Academics at the Middle School
PreK-8 Principal: Bruce Maeda
PreK-8 Vice-Principal: Janet Gulden
Dean of Students: Mrs. Kari Fields
Chaplain: Rev. Greg Bestland
Athletic & Activities Director: Mr. Homar Ramirez
Guidance Counselor: Mr. Steve Engdahl
Required Courses
Grade 6 |
Grade 7 |
Grade 8 |
|---|---|---|
| English / Literature | English | English |
| Social Studies | Social Studies / Colonial American History | American History / Government |
| Science | Life Science | Earth Science |
| Math | Math | Math |
| Bible (2 trimesters) | Bible (2 trimesters) | Bible (2 trimesters) |
| Phy-Ed / Health (2 trimesters) | Phy-Ed / Health | Phy-Ed / Health |
| Intro to Latin (1 trimester) | Keyboarding (1 trimester) | |
| Music | ||
| Art (1 trimester) |
Grades & Communication
Middle School students take 8 classes in a rotating schedule. Most classes meet 4 days a week. Letter grades are recorded on a trimester basis. G.P.A. is tracked for Honor Roll purposes. In addition to report cards and mid-tri progress reports, various check-up forms may be used to facilitate communication. The homeroom teacher is an initial contact person; grade-level teams meet weekly. The Middle School also offers counseling and student services.
Curriculum
The table below gives an overview of the Middle School curriculum. Click on a subject area to see course descriptions. (For complete course offerings see the Middle School Signal)
Grade 6 |
Grade 7 |
Grade 8 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| English | English / Literature | English | English |
| Math | Course 1 / Course 2 |
Course 2 / Course 3 |
Course 3/ Geometry |
| Science | Science 6 | Life Science | Earth Science |
| Social Studies | Minn. Studies, World Geography | Social Science Intro, Colonial Am. History | American History, Government |
| Bible | Old Testament Survey (2 tri) | Life of Jesus (2 tri) | The Book of Acts (2 tri) |
| Fine Arts | Art (1 tri) | Art | Drama (1 tri), Art |
| Music: Choir, Band, Strings General Music 6 |
Music: Choir, Band, Strings | Music: Choir, Band, Strings Explore Music 8 |
|
| World Languages | Intro to Latin (1 tri) | French 1A Latin 1A Spanish 1A Chinese 1A |
French 1B Latin1B Spanish 1B Chinese 1B |
| P.E. and Health | Phy Ed and Health | Phy Ed and Health | Phy Ed and Health |
| Computer / Technology | Keyboarding (1 tri) | Advanced Computer (1 tri) |
Technology
Our vision is to see Minnehaha Academy students and teachers as Christian leaders who use technology effectively to learn, research, collaborate, problem-solve, analyze, and communicate with people within the Minnehaha community and around the world.
Our goal is to integrate the use of technology and library/media tools into the curriculum to enhance student learning and to provide teachers with creative, relevant methods and content for teaching, motivating and evaluating students.
We encourage students to bring their own laptop or iPad as their personal learning tool. Minnehaha provides the following:
- Wireless Internet access with high-level security and constant filtering at each campus.
- All teachers have desktop or laptop computers in their classrooms.
- Apple MacBook laptop computers in 10 carts are available for student classroom use in Middle and Upper schools.
- Five dedicated student computer labs, equipped with Apple Mac desktop computers.
- Free laser-printing is available at all campuses.
- Interactive white boards and projection systems in 90 percent of classrooms.
- Student response systems (Promethean ActiVotes) in 20 classrooms.
- Apple iPad tablets for all Lower School teachers with iPads also available for student use.
