Grade 7 Curriculum Overview
	Mission The mission of Holy Spirit Episcopal School is to provide a unique and outstanding high school preparatory education, which combines the best traditions of learning with relevant and contemporary programs that promote excellence in scholarship, richness of soul, godly character, and physical well-being.   Core Values   A heart stands for our loving, nurturing, joyful environment, which is essential to the healthy development of our students.   A sunburst represents our spirit of optimism and a commitment to diversity, which prepare our students for the larger world.   An open book symbolizes our strong, research-based academic programs, which combine traditional and experiential learning methods.   A leaf signifies enrichment and growth through offerings that allow each student to follow their unique path.   These elements are bound together by the symbol of the cross, in recognition of the strong core of faith-based character that we strive to build in every member of our school community.   Introduction  Seventh grade is the first year of preparation for the transition to high school. Students continue to do all of the same things they did in sixth grade: wear the same uniform, attend classes according to the middle school daily schedule, attend most classes on the second floor of the middle school building, run for an office on the Student Council, elect class representatives that attend all of the middle school Student Council meetings, attend middle school assemblies, attend middle school dances, try out for Junior Varsity and Varsity sports, and use locks on their lockers in the locker rooms as well as their upstairs lockers. In addition, students begin taking semester exams. The seventh grade teachers actively support students in understanding how to prepare for semester exams and help them develop the self-discipline and study habits that will enable them to make a successful transition to high school.   Curriculum   The seventh grade integrated language arts program provides a comprehensive literature, writing, grammar, and vocabulary program that incorporates extensive student research and utilizes a variety of technology in producing presentations. Novels utilized have settings all over the world and integrate with the study of modern world history. Class discussions focus on plot analysis, character motivation, and literary technique, which enhance the students’ ability to distinguish factual, inferential, and experiential information. Grammar concepts and rules are studied and then applied to editing and proofreading. Diagramming is taught to provide students with a visual way of understanding word relationships within sentences. In vocabulary, Greek and Latin prefixes and roots are studied systematically. Thesauruses are utilized to study more precise connotations to specific vocabulary within the context of applying it to student writing. Descriptive, narrative, expository, and persuasive writing techniques and styles along with a variety of poetry forms are studied over the course of the year. Each student is required to “take to publication” at least one writing within each style. An annotated formal research paper utilizing multiple resources is required.     The middle school math program systematically distributes instruction, practice and assessment of related concepts and skills throughout the academic year as opposed to concentrating the instruction, practice and assessment of individual concepts and skills into a short period of time. This distributed approach produces significantly higher levels of student learning than in programs with a chapter-based approach. The frequent, cumulative assessments used in our math program evaluate both the acquisition and retention of content. This unique approach to math instruction ensures that students not only gain but also retain essential math knowledge and skills. The seventh grade math program, which includes honors prealgebra and honors algebra courses, provides a broad yet solid foundation in both algebra and geometry while building a bridge from the concrete to the abstract. The prealgebra math curriculum expands students’ understanding of and ability to work with powers and roots, rates and ratios, number systems, measurement (including unit conversions within the same system), geometry, algebraic concepts and procedures, equations and functions, complex graphing, statistics and data analysis, and simple and compound probability. Through the algebra math curriculum, students learn to work with and graph linear equations and more complex relationships; explore finite and infinite sets and subsets; convert units between English and metric systems; work with more complex exponents, roots, and complex fractions, as well as radical, polynomial, and rational expressions; solve linear, quadratic and other types of equations; understand, manipulate and evaluate a variety of functions; and expand their understanding of and skills in geometry.   Math instruction includes whole class, small group, and individualized activities. Students are active learners who are challenged to apply their prior knowledge and experience in new and increasingly difficult situations. In addition, measurement, statistics, data analysis, and problem-solving strategies are integrated into science activities, providing authentic purposes for using mathematics in the pursuit of scientific discoveries.   New students are placed in either the honors prealgebra or algebra class based on sixth grade grades, knowledge of math facts, work habits, stanines on standardized math subtests such as the Stanford 10, and a placement exam. Students may move between the two classes as needed throughout their middle school education.     Seventh grade life science challenges students to discover the biosphere, the living world, and to seek answers to the basic questions of biology. This course includes the study of microbiology, ecosystems, invertebrates and vertebrates. The organizing structure for the year's studies is the manner in which organisms carry out the basic functions of life in relationship to themselves, other organisms, and the nonliving world. The experimental methods of hypothesizing, observing, measuring, graphing, predicting outcomes, and forming conclusions are practiced at this level. Approximately 40% of the classes are labs based on the scientific concept being studied.     The seventh grade ECO-link trip is a five-day experience at Camp Redcloud, a year-round Christian camp located deep in the heart of the San Juan Mountains in Southwestern Colorado. This trip draws upon all the skills and understandings developed during the 4th through 6th grade trips and applies them to a mountain ecosystem. Some of the most exciting activities include horseback riding, rock climbing and rappelling, canoeing, and star gazing. Throughout the trip, students develop leadership and teamwork skills as well as self-confidence through challenges and daily activities.     