Middle school is a time of rapid growth and increasing independence. Our middle school program challenges students academically while guiding them through important social and personal development.
With a balance of structured learning, exploration, and mentorship, students strengthen critical thinking, build responsibility, and develop a clear sense of identity grounded in a Christ-centered worldview.
Instruction reinforces sentence structure and the parts of speech. Application of the writing process elevates to composition of personal narratives, newspaper editorials, essays, and other creative writing projects. Novel studies emphasize the importance of historical and cultural context of literature, create interest in learning, and expose students to real-world problems and biblical solutions.
Emphasizes mastery of sentence structure, parts of speech, vocabulary, and language usage. The literature units are compiled by themes, such as love, community, and justice, and include a variety of short stories, poetry, and speeches to emphasize the literary elements, themes, and devices that the authors use to communicate. Writing assignments, book reports, and discussions provide opportunities for practical application of grammar, vocabulary, and literature studies.
Builds on the basics of grammar, stressing a more complex sentence structure than previously learned. Evaluates various literature stories for applicable lessons, writing styles used by the author, and literary devices. Integrates grammar and literature into compositions including creative writing, persuasive writing, literary analysis, and formal/informal essays. Through all aspects of study, the course incorporates technology to enhance learning and prepare students for high school.
Lesson topics include geometry and the application of operations and properties to whole numbers, fractions and decimals. Instruction in pre-algebra extends to ratios, percents, and integers.
Includes a review of 6th grade material mixed with an introduction to the basics of high school math. Reviews the concepts of whole numbers, decimals, integers, and fractions and includes the beginning study of algebra and geometry along with ratios, percents, measurement, probability, and statistics.
Pre-Algebra covers a variety of mathematical concepts, including the geometric topics of perimeter, area and volume. Most of the topics are important preparation for algebra—integers, percent, equations, inequalities, graphing, slope, intercepts, polynomials, and operations with radicals.
Qualifying students take Pre-Algebra during seventh grade and Algebra I or Algebra I: Honors in eighth grade. Information on those classes is available here.
Covers foundational topics in earth science, biology, physics, chemistry, and space science. Highlights evidence for creation, ways to use science to love others, and the awesome character of God. Includes many hands-on activities and encourages the development of problem-solving skills.
Consists of a basic survey of biology, including the cell, genetics, creation versus evolution, the kingdoms of organisms, and human anatomy and physiology. Involves some limited lab opportunities, including dissection and the use of microscopes. Requires an insect collection at the beginning of the school year.
Studies God’s glory in creation. Consists of a study of the heavens and the earth’s motions, including topics such as instruments of astronomy, telescopes, the solar system, stars, galaxies, nebulae and other objects of the universe. Examines the oceans and the ground water system. Focuses also on meteorology, geology, creation versus evolution, earthquakes and volcanoes. Involves a small rock collection and a rocketry project.
Gives the first look at a historian’s perspective of history beginning with Creation. Teaches about early civilizations through the Middle Ages in Europe. Instructs how to defend our faith against other world religions. Uses maps, archaeological evidence, historical records, and more to learn about the features of each civilization.
Covers the history of the world from the Middle Ages to the present. Uses current events throughout the year to illustrate “history happening now.” Includes a significant emphasis on past and current world geography.
Covers the time period of American history starting with the earliest European exploration of America through the current day. Emphasizes the development of the political philosophies that drove the founding of the democratic Republic, weaving in the history of the religious influences of each time period. Deals in depth with the Constitution and the elections and administrations of the various presidents, including developments and wars, inventions, and progress toward a modern and prosperous civilization.
Redemption: God’s Grand Design. Students will trace God’s redemptive plan from Creation through the Fall and culminating in His death on the cross. They will use resources including cross-references, concordances, Bible dictionaries, and Bible commentaries to discover His grand design to use men and women to accomplish His plan.
The Story of the Old Testament. Focuses on giving each student an overview of the big story of Scripture. Throughout the course, students will study and recognize the big story, Creation, Fall, and Redemption, in the Old Testament in individual narratives, and they will develop an understanding of the Old Testament’s application to the New Testament. Ultimately, students will learn to conduct their own, independent Bible studies as they gain principles of hermeneutics and an understanding of biblical theology.
The Life of Christ. Bible 8 employs a theological approach to studying the Bible as students follow the unified biblical story of Creation, Fall, and Redemption, with an emphasis on the Gospels and the life of Christ. This course prepares students to live like Christ in the context of our modern culture, teaching them crucial Bible study skills for interpretation and application.
Focuses on learning the basic rules and fundamentals of team sports such as basketball, volleyball and soccer. Incorporates fitness activities and games. Divided by gender.
