Middle School
6th - 8th Grade
Middle School: A Time of Exploration and Excellence
The Holy Trinity middle school program is designed to guide students through a critical period of growth and development. We offer a comprehensive educational experience that challenges and inspires students academically, spiritually, and socially in a dynamic and supportive environment.
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Our Educational Philosophy
We believe in nurturing the whole student by focusing on intellectual, emotional, physical, and spiritual growth. Our curriculum is built on Christian values, promoting a strong moral foundation while encouraging academic excellence and critical thinking skills.
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New Middle School Building
Our brand-new middle school building provides a modern, state-of-the-art learning environment. With advanced classrooms, science & learning labs, and collaborative spaces, our facility is designed to support innovative teaching methods and a variety of learning styles. This new building is a cornerstone of our commitment to providing the best possible education for our students.
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Comprehensive Curriculum
Our middle school curriculum is departmentalized, allowing students to learn from specialized teachers in each subject area:
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Language Arts: Enhancing reading, writing, and analytical skills.
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Mathematics: Fostering problem-solving abilities and mathematical understanding.
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Science: Encouraging scientific inquiry and hands-on experimentation.
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Social Studies: Exploring history, geography, and cultural studies.
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Religion: Deepening faith through biblical studies and moral development.
Enriching Electives and Extracurricular Activities
We offer a wide range of electives and extracurricular activities to help students discover their passions and develop new skills:
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Athletics: Including basketball, soccer, volleyball, and track, promoting teamwork, discipline, and physical fitness.
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Robotics: Encouraging innovation and engineering skills through hands-on projects and competitions.
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Student Council: Providing leadership opportunities and fostering a sense of community and responsibility.
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Music and Arts: Offering band, choir, drama, and visual arts to nurture creativity and artistic expression.
A Supportive Community
Holy Trinity Lutheran School is a community where students, parents, and teachers work together to create a positive and inclusive environment. We emphasize character development, leadership, and service, preparing our students to become compassionate and responsible individuals.
6th GRADE
ENGLISH AND LANGUAGE ARTS
Sixth Grade students read and study: The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Maniac Magee, Where the Red Fern Grows, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Watsons go to Birmingham, Tuck Everlasting, Adam of the Road, and Bridge to Terabithia. Additional works of literature may be studied. Sixth grade also learns to analyze a variety of poetry and grow in their understanding of literary elements. Sixth grade students at Holy Trinity Middle School enjoy a varied English/Language Arts curriculum. Our belief in a literature-rich environment for our students drives the high standards we hold for both our students and our reading selections Language Arts instruction also includes: Vocabulary study focusing on Greek and Latin root words, key grammar concepts to better understand written language and improve analytical skills, and an assortment of Writer’s Workshops to improve composition skills in all genres of writing while maintaining focus on each grade level’s target standard.
SCIENCE
The overarching theme for middle school science is “God’s splendor is shown in the energy of the earth and the universe”. Middle school is where students are exposed to science on daily basis with the goal for each student to be prepared for the rigors of a high school science curriculum. Science for all three grades is taught as integrated science which means that students are exposed to aspects of earth, life, and physical science each year. Activities, experiments, and projects are incorporated into the curriculum for hands-on learning. The cumulating learning experience for all students in middle school are the science fair, inventor’s fair, and technology fair which are held at the end of the year on a rotating basis so that a student in middle school is exposed to all three fairs. Collaborative projects involving the other middle school teachers is also a part of the science curriculum.
Sixth grade students start with what science is, the types of science, how science and technology relate to each other and how we measure and observe science safely. The concept of how God’s splendor can be seen through the energy that courses through all things begins in sixth grade. Sixth grade year students can “see and touch” science which emphasizes God’s workmanship in all things. They learn about minerals and rocks and the energy it takes to create them. They learn about matter and the basics of the energy in matter, force, work and machines. We explore the concept of how energy flows throughout Earth with the water cycle and the energy in water; energy in the carbon cycle and nitrogen cycles; food chains, food webs, and energy pyramids in ecosystems; and how energy drives magnetism and electricity. Finally, the students end with human body systems, God’s greatest creation and the energy that drives these systems. In all of these explorations, critical thinking skills are being developed with the students through the study of charts and graphs and how to interpret them and how to use math skills in science.
