays.

Sixth graders are wrapping up another short-story unit, which includes "Nadia the Willful," "The Richer, the Poorer," and "The All-American Slurp." Reading these stories allows students to practice important literature skills, such as identifying literary topics, themes, characteristics of modern and traditional fables, and literary mood, tone, and style. Soon, we will begin our class novel study of Refugee by Alan Gratz, a favorite author of sixth-grade readers.

In seventh grade, students have been looking closely at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech in honor of Black History Month. We started this project by reading the short story “War of the Wall” by Toni Cade Bambarra which is about a young girl in the late 1960’s who is upset by a stranger painting a mural in her community. By the end of the story, she appreciates the mural and no longer resents the “stranger” stealing her wall. The mural in the story highlights the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s and focuses on the symbols of that movement and the historical contributions of black Americans. Students next designed a mural that would best represent the leaders and values of SPX. Then we watched Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s “I Have a Dream Speech” and discussed his use of figurative language and persuasive techniques such as ethos, pathos and logos. We finished up this unit with a five paragraph response to literature essay.  

In eighth grade, we are beginning our mini-research paper regarding the Second Amendment. Students will answer three essential questions about the Second Amendment:  Why did the Framers of the Constitution include the Second Amendment? What are some Supreme Court Cases that involved the Second Amendment? What are some current controversies surrounding gun ownership in America? The final draft of this project is due Wednesday, February 19. Then, we will begin our argumentative research unit by looking more closely at the controversies surrounding the Second Amendment and developing a thesis statement regarding gun control in America. We will also spend some time learning about how to find reliable sources. Later this month, students will be bringing home a handout which outlines the due dates and requirements for this project. The requirements and resources can also be found on Canvas. Please note that if you signed up to receive notifications from Hapara you may receive warnings that your student has accessed sites that mention guns or violence due to the topic of this assignment. 

Sixth Grade Course 1 Math: We are finishing up our study of percentages and how they relate to fractions and decimals. Up next for our sixth grade is to look at all things data. How is it collected and what are the many different ways in which it can be displayed. 

Sales...Discounts...Tips...Gratuity....Taxes...Interest....the sixth grade Prealgebra students have been studying real-life scenarios involving percents. Ask your child to calculate the tip the next time you eat at a restaurant!

Flip That Sign! The seventh grade Prealgebra students have been solving inequalities and have recently learned when it's appropriate to flip the inequality sign. The next topic will be a study of two-dimensional shapes and their perimeters and areas.

Would you prefer $10,000 or a penny doubled every day? The seventh grade and eighth grade Algebra students have been studying the rules of exponents, scientific notation, and exponential functions to explore the world of very large and very small numbers. The unit began with a movie about how powers of 10 can be found in our world and the universe - check it out and be awed by the scale of all that God has created.

Would you recognize a parallelogram if you saw one? Our eighth grade Geometry students would! They've been learning all the properties of parallelograms and will soon do a deep dive into the world of rectangles, squares, rhombi, trapezoids, kites, and more. 

Sixth grade students finished up the Earth, Moon, and Sun system by building a model of what causes seasons. 

The next unit is about telecommunication. Thanks to new technology, the way we communicate has changed dramatically in the last 30 years. We can now reach out further and faster than ever! But despite our increasing dependence on this technology, few of us understand how it works.

In this unit, students will develop models for explaining how a round-the-world video call works. Along the way, they will examine the role of sound and light waves, solve communication challenges and come face to face with the great “digital divide”. It’s time to shine some light on the subject of telecommunication!

Seventh grade is working through our body systems unit. Currently wrapping up the digestive system and beginning the circulatory system. Our chicken wing dissection of the musculoskeletal system was a huge hit. Enjoy the pictures! 

Eighth grade students are figuring out what affects the rate of a reaction. They are learning how to speed it up and slow it down. Our next unit will be covering acids and bases. 