This foundational course is designed to equip middle school students with the essential skills needed for a successful and confident transition into middle school life. Through engaging lessons and practical activities, students will develop strong executive functioning skills-including organization, time management, planning, and self-monitoring-while building effective study habits and note-taking strategies.
The course also explores key aspects of middle school student life alongside practical technology knowledge to support learning and digital citizenship. By the end of the course, students will feel more prepared, organized, and empowered to navigate the academic and personal demands of middle school with greater independence and success.
A basic introduction to art through a variety of hands-on activities. Explores media such as drawing, painting, printmaking, clay, assemblages, and kinetic sculptures. A project-based class that scratches the surface of available media and techniques. Designed to spark an interest and excitement in the visual arts.
Develops music literacy, sight-reading skill, proper ringing technique, multiple-bell techniques, and appropriate rehearsal and concert decorum. Students play six octaves of Malmark handbells and Choirchimes® and two octaves of Silver Melody Bells™, plus a variety of percussion instruments.
First Semester
Students will use case material from the SC BAR Association to prepare for trial competition at the regional and state level. Competitions will be held on Saturdays in November and December and will be adjudicated by members of the State Bar. Students will have the opportunity to learn the roles of attorneys, witnesses, bailiff, timekeeper, and understudy.
Second Semester
Competitive Speech is a Performance class to prepare students for high school speech and debate. The class will cover the basic elements of public speaking and interpretation. Students will have the option of joining the Academy Speech and Debate team on Saturdays at local tournaments second semester.
Events covered in Interpretation will include the following: Children’s Storytelling, Prose Reading, Poetry Reading, and Programmed Oral Interpretation
Focuses on learning the basic rules and fundamentals of team sports such as basketball, volleyball and soccer. Incorporates fitness activities and games.
Students learn 21st century skills – collaboration, creativity, problem solving, and critical thinking – as they apply the engineering process to build competitive robots. Students compete in out-of-the-box robots, modified robots, or super modified robots depending on their age and aptitude.
This class utilizes Project Based Learning, PBL. Students must be able to follow diagrams, schematics, build instructions and work independently as a team. Students use the VEX Robotics® platform to design, build, program, and logbook competitive robots.
Competition and Fees
A 50-minute period for students to work independently on their homework. On days students have no homework, they will be required to read silently.
A basic introduction to art through a variety of hands-on activities. Explores media such as drawing, painting, printmaking, clay, assemblages, and kinetic sculptures. A project-based class that scratches the surface of available media and techniques. Designed to spark an interest and excitement in the visual arts.
Students study and develop music performance and theory concepts, supported by method books and concert music.
Welcomes any student who has a love for singing. Daily class provides the opportunity for students to grow in their musical knowledge of basic choral technique, solfege, and music theory. The choir sings both sacred and secular choral literature, and has opportunity to use music to bring joy to others and glory to God.
Develops music literacy, sight-reading skill, proper ringing technique, multiple-bell techniques, and appropriate rehearsal and concert decorum. No previous ringing or instrumental experience is required; students who do not yet read music may join, provided they are willing to learn how to read music during class. Students play six octaves of Malmark handbells and Choirchimes® and two octaves of Silver Melody Bells™, plus a variety of percussion instruments.
Reinforces the basic string-playing abilities acquired at the beginning level. Introduces new bowing, fingering and rhythmic techniques. Refines intonation and ensemble-playing abilities. Emphasizes understanding of basic music theory and the string instruments.
Focuses on learning the basic rules and fundamentals of team sports such as basketball, volleyball and soccer. Incorporates fitness activities and games.
Students learn 21st century skills – collaboration, creativity, problem solving, and critical thinking – as they apply the engineering process to build competitive robots. Students compete in out-of-the-box robots, modified robots, or super modified robots depending on their age and aptitude.
This class utilizes Project Based Learning, PBL. Students must be able to follow diagrams, schematics, build instructions and work independently as a team. Students use the VEX Robotics® platform to design, build, program, and logbook competitive robots.
Competition and Fees
Uses the platform of communication and drama to develop personal skills in effective speaking, organized thinking, team work, and confidence building. Creative and improvisational assignments are designed to improve individual performance and collaborative skills. Students will be engaged in activities that will encourage learning through movement and acting activities, character analysis, field trips, and the creative process for costume, set and lighting design. Public speaking opportunities will include informative and persuasive speeches designed to improve the skills of speech delivery, content outlining and critical thinking.
A 50-minute period for students to work independently on their homework. On days students have no homework, they will be required to read silently.
