Middle School 6th, 7th & 8th Grades

Dear Parent/Guardians:

Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year! Below is a comprehensive school supply list for the upcoming school year. Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact your child’s homeroom teacher.

Students who have all their supplies on the first day of school will receive a surprise!

Milk crate (check Staples and Wal-Mart for sales)
5 jumbo-sized book socks
1 small-sized book sock (eighth grade only)
Planner for writing homework
Soft pencil case filled with the following:
Sharpened pencils (2 packs)
Black pens (Frixion erasable pens preferred)
Red pens
Highlighter (1 pack)
Dry erase markers (1 pack)
Ruler
Scissors
Small pack of colored pencils/ coloring supplies (Crayola preferred)
Glue stick
Rosary
1″ or 1.5″ 3- ring binder that has a slip pocket on the front (seventh grade only)
A pack of 20 sheet protectors (seventh grade only)
1 Accordion file folder with at least eight pockets (see picture)
6 college ruled marble copy books
Black – ILA
Red – SS
Yellow – religion
Blue – math
Green – spelling
Smock for art class
Sketchbook for art class
Clear contact paper to cover workbooks. (Please do not send in.)
Box of tissues
Roll of paper towels
Hand sanitizer and/or antibacterial wipes (These are greatly appreciated. Thank you!)

Thank you, and God bless you,
Miss Miranda Le
Mrs. Melinda Burkman
Miss Kimberly Beyer

SIXTH GRADE - Homeroom Teacher, Miss Kimberly Beyer

Sixth grade is an exciting time in a student’s educational career. In keeping with our school motto of love, learning, and leadership, sixth grade is a year of many firsts. Students will switch classes for the first time. Sixth grade also sees advancement in the curriculum and teachers’ expectations of students. Students will have Miss Beyer for English, reading, spelling, vocab, and writing. Mrs. Burkman teaches sixth-grade science and religion, Miss. Le & Mrs. Munter teach sixth-grade math, and Mrs. Harrigan teaches social studies. We set high academic and personal standards for our students. 

Middle schoolers are role models for younger students. Sixth grade will have first-grade prayer partners. The students will guide the first-graders in their mass devotion as well as meeting for fun activities throughout the school year. 

Sixth grade also has more responsibility than in previous years. Sixth graders participate in voting for ICA’s Board of Student Council. This important group of students determines goals and shapes our school year. Students in sixth grade can also participate in the Student Council by running for classroom representative and mission representative. 

Academically, students study a variety of topics. In reading, students will read class novels as well as independent and small group novels. Students will learn how to write descriptive, persuasive, and research essays. Vocabulary and spelling lessons are every other week. In science, students will complete many hands-on labs to help them understand more profound concepts about the world around them. The math program is divided into a regular sixth-grade curriculum and an advanced group to enrich those students who can move at a faster pace. Social studies lessons are full of exciting facts and in-depth projects to help students become more involved in world history. 

The middle school years are essential in shaping your child’s future. I’m proud to be a middle school teacher and help your child along their journey!

As we continue to strive for excellence in our classrooms, we are excited to announce that our dedicated teachers have created Amazon Wishlists to enhance their classroom supplies and resources.

Miss. Beyer’s Wishlist – https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1FCG545DMZ40J?ref_=wl_share

7TH GRADE - Homeroom Teacher - Mrs. Melinda Burkman

Welcome to 7th Grade.

7th grade is an exciting time in a student’s life. It is a year of tremendous growth academically, spiritually, and maturity wise. It is my goal as the 7th grade teacher to guide all of my students in any manner that will provide them the most success in their 7th grade year at Immaculate Conception Academy.

 

Curriculum-

7th grade is a transition year where students are expected to take on more responsibility and a more active role in their academic pursuit. Students begin to prepare to receive the sacrament of Confirmation. In their preparations, they take on an active role in community service, get to grow in their spiritual life, and take steps to receive the gift of the holy spirit. The 7th grade students organize and run a school wide charity event, “Cookies and Cocoa Because We Care” around Christmas to help families in need. During religion not only are students preparing for Confirmation but they are examining the New Testament. 7th graders are also preparing themselves to be the future leaders of the Academy.

 

Science curriculum focuses on the body systems, chemistry and physics. The students are provided with a highly engaged class environment by participating in lab experiences, such as dissections, problem solving activities, and class projects.

 

Highlights of the year- 7th grade is an exciting fast paced year with many exciting opportunities. Students attend field day at Berks Catholic High School. They are in charge of running our school wide field day in the spring. They do charitable work through the “Cookies and Cocoa Because We Care” event. The 7th grade girls attend a Career Day at Penn State Berks. We take field trips to places like, The Franklin Institute, Adventure Aquarium, Turkey Hill Experience, and  Angora Farms. Through these field trips students can apply their classroom knowledge to the real world.

 

 

As we continue to strive for excellence in our classrooms, we are excited to announce that our dedicated teachers have created Amazon Wishlists to enhance their classroom supplies and resources.

Mrs. Burkman’s Wishlist – https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/PTOZJC1Y3ZR0?ref_=wl_share

8TH GRADE - Homeroom Teacher, Miss Miranda Le

Welcome to 8th Grade at ICA!  