MATH
Our philosophy for teaching math in middle school is in line with our mission of: “Building a foundation of character and a love of learning through daily Christian fellowship in a nurturing environment that promotes academic excellence.” We believe every student can learn math and every student can reach their potential in math. We know not everyone learns the same way, and as their teacher we must find out how to get them to see math in way that makes sense to them. We allow students to work at their own pace, but they must keep up with the minimum pace of the class. We pursue two curricula simultaneously in each grade. Each student, each year, will complete their grade level for Khan Academy online with help from their teacher in class as needed. Additionally, the sixth grade completes a year of Saxon Math, whereas the 7th and 8th grade complete McGraw-Hill Math Connects. With this self-paced, individual instruction format, we continue to have students who finish their current year math curriculum and work ahead into next year’s concepts.We deliberately tie our math and science concepts whenever possible, so students have confidence in both subjects. This has proven well as we were awarded Gold status for being 100% STEM certified by the ACT based on our 8th grade students’ ACT Aspire test scores.
7th GRADE
ENGLISH AND LANGUAGE ARTS
Seventh Grade students read and study: The Wednesday Wars, Devil’s Arithmetic, The Giver, A Christmas Carol, Prince Caspian, The Bronze Bow, The Hobbit, and Feathers. Additional works of literature may be studied. Students also continue their understanding of poetry by reading and analyzing some of the most well-known American and British poets Seventh grade students at Holy Trinity Middle School enjoy a varied English/Language Arts curriculum. Our belief in a literature-rich environment for our students drives the high standards we hold for both our students and our reading selections. Language Arts instruction includes: Vocabulary study focusing on Greek and Latin root words, key grammar concepts to better understand written language and improve analytical skills, and an assortment of Writer’s Workshops to improve composition skills in all genres of writing while maintaining focus on each grade level’s target standard.
SCIENCE
The overarching theme for middle school science is “God’s splendor is shown in the energy of the earth and the universe”. Middle school is where students are exposed to science on daily basis with the goal for each student to be prepared for the rigors of a high school science curriculum. Science for all three grades is taught as integrated science which means that students are exposed to aspects of earth, life, and physical science each year. Activities, experiments, and projects are incorporated into the curriculum for hands-on learning. The cumulating learning experience for all students in middle school are the science fair, inventor’s fair, and technology fair which are held at the end of the year on a rotating basis so that a student in middle school is exposed to all three fairs. Collaborative projects involving the other middle school teachers is also a part of the science curriculum.
The concept of how God’s splendor can be seen through the energy that courses through all things continues in seventh grade. While much of what the students study can still be “seen and touched” concepts that are more abstract are introduced which continues the development of critical thinking skills. The study of energy in Earth is emphasized with volcanoes, earthquakes, and plate tectonics. Energy above Earth is studied with a unit on the atmosphere and climate. Energy in living things is studied when we look at all of the amazing organisms that God has placed on this Earth. Energy in physical science is studied in changes in states of matter, energy, thermal energy, and motion. Finally, the energy that surrounds us in the sun, the solar system and the universe is explored. During these explorations, math skills in science are also emphasized.
MATH
Our philosophy for teaching math in middle school is in line with our mission of: “Building a foundation of character and a love of learning through daily Christian fellowship in a nurturing environment that promotes academic excellence.” We believe every student can learn math and every student can reach their potential in math. We know not everyone learns the same way, and as their teacher we must find out how to get them to see math in way that makes sense to them. We allow students to work at their own pace, but they must keep up with the minimum pace of the class. We pursue two curricula simultaneously in each grade. Each student, each year, will complete their grade level for Khan Academy online with help from their teacher in class as needed. Additionally, the sixth grade completes a year of Saxon Math, whereas the 7th and 8th grade complete McGraw-Hill Math Connects. With this self-paced, individual instruction format, we continue to have students who finish their current year math curriculum and work ahead into next year’s concepts.We deliberately tie our math and science concepts whenever possible, so students have confidence in both subjects. This has proven well as we were awarded Gold status for being 100% STEM certified by the ACT based on our 8th grade students’ ACT Aspire test scores.
