ELA- The focus for the students' 8th grade year, is on developing writing processes, continuing to learn to read critically, and speaking and presenting in public with confidence.
History - Eight grade history is the study of Colonial America through the post-Civil War Reconstruction Era. Students experience this period of history through a variety of immersive projects and simulations.
Science - In eighth grade students study biology, understanding how organisms from the smallest cell up reproduce and pass on their genetics to their offspring. Students also student electronics and engineering, including building circuits, understanding how we generate electricity and how we transform it into other forms of energy, such as motion and heat.
Religion- Eighth graders will gain a deeper appreciation of Church history and a better understanding of morality and what it means to them.
Math Algebra: Students in the 8th grade are introduced to and student concepts involving Algebra. This expands on many of the concepts from Pre-Algebra such as solving equations and working with linear equations. In addition to this, students gain more depth in graphing and working with polynomials and quadratic functions.
Geometry: Students, who have performed well and worked through Algebra as a 7th grader, take Geometry as an 8th grader. Students' success in this course can lead to the opportunity to take the highest level of math offered in high school, AP Calculus BC, or other math courses of interest such as Statistics.
Highlights
Spring Rite of Passage Ceremony - Ritus - The Ritus process prepares our eighth graders for their journey into the larger community that awaits each of them. It provides our students with elements of risk-taking, testing, gift-giving, and public honoring. During this ceremony, visual arts and Music are integration with religion, language arts, and literature.
Good Friday Way of the Cross- Through dramatic reading and acting, eighth grade leads the school and parish community in reflecting upon Christ’s journey to the cross each Good Friday.
Eighth Grade Retreat - Before the Face of Power - The class concludes their year by reflecting upon their journey and the many powers that sustain them. Examining how to face times of powerlessness and to use one’s personal power to empower vs. overpower others are central goals for their retreat.
Green Lake Regatta - Bringing their CKS experience full circle, eighth grader empowers their kindergarten buddies to participate in a forty plus year old school tradition. Together the buddies build and paint small boats and journey to Green Lake to work together to float them.