A Look at the 7th Grade

Overview
The 7th Grade curriculum at EMS is designed to provide a rigorous academic experience complemented by strong programs in athletics, the fine and performing arts, and outdoor education. Student Council, Advisory Groups, and community service projects provide leadership and character development opportunities.

The school day begins at 8:00 A.M. and ends at 3:00 P.M. on Mondays and Fridays. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday the day ends at 3:45 P.M. for sport practices and games. Games may run later.

The hub of the 7th and 8th grades is the student social space. This area is available throughout the day, for a variety of purposes in addition to lunch and club activities. For those who desire, lunch is brought in by outside providers on a daily basis.

In order to provide ample time for research, the Morrow House library is open Monday through Thursday until 5:30 P.M.

Depending upon each student’s individual schedule, there are study halls during the week. Extra help is available, and private music lessons can be scheduled at these times.

History, English and Math
History: History focuses on the Middle East and Asia, with students investigating geography, political structure, religion and culture for an understanding of a region that is increasingly important in today’s world.

English: English includes classic and contemporary literature, some of which is related to the history course. Expository and creative writing, as well as an understanding of grammar, are focal components of the curriculum.

Math: Mathematics classes are groupes by achievement. One group is designed so that students complete Algebra I by the end of the 8th grade. The other group completes a pre-algebra sequence, ready for Algebra I in the 9th grade. Placement is based on teacher recommendation, previous achievement in math, and ERB scores.

Science, Languages, the Arts and Athletics
Science: Earth Science encompasses chemistry, geology, meteorology, astronomy, oceanography, and physics, including Newton’s basic laws.

Modern Languages: Students continue their study of either French or Spanish, completing level I of the language by the end of 8th grade. For students who need more experiences with English, EMS offers the English Skills Class to meet their needs.

Latin: Moving from the 6th grade, all students continue the study of Latin and the culture of the Roman Empire. Latin I is completed by the end of 8th grade.

Arts: Art classes are divided into trimesters, enabling 7th graders to partake of a variety of experiences: painting and drawing; dance; improvisation and theater. A ceramics studio provides a new resource for these students.

Sports and Fitness: Students participate in seasonal interscholastic team sports. During both practices and games, the program focuses on team work, skill development and fitness. Between seasons, other fitness activities are emphasized, such as work on the traverse climbing wall, yoga, fitness, and stress reduction techniques. Sport teams include soccer, basketball, volleyball, lacrosse, cross country, and tennis.

Technology/Multimedia
An important goal is to ensure that students know how to locate and analyze the massive amount and types of information now available through the world wide web and integrate it into their current studies.

The curriculum emphasizes the ability to easily use a wide selection of software programs, from word processing, publishing, data base, video editing and production, photo manipulation, music composition, etc.

While students no longer have a specific “computer class,” technology and the research that it enables are part of many classes.

The EMS middle school has a faculty member devoted solely to helping students and faculty to integrate the wide variety of technologies, including video, into the current curriculum.

Information Literacy
Information literacy is a critical skill in today’s world. The EMS library and technology departments have worked together to educate students to best use the available resources. The meaning of literacy extends beyond merely locating information to learning how to analyze, evaluate, and communicate ideas effectively from a variety of resources.

The library environment encourages dialogue and analytical thinking based on the values that we cherish at EMS. The program supports the integration of all disciplines by providing access to high quality resources that include many perspectives and opinions.

Our library and technology departments collaborate to ensure our students are well prepared for secondary schools.

Health Education
The objective of the health program is to prepare students for the increasing levels of freedom and independence that they will encounter through the middle school years and in preparation for high school. The goal is to provide students with complete, straightforward information and the skills for healthy decision-making. We call in outside experts to be part of this program.

The Guidelines for Comprehensive Sexuality Education, as developed by the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS), serves as a basis for curriculum content. This document is available to any parent who makes a request.

By the end of the 8th grade all students should have a full and complete understanding of birth control as well as sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s), including AIDS/HIV.

The health curriculum discusses the impact of drugs, including tobacco and alcohol, upon adolescents, from both physical/medical and behavioral points of view.

Other areas include:

- Social skills (peer pressure management; conflict with parents and others in authority)
- Mental health issues (depression, eating disorders, etc.)
- Nutrition/fitness
- Stress management
- Time management

The Traverse Climbing Wall and Adventure Trail
A horizontal climbing wall, 10 feet high and 53 feet long, has been installed in the Gymkhana. The facing is molded directly from natural rock surfaces.

With multiple hand and foot holds, there are a multitude of activities that can be developed for the beginner through expert.

The Adventure Trail will eventually circle the entire EMS campus, providing for cross-country running as well as expanding the opportunities for using the campus for the science programs.

Grading
In addition to narrative reports, 7th graders receive letter grades. These are used both in the formal reports as well as in day-to-day grading of assignments, tests, and quizzes. The traditional grading system is used.

A - Represents excellence in all areas of the curriculum.

B - Represents an above average standard of knowledge of the material; class participation is frequent and purposeful.

C - Represents a satisfactory level of cooperation, initiative, and familiarity with the material; basic skill achievement is apparent.

D - Represents unsatisfactory work in most of the necessary requirements, but sufficient success is apparent to warrant a passing grade.

F - Failure to achieve the minimum standards.

Advisory Groups
Each student is a member of an advisory group of about 8 peers. Teachers and administrators serve as advisors and the groups meet three times a week. The group provides a framework of guidance and support to facilitate the academic progress and social life of each student. The groups also work together on community service projects, both within and outside the School.

It is with the advisor that the parent has conferences.

The 7th Graders stage theatrical performances. Any student who wishes to be involved, either on stage or behind the scenes, is encouraged and included.

Clubs
Current Morrow House students have expressed interest in clubs such as yearbook, newspaper, math, magic, chess, literary magazine, debate, French, as well as musical groups.

Time is set aside for participation in clubs during the school day.

Music Continues to be a Strength in the EMS Middle School
Students may choose to join the orchestra, the chorus, both or neither. Students who do not participate may choose to take elective music classes.

An important component of the Middle School Health Program is the opportunity for parents to get together for discussions and to hear from experts on issues that young adolescents face.

alternate spelling:
Elizabeth Morrow School