Catholic Middle School (Grades 6 – 8)

St. Joseph is a Private Middle School in Mountain View, CA, offering students a Catholic-faith based education. We have programs from TK through Grade 8.

We strive to balance traditional studies with physical education and arts, rooted in the Catholic faith. Our Catholic middle school programs from grades 6 to 8 will ensure your children gain a well-rounded education that sets them on a path to excel in high school, college, and the real world.

 

Our Fundamentals

The St. Joseph middle school curriculum builds upon the fundamentals that students learn during their time in our elementary school programs. In our middle school program, we integrate critical thinking and collaborative projects so that students discover the value of both independent thinking and working together.

We help develop every child’s potential through social, character, and emotional development balanced with a push to inspire and challenge them to ask big questions about the real world beyond the classroom walls. Learning from experience, and gaining the necessary skills for their future is one of our most important goals. And our previous experience over many years in education has proven to equip students with what they need to succeed.

Middle school students are immersed in our core knowledge and faith areas like language arts, mathematics, music, physical education, religion, science, social studies.

Middle school students are encouraged to examine all sides of a problem, ask questions to gain information, and work to create the right solution to a problem individually and collaboratively.

Studying skills, learning skills, and completing homework are essential to success at St. Joseph, but our students find joy in the challenge with the right motivation.

Catholic Middle School Academic Facts

At St. Joseph, maintaining a balance between typical studies with fine arts, physical education, and Catholic faith is our focus in order to give our students the well-rounded education they need. Our goal as a private middle school is to set our students on a path to excel in their future studies in high school, college, and beyond. This is one of the reasons why our academic statistics are so strong compared to other options in the area.

Catholic Middle School Academic Achievement

At St. Joseph School, are proud to share our most recent academic data with you. The graphs below share St. Joseph School’s February 2020 STAR testing data to the end of the 2019 school year CAASPP data of our nearby district, county and state. Our private middle school education programs excel beyond the other schools in the local area.


 

 

Middle School Awards

Awards are a way for us to recognize special achievements and instill motivation in all of our students. St. Joseph School awards various levels of performance with certificates, such as Honors, Principal’s List, and Perfect Attendance to students in grades 6 to 8. In addition to these awards, students have the opportunity to earn recognition for Christian service in the middle school Service Block for students in grades 6 to 8.

Perfect Attendance (6-8)

  • given to students who have no unexcused absences or unexcused tardies during the trimester.

Honors (6-8)

  • awarded to students who earn a 3.5-3.79 G.P.A. in Religion, Reading, Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies with no grade lower than a B-
  • a passing grade in P.E, Art and Music
  • Meets Expectations (M), Approaching Expectations (AE) in all General Behavior Expectations

Principal’s List (6-8)

  • awarded to students who earn a 3.8-4.0 G.P.A. in Religion, Reading, Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies with no grade lower than a A-
  • a passing grade in P.E., Art, and Music
  • Meets or Exceeds Expectations (M) in all General Behavior Expectations

The grade point scale for determining Honors and Principal’s List is as follows:

A  4.0     B+ 3.3     C+ 2.3     D+ 1.3

A- 3.7     B  3.0     C  2.0     D  1.0

B- 2.7     C- 1.7     D- 0.7

A student suspended during a trimester or on behavioral probation is not eligible for Honors, Principal’s List, or Young Christian Awards for that trimester.

Report Cards

Report cards are issued three times a year in Grades 6-8.

Accessing Student Grades

Parents and students in grades 6-8 can view grades online using PowerSchool.

Grades 6 – 8:

Diocesan Grading Scale/Standard Report Interpretation

A (93-100) A- (90-92) B+ (87-89) B (83-86) B- (80-82)

C+ (77-79) C (73-76) C- (70-72) D+ (67-69) D (63-66)

D- (60-62) F (< 59) P (Pass) NP (No Pass)

A (Very Good) B (Good) C (Satisfactory) D (Unsatisfactory/Below Grade Level) F (Failed)

√ (Improvement needed in subsection checked) , NG (Not Graded). P (Pass) NP (No Pass)

Explore Our Catholic Middle School Programs & Curriculum

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Art

  • Grades TK-8 have art once a week. The students learn to make many different types of art such as ceramics, sketching, water coloring, oil pastels, chalk pastels, printing, and much more. The art created by the students is always showcased throughout the school.

Language Arts Curriculum

6th Grade

  • “Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Book” Publisher – McDougal Little
  • “Spelling Sourcebook for 6th Graders” Publisher – Egger Publishing
  • “Vocabulary Workbook – Level A” Publisher – Sadler
  • Application – Lexia and Reading Plus

7th Grade

  • “Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Book” Publisher – McDougal Little
  • “Spelling Sourcebook for 7th Graders” Publisher – Egger Publishing
  • “Vocabulary Workbook – Level B” Publisher – Sadler
  • Application – Lexia, and Reading Plus

8th Grade

  • “Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Book” Publisher – McDougall Little
  • “Spelling Sourcebook for 8th Graders” Publisher – Egger Publishing
  • “Vocabulary Workbook – Level C” Publisher – Sadler
  • Application – Lexia, and Reading Plus

