Middle School Program
A common goal of
John F. Kennedy Catholic School is to instill independence and responsibility
into our middle schoolers to prepare them for high school.They are responsible for keeping and
following agenda assignments that are given on the first school day of every
week.The religion curriculum includes
the study of both the old and new testaments, the Catholic Vision of Love, the
practices of the Catholic Church and the morals and values taught by the
Church.The language arts program uses a
literature-based, integrated approach to teaching reading, vocabulary, grammar,
public speaking, spelling, and writing. Skills are emphasized and writing assessments are
ongoing. Mathematics guidelines from the Diocese of Pittsburgh as well as state standards are followed. Eighth grade students have the opportunity to
complete an Algebra I or a Pre-Algebra class. Social studies has a very advanced curriculum in the middle school. Within the Social Studies curriculum the students
learn about World History and American History.All middle school students are required to
take part in Law Day, Holocaust, D.A.R. and other state and local contests. The Holocaust is a special unit presented to
seventh grade students.The seventh
grade students also have an opportunity to participate in a Holocaust Seminar
at the University of Pittsburgh to learn about the Holocaust and to listen to
survivors. Science is studied in the classroom and applied in the new science
lab through observation and experimentation. The students in seventh and eighth
grade participate in the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science.This is done as part of the curriculum in the
seventh and eighth grade to study scientific method.