ART: Mrs. Heerspink
Students will cover a variety of art techniques. They will use contour drawing skills to learn about composition, experiment with watercolor illusions, learn about color mixing through monochromatic painting, and use hand-building pottery techniques to create clay sculptures. Students will also study 15 artists and take one written test during this 18 week course.
BAND/ORCHESTRA: Mr. Knot / Mrs. Jager
Students choosing band or orchestra will be meeting two days a week. Both are full year commitments and students will not be allowed to drop either band or orchestra once the year has begun.
BIBLE: Mr. Doll, Mr. Huisman, Mrs. Kortering, Mrs. Sietsema
This course covers the Old Testament from Genesis to King David. The lessons are in chronological order and include textbook reading and assignment sheets. A memory work list for the year is available. Group and individual projects are incorporated into some units.
CHOIR: Mrs. Hollenbach
There will be two choirs - one first semester and one second semester. A student may be in choir one semester or both.
COMPUTER EDUCATION: Mr. VanNoord, Mrs. Hollenbach
This course will include many parts. The use and care of the computers and continued keyboarding will be taught and students will have the opportunity to use word processing on the computer. Students will also learn to do some LOGO programming. This course will use the computer as a tool to reinforce what is being taught in other classrooms. Programs will be used to reinforce math skills, English skills, etc.
EXTRA-CURRICULAR SPORTS
Basketball and track are offered for boys and girls and include the teaching of basic fundamentals. Several intra-squad games will be played. Opportunities in golf, tennis, swimming, cross country and volleyball are also offered. There are no cuts in these sports.
LANGUAGE ARTS (WRITING AND READING): Mrs. Kortering, Mrs. Sietsema
This course covers communication skills with an emphasis on reading, writing, speaking and listening. This includes the writing process (planning, drafting, evaluating, editing, and publishing), independent reading, and an introduction to the parts of speech. In reading we study novels, short stories, and poems, and we practice reading
MATH: Mr. Doll, Mr. Huisman
The middle school uses the Connected Math Program (CMP) and it flows very nicely from the Every Day Math Program in K-5. CMP also serves as a good transition to the Chicago Math Program used in local high schools. CMP covers all of the basics that are required and does so with an approach that encourages student application and memorization. A detailed description of the program is available from your student’s teacher or the middle school office.
MUSIC: Mrs. Hollenbach
The concepts covered are: rhythm, melody, tonality, harmony, form, tone color (vocal and instrumental), and expressive qualities (dynamics, tempo, and style).
PHYSICAL EDUCATION: Mr. Los
All students have P.E. classes two times a week for the entire school year. This co-ed program stresses participation, fitness, skills, knowledge, and proper attitudes. These are developed in the framework of taking care of the body and developing God-given abilities.
SCIENCE: Mr. Doll, Mr. Huisman
This is a course of problem solving and the use of the scientific method as we study plants, microscopes, sand dunes, deserts, space, global ecology, and cells. We do many experiments throughout the year.
SOCIAL STUDIES: Mrs. Kortering, Mrs. Sietsema
This includes the study of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, their histories, geographical situations, and contemporary issues. Our study of Africa will conclude with a unit on understanding the issue of African Americans in U.S. history.
ART: Mrs. Heerspink
This course builds on previous learning experiences. Students will continue to perfect contour drawing skills and will learn observation techniques through negative space drawing. An understanding of color mixing will be achieved through monochromatic color studies. We will do printmaking with linoleum blocks and learn the Pueblo technique of hand-built coil pottery. We will study 15 artists, write a report, and take written tests during this 36 week course.
BAND/ORCHESTRA: Mr. Knot / Mrs. Jager
Seventh and eighth graders will meet together three days a week to form the 7/8 band and 7/8 orchestra. Participation requires a one year commitment - students will not be allowed to drop either band or orchestra once the year has started. Members may have small group practice, individual practice, try-outs, or challenges held before or after school.
BIBLE: Mrs. DeJong, Mr. Ritsema, Mrs. Roode, Mr. Steenstra
In Bible class we will study the history of God’s people from the time of Solomon to the Intertestimentary Times. The lessons are in chronological order and include the Bible, textbook reading, projects, worksheets, research, and projects. Bible Memory work will also be assigned.
CHOIR: Mrs. Hollenbach
Seventh and eighth graders will meet together to form the 7/8 choir. There will be two choirs, one first semester and one second semester both meeting on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Students may participate in first semester choir only or the full year choir.
COMPUTER EDUCATION: Mr. VanNoord
This course will be divided into three main parts. First, the students will continue to work at keyboarding skills. Second, the students will work on computer literacy. The development of the computer and its uses will be studied. Finally, the students will continue their study of the LOGO programming language.
EXTRA-CURRICULAR SPORTS
Seventh and eighth grade sports are inter-scholastic (meaning that we do play other schools). Our goal is to involve as many students as possible; however, in some 8th grade sports, cuts do have to be made. A further description and the list of sports offered can be found on other pages in this handbook.
LANGUAGE ARTS: Mrs. Roode
This course focuses on developing and applying skills in the four areas of language arts: reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
MATH: Mr. Steenstra
In 7th grade we use the Connected Math Program. This program does an excellent job of preparing students to not only “do math” but also gives them a variety of experiences to help them understand and appreciate how numbers work.e.
MUSIC: Mrs. Hollenbach
The concepts covered are: rhythm (meter and patterns), melody (intervals and phrasing), harmony, texture, rounds, partner songs, ostinatos, form, tone color, tonality, expressive qualities, and notational skills.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION: Mrs. Prins, Mr. Los
All students have P.E. classes two times a week for the entire school year. The program stresses participation, fitness, skills, knowledge, and proper attitudes. These are developed in the framework of taking care of the body and developing God-given abilities..