Sixth graders have been focusing on the subcontinent of India. They’ve explored “Secrets of Mohenjodaro” by examining eight artifacts excavated from that site in northern India and discussed how Mohenjodaro seemed like a modern city—ahead of its time (2700 B.C.–1900 B.C.). Additionally, students have learned about two major world religions that originated in India: Hinduism and Buddhism. After wrapping up the India unit, sixth graders will turn their attention toward ancient China.

Seventh grade students will be learning about Imperial China during the Tang, Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasties. Students will act out how governments used both aristocracy and meritocracy to pick government officials. They will also analyze and write a paper about the four Chinese inventions or discoveries that have changed the world. To wrap the unit up students will analyze how open and closed door policies of Imperial Chinese kingdoms have shaped the world today.

This unit focuses on the early Republic. Eighth grade students have studied Washington's "Farewell Address" and the foundation of the United States' foreign policy. Additionally, students analyze how each of the subsequent presidents (through Monroe) chose to follow Washington's model. Finally, students are introduced to the presidency of Andrew Jackson and the birth of the Democratic Party. The next unit will focus on Westward Expansion and Manifest Destiny.

New opportunities for service hours can be found HERE 

As Catholics we read the events of the Old Testament through a Christian view and understanding. We call this typology. The events and symbols are "types" pointing us to Christ in the New Testament. We have been reading the story of Noah and discussed how the flood points toward baptism and the ark points to the church. Next the sixth graders will be introduced to Dante's Inferno and the Seven Deadly Sins. 

Our seventh graders have begun their study of Theology of the Body. Theology of the Body comes from St. John Paul II’s 129 papal audiences given on Wednesday afternoon over a five-year period from 1975 – 1982. In short, Theology of the Body simply means that our bodies teach us about God. Since we have been created as male and female (body and soul) in the image of God - and God is love - then it matters what we do with our bodies. Our bodies express something tangible about how love is meant to be given and received. This is a theology of human anthropology and it applies to every person, no matter what age or state of life, because we all have bodies that express our gift of self in ways as modest as a smile or as glorious as dying on a cross.

The eighth graders are learning about Mary and the saints, as they discern their selection of a Confirmation name. The term saint comes from the Latin word Sanctus, meaning holy. Saints are people who have led an exemplary holy life dedicated to Jesus Christ. The Church recognizes the holiness of these individuals and honors them with the title “saint.” If you make it to heaven then you, too, are a saint - whether the Church recognizes you publicly or not. We are all called to be saints!

Eighth grade just completed Unit 20 (Los ladrones). Students wrote a story in Spanish about a not-so-smart criminal and decorated a mask their criminal wore in the story. Students presented their stories in Spanish in small groups.

Currently, eighth grade is working on a review of food vocabulary and present tense verb conjugation. We will soon begin our restaurant unit with a focus on ordering food in a restaurant and discussing prices. We continue to prepare for the spring Spanish placement tests.

Seventh grade recently began Unit 10 “Los deportes”. The focus is on sports in Spanish-speaking countries. Students will learn vocabulary for various sports, conjugate the verb “jugar”, research a famous athlete from Latin America and complete a presentational speaking and writing assignment to end the unit. 

Sixth grade completed Vamos Unit 6 “Rapa Nui” (Chile) and Vamos Unit 7 “El Carnaval” (Panama). In each unit we focus on core vocabulary structures, geography and cultural traditions. Students created posters of the famous statues found in Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island.

In the next unit, Vamos Unit 8 “La adrenalina”, students will be exposed to recycled vocabulary from previous units. Throughout the course of the unit students will learn about the geography and history of El Salvador, build community, play several games, create a character, discuss preferences, and learn how about different adventurous activities in El Salvador.

Best of Luck to Our Solo and Ensemble Participants! This weekend, over 40 dedicated students will perform at the ISSMA (Indiana State School Music Association) Solo and Ensemble Contest in Nappanee, IN. After months of hard work and preparation, they will showcase their musical talents, performing as soloists or as part of an ensemble. Each performance will be evaluated by judges using a comprehensive rubric that assesses nine key categories of musical excellence. Saint Cecilia, pray for us!

