Our departmentalized program challenges the students to approach the material they are learning and apply it to their own lives and the lives of the world around them. The barrier of content areas is lessened by the way teachers underwrite the material with cross curricular references and assignments.

Additionally, the middle school staff recognizes the task of preparing our students for the rigors of high school learning. Note taking, for example, becomes an imperative skill. Assignments become long term. Projects become a way for students to assimilate what they’ve learned and apply it to new knowledge.

Religion:  The middle school religion program stresses spirituality. In addition to a solid grounding in Catholic doctrine, tradition and scripture, students are encouraged to strengthen their faith by living the values exampled and taught by Jesus. This may be manifested in prayer, community service, peer relationships and self examination.

Social Studies: The social studies program in the middle school encompasses a rigorous program that links the past to the present. A strong emphasis is placed on connections to literature, writing and long term activities.  Social studies also focuses on the idea of citizenship and the role all individuals play in determining how our government is run and the role students play in their local, regional, and global environment.

Language Arts:  The middle school language arts program touches nearly every curricular area. Although we have a specific language arts teacher, the middle school team works together to use skills honed in literature class as a base to build on. For example every curricular area promotes writing whether in research papers, current events presentations or essays and/or debates. Each of the content areas stresses vocabulary building as a strong part of its course. The comprehension, writing, grammar speaking and thinking developed in our language arts program becomes a lifetime skill.  And, of course, developing a life-long love of reading is a strong hope for our language arts students.

Math:  The purpose of the Saint Ambrose math program is to enable the students to become proficient in math skills and to be able to apply them to everyday life. Our goal is to help them gain proficiency and confidence and to be able to use their knowledge to solve everyday problems. This year, one of the main foci is to enhance the students’ ability to solve word problems.  In addition to our standard math curriculum, some of our students in grades 6-8 have the opportunity to participate in an algebra course that will have them  more than ready for high school Algebra 1.

Science:  Our middle school science program was developed to give the students the knowledge and understanding of the world around them. It also seeks to give them a sense of responsibility for Gods creation. The program itself covers physical, earth and life sciences; however, the curriculum is much more than that. The lab skills, note taking process, inquiry projects as well as the problem-solving techniques become the basis for life long learning.

Technology:  Although we do have technology classes where advanced skills are taught and practiced, the most important technology “classes” are in the everyday use of the computers, Smartboards and laptops. Each of our classrooms have 3-5 computers for student use, and the teachers encourage the application of technology in both their everyday lessons and projects. Students leaving our eighth grade have a proficiency in using both the mechanics of computing and the programs open to them through their content areas. Web guests can visit our technology department at www.stambrosetechnology.blogsport.com