St. Peter Catholic School
5th through 8th Grades
Fifth-Eighth Grade is our Middle School
Students are mixed for homeroom in 5/6 and 7/8 combinations. Combing the grades provides opportunities for student mentoring and creating new friendships, helping provide a stepping-stone into the high school experience, while still retaining a closely-knit community within the larger school.
These multi-age homeroom classes attend weekly seminars together. These seminars are team taught by all Middle School teachers, principal, and priests. During Seminar students are introduced to a Middle School Great Books, Great Ideas Model. The practice of Socratic style instruction is honed providing students with ample opportunity for critical thinking through careful reading, essential questions, and academic discussion.
All other subjects are taught in grade level classes.
Social studies and religion curriculum consists of text-based learning of Hebrew Scriptures and the Ancient Civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, China, Greece, Rome, and the Americas, as well as Early American History, Minnesota History, and the sacraments.
Language Arts curriculum focuses on improved grammar, writing, and speaking skills. Students read literature by authors such as: Shakespeare, C.S. Lewis, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
In religion, students also have a weekly opportunity in 5/6 and 7/8 groups to practice the “heart” of faith, co-led by Youth Minister Andy Wagenbach and Middle School Religion teacher Mr. Heintz, students will be given opportunities to put their classroom learning into practice as they encounter Christ through prayer, retreat, and more.
Students complete Algebra by the end of 8th Grade and all Middle School students participate in Catholic Math League competitions each week with challenging 30 Question tests. Most graduating students enter Honors math programs as 9th graders and some even test out of Geometry.
Physical education, technology, art, and music are also taught to Middle School students. Music classes meet three times a week. A fifth and sixth grade choir meets once a week and leads music at weekly school Masses. The music curriculum focuses on music theory, guitar methods, music history, singing technique, and creative dramatics. Students perform in a Christmas concert as well as a Spring Musical/Concert.
The fifth through eighth grade students have the opportunity to join many different extracurriculars including Student Council, Debate Team, Math League, and Quiz Bowl. one
Additional Information
Calculator Information
We ask families to donate calculators to classroom sets so that students do not need to purchase new ones. If you have your child’s calculator send it at Open House and his or her teacher will add it to the classroom collection. These are used infrequently and so pooling this resource will prove effective. A reminder of which kind of calculator each grade uses.
- Gr. 4-6: TI-15
- Gr. 7-8: TI-34-2
Computer Headphones
All new students, including kindergarteners, will need headphones that are compatible with a computer. They can be purchased at Target, Wal-Mart, etc. for $5.99 and up. Please put the student’s name on the headband & on a resealable plastic bag for storage. Returning students in grades 1-8 will be notified if you need to purchase headphones.
Gym Shoes
Students in ALL grades will need a pair of tennis shoes for Phy. Ed.
Order Forms
Students in grades 5 & 6 can order recorders for music or borrow a school recorder. Forms are provided during Open House.
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