Academic Newsletter
St. Timothy Catholic School
K-2 Academic News
Boys and girls in kindergarten used play-doh, wiki stix and white boards to write sight words and then read the sight words back to their teachers. Additionally, students wrote sentences that followed patterns presented in the Traits writing. In math, students graphed data to compare information and worked on identifying 2D and 3D geometric shapes.
First
First grade students discussed communities and made the connection between school as a community and animal communities working together. Students also practiced with different strategies to add and subtract, and reviewed the properties of a good sentence. In science lab, boys and girls discussed how to be safe outside in winter weather.
Second
Students practiced identifying nouns and worked on their vocabulary using amazing words. In addition, students used logical reasoning to solve problems in math. In science lab, boys and girls used compare and contrast activities to compare rocks to wood, metal and acrylic objects.
3-5 Academic News
Boys and girls worked on consonant blends and discussed the author's purpose in writing a story. In math, students developed spatial awareness as they worked with 2D and 3D shapes and figures, In science lab, students explored the attraction force created by an electric charge and created a simple electrical circuit.
Fourth
Students wrote and revised paragraphs to create stronger leads, and analyzed the word patterns found in strong opening sentences. Additionally, students identified the important aspects of the five regions in Virginia. In science lab, students explored measuring matter in a container and the relationship between mass and matter.
Fifth
Boys and girls were introduced to the geography of Asia, and completed a KWL chart and then developed five questions regarding what they want to know about Asia. In Traits writing, students considered the trait of word choice by analyzing different pieces of writing. In science lab, students investigated whether the force of gravity changes with different objects, and whether the force of gravity can be measured.
Middle School Academics
6th grade focused on what affects the solubility of a solute and discussed whether there
is a relationship between the concentration of a solution and the saturation point of a
solute, and if the rate of solubility of a solute can be changed.
7th grade focused on defining elements and the Periodic Table of Elements. Students discussed how the Periodic Table of Elements is arranged and how the elements from the metal and nonmetal groups differ.
8th grade focused on the relationship between heat, kinetic energy and temperature and the changes in matter that accompany changes in heat. "Students discussed the question, How can the ability to absorb heat be measured as a physical property of matter?"
Social Studies
6th grade students discussed Ancient Egyptian culture and the everyday life of the ancient Egyptians, including the ancient writings and advances made by the Egyptians in science.
7th grade students learned what life was really like in the Colonies and participated in debates to resolve the question, "When is it necessary for citizens to rebel against their government?"
8th grade students studied the daily life of the immigrants in 1900, considered the effect of the women's movement and the rise of unions. In addition, students discussed the impact of the progressive movement on life in the United States.
Literature
6th grade students read In the Fog and discussed the unknown as more frightening than the known. Students performed this play as an extension of the learning process for the unit on Drama. They learned how to read stage directions so they could say the lines the way the playwright intended, and some students acted as "foley artists" to create sound effects. Following this, students read The Hitchhiker and dealt with the suspense and dark mood created by the author, as they ponder what happens next?
7th grade students read A Christmas Carol, and engaged in similar production experiences as an extension of their learning process. Boys and girls were challenged to analyze Scrooge's reaction to the ghost of Christmas future and consider if Scrooge would keep his promises.
8th grade students read the Monkey's Paw, Tell-Tale Heart, and The Necklace. In reading these stories, students were challenged to face issues of truth and honesty, and being careful what you wish for.
Spanish
6th grade students continued to pray the Prayer to St. Joseph and practiced numbers through one million. As a special project, students practiced and recorded the rosary in Spanish.
7th grade students continued to pray the Prayer to St. Joseph in Spanish and practiced describing each other, as well as naming and describing articles of clothing, and participated in the recording of the rosary in Spanish.
8th grade students practiced extending invitations, talking on the phone, expressing feelings, and indicating what just happened. Students also participated in the recording of the rosary in Spanish.
Language Arts
6th grade students identified sentences and sentence fragments, reviewed direct objects and used kinesthetic activities to identify subject complements. Students then began work on persuasive essays with particular emphasis on strong verbs.
7th grade students focused on writing a blog post, with special emphasis on strong verbs. In addition, students began their unit on fictional writing with determination as the theme.
8th grade students practiced using transition words by completing a RAFT activity describing a jewel heist. Afterwards, students worked on informative writing with a focus on mysteries.
Math
Math 6 students applied exponents to the order of operations, practiced divisibility rules, found GCF, made equivalent fractions and worked with mixed numbers and improper fractions.
Accelerated Math 6 students worked with equations and inequalities, multiplied and divided equations and found measurements to fractions within a foot.
Math 7 students investigated the properties of negative exponents, reviewed prime factorization, simplified fractions, compared and ordered fractions and reviewed mixed numbers.
Pre Algebra students found mean, median and mode, used formulas to find perimeter, solved equations by adding or subtracting decimals and practiced with the metric system.
Math 8 students investigated one-step addition and subtraction equations, two-step equations, multi-step equations, and multi-step equations with fractions and decimals.
Algebra students learned the process of factoring and related the process to splitting an expression into simpler multiplication expressions. Students reviewed prime numbers, prime factorization and GCF as a warm up to the factorization process.
Geometry students investigated quadrilaterals and looked for ways to prove that quadrilaterals are parallelograms. Students worked with theorems involving parallel lines and considered the properties of special parallelograms, such as rectangle, rhombus and square.
Religion
6th grade students previewed Moses' role in furthering God's relationship with His people. Students also portrayed the people of Egypt and their response to slavery and the plagues.
7th grade students explained the themes of the missions of Christ. Additionally, students researched and collected data regarding how Jesus fulfills the Old Testament prophecies.
8th grade students gained an understanding of why the church is the mystical body of Christ and examined the nature of the church. In addition, students reviewed the marks of the Church, the seven sacraments and the cardinal virtues.
St. Timothy Catholic School
Email: drutledge@sainttimothyschool.org
Website: sainttimothyschool.org
Location: 13809 Poplar Tree Road, Chantilly, VA, United States
Phone: (703) 378-6932