Middle School

The common practice of classical programs like ours is to view the arts of the Trivium as three-stages, like levels, by which students can ascend to mastery of any subject area. Take grammar to broadly mean building block knowledge; take logic to broadly mean knowledge of proper relationships, functions, and contexts; take rhetoric to broadly mean the masterful direction of these two prior arts for increasingly useful and personal purposes. It is easy to see how the skills required for each of these successive arts correspond to the natural skills that children develop as they mature. Teaching with a grammatical emphasis actually serves students’ natural inclinations in grades K-4, when they are at an age of collecting names and ideas and compiling foundational understandings. Teaching with a logical emphasis actually serves students’ developing inclinations in grades 5-8, when they are becoming capable of deeper understandings, but need support identifying and navigating the virtues and justice of things.

Language Arts
We use the Voyages in English curriculum. In the words of the publisher, Loyola Press, this “robust grammar and writing program has helped teachers meet the individual needs of each of their students for more than 70 years.  With rigorous instruction, advanced teacher support, and engaging exercises, this K–8 program presents challenging concepts in a balanced approach that empowers students to become the critical thinkers and effective communicators of tomorrow. Voyages in English is aligned with the Common Core State Standards and correlated to the National Council of Teachers of English Standards.”


History
We use Susan Wise Bauer’s award-winning Story of the World series, published by Well Trained Mind, to put a historical frame on our social studies content in grades 5-8. The Story of Civilization follows four basic historical epochs: 5th and 6th grades – Ancient Times and The Middle Ages; 7th and 8th grades – Early Modern Times and The Modern Age.  This chronological historical frame considers Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, and gives our students a narrative and chrono-logical context in which to understand the social studies content of civics and geography while diving more deeply into the cultures that have existed through time…and especially into those that have done most to build the world we still live in today.

In an industry where “new and improved” curricula come out every year, Singapore Math is one of the few that has actually driven higher achievement results across real large-scale student populations worldwide.  In fact, the most recent testing averages at QPCS for grades K-Level 6 are well above national scores.  This curriculum teaches children the “how and why” of foundational math, steadily building skills with the goal of preparing them for more advanced topics.  Singapore Math is about drawing connections, supporting the thinking process, and instilling thorough mathematical understandings.  It encourages perseverance and naturally builds confidence, as students become equipped to solve higher level problems.

Our students commence using the Saxon Math program (Hake/Saxon) in grades 7 and 8.  According to Seton Educational Media, Saxon’s “unique incremental development with continual practice and review approach to math instruction provides a most effective method for preparing a student for the SAT or ACT.  The entire Saxon program positively reinforces the fundamentals and enables all aspiring young adults to achieve and excel in mathematics.  This program, along with additional technological support, has increased our upper Middle School NWEA assessment scores to well above the national average.  

Our students complete their Nancy Larson Science curriculum in Grade 5. Nancy Larson points out that “Every scientist was once a child.”  Her science program combines a rigorous curriculum with hands-on learning to create a challenging program that children love.  Science 5 focuses on the interactions of systems on a micro- and macro-scale.

Our students commence with using the FusionScience hybrid textbook-virtual content series (Houghton, Mifflin, Harcourt) in grades 6, 7, and 8.  Our science teacher uses these award-winning multi-media lessons to supplement her diocese standards-aligned and heavily project-based science curricula, that move between the smart board, the grow-light cart, and out in our planter boxes outside door #5 at Queen of Peace Catholic School.

The Schola Cantorum program has a three-pronged focus: Vocal Technique, Gregorian Chant, and Liturgical Practice.  Each of these prongs are methodically prepared by grade, age, and individual vocal development.  The class outcomes are based mainly on learning to sing sacred liturgical music and Gregorian Chant.  The goal of our Schola Cantorum is to foster a love for the treasury of sacred liturgical music and to gain the skills needed for excellence in singing.  These purposes enable and encourage students to go out into the  world and effectively contribute to church music programs and become supporters of the treasury of sacred music of the Church.  Giving students an acquaintance with beautiful liturgical music is a reward in itself and is in keeping with the wishes of Holy Mother Church.

We use the Spirit of Truth curriculum. In the words of the publisher, Sophia Institute Press, “Spirit of Truth covers the breadth of the Catechism in a rich and age-appropriate way and is designed to connect with students of diverse backgrounds and differing familiarity with the Catholic Faith. While it’s important for our students to understand the Faith, Spirit of Truth is designed to help them internalize the Faith and apply it to their own lives, providing ample opportunity for them to reflect on how everything they are learning applies to their own lived experience. Spirit of Truth provides interactive, teacher-led lesson plans for every day of the school year, including vivid sacred art reflections, stories of the saints, games, role-plays, and critical thinking questions, to capture and keep students’ attention.”

We use the Virtues in Practice program, from the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecelia of Nashville, TN.  According to the sisters themselves, “Virtues in Practice is a program for children in grades pre-kindergarten through eight to grow closer to Jesus by imitating His life and virtues.  It is set up in such a way that a whole school studies the same virtue each month, to provide a whole-school (and at home, whole-family) focus.  The program covers 27 virtues over a three-year cycle, with 81 saints held up as models of the virtues.

Every Friday, the students have a volunteer-led enrichment class, presented by a member of the parish community.  The content of the enrichments varies, reflecting the special skills of the parishioner community members who are volunteering to teach the class or series of Friday classes (the 2023-2024 school year saw students guided through the arts of baking, butchering, canoeing, volleyball playing, computer programming, rosary braiding, and more).

We use the Circle of Grace Circle of Grace curriculum to teach students about personal dignity. Circle of Grace is a Christian safe environment curriculum that helps to form and educate children and youth about the value of positive relationships with God and others.  The Circle of Grace curriculum teaches children and youth how to identify and maintain appropriate physical, emotional, spiritual, and sexual boundaries; recognize when boundary violations are about to occur; and demonstrate how to take action when boundaries are threatened or violated.