In grade 8, students explore the relationship between gender and power through the study of literary genres, including the short story, novel, poetry, and drama. By empathizing with protagonists from diverse backgrounds, students develop an understanding of gender as a social construct and learn to question power dynamics in their own society. In addition to their study of literature, students apply critical thinking skills to examine visual media. Major writing projects include a series of persuasive essays supported by close reading and textual analysis. Students hone expository writing skills with an emphasis on developing strong thesis statements, creating clear arguments, and supporting their claims with appropriate evidence. Students also learn effective strategies for the stages of pre-writing, drafting, revision, and editing. Regular grammar and vocabulary lessons cultivate concision and precision in both their verbal and written work. Texts may include Short Story Classics to Inspire Readers; The Joy Luck Club; Lord of the Flies; Of Mice and Men; Silent Spring; and The Taming of the Shrew.

Algebra I
This course covers a full year of algebra which prepares students for Geometry and Algebra II. Topics include recognizing and developing patterns using tables, graphs, and equations. In addition, students explore operations on algebraic expressions including polynomial, rational, and radical expressions. Students solve equations of various sorts such as linear, absolute value, quadratic, rational, and radical. They use equations, graphs, and tables to model linear and quadratic relationships through real-life word problem situations

Algebra I (Honors)
This course covers a full year of algebra, preparing students for Geometry and Algebra II, and offers a challenge for students who wish to pursue a more rigorous study of the material. Students must demonstrate strong algebraic thinking skills and possess a solid understanding of rational numbers, operations with rational numbers, and linear equations. Topics include recognizing and developing patterns using tables, graphs, and equations. In addition, students explore operations on algebraic expressions including polynomial, rational, and radical expressions. Students will solve equations and inequalities of various sorts, such as linear, absolute-value, quadratic, rational, and radical. They will also use equations, graphs, and tables to model linear and quadratic relationships through real-life word problem situations.

Geometry Honors
This is a full-year course in Euclidean geometry that emphasizes the writing of proofs and offers a challenge for students who wish to pursue a more rigorous study of the material. Topics include angle pairs, angles in perpendicular and parallel lines, triangle congruence theorems, properties of quadrilaterals, similarity within polygons, segment and angle relationships within triangles, and right triangle trigonometry. Trigonometric applications such as the Law of Sines and Law of Cosines, circles, coordinate geometry, and transformations are also covered.

The grade 8 religion course engages students in reflecting on the lived dimension of the Christian faith, with particular focus on moral decision-making at the personal and communal level. Students regularly apply principles for moral decision-making to scenarios and cases drawn from daily life. During the spring semester, the course explores the presence of God in our community and considers how sacramental life celebrates His presence. Special attention is paid to the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Anointing, Marriage and Holy Orders. Additionally, students connect their classroom discussions, their reflections on the gifts from the Holy Spirit as discovered during their class retreat, and their participation in service activities at the Terence Cardinal Cooke Healthcare Center to prepare for the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation.

This course provides a foundation in the basic principles and skills of physical science by introducing concepts in chemistry and physics. The first semester begins with the application of the scientific method. Students will explore concepts of matter, density, and classification of matter. This is followed by a study of chemistry, as students deepen their understanding of the properties of atoms, the Periodic Table of Elements, and chemical bonding. The second semester commences with an investigation into the laws of physics, including interactions of matter and energy, forces and motion, speed, velocity and acceleration. In addition, students are introduced to waves, light and optics experiments in the laboratory. Overall, this fundamental course emphasizes the integration of technology as a means of qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis. It also requires students to apply mathematical problem-solving to understand concepts in both chemistry and physics.

French I
A continuation of grade 7 French, this is a basic course designed to meet the requirements of a first-year French high school course. French is the language of the classroom. The course emphasizes developing students’ basic skills of listening and speaking competence, and precision in reading and writing. Work at this level includes the study of grammar, vocabulary, and French culture.

French I Honors
This course, a continuation of grade 7 French Honors, adopts a rigorous pace. Foundational language skills and culture are taught both from the textbook and outside reading. Students are introduced to advanced grammatical structures, verb tenses, and vocabulary so that they may develop a more sophisticated understanding of the language and greater fluency. Audio files and videos provide reinforcement and support.

Latin I
Latin I follows the completion of the grade 7 Latin class, and is a high school level I class. The forms and vocabulary of basic Latin are introduced with written exercises to ensure the mastery of grammar. Considerable sight-reading acquaints students with the patterns and constructions of Latin prose and develops their translation skills. Ancient Roman mythology, history, and culture are also presented. In addition, students further develop their translation skills by studying extended passages of Latin prose to reinforce their knowledge of Latin grammar and vocabulary. Latin prose composition exercises serve to strengthen their comprehension and reading skills by requiring them to apply the grammatical constructions and vocabulary learned in each unit. Ancient Roman mythology, history, and culture are also presented in both primary and secondary readings.

Spanish I
This course is a continuation of grade 7 Spanish. Spanish is the language of the classroom. There is a consistent emphasis on the development of basic skills of listening and speaking competence, and precision in reading and writing. Work at this level includes the study of culture and geography.

Spanish I Honors
This course, a continuation of grade 7 Spanish Honors, adopts a rigorous pace. Foundational language skills and culture are taught both from the textbook and outside reading. Students are introduced to advanced grammatical structures, verb tenses, and vocabulary so that they may develop a more sophisticated understanding of the language and greater fluency. Students are introduced to the regional cultures of Spain and Latin America through a variety of means, which include reading the novel El Misterio de la Llave, watching videos, and listening to audio files.

The course will survey a wide variety of historical and contemporary art forms through lecture and discussion, sketchbook entries, field trips and visiting artists, critiques, and creation of studio work in all mediums. Visual literacy consists of familiarity with visual forms not only for the purpose of making art, but also to be able to articulate why one is doing it, what historical influences it synthesizes, and to describe what one sees. The sketchbook will provide an opportunity for students to create a reservoir of inspiration through visual note taking and idea gathering. The course seeks to reveal to students, through their own practice, the process all artists engage in when creating visual art forms.

Performing arts classes in Grade 8 seek to expand students’ performance skills through a variety of disciplines. Emphasis is placed on performance practice. Students continue to study Shakespeare and contemporary, American drama. The course compliments the content covered in English class with a focus on the relationships between gender, socioeconomics, and power. Students analyze a character’s past, their motivations and personality traits, as well as conflicts that character encounters. When asked to work on a scene, students independently and in small groups reread, direct and act out scenes. They make decisions about the physical behaviors and vocal tones and characteristics that will most effectively portray a character while remaining true to the playwright’s intention. Plays studied include Taming of the Shrew, Macbeth, and Twelve Angry Men.

Music classes examine and perform music of The Beatles era and create original vocal and instrumental arrangements. Proper vocal technique and learning to read a musical score are key elements that inform music study in grade 8.

Students may elect to take study skills, technology, or Latin. The Study Skills Course meets four days per week to provide support in general study skills, English, math, and foreign language. Students will have the opportunity to work each week with a teacher from each of these disciplines to review content-specific course work and study skills. The grade 8 curriculum supplements the skills reviewed in the course, and lesson plans are designed to teach strategies to organize student research projects, time management, note taking, and test preparation. Additionally, the English, math and foreign language study skills sections address content specific inquiries such as approaches to studying, outlining papers, and reviewing math concepts.