Middle School
Grades Six - Eight
The East Campus houses our middle school students who like to learn, play, serve, and pray through academics, sports, clubs, and Mass.
Holy Trinity Catholic School curriculum adheres to the Indiana Academic Standards and Diocesan guidelines. Staff members frequently consult the Indiana Department of Education’s website to ensure that the scope and sequence of learning objectives are being met in a manner that achieves vertical alignment and addresses college and career readiness. Additionally, our middle school students utilize one-to-one laptop devices to integrate technology and learning in the classroom.
The reading/language arts curriculum consists of many different components. Based upon the Indiana Academic Standards, students build foundational literacy skills in the big five components of reading: phonemic awareness, alphabetic principle, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. A variety of genres and literary texts are utilized including: the basal reader, leveled readers, poetry, and informational text. Both classic and newly released novels are used to cover language arts standards. Connections between authors and literary pieces and various reading strategies are supported weekly during library time and they supplement what is being taught in the classroom. The language arts curriculum employs Shurley English to engage students in grammar, sentence structure, and conventions. Six Traits writing further enhances instruction through writer’s workshops.
Mathematics instruction is concentrated on attainment of basic math skills while preparing students for the study of high school algebra. Basic mastery of skills is taken to the next level through application to authentic situations, requiring higher order thinking skills and problem solving.
A hands-on approach, through investigation and journaling, is a critical element of the science curriculum. Topics are introduced and re-examined through the grade levels to generate a deep and thorough knowledge of the content. Students are asked to write down observations and draw conclusions from what they experience in an effort to understand the larger concept.
The social studies curriculum cultivates an understanding of historical, geographical, economic, cultural, and social issues, while examining the social justice teachings of the Catholic Church. Students explore and develop an appreciation for local, national, and global communities through a multitude of digital and hands-on activities. Students also participate in Junior Achievement, which is taught by a community leader.
Students are challenged to strive to meet high expectations in all academic areas. Those that consistently rise to the challenge and wish to push themselves further have the opportunity to take classes for high school credit while in eighth grade. These classes, Algebra I, Spanish I, and Biology I, are taught using the high school curriculum and assessments. Students taking these classes may transfer the grade and credit to high school.
The Fine Arts and Technology curriculum provides students with art, music, and computer applications on a quarterly rotation. The art program explores a variety of mediums and partners with the local college to provide students an opportunity to work with clay on the potter’s wheel and to show their art work. The music curriculum incorporates singing, movement, instruments, and music history. Students showcase their talents through art contests, the Christmas program, the spring music program, leading music at school masses, and the spring play. Computer Applications covers several areas. Digital Citizenship addresses timely topics and prepares students to take ownership of their digital lives. Computer Science encompasses programming concepts, computational thinking and helps develop problem-solving skills. Word Processing teaches how to compose letters, emails, reports, etc. while continuing to improve their keyboarding skills.
The physical education and health curriculum concentrate on the healthy development of the child.
Twenty minutes of daily physical activity during recess in conjunction with the structured physical education class, which meets twice a week, develop motor skills and promote sportsmanship. The health curriculum, which meets for a semester in rotation with the fine arts, centers instruction on forming lifetime habits of good health and wellness, positive self-esteem, and human development.
A highlight of our middle school curriculum is the addition of an elective course, ranging from a baking & cooking class, yearbook, and art animation, just to name a few! Students in grades six through eight are asked to "register" for their desired course and placements are then made accordingly. Each elective class has between 10-15 students of mixed grade levels and meets once a week.
The reading/language arts curriculum consists of many different components. Based upon the Indiana Academic Standards, students build foundational literacy skills in the big five components of reading: phonemic awareness, alphabetic principle, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. A variety of genres and literary texts are utilized including: the basal reader, leveled readers, poetry, and informational text. Both classic and newly released novels are used to cover language arts standards. Connections between authors and literary pieces and various reading strategies are supported weekly during library time and they supplement what is being taught in the classroom. The language arts curriculum employs Shurley English to engage students in grammar, sentence structure, and conventions. Six Traits writing further enhances instruction through writer’s workshops.
Mathematics instruction is concentrated on attainment of basic math skills while preparing students for the study of high school algebra. Basic mastery of skills is taken to the next level through application to authentic situations, requiring higher order thinking skills and problem solving.
A hands-on approach, through investigation and journaling, is a critical element of the science curriculum. Topics are introduced and re-examined through the grade levels to generate a deep and thorough knowledge of the content. Students are asked to write down observations and draw conclusions from what they experience in an effort to understand the larger concept.
The social studies curriculum cultivates an understanding of historical, geographical, economic, cultural, and social issues, while examining the social justice teachings of the Catholic Church. Students explore and develop an appreciation for local, national, and global communities through a multitude of digital and hands-on activities. Students also participate in Junior Achievement, which is taught by a community leader.
Students are challenged to strive to meet high expectations in all academic areas. Those that consistently rise to the challenge and wish to push themselves further have the opportunity to take classes for high school credit while in eighth grade. These classes, Algebra I, Spanish I, and Biology I, are taught using the high school curriculum and assessments. Students taking these classes may transfer the grade and credit to high school.
The Fine Arts and Technology curriculum provides students with art, music, and computer applications on a quarterly rotation. The art program explores a variety of mediums and partners with the local college to provide students an opportunity to work with clay on the potter’s wheel and to show their art work. The music curriculum incorporates singing, movement, instruments, and music history. Students showcase their talents through art contests, the Christmas program, the spring music program, leading music at school masses, and the spring play. Computer Applications covers several areas. Digital Citizenship addresses timely topics and prepares students to take ownership of their digital lives. Computer Science encompasses programming concepts, computational thinking and helps develop problem-solving skills. Word Processing teaches how to compose letters, emails, reports, etc. while continuing to improve their keyboarding skills.
The physical education and health curriculum concentrate on the healthy development of the child.
Twenty minutes of daily physical activity during recess in conjunction with the structured physical education class, which meets twice a week, develop motor skills and promote sportsmanship. The health curriculum, which meets for a semester in rotation with the fine arts, centers instruction on forming lifetime habits of good health and wellness, positive self-esteem, and human development.
A highlight of our middle school curriculum is the addition of an elective course, ranging from a baking & cooking class, yearbook, and art animation, just to name a few! Students in grades six through eight are asked to "register" for their desired course and placements are then made accordingly. Each elective class has between 10-15 students of mixed grade levels and meets once a week.
