SIXTH GRADE - Homeroom Teacher, Miss 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. Reber teaches sixth-grade science and religion, Mrs. Bailey teaches 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!
7TH GRADE - Homeroom Teacher, Mrs. Reber
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.
It has been my pleasure to teach, guide, and inspire the middle schoolers here at Immaculate Conception Academy. We are blessed to have such a wonderful group of students and families. I promise to do everything in my power to uphold our school’s motto of love, learning, and leadership
8TH GRADE - Homeroom Teacher, Mrs. Bailey
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.
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.