About the Homeroom Teacher
(206)859-5111
I consider teaching in a Catholic school my life’s greatest and most life-giving labor of love. I have served as eighth grade homeroom teacher in Seattle Archdiocesan schools for over 40 years and as CKS Principal since 2013. I earned a BA in English from CSULA, moved to Seattle from California in 1980, earned a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Seattle University, and was awarded my degree in School Administration from Saint Martin’s University. I love salt water, poetry, and sports of all kinds.
Teaching Philosophy
I recognize the pivotal reality that is early adolescence. Middle school students thrive when seen, heard, and empowered in a collaborative learning community to grow into their best and beautiful selves. I find great life in serving as one of their many teachers to help to empower them. I model the way and never ask a student to do anything that I am not willing to do myself. With an emphasis on the humanities students integrate reading, writing, and speaking to better understand the human condition, know themselves, and bring empathy to their peers.
Middle school students thrive when seen, heard, and empowered in a collaborative learning community to grow into their best and beautiful selves.
Joanne Cecchini
Curriculum Overview
ELA
The focus for the students’ 8th grade year, is on developing writing process, 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
At CKS science is hands-on. Students read and research, but also design and perform experiments. There is a strong emphasis on analyzing research and experimental data, drawing conclusions from that information, and defending your reasoning.
Students study two subjects each year. In eight grade students study genetics and engineering. In genetics, students will study how organisms from the smallest cell up reproduce and pass on their genetic information to their offspring. In engineering, students build circuits to understand how we generate electricity, as well as transfer and transform it into motion, heat, sound, and more.
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 graders 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.