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Mathematics Curriculum

6th Grade

  • 6th Grade General & Advanced Math – “Big Ideas Math” – Publisher – Big Ideas Learning, LLC.
  • Application – ALEKS and Mathletics

7th Grade

  • Grade 7 – “Big Ideas Math” – Publisher – Big Ideas Learning, LLC.
  • Application – ALEKS and Mathletics

8th Grade

  • Top five students go to Saint Francis High School Algebra 1 Honors
  • Algebra 1 – “Big Ideas Math: Algebra 1” – Publisher – Big Ideas Learning, LLC.
  • 8th Grade Math including Pre-Algebra – “Big Ideas Math: Course 3” – Publisher – Big Ideas Learning, LLC.
  • Application – ALEKS and Mathletics

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Music Curriculum

Music

Available for all grades
All students participate in two performances a year: one at Christmas and one in the Spring.

Instrumental Music

Available for grades 6th – 8th
Beginning-Advanced Instrumental program offered after school.

Choir

Available for grades 6th – 8th
St. Joseph School has enjoyed a robust Choir program for many years. Mr. Joseph Pigg volunteers his time to work with and teach over 30 students, at 7:00 a.m. to 7:45 Friday mornings to help students with the complexities and beauty of Christian music. Our choir sings at all of the school Masses as well as once a month at the Family Mass held at our Parish, St. Joseph Church. They also compete in the Choir festival in April, held by the Diocese. Any 4th-8th student is welcome to join.

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Music Curriculum

“Why Teach Physical Education?”

Physical education contributes to every student’s health and well-being, and it’s an instructional priority for California schools. Every student is entitled to a high-quality physical education program providing every student with the opportunity to develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence necessary to lead a physically active lifestyle.

Motor Skill Development

Most students do not develop the proper technique or understanding of movement and motor skills on their own, and that’s why proficiency in movement and motor skills allows greater enjoyment when one participates in individual and team sports. Also, proficiency in sports carries over to other life skills.

Lesson Plan

FALL

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER

  • Orientation
  • Games-Color Tag
  • Football, Throwing & Catching
  • Football, Punting, Kicking & Flag Pulling
  • Trash Can Football with Flags
  • Fort Knox, Capture the Chicken, Cat & Mouse Dodgeball

OCTOBER

  • Hot/Cold Water Dodge Ball
  • Softball, Throwing & Catching
  • Softball, Hitting Instructions, Tee Hitting
  • Softball Games

NOVEMBER

  • Soccer, Dribbling, Kicking, Throw-Ins, Passing
  • Soccer, Sharks & Minnows( K-4), KOC Free Throw Contest(5-8)
  • Soccer Games
  • Presidential Physical Fitness Testing I(Pull-ups) & Team Handball

WINTER

DECEMBER

  • Presidential Physical Fitness Testing II(Shuttle Run)
  • Giant Soccerball Soccer, 4 Goal Soccer

JANUARY

  • Basketball, Skills-Shooting, Dribbling & Passing
  • Basketball, Bowling Basketball, Team 21
  • Basketball, Numbers Basketball, Champion Basketball
  • Basketball, Around the World, Knockout

FEBRUARY

  • No Swipe Basketball (Standard Basketball)
  • No Swipe Basketball (Standard Basketball)
  • Kickball Basketball
  • Presidential Physical Fitness Testing-Part III(Sit-ups)

SPRING

MARCH

  • Presidential Physical Fitness Testing-Part IV(V-Sit)
  • Kickball – Long Base, Regular
  • Volleyball, Skills-Setting, Bumping, Serving
  • Volleyball Games – Regular & Beach Volleyball

APRIL

  • Presidential Physical Fitness Testing-Part V(Mile Run)
  • Track – 50 Meter, 100 Meter, 200 Meter, 400 Meter, Softball
  • Throw & Relays

MAY/JUNE

  • Track-Continued
  • Cross Country Running, Kickball-Standard
  • Polo
  • Tennis Baseball, Circuit Training, Musical Hoops
  • Students Favorites

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Religion Curriculum

First Eucharist is offered to all students second through eighth grades. Confirmation is offered to seventh and eighth students in even years.

6th Grade

  • “Finding God: Our Response to God’s Gifts – Grade 6 Publisher – Loyola Press
  • “Finding God: Our Response to God’s Gifts – Grade 6 – Workbook Publisher – Loyola Press

7th Grade

  • “Finding God – Following Jesus – Grade 7” Publisher – Loyola Press
  • “Finding God – Following Jesus – Grade 7 Workbook” Publisher – Loyola Press

8th Grade

  • “Finding God – Celebrating Church – Grade 8” Publisher – Loyola Press
  • “Finding God – Celebrating Church – Grade 8 Workbook” Publisher – Loyola Press

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Science Curriculum

6th Grade

  • “Focus on Earth Science – 6th Grade” Publisher – Prentice Hall

7th Grade

  • “Focus on Life Science – 7th Grade” Publisher – Prentice Hall

8th Grade

  • “Focus on Physical Science – 8th Grade” Publisher – Prentice Hall

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Social Studies Curriculum

6th Grade

  • World History – Ancient Civilizations

7th Grade

  • World History – Medieval and Early Modern

8th Grade

  • United States History – Colonization to Reconstruction