By the time our students reach Middle School, the goal is for them to be regularly bearing witness to their Catholic Faith. The Middle School participates in many faith-based activities throughout the year to continue to provide students opportunities to grow in their relationship with Christ. Some of these include the following: bi-weekly mass, monthly Adoration, weekly Penance, the rosary, daily prayers, Lenten Stations of the Cross, Advent Los Posadas presentation, and a Living Stations presentation during Holy Week. In this Year of Mercy we all participated in a Pilgrimage to The Holy Door at The Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament. All of these help to prepare our 8th graders for the sacrament of Confirmation whereby they are ignited to go and witness to their Faith in the world!
The Middle School offers many academic opportunities. Students attend classes with highly qualified teachers in the following subjects: Mathematics, Science, Literature, English, Social Studies and Religion. Teachers utilize up-to-date programs such as Step up to Writing and Lab Learner. Technology is incorporated throughout the curriculum with the use of Promethean Boards, I-Pads, Classroom computers and Document Cameras. Students also attend Computer, Gym, Spanish and Art class.
For additional information about academics, please see the Curriculum Overview published in the sidebar.
The Middle School is alive in virtue. Each Monday the students choose a virtue that they will individually work on for that week. At the end of the week, the students write a reflection in their virtue journals on how the practiced that virtue throughout the week. Students can receive Christian Witness Awards for exceptional displays of virtue. Students also participate in a multitude of service projects. Many students serve in our National Junior Honor Society and on our Service Squad. Students have also collaborated to plan and execute service projects throughout the year. As a culminating event, the 8th grade makes a pilgrimage to Washington D.C. with thousands of other young people from across the country to participate in the March for Life. The goal is for the middle school students to go forth from our doors practicing and living virtuous lives.
The Middle School students serve their community in numerous ways. Seventh and Eighth grade students who demonstrate exemplary academics and character are invited to join the National Junior Honor Society. All students have opportunities to serve their community through parish wide events such as Summerfest and The Lenten Fish Fry. Middle school students build community school-wide through the buddy program where older students are matched up with younger students and work together on various projects though out the year. Our Middle School students are held up as models for their younger brothers and sisters in Christ, and take seriously their responsibility to build community among the SIJ Student Body.
