Middle School

Throughout middle school, students are taught a mixture of Physical, Life, and Earth Sciences, as well as experimental design and inquiry. Middle School students continue to develop their investigative skills by generating their own questions, recognizing and explaining the relationships among variables, and critiquing the conclusions that are drawn from scientific investigations. Hands on activities are stressed and include student discovery, laboratory experiments, dissections, problem solving, model building, cooperative learning, iPad usage, classroom discussion, teacher demonstrations, and writing opportunities for research and self-expression. Interdisciplinary subject areas are incorporated whenever possible. Students are introduced to the use of scientific tools and methods used for investigations.

Advancements in our rapidly changing world necessitate the development of technological skills to enable students to function in an increasingly global society. Our goal is to present and strengthen the skills students need to access, interpret, and synthesize information which is constantly changing. Middle school students are given 1:1 technology to help develop the skills necessary for 21st century learning. Technology is a tool for learning and developing critical thinking skills across the content area. Having students acquire these skills will result in the development of self-directed learners who can independently and cooperatively apply technology to solve problems and make informed decisions. Technology instruction and application is integrated into each subject area.

Students develop a positive self-image and a loving relationship with God through their study of the weekly Gospels. Participation in religious activities such as weekly mass, prayer services, various liturgical celebrations, and age-appropriate service projects help to plant the seeds of faith and community service early on. Prayer happens all throughout the day at St. Anne, fostering an environment where children can grow in their faith. Students learn about God’s creation and love on earth, in our families, and in our church. Catholic prayers and practices of our faith are taught according to the Diocesan Curriculum.

We know that children learn through experiences. Engineering, by its nature, is an inquiry-based pedagogical strategy that promotes learning across all subjects. Through the engagement in engineering lessons, our students are introduced to everyday applications of science, technology, and math. In addition, our students attend our Technology Engaged Active Learning (T.E.A.L.) class once a week. In this class students learn the fundamental concepts of the engineering design process and improve upon skills that capitalize on design, visualization, creativity, and teamwork.

St. Anne offers a diverse curriculum in music, art, and drama throughout the school aimed at creating musical and dramatic fluency and literacy in all students. Students are actively involved in the “Arts” program. They attend weekly music class during which they develop a love and appreciation for rhythm, musical intonation, and lyrics. Through art lessons, they experience of a variety of mediums to enhance the development of fine motor skills and creativity. In the 6th grade students are introduced to band class where they learn how to play an instrument. In 7th and 8th grades, students get to choose either band or art which gives them the opportunity to attend the class they choose three days a week all year long. Bank students perform two concerts each year and art students provide displays and art for us on various occasions throughout the year. During the elementary years, students are challenged with more intense drama instruction and even have the opportunity to participate in the major school productions.

A strong math education serves as a gateway for higher education and empowers students to compete successfully for 21st century careers. Our middle school mathematics curriculum is structured to build upon the foundational skills developed during the elementary years and provide a rigorous curriculum according to the needs and abilities of each student.  Through a differentiated approach, students engage in innovative and challenging lessons to develop strong real-world problem solving and critical thinking skills that foster an appreciation of mathematics. While learning new math concepts each year, students also engage in spiral review through Simple Solutions and the online platform IXL. The built in support allows students to work on fun and interactive questions at their own pace to gain fluency and master essential skills. 

Students are grouped heterogeneously in 6th grade. Beginning in 7th grade, students are placed in either 7th grade math or pre-algebra depending on their strengths and mathematical development. The criteria used for this placement includes grades, test scores, participation, work ethic, interest, and teacher recommendation. Below is a chart of middle school tracks. We recognize that students develop at different paces, so there is always flexibility within these tracks for students to be moved to a different track if the need arises.