St. Michael School 8th Grade
1st Period - ReligionUsing the book Faith First, 8th graders study and reflect on the beliefs, scripture, and celebrations of our Catholic faith. We do a year-long service project and are actively engaged with our kindergarten buddies. Our homeroom teacher is Mrs. Rafferty.
2nd Period - Language Arts /Creative Writing
We study the conventions and grammar of English in this class and write extensively. Grammar and writing are supported with the Writer's Choice text and with Sadlier's Vocabulary Workshop. An eight computer mini-lab is in our classroom and the fifteen-computer school lab is two doors away and available for our use. Mrs. Rafferty also teaches this class.
3rd Period - Science
Under the instruction of Mr. Hart, we study science. Our text is by Glencoe and we use FOSS kits, which include the unit on Planetary Science, for hands-on experiments.
4th Period - Math
8th graders take Algebra with Mrs. Evoy. Many students are able to go on to Geometry after this class.
5th Period - Specialist
Multi-age classes of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders choose form a year of Band or Yearbook/Journalism, or a year with a trimester each in Computers, Music Literature, and PLAN, a class on study skills.
6th Period - U.S. History
After lunch and recess, we gather for Mrs. Getchman's US History class. This class examines the development and trends of America from colonial times to the present. This class is supported with a newly adopted textbook and many interactive sumulations. This classroom is also equipped with an eight computer mini-lab.
7th Period - P.E. and Current Events
Always a favorite, we return to Mr. Hart for P.E. and on alternate days we are with Mrs. Merriwether, our principal, for Current Events. In current Events, we examine issues of the day through the local newspapers.
8th Period - Literature/Reading
The day is almost over and it's time for a good book. We spend twenty minutes reaading books of our choice and testing using the Accelerated Reader program The remainder of the class is spent examining the elements of literature using a book of the same name.
After School
We're busy kids and many of us participate in school sponsored activities: volleyball and football in the fall, girls' and boys' basketball in the winter, and Chess Club year round.