SCIENCE: Mrs. DeJong
The science curriculum is a focus on God’s creation. It is a hands-on, minds-on activity centered class. Units are designed to complete National and State based benchmarks and standards. Units include classification, oceanography, ecology, geology and fossils, mammal systems, and stream and wetland studies.
SHORT STORY: Mrs. Coallier
This literature course on short stories is divided into two parts. In the first half students, as a class, read a variety of great short stories written by well-known authors and look at important elements such as character, plot, and foreshadowing. In the second half of the course students take what they have learned to write their own original short story. In addition, throughout the course students are encouraged to read short stories of their own choosing.
SKILLS FOR ADOLESCENCE: Mrs. Coallier
This course teaches the fourth R - whether it be relationships, respect, or responsibility. The goals are to improve family life, teach and practice living skills, develop leadership potential, and encourage wise decision-making.
SOCIAL STUDIES: Mr. Ritsema
Our studies focus on the Latin American countries, Canada, Asia and the Pacific Islands. We will look at the geography, history, culture, climate, social issues and other topics to begin to understand these areas of the world. We also cover economics and the Core Democratic Values of American democracy.
ART: Mrs. Heerspink
Students learn techniques of portrait drawing and practice new skill of gesture drawing to capture movement. We explore a full range of painting techniques in acrylic and printmaking. Students discover the technique of clay slab pottery construction. The year concludes with a personal interpretation in mask making. Fifteen artists are studied, a written report is required, and written tests are taken during this 36 week course.
BAND/ORCHESTRA: Mr. Knot / Mrs. Jager
Seventh and eighth graders will meet together three days a week to form the 7/8 band and 7/8 orchestra. Both of these are year long commitments, and students will not be allowed to drop either band or orchestra once the year has begun. Members may have small groups, individual practice, try-outs, or challenges held before or after school..
BIBLE: Miss Bruinsma, Mr. Rottman, Mr. VandenBerg, Mrs. VanTil
This course covers the New Testament: Christ’s Life and Work, as found in Acts, all of the New Testament letters, and the book of Revelation. We will be using a variety of projects, both individual and group. Our goal is to discover the Word, love the Word and live the Word. A memory work list is available for the year.
CHOIR: Mrs. Hollenbach
The seventh and eighth graders meet together to form the 7/8 choir. There are two choirs that meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays - one first semester and one second semester. Students may participate in first semester choir only or the full year choir.
COMPUTER EDUCATION: Mr. VanNoord
This course will be divided into three main parts. First, the students will continue to work on keyboarding skills. Second, the students will work on computer literacy. Included in this unit will be the study of careers that involve computers. Finally, the students will continue their study of the LOGO programming language.
EXTRA-CURRICULAR SPORTS
Seventh and eighth grade sports are inter-scholastic (meaning that we do play other schools). Our goal is to involve as many students as possible; however, in some 8th grade sports, cuts do have to be made. A further description and the list of sports offered can be found on other pages in this handbook.
HEALTH: Mrs. Coallier
In 8th grade the students will explore several areas of health and fitness to understand how all the aspects need to come together for total health. The first 10 minutes of every class the students will write in their own spiritual journals to develop their closeness to God and their spiritual health. The semester will cover the body systems, nutrition, eating disorders, the four components of fitness, and substance abuse.
LANGUAGE ARTS: Miss Bruinsma
This course reviews the parts of speech with additional details. Prepositional phrases, verbal phrases, and clauses will be studied. Sentence structure, diagramming, and letter writing are included. In literature we cover the short story and selected poems. Also, oral and written book reports, learning literature terms, and some writing are required.
LITERATURE: Mrs. Coallier
In 8th grade literature students will spend time analyzing parts of a newspaper, writing different types of newspaper articles and creating an 8th grade newspaper. The second nine weeks we will be studying short stories and developing a short story using various literary devices. The students will also be completing two comprehension article sheets from two magazine articles they have chosen to read.
ALGEBRA: Mrs. VanTil
This class is a vigorous math class that covers all nine of the basics of algebra in one year. Students who successfully complete this class should be able to test out of algebra at the high school level. Because of the difficulty of this class, students are placed in algebra by invitation only.
MATH: Mrs. VanTil
This class is the third and final course in the three year Connected Math Program. Students will be exposed to a variety of concepts and will continue practicing the basics of mathematics. Upon successful completion of this course students will be ready for high school algebra.
MUSIC: Mrs. Hollenbach
The concepts covered are: rhythm (meter and patterns), melody (patterns, contour, motive, and phrases), and harmony, form (theme and variation, sonata-allegro, rondo, ABA), tone color, the changing voice, tonality, and style (in historical periods).
PHYSICAL EDUCATION: Mrs. Prins, Mr. Los
All students have P.E. classes two times a week for the entire year. The program stresses participation, fitness, skills, knowledge, and proper attitudes. These are developed in the framework of taking care of the body and developing God-given abilities.
SCIENCE: Mr. Rottman
Eighth grade science explores many different areas of God’s creative process. We will be studying specific aspects of chemistry, weather and climate, electricity and magnetism, heredity, as well as sound and light. It is our goal to make eighth grade science activity based which allows many opportunities to engage in hands-on learning.
SOCIAL STUDIES: Mr. VandenBerg
Eighth grade History is a survey of our country’s history from 1763 through 1877. We will learn that we owe a great debt to many interesting men and women whose vision and efforts laid a solid foundation for our freedom. We will also focus in the formation and the functioning of our national government.