SNS Middle School
Students at SNS enjoy smaller class sizes that allow more differentiated learning based on skill level to challenge kids where they need to be as an individual.
—ABOUT US—
The Middle School at St. Norbert includes grades six through eight and features an accelerated curriculum grounded in faith. This means students fast track their learning and develop a common morality and drive to succeed that results in higher standards that students set for themselves.
Transition Specific Classes
As students move into middle school, there is a shift in base level expectations. Students are expected to perform at a higher level with more personal accountability and ownership of work. To support them in this shift, 6th graders take Study Skills to learn how to stay organized and prioritize work, how to take notes independently, and how to study for tests. And as the internet plays such a large role in how students conduct research, emphasis is placed on how to find reputable sources, while staying safe, on the internet.
For 8th graders, students are beginning to prepare for life beyond St. Norbert. To help them in this transition, students take High School 101 where they learn advanced study skills, how to manage emotions in social situations and how to adjust from small class sizes to larger ones. Possible careers and different class options are covered.
Students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade take progressively advancing classes according to two tracks: advanced and on-level. The advanced track consists of pre-algebra, algebra and advanced algebra with the goal of placement into Geometry as Freshman in High School. The on-level track consists of fundamentals, pre-algebra, and algebra. For those 7th and 8th graders in the advanced track, students have the option to take high school level math at Loyola Academy.
Language Arts
Fundamental to all middle school grades is a focus on developing a student’s ability to read, comprehend, think critically and develop/defend a viewpoint. Expectations are at a high school level by the way students write and perform literacy analysis. Students in 6th grade focus on American Literature and books such as “Giver and the Outsiders.” In 7th grade, they focus on World Literature and read such works such as “The Great Gatsby.” And in 8th grade, students read British Literature with classics such as “Lord of the Flies” and “Romeo and Juliet.”
Math
Spanish
Central to the Middle School Spanish curriculum is a strong focus on culture. Students expand their knowledge of different cultures while learning basic reading, conjugation of verbs, present and future tense narration, connecting words, noun adjective agreement, recommendations using infinitives, comparisons and words of persuasion. Graduating eighth grade students are often placed in Spanish II their freshman year of high school.
Science
Our science program follows Next Generation Science Standards with instruction moving toward Phenomenon-based learning. This methodology mirrors the approach real scientists take to find answers through reasoning and inquiry. By observing natural phenomena, students can investigate why something occurs and examine problems from many different angles to truly understand why things exist in our world. Labs and activities are performed weekly. 6th grade focuses on Earth and Space Science. 7th grade focuses Physical Science, and 8th grade focuses on Life Science.
Social Studies
In Middle School Social Studies students learn the where, how, and the what…in that order. 6th grade is devoted to Geography, starting with an extensive look at our home, Chicago. From here, students learn about places in the expanding arc; from Illinois to the United States, to North America, and then the world. In 7th grade, we turn our attention to Government. The first half of the year is given over to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. In the second half of the year, we learn about the Presidents, all of them, before finishing the year with a unit on Criminal Justice which ties everything together. Finally, 8th grade is engrossed in the study of American History. Rather than linear history, students engage with several long mega-units: The Civil War, Rise of Industry, The World Wars, Mass Media and the Vietnam Era, and Causes and Effects of 9/11.
Physical Education
Adolescence marks a pivotal time for preventing sedentary behavior in adulthood. St. Norbert School, therefore, makes every effort to require regular physical education in each grade and to promote physical activities that be enjoyed throughout life.
