courses
FIFTH GRADE |
SIXTH GRADE |
SEVENTH GRADE |
EIGHTH GRADE |
| English | English | English | English |
| Math | Math, Pre-Algebra | Pre-Algebra or Algebra I | Algebra I or Geometry |
| Science | Earth Science | Life Science | Physical Science |
| World Geography | World Cultures | U.S. History | U.S. History |
| Spanish/French | Spanish/French | Spanish/French | Spanish/French |
| Physical Education | Physical Education | Physical Education | Physical Education |
| Computer/Library Research | Computer/Library Research | Integrated Computer Instruction | Integrated Computer Instruction |
| Art | Art | Art | Art |
| Music | Music | Music | Music |
| Latin | Latin | Latin | Latin |
| Health | Health | Health | Health |
| Instumental Music | Instumental Music | Instumental Music | Instumental Music |
| Chorus | Band/Chorus | Band/Chorus |
Middle (Grades 5-8)
Philosophy
The Middle School years, grades five through eight, are challenging for many. Among the advantages of St. Edmund’s Academy are its many opportunities for its middle school students to lead and excel without being overshadowed by high school students. Essentially, our middle school students are our upper school leaders. St. Edmund’s Academy Middle School combines serious academic work with a positive sense of camaraderie among students and with their teachers. With only about 28 students per grade level, teachers can closely monitor their students’ progress.
Grades 5-8
The tone of the Upper School is a combination of serious focus on academic work combined with a positive sense of camaraderie among the students and the teachers. Interactions among faculty and students reflect the importance that St. Edmund’s Academy places on our Core Values by demonstrating respect for teachers and peers, by accepting responsibility for one’s actions, and by considering the feelings of others. Students and teachers annually review the Code of Conduct and recommit themselves to the expectations central to our community.
The closeness of the community and the fact that students are grouped in small classes allow the teachers to monitor student progress and behavior closely, and be in touch with parents quickly when required. The atmosphere is characterized by a relaxed yet respectful relationship between students and faculty
Upper School students are placed in small homerooms with their classmates. In these groups, students begin the day with announcements and attendance, combined with the usual socializing that comes with this age. They rejoin their homeroom for midmorning snack, lunch, and at the end of the day.
The 20-minute homeroom period at the end of the day provides time to meet with faculty to clarify an assignment or concept; start homework; and gather materials for the trip home.
The roles of the homeroom teacher are varied: to monitor the academic and social functioning of students; to serve as parent liaison when issues arise; to be the student's advocate in school life; to act as cheerleader and encourager; and to be a general resource for the students and their parents. Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled twice a year. Opportunities for additional parent-teacher conferences are available on an as-needed basis. In addition to the homeroom teacher, the Upper School Head, the Associate Head of School, and the Head of School are available to all Upper School parents as needed.
Fifth Grade is a bridge between the self-contained classrooms of the Lower School and the fully departmentalized program of grades 6-8. In the Fifth Grade, the students have core faculty members who teach math and all aspects of language arts and social studies, with specialists teaching the other subjects. In grades 6-8, all subjects are taught by specialized teachers.
Fifth Grade teachers work to help the students develop time management skills. Students are guided through a sixweek long research project which culminates in a school-wide Travel Fair. This project is one of many designed to help fifth graders learn to successfully manage long-range assignments that are common in grades 6-8.
The school year begins with trips for grades 6, 7, and 8. These class trips are energizing and class-spirit-building excursions to such places as Williamsburg; Monticello; Luray Caverns; Dearborn, Michigan; and Camp Fitch on Lake Erie.
In addition to the fixed academic curriculum, there are opportunities to participate in a school musical, a play, orchestra and chorus; join the yearbook staff in 8th grade; participate in the school newspaper; participate in MathCounts; the Science Bowl; Robotics; and participate in interscholastic athletics. Our foreign language students in 7th and 8th grades take the National exams in French or Spanish and Latin. Health is taught in grades 5-8. Students learn nutrition, social health, adolescent development, and work towards certification in CPR/AED and First Aid. In grades 6-8, students compete in field hockey or soccer in the fall, basketball in the winter, and lacrosse in the spring. Our 5th grade students are included in spring lacrosse. Musical performances at each grade level present opportunities for being on stage. The Annual Christmas Pageant is performed by sixth grade and the 7th and 8th graders have the opportunity to perform in the spring drama production. Field trips to local museums or professional performances infuse a sense of city into our classrooms for our students.
With a student-to-computer ratio of 1 to 1, St. Edmund's Academy classrooms include the latest technologies, with computer use integrated into other subjects. Seventh and eighth grade students are able to incorporate the tools and skills taught to them in previous years to develop websites using Power Point presentations, music, videos and images.