The ultimate goal of the Lourdes Academy Upper School program (grades 5-8) is to prepare each student for success during the high school years. The core curriculum consists of Mathematics, English, Science, and Social Studies along with religion and special subjects. Students are given the opportunity to explore Spanish via Florida Virtual School in grades 7 and 8. 
In Religion at the Upper School level, students grow in understanding of our triune God and His desire for us to live in Him. Students explore the Church, its traditions and its Sacred Tradition, and the Bible with a view to knowing God and understanding His will at a deeper level. Students are encouraged to take even more active roles in weekly Masses and to join our parish Middle School Youth Ministry program, EDGE (grades 6-8). In Mathematics, high performing students pursue Pre-Algebra in the seventh grade and high school Algebra in the eighth grade. The Pre-Algebra program for all other students begins in grade six and builds with each grade level. Separate course levels are offered only in grades 7 and 8. Mathematics is supplemented by student participation in math enrichment through Accelerated Math. In English, grammar and literature are used to reinforce writing skills for each student. Each Upper School teacher focuses on form and function so that writing skills are reinforced across the curriculum. Students complete research papers for Science and Social Studies classes. Literature exposes students to a wide variety of literary forms including plays, poetry, novel studies, and great works of fiction. Students learn the basic elements of plot, character, and theme, and become versed in the completion of character studies. All of our Upper School students participate in our Accelerated Reader Program in order to enhance their reading comprehension skill and in our Accelerated Math program to enhance mathematics fluency. Integrated Science is taught in all grade levels. Concepts in earth, physical, life, and general science are taught and reviewed each year in an interactive learning program. The Social Studies curriculum seeks to promote citizenship and an understanding of our relationship with the world around us. The curriculum includes World Civilizations at the sixth grade level, Geography at the seventh grade level, and American History through the Civil War at the eighth grade level. Each level incorporates current events into lessons by way of discussion and by reading the newspaper or researching pertinent topics on the Internet. Literature classes frequently read works pertinent to the time period being studied in History classes to provide for an interdisciplinary view of events. |
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Curriculum >
Upper School |