Middle School
Welcome to Middle School!
Middle School is such an exciting time; you’ll have your own laptop and locker, you'll change classes, and you'll have several teachers throughout the day. You’ll have more privileges and responsibilities. At St. Francis Catholic School, the middle school teachers and administration work together to insure your transition will be as smooth as possible. We’ll work on planning and organizational skills; we’ll have regular class meetings, and we’ll also partake in class projects for Catholic Schools Week and other things that will enable you to gain important skills for success both in and out of school, as well as give your class opportunities to bond and become even better friends.
St. Francis School offers so many things for middle school students to participate in – sports, clubs, and social events await you! Over the next three years, you’ll have many chances to engage in your current interests and explore new ones.
Religion
Our guiding goals are inspired by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI: to enable students to build and deepen their relationship with God, to foster an academic culture aimed at the pursuit of truth, and to actively promote growth in virtue.
SFCS Religion teachers use th Christ in Us textbook series in conjunction with our newly-revised diocesan curriculum to inspire our students to engage in thoughtful dialogue and prayerful reading of Scripture. Religion class has the same ultimate goal as that of life as a whole: union with God through Jesus Christ.
Science
Science class is taught in an engaging, hands-on, application-based environment. Students are encouraged to ask questions about the world around them and are guided to answer those questions as we learn the science content. Students love learning in this manner, because they become owners of their own learning.
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Social Studies
In middle school, students learn to love geography and history and how it does really matter to us all! Through innovative strategies that use their debating skills, creating pretend history tweets, making menus for revolutions, just to mention a few, kids are engaged, excited, and motivated to show off their best work! In social studies, students become critical thinkers and participate in historical, project-based learning. 6th and 7th graders study World History, while 8th grade students focus on South Carolina as well as US history.
Mathematics
Algebra I Honors
Students are challenged to develop 21st Century skills such as critical thinking and creative problem solving preparing them with a solid foundation for high school, college and exciting careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related fields. Topics of study for this course include Relationships between Quantities, Linear Relationships, Exponential and Quadratic Relationships, Advanced Functions and Equations and Data Analysis.
Accelerated Pre-Algebra
Students will focus on four critical areas: 1) adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing rational numbers; 2) analyzing proportional relationships and using expressions and equations; 3) using samples to draw inferences about a population; and 4) solving problems involving angle measure, area, surface area and volume. Students will have a solid foundation in preparation for algebra.
6th Grade Math
Students will focus on four critical areas: 1) using concepts of ratio and rate to solve problems; 2) understanding operations with fractions; 3) using expressions and equations; and 4) understanding of statistical reasoning. These experiences will provide a solid foundation for students in preparation for Pre-Algebra, Accelerated Pre-Algebra and Algebra.
English / Language Arts
The primary goal of this course, throughout all three years of middle school, is to develop effective reading and writing skills in an integrated English curriculum that fosters the development of written composition, critical reading skills, vocabulary development, and English language grammar and mechanics in preparation for high school, college, and life. We take a student-centered approach, providing direct instruction and activities that appeal to different learning styles as well as a workshop approach that promotes student responsibility and decision-making in an interactive learning environment.
Houses
As of 2023-24, our Middle School has a House system! House systems focus on promoting school community, teamwork, and leadership. At SFCS there are four houses, each is named after a saint.
Middle school students are randomly sorted into one of the four houses. Each student stays in the same house throughout their time in Middle School. While the placement of students in a house is at random, siblings are placed in the same house.
Also, each house consists of a faculty Housemaster and two eighth-grade captains. The captains are one boy and one girl in the 8th grade class. 8th grade captains will have leadership opportunities throughout the year.
Houses participate in several competitions during the academic school year. These competitions are academic, athletic, and spiritual. There are also opportunities for community service opportunities, team building and fun!
Each house earns points throughout the year by winning competitions, as well as through exhibiting leadership, following virtues, and by being an excellent student. At the end of the year, the house with the most points wins the coveted House Cup!
Clubs
Middle School students at SFCS also participate in an extracurricular club once a week during 8th period. These clubs consist of 6th-8th grade students. Club offerings vary by semester, but some examples of previous clubs are: Yearbook, Gardening, Chess, Sports Marketing, Genius Club and Game Club.
Yearbook is a yearlong club, but students in other clubs have an opportunity to be in a different club for the second semester. Clubs are facilitated by SFCS faculty and staff.
Clubs are an excellent way for middle school students to build community and learn a new hobby and make some new friends!
Note: The Diocesan Religion Curriculum was revised in 2018 and is being implemented as a work-in-progress.
The former Religion curriculum can be found here.
