Academics

Middle School: Grades 5-8

Fifth Grade Program Highlights

Language Arts

  • Fifth graders use a grammar and vocabulary series which are aligned with Common Core.
  • Guided reading, literature circles, and novels are used to foster a passion to read,support ideas, and develop opinions.

Math and Science

  • Math series offers many valuable online components.
  • Students are required to participate in ALEKS for math enrichment.
  • Fifth graders are Science buddies with the kindergarten students.
  • Note taking as wellas study skills are taught in Science.
  • In class projects are incorporated in Science.

Technology/STEM

  • Both Computer Lab and STEM are offered weekly.
  • Chromebooks are available for students' use.
  • Assignments completed on both Google Classroom and as written work.

Service Projects

During Catholic Schools’ Week, the fifth graders participate in selected service projects.  They also adopt a family for Christmas and are eager to work at Churchill Woods to better the environment.

Group or Class Projects

Fifth graders participate in many group/classroom projects. They include the Explorers Wax Museum, the DARE (Drug Abuse and Resistance Education) Program, a Martin Luther King Prayer Service for peace, and many more in all subject areas.  Small group reading, English and Math are offered to students.

Sixth Grade Program Highlights

Curricular Highlights

The one-to-one Chromebook program is first introduced in sixth grade. Students are instructed on the “ins and outs” of Chromebook usage, from safety to using Google Classroom for saving work. The laptops are utilized in all subjects. Students are held responsible for keeping the Chromebook charged and in proper working order. Students are placed into leveled math groups and are introduced to Spanish as a curricular class.

Currently, the sixth grade is using a Discovery Ed science curriculum which is entirely online and follows NGS standards. In science they are exposed to hands-on labs as well as virtual labs. Moving away from textbooks, sixth graders use a novel-based curriculum. Students will be using a brand new Religion series, Following Christ- Faith and Life Series 6- Third Edition, and they participate in the Family Life Program. Students also are required to work on ALEKS for computation enrichment. Health is offered to students this year.

Service Projects

In the fall, they help clear the environment at Churchill Woods. They participate in Adopt a Family at Christmas and they are buddies with younger students. They are also able to participate in the school musical.  Sixth graders have been “feeding” a need in Glen Ellyn. Every spring the two 6th grade homeroom plant 6 4x8 garden plots. Throughout the summer, every family tends the garden, harvests the fruits and vegetables and delivers all the produce to the Glen Ellyn Food Pantry. The Pantry serves over 33,000 clients and we are humbled to help relieve some of their food insecurities.

Group or Class Projects

Sixth graders participate in the Agora Project to learn first-hand about the Ancient Greek marketplace. They do many webquests throughout the year, and one of note is the Egypt webquest.  In Science, they are involved in virtual labs, hands-on labs, and dissections. They also enjoy creating their own civilization in Social Studies.

Seventh Grade Program Highlights

Curricular Highlights

Seventh graders are in their second year of the one-to-one tablet program. They continue to use the tablets for their daily classwork as well as for long-term projects and papers. Seventh graders are placed in leveled Math groups and they are also exposed to math contests. They are in their second year of Spanish.

Seventh graders use online Science textbooks which are aligned to follow NGS standards. They participate in hands-on labs and virtual labs, as well as dissections. Students have the opportunity to join Science Olympiad to enrich their own science knowledge. Religion books are all online. Students can participate in the school musical. Students also do novel studies throughout the year.

Service Projects

Students help clean up the environment at Churchill Woods. They adopt a family during the Advent season. During Catholic Schools’ Week students help at Feed My Starving Children, make blankets for cancer patients and create rosaries for their second-grade buddies.

Group or Class Projects

Students are exposed to a variety of web quest experiences in Science, Social Studies, English and Reading. They experience the court process on Law Day, and they participate in a mock trial. Students explore their faith at the Here I am Lord Conference in March. They are participants in Theology of the Body and enjoy a seventh-grade retreat.

Eighth Grade Program Highlights

Curricular Highlights

Eighth graders are in their third year of the one-to-one tablet program. They are in leveled Math groups. They continue to use the tablets for their daily classwork as well as for long-term projects and papers. They are also exposed to math contests. Eighth graders are in their third year of Spanish in preparation for foreign language in High School.

Eighth graders use online science textbooks which are aligned to follow NGS standards. They participate in hands-on labs and virtual labs, as well as dissections. Students have the opportunity to join Science Olympiad to enrich their own Science knowledge. Students can participate in the school musical and do novel studies throughout the year.  Students study Shakespeare and various novels throughout the year.

Service Projects

Students help clean up the environment at Churchill Woods. They adopt a family during the Advent season. During Catholic Schools’ Week students help at Feed My Starving Children, and make blankets for cancer patients. Eighth graders also reflect upon their experiences at St. Petronille and write their teachers heartfelt thank you letters.

Group or Class Projects

They also partner with Faith Formation in sacramental preparation. Students are actively involved in learning about William Shakespeare, put on a masked ball, and do other varied activities while reading Romeo and Juliet. Trench Wars is a favorite activity for students in Social Studies. Eighth graders work on various dissections throughout the year. Additionally, these students participate in a retreat to kick off their eighth grade year. This retreat sets the tone for their time as the student leaders of St. Petronille School.

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