SOCIAL STUDIES
In Social Studies at Holy Trinity, we align each grade’s curriculum to the state standards. Additionally, with a small staff that works closely together we continually tie social studies concepts across the subjects. Additionally, each year we conduct a chapter of the National Geographic geography bee. For 7th grade, the focus is on Eastern Geography to include Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and Oceania. In 7th grade, we also study the Antarctica and the scientific issues surrounding the area. With small class sizes, we can bring in some of the history of each region to understand why the map looks the way it does.
8th GRADE
ENGLISH AND LANGUAGE ARTS
Eighth Grade students read and study: Touching Spirit Bear, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Outsiders, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Lord of the Flies. Additional works of literature may be studied. Students also read works by Washington Irving, Edgar Allen Poe, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, O. Henry, and Rudyard Kipling at various times throughout the year. Eighth grade students at Holy Trinity Middle School enjoy a varied English/Language Arts curriculum. Our belief in a literature-rich environment for our students drives the high standards we hold for both our students and our reading selections Language Arts instruction also includes: Vocabulary study focusing on Greek and Latin root words, key grammar concepts to better understand written language and improve analytical skills, and an assortment of Writer’s Workshops to improve composition skills in all genres of writing while maintaining focus on each grade level’s target standard.
SCIENCE
The overarching theme for middle school science is “God’s splendor is shown in the energy of the earth and the universe”. Middle school is where students are exposed to science on daily basis with the goal for each student to be prepared for the rigors of a high school science curriculum. Science for all three grades is taught as integrated science which means that students are exposed to aspects of earth, life, and physical science each year. Activities, experiments, and projects are incorporated into the curriculum for hands-on learning. The cumulating learning experience for all students in middle school are the science fair, inventor’s fair, and technology fair which are held at the end of the year on a rotating basis so that a student in middle school is exposed to all three fairs. Collaborative projects involving the other middle school teachers is also a part of the science curriculum.
The concept of how God’s splendor can be seen through the energy that courses through all things continues to build in eighth grade. Concepts are almost all abstract which refines the student’s critical thinking skills. The study of chemistry which is the study of energy in the atom as well as energy in elements and compounds is introduced in eighth grade. After the study of chemistry, is the study of physics which includes energy waves including light and sound. Energy movement in the earth is studied by looking at the concepts of deposition and erosion as a continuous cycle. Energy movement in life science is studied at the basic level with cellular processes, genetics, heredity and changes over time. Math skills in science continue to honed.
MATH
Our philosophy for teaching math in middle school is in line with our mission of: “Building a foundation of character and a love of learning through daily Christian fellowship in a nurturing environment that promotes academic excellence.” We believe every student can learn math and every student can reach their potential in math. We know not everyone learns the same way, and as their teacher we must find out how to get them to see math in way that makes sense to them. We allow students to work at their own pace, but they must keep up with the minimum pace of the class. We pursue two curriculums simultaneously in each grade. Each student, each year, will complete their grade level for Khan Academy online with help from their teacher in class as needed. Additionally, the sixth grade completes a year of Saxon Math, whereas the 7th and 8th grade complete McGraw-Hill Math Connects. With this self-paced, individual instruction format, we continue to have students who finish their current year math curriculum and work ahead into next year’s concepts. We deliberately tie our math and science concepts whenever possible, so students have confidence in both subjects. This has proven well as we were awarded Gold status for being 100% STEM certified by the ACT based on our 8th grade students’ ACT Aspire test scores.