Middle School

The main goal of the Middle School Language Arts program is to develop skillful, thoughtful writers and to engage students in the classics of Western literature. Each element of class aims to enhance and improve students’ abilities to examine literature and to articulate their observations in a written format.

The Socratic Method of discrete, guided questioning is introduced in an effort to involve students in a deep dialogue of seeking truth and forming sound conclusions. Students are challenged to include a biblical worldview when analyzing and interpreting a particular author’s intended message and to reflect on the impact an author may have on each student’s own beliefs and values.

Middle School students demonstrate mastery of mathematical fluency through applied problems and critical thinking. The following areas of study are followed:

Class 7
Pre-Algebra: An Accelerated Course

Class 8
Elementary Algebra

The Veritas History program is used for Classes 1-8. Historical periods of study are as follows:

Class 7
Early American History, from 1492 to 1820

Class 8
From 1820 to Modern Day

More emphasis is placed on the study of literature during the Middle School years. The curriculum of Literature and History is integrated as much as possible. Students read biographies, historical fiction, poetry, epics, plays, and novels from or about the historical period under study.

Each Middle School class level investigates one particular area of science. Precise and thorough thinking in each of the following areas is cultivated:

Class 7
Life Science

Class 8
Physical Science (matter, energy, forces, fields, chemistry)

The scope of Latin studies expands in Middle School. While keeping up with vocabulary and grammar forms learned previously, Middle School students are faced with new verb tenses, additional declensions, and pronouns. Passages to be translated are longer and more complex, testing the student’s knowledge of vocabulary, grammar and syntax. Class 8 begins the study of participles and passive verbs preparing them for a smooth transition into high school.

Classical education places heavy emphasis on grammar concepts and ideas. From an early age, students are asked to identify the parts of speech that make up sentences, describe how they work together, and correctly punctuate them. After initially learning these concepts of English grammar in a language arts class in Lower School, continuing grammar education will move to Latin class in Middle School in order to help students cement their understanding of these concepts as applicable to language as a whole. As an environment in which students are learning similar grammar for the first time in a new language, Latin is a natural environment for reviewing English parts of speech, grammatical constructions, and the impact of diction.

Class 7 and Class 8 students study the branch of logic categorized as “informal.” Sometimes referred to as “dialectical logic,” informal logic is the language of debate and the interchange of ideas between people. Formal logic focuses on deductive reasoning and the structure of a valid sound argument. Informal logic examines inductive reasoning and the use of language in an argument.

The Bible curriculum in Classes 1-8 utilizes the “Walking with God and His People” series distributed through Christian Schools International.

Class 7
Curriculum concentrates on Old Testament themes, the feasts of Israel, a study of Job, Ecclesiastes and Proverbs, a unit on prayer, intertestamentary times and a final unit on library genres.

Class 8
Students explore the history of the church, beginning with the birth and ministry of Jesus through Revelation, and continuing to the present.

All classes are exposed to classical musicians and their works. Students are taught to listen and to hear discriminately in order to understand musical ideas. They are also taught to sing as accurately as possible and to have a working understanding of musical notation. Middle School students participate in choir where they receive training in vocal technique with recognition of the changing voice. Students become familiar with primary composers and master works within each of classical music’s historical periods, as well as various historical forms of music in Christian worship.

Class 7
Late Renaissance Art through the Impressionists

Class 8
Post-Impressionism through the Modern Art of the 20th Century

The computer is a tool. As with any tool, it has its appropriate place and usage. Heritage recognizes the benefits of such a tool and actively encourages its use by teachers during classroom presentations and by students in upper grades for research and writing assigned papers. Heritage also recognizes that computers have their deficiencies as well, including, but not limited to, passive learning.

Heritage encourages Middle School students to have basic proficiency with keyboarding, Microsoft Office, and Internet research. Teachers build on these basic skills in a variety of disciplines where study skills and the use of a safe and appropriate approach to computers are encouraged.

The goal of Physical Education is to prepare students for a lifetime of healthy living while training them in activities that will inspire as well as equip them to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Heritage believes that the athletic and physical training that students participate in on a daily basis will produce lifelong results, by strengthening their bodies, minds, and character through discipline, skills acquisition, consistent practice, self-control, and teamwork.

Middle School students participate in P.E. two days a week.

Weekly Chapel is planned and implemented to inspire students to learn the joy and importance of worship. Chapel takes place every Friday morning for middle and high school students. Parents and guests are encouraged to participate.

The Chapel experience is a fundamental and distinctive part of a Heritage education. Its purpose is to provide the spiritual overtone that should guide students’ decision-making in their daily lives.

Each class participates in community service projects where they are the hands and feet of Jesus. Service projects are selected by each House during Middle School Reconnect.

Heritage Middle School students participate in a range of interscholastic competitions. These include a wide range of disciplines:

• Spelling Bees
• Math Olympics
• Creative Writing Contests
• The National Latin Exam
• ERB Standardized Testing