St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Elementary and Middle School

Sixth grade at St. Francis is a time of transition. Students not only move “upstairs” to the middle school, they also spend more time examining their personal morality, values, and relationships. It is the perfect opportunity for students to recognize how Jesus can guide them through this rapid period of growth and change. By integrating Catholic faith lessons into every subject area, we try to help sixth graders develop healthy hearts, minds, and bodies.

Our sixth graders flourish in a nurturing climate where they feel respected and confident enough to try out new challenges and ideas. Our educational program reflects a challenging curriculum, professionally-certified instructors who have a passion for teaching, motivating lessons, multi-sensory activities, and high expectations. Our students are given many opportunities to think and write critically and to solve relevant problems. The St. Francis Middle School is a place where students strive to fulfill their potentials!

St. Francis School offers a strong and engaging academic program for students in their first year of middle school.

Religion: Sixth graders become familiar with the books on the Old Testament and learn from the successes and failures of their Biblical ancestors. Our spirit-filled program includes weekly Mass, daily prayer and singing, drama, classroom liturgies, service projects and experiences, and Scripture study. As students learn how to make moral choices, they come to realize how important it is to have Jesus at the center of their lives!

Math: Our sixth grade math program utilizes a variety of learning experiences such as collaborative problem-solving, cooperative learning, lectures, projects, games, demonstrations, manipulatives, and routinely scheduled homework, quizzes, and tests. Concepts include statistics, algebra, decimals, measurement, fractions, geometry, integers, ratios, proportions, percents, and probability.

English: Our sixth grade English program focuses on grammar, mechanics, and writing. The eight parts of speech, as well as several writing forms, are studied and practiced through daily writing activities and assignments. Speaking and listening skills are also developed through various classroom activities. Students have many opportunities throughout the year to submit their finished work to contests and children’s publications.

Literature: Sustaining a love of reading is an important facet of our sixth grade literature curriculum. Students learn to read critically, analyze literature, and expand their vocabularies. Students engage in independent reading logs, projects, simulations, literature circles, Socratic discussions, and reader’s theater throughout the year. In addition, the sixth graders study, produce, and perform a Shakespeare play every spring.

Social Studies: Sixth grade students learn about “culture” by exploring civilizations from prehistory through the Renaissance. Highlights include immersion activities such as an archaeological dig simulation, Greek assembly debates, reconstruction of Stonehenge, Roman chariot races, a virtual trip to Renaissance Florence, and more. World geography and a formal research paper are also major components of the

curriculum.

Science: The sixth grade science program includes classroom investigations, weekly laboratory experiences, environmental simulations, and outdoor exploration. Through their studies in geology, ecology, and the human body, students develop a growing sense of Christian stewardship and personal development.

Our sixth graders participate weekly in art, band, PE, and Spanish classes, taught by our enrichment teachers. They visit the computer lab and library once a week with their homeroom teachers. Many field trips, guest speakers, and service opportunities also make up an important part of our sixth grade year.

Besides serving as altar servers and singing in the choir, sixth grade students also participate in other service experiences throughout the year. Partnering with residents at long-term care facilities and picking invasive species at local parks are just two examples.