Modern world history at the seventh grade level emphasizes the geographic, political, economic, religious, social, intellectual, and artistic factors of modern world history. Students are encouraged to develop an historical imagination and also the skills needed for comprehensive critical thinking. The textbook is augmented with videos, dramatizations, “virtual tours,” and other resources that help students identify with people and events.     Spanish is considered a core subject and is taught through an experiential approach that includes interactive conversations, skits, videos, technology, and written activities. Since a familiarity with Spanish-speaking countries enhances the motivation for learning the language and provides a global perspective, Holy Spirit has carefully developed a sister-school relationship with St. Michael Archangel School in San Jose, Costa Rica. Our students have contact with the Costa Rican children through the sharing of class projects and an annual student exchange program in grades five through eight.     The health and fitness program provides an opportunity for students to acquire lifetime skills, knowledge, and positive attitudes toward their health and physical well-being. Individual physical conditioning, coordination and fitness, team sports, and health education are integral parts of our program.     During seventh grade Christian education, students examine the lives of Bible characters to discover biblical principles regarding friendship, enabling students to develop wise judgment in choosing friends according to guidelines given in Scripture. In addition, students develop an understanding of how to be a better friend. The qualities of faithfulness and loyalty, especially as they relate to friendship, are explored. Students identify and understand ways they are influenced by friends and other peers and learn how to stand firm in the Lord, regardless of influence from peers.     Elective classes consist of a variety of choices which may include (but are not limited to) speech, debate, art, graphic design and visual arts, performing arts, techno-theater, and web design. All middle school students have the opportunity to participate in the middle school play that is presented in April. Our goal is to provide a wide range of experiences that may spark an interest in students that they may choose to explore in more depth in high school.     Technology is integrated throughout the entire seventh grade program. Students use Microsoft Word™ and Power Point™ to generate reports, tables, presentations, and other written or visual products. They also use Microsoft Access™ to develop data bases and Excel™ to construct data tables and various types of graphs. Seventh graders use the Internet as one of several sources to collect information for research and other class activities, as well as a means for taking “virtual field trips” and participating in simulations and hands-on activities related to units of study in the classroom. Students also may elect to take one or more technology elective courses.     All middle school students have an advisory period at the beginning of the day, which includes chapel on most Tuesdays and Thursdays. The purpose of an advisory period is to further develop students’ social, emotional, and spiritual growth. Students study a multitude of desirable attributes and how they can develop these within themselves. The specific attributes are rotated through a three-year cycle. This year students will focus on the virtues of: Self-discipline—Self-control, self-restraint, self-reliance, independence Choices and Accountability—Making decisions, accepting consequences, being responsible for your choices Empathy—Understanding, compassion, charity, sensitivity, concern Honesty—Truthfulness, sincerity, honor, fairness, trustworthiness, being genuine Leadership—Setting a good example, leading others, being a good follower Courage—Bravery, boldness, daring, confidence, resolve Conservation—Preservation, thriftiness, moderation Homework Homework assignments are an integral part of the seventh grader’s education. Its purpose is to provide reinforcement and extension of understandings and skills introduced in class. On average, students should plan to spend 70 to 105 minutes per day during the school week to complete homework, work on extended assignments (independent reading, essays, research projects, extensive readings), and study for exams. Students are expected to spend a minimum of ten minutes per subject every night reviewing the material presented in class. They need to plan their time judiciously to complete extended assignments. Even though homework is listed on our website (www.hses.org), students are expected to keep their school-issued planners up-to-date with daily assignments, tests, quizzes, and future projects. Blackout dates are listed on the school calendar when no homework is to be assigned.   Athletics  Holy Spirit believes that athletics are an important part of the student’s physical, mental, and spiritual education. Even though striving to be the best we can be and winning are desirable parts of any athletic program, the development of the athletes’ skills, sportsmanship, and leadership qualities are also major objectives. We strive for our athletes to enjoy the athletic experience with the hope that the continued involvement in athletics and fitness will be a lifelong pursuit for each of them.   Holy Spirit Episcopal School offers competition in coed soccer and girls’ volleyball in the fall, boys’ and girls’ basketball in the winter, and boys’ baseball, girls’ softball, and coed track in the spring. The sports of soccer, volleyball, and basketball have junior varsity and varsity teams. Baseball, track, and softball only have varsity teams.   Conclusion  Seventh grade is a busy and exciting year at Holy Spirit Episcopal School. Through a challenging curriculum, children move into increasingly more complex disciplines. As opportunities for extra-curricular activities increase in and outside of school (such as competitive athletics, dance, music, etc.), students must learn how to make choices in order to maintain a balanced life. Students are given more responsibilities at school that require the development of self-discipline. In addition, seventh graders are taught how to prepare for and successfully take semester exams as part of their preparation for high school. The middle school faculty and administration, together with the students’ parents, work as a team to help each student reach his or her academic, physical, emotional, and spiritual potential and strive to make this year memorable and cherished.