8th-grade is a very busy year for the students, both academically and socially.  Our Eighth graders are looked at to be the leaders of the school; from the Student Council Executive Board, to showing their kindergarten prayer partners how to behave and participate in church.  Academically, the 8th graders are preparing for their transition to high school.

Curriculum

As part of the middle school, the 8th-grade travels between the 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade classrooms to receive all of their core curricula.  Religion focuses on the Church; It’s life and History with the highlights of the year:  Receiving Confirmation and preparing and presenting The Living Stations. Science explores matter and energy, chemical and nuclear reactions, earth science, and the solar system.  8th grade engages in many experiments to bring science to life, including individual participation in the ICA Science Fair. Social Studies covers American History from settlement and colonization through the revolution and ends with the Civil War.  Language Arts consists of spelling, vocabulary, grammar, and writing, including the research, writing, and proper documentation of bibliography for the science fair report.  8th Grade Math is divided into two sections, Fundamentals of Algebra and Honors Algebra. Miss Le and Mrs. Munter both teach math. 

Responsibility

As part of their Math and Social Studies learning this year, the middle school students will be part of a program called My Classroom Economy.  This program teaches children financial responsibility through fun, experimental learning. It is a simple classroom economic system based on the idea that students need to earn school ‘dollars’ so they can rent their own desks and pay bills.  By bringing real-world scenarios into the classroom, students see the impact of their decisions to save, spend, and budget. Students will learn how to deposit and withdraw money from the bank and write checks as well as the difference between needs and wants as related to household budgets, supply and demand, and goods and services.  For more information, visit www.myclassroomeconomy.org.

Personal Growth

ICA offers our 8th Grade students the opportunity to become the natural leaders of the student body.  They host several events during the year (The Annual Santa Breakfast and The Annual Talent Show) where they work as a team to make both events a wonderful experience for the younger members of our Immaculate Conception family.  ICA truly is a place where they can use their faith in all aspects of love, learning, and leadership.

 

Math Expectations and Curriculum: 5th Grade: Strengthening multiplication and division skills Problem solving and strategies to tackle Word Problems Expressions and Equations, Fractions, Proportional Relationships, Probabilities, Geometry, Perimeter and Area Middle School: Strengthen basic math facts of multiplication and division; strengthen math skills of fractions, decimals, and percent Build knowledge of Rational Numbers, Variable Expressions, Statistics and Probability through different types of graphs 

6th Grade: Common Factors (GCF and LCM), Perimeter and Area, Fractions, and Function Tables 

7th Grade: Proportional Relationships, Expressions and Equations, Function Tables, Linear Inequalities, Graphing, and Geometry 

8th Grade: Geometry, Linear Equations, Graphing Proportional Relationships, Pythagorean Theorem, Volume, and Functions and Relations 

8th Grade Milestones: Receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation, Field Trips to Berks Catholic for bonding and shadowing high schools students, Participating in Fun Run, Hosting Santa Breakfast, Mathlete Competitions in the Fall and Spring, Graduation NYC Trip in the Spring!

Teacher Bio

My name is Miranda Le and I teach Math for grades 5-8 and Social Studies for grade 8. I am also in charge of the Homework Club Elective offered to middle school students.
I began my teaching career right here at Immaculate Conception Academy. I began my career as a math aide working alongside the previous eighth-grade teacher. After my first year at ICA, I decided to continue my career here. I teach math to students in grades 5-8.
I graduated from Berks Catholic High School in 2014. I received my Bachelors of Arts in Education: Middle School Mathematics at Alvernia University.
I took a very active role while at Alvernia in the Pi Lambda Theta National Honors Society for Educators, Delta Epsilon Sigma National Scholastic Honors Society, as the Public Relations Chair for Lambda Sigma Honors Society, as a Member of Alvernia University Education Association, and I graduated Magna Cum Laude. 
 
My teaching philosophy-
I believe that each student has a set of qualities and characteristics that sets them apart from others. Those traits that each child carries should be used as an opportunity to push them towards success rather than thrown to the side. Each child has a natural talent and skill which I believe should be used as a strength rather than a weakness. I believe providing a safe, open, and caring environment for my students where they can be comfortable asking and answering questions is important. I will make sure that my students know that they should not be afraid to raise their hands to ask me questions or come up to me when they are confused or having trouble. One of my goals for my students is to help expand their knowledge and learn to their fullest potential. What knowledge and skills my students learn within my classroom, I hope they can relate to real life situations which will prepare them for the future. With classroom projects, assignments, and open discussions, I hope to open my students’ minds to the many different views and opinions. While teaching my students to look at things in a different perspective, I will also be doing the same. Although I am the teacher, I will look forward to learning from my students. To be a good teacher, I believe one also has to be a good learner. The characteristic of being a life-long learner can open one to many opportunities. Therefore, I hope to teach them to become life-long learners. I hope to instill a zeal for learning within my students’ minds and hearts. Lastly, but just as important, I hope to take part in building my students’ confidence in themselves. I want to teach my students that if they put their mind to something they can accomplish it. I hope to teach them to set short-term and long-term goals that will guide them towards a bright and successful future.

As we continue to strive for excellence in our classrooms, we are excited to announce that our dedicated teachers have created Amazon Wishlists to enhance their classroom supplies and resources.

Miss. Le’s Wishlist – https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1AWZYN1S0XK3H?ref_=wl_share