Meanwhile, the Band Room is busy as ever as students gear up for our upcoming March to the Arts Concert and the ISSMA Band Contest in March. We warmly invite you to join us for our second band concert of the year on Wednesday, March 12th, at 6:00 p.m. in the Main Gym.

Sixth grade – Our second-year band students are learning to play in 6/8 time as they begin their new piece, March of the Hobgolbins. During Catholic Schools Week, the Intermediate Band worked on short pep band melodies such 

Seventh-grade musicians are refining their technical skills as they explore music theory and performance techniques through weekly sight reading exercises. Recently, they even had the exciting opportunity to perform for preschool and kindergarten classes!

During Catholic Schools Week, eighth graders stepped into the role of conductor, leading their classmates in a piece of their choice in 2/4, 3/4, or 4/4 meter—with Mrs. Kneibel joining in as an ensemble member!

MUSIC

Middle school classes have been exploring the life and works of Benjamin Britten. They will be learning about orchestras and learning how to talk about texture, rhythm and melodies.

Sixth grade is working to complete a composer study. Each student researched a composer from either the Romantic Era or 20th Century to research and created a composer profile to add to our map. Students are developing their performance skills by singing part songs like "Merrily, Merrily Greet the Morn" and will soon begin a Jamaican recorder ensemble piece called "Money Man". The students are also developing their decoding and reading skills by decoding, improvising and reading simple Do, Re, Mi pitch patterns.

Seventh grade is beginning a composer research project. They will create a poster for a composer from the Medieval Era or Renaissance Era to add to the timeline and write a descriptive summary about the composer's career. The classes have completed a review of Do, Re, Mi pitch patterns and are now developing their decoding, improvisation and reading skills using simple phrases and songs. They will soon be ready to write simple melodies they hear or original melodies using what they have learned. The students are also developing their performance skills through part songs like "Da Pacem Domine" and a recorder piece called "Bossa Nova".

Eighth grade is completing a composer research project. Students read articles for information to write a detailed summary about the composer and their career and created a composer character. The characters will be added to the composer map. Students have been developing their decoding, reading and writing skills using simple pitch patterns in 2/4 and 6/8. They will soon compose their first melody of the year using rhythms and pitches they have practiced. The students have developed their performance skills by singing party songs in minor keys like "Hey Ho" as well as performing a recorder ensemble piece called "Rainforest Song". 

COMPUTER SCIENCE

Sixth graders are delving into internet safety. Our program, Be Internet Awesome, fosters discussions about privacy, safe sharing, intentions, and being kind. This is a great time to reinforce your family's expectations. Ask your student about what we’ve discussed!

Seventh graders are finishing up their last directed coding project and will begin learning about hardware and circuitry with Makey Makey kits. They will make an interactive game to share with students in the lower elementary.

Eighth graders are beginning their final gaming project. They have selected a picture book to inspire an interactive game that will be shared with students in the lower elementary. They are learning how to use flow charts to map out their paths within the code. Up next: robotics and coding with Finchbots and Hummingbird Kits from Bird Brain Technologies.

MORE MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS

As we continue to focus on the success and well-being of our students, we want to remind all families about proper care for the school-issued Chromebooks.

Please ensure your child has a Chromebook case for protection. These cases are designed to help preserve the device throughout the school year and protect it from damage. 

Additionally, verify that the spine band on the device is securely attached. The spine band protects the Chromebook’s hinge, and if it becomes detached, it can lead to costly damage. If the spine band protector is not attached at the end of the year, there will be a fine to cover the replacement costs.

We appreciate your cooperation in ensuring that these devices remain in good condition throughout the year. If you have any questions or need assistance with securing a case or verifying the spine band, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Thank you for your support!

• Gospel Guide Store donations can be made HERE.

• Final payment for the 8th grade trip to D.C. is due to Hemisphere by February 19. If you still need to order t-shirts, you can do so HERE.