Regular Programming - Junior High

Language Arts is an active process that begins at birth and continues throughout life. Language development is continuous. Students enhance their language abilities by using what they know in new and more complex contexts and with increasing sophistication. By learning and incorporating new language structures into their repertoire and using them in a variety of contexts, students develop language fluency and proficiency. In the Junior High grades, Language Arts is designed to help students acquire knowledge and develop skills within the Language Arts strands of reading, writing, listening, speaking, viewing and representing. The emphasis is on reading and responding to a variety of literature; developing competence in writing for different audiences and purposes; gaining confidence and skills in speaking and listening activities; and learning to view critically. The aim of Language Arts is to enable each student to understand and appreciate language, and to use it confidently and competently in a variety of situations for communication, personal satisfaction, and learning.

Thematic units covered in Grade 7 are Identity and Mystery where various short stories and texts are explored. Students will read a novel, as well as learn about slam poetry and complete a film study. Students also participate in a book club where books focus on the theme of overcoming differences. Grammar, terminology, reading comprehension and writing is covered throughout the units over the course of the year.

Thematic units covered in Grade 8 are Mystery and Suspense, Society, poetry and self-expression, as well as an independent novel study and film studies. Grammar, terminology, reading comprehension and writing is covered throughout the units over the course of the year.

The Grade 9 course utilizes a variety of short stories, poems, non-fiction articles, films, a class novel study and small group book clubs to cover the themes of Identity, Fear, Social Justice and Hope. These are covered with a focus on developing writing techniques to help students achieve excellence in writing essays, narratives and business letters. Grammar, terminology and reading comprehension is covered throughout the units over the course of the year.

At the Junior High level, Louis uses our strengths in literacy, analysis and written expression within our social studies department. Students in junior high are challenged to utilize their best learning styles through a multitude of media, research and written objectives. They are assessed both formally and informally to get the best representation of their skill level. Through various Baron’s Blocks, field trips and one on one collaboration with their teachers they showcase their best efforts.

Grade 7 Students will explore the origins, histories and movement of peoples who forged the foundations of Canadian Confederation. They will examine how the political, demographic, economic and social changes that have occurred since Confederation have influenced ways in which contemporary Canada has evolved.

Grade 8 Students will learn how intercultural contact between societies led to significant historical and cultural change. Through an examination of Renaissance Europe, Spanish and Aztec societies and Japan, students will demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of how the exchange of ideas and knowledge contributed to shaping the worldview of the Western world; an understanding and appreciation of how intercultural contact affects the worldviews of societies; and finally, demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of the ways in which beliefs, values and knowledge shape worldviews and contribute to a society’s isolation or adaptation.

Grade 9 Students will analyze the relationship between Canada’s political and legislative processes and their impact on issues pertaining to governance, rights, citizenship, and identity. Students will also explore issues of economics and their impact on quality of life, citizenship and identity in Canada and the United States.

At the Junior High level, Louis encourages students to develop mathematical reasoning, problem-solving skills and to make connections between mathematics and its applications. We strive to foster student's confidence in mathematics as well as an appreciation for the subject.  Each course has a strong emphasis on mental math, where the students will develop and use mental math strategies each day. The Mathematics curriculum is organized into four sections called strands. These are number concepts and operations, patterns and relations, shape and space, and statistics and probability. Each grade in junior high have slightly different focuses, but expands on these strands overall. Students in Junior High are actively engaged and challenged in math and get the opportunity to extend their knowledge through Enhanced Academic Program (EAP) projects and assignments. Students will express their mathematical skills in various assignments, assessments, projects, and field trips.

Our grade 7 students will learn and explain the divisibility rules and solve problems involving percent and decimals.   They will explore adding and subtracting integers, as well as fractions, and mixed numbers. Students will begin to model and solve one step and two step algebra equations and use these skills to problem solve. Grade 7's will dive into statistics, discovering mean, median, and mode, as well as creating circle graphs. They will work with shapes such as circles, parallelograms, and triangles and learn how to calculate the area.

Grade 8 students will enhance their skills that were learned in grade 7. They will extend the concepts of area and 2D shapes to surface area and volume of 3D shapes, such as a cylinder.  They will use square roots and square numbers, as well as discover the Pythagorean theorem. Students will problem solve using fractions, percent, and decimals and be introduced to ratios and proportions. Not only will they add and subtract fractions and mixed numbers, but they will begin to multiply and divide. This will prepare them to solve expressions with multiple operations using the order of operations of integers and fractions.

Grade 9 students will finish out junior high math by improving on those concepts learned in grade 7 and 8, as well as develop skills to prepare them for grade 10. They will perfect their operations of positive and negative rational numbers, including problems requiring order of operations. Students will apply their knowledge of square numbers to estimating the square root of non-perfect numbers.  They will learn the laws of exponents and be introduced to polynomials, as well as solve problems with linear equations and inequalities. Students will continue with 3D shapes while being introduced to the surface area of composite shapes. They will be challenged with the concepts of problem solving with circle geometry and discuss and interpret the world of statistics and surveys.

In Science, students develop knowledge and skills that help them understand and interpret the world around them. At each level of the Junior High program, students learn basic concepts from earth, physical and life sciences, and are challenged to apply what they have learned. Through their studies, students are expected to develop skills of inquiry and experimentation, skills of solving practical problems, and skills of finding and evaluating information. Student will develop skills for: inquiry, experimentation, practical problem solving, finding information and evaluating information.

Science students are introduced to geology—the kinds of materials and changes that occur on Earth’s crust and in the interior of Earth. They apply physical science concepts like heat, temperature and forces to analyze, design and build safe and stable structures and devices that reduce heat loss. Students investigate how organisms interact within ecosystems and how these systems are affected by human activities. They also consider decisions and actions for sustainability of the environment and agricultural industries.

From machines that use energy, to the transport of solutions, to the functioning of the eye, students will see first-hand how science affects their daily life, their career and their future. They will investigate the structure of living things, from the smallest cells to the more complex systems in the human body. Science 8 students will also examine the interactions among water, land and climate to better understand the distribution and health of living things, and they’ll learn to appreciate how the knowledge and skills they are applying in class have led to advances in medical and mechanical technologies.

Students will begin to unravel the significance of DNA in genetics—including its role in determining traits like hair colour—and they’ll identify the scientific and technological advancements that led to human exploration of the moon and beyond! They will be energized as they problem-solve and experiment with electricity and evaluate the benefits and impacts of energy use. Science 9 students will continue to develop as a scientist as they conduct and analyze chemical reactions and apply their understanding of chemistry to the world around them.

The physical education curriculum, as defined by Alberta Learning, requires students to be assessed in the following four areas:

• Activity: Students will acquire skills through a variety of developmentally appropriate

               movement activities; dance, games, types of gymnastics, individual activities and

               activities in an alternative environment; e.g., aquatics and outdoor pursuits.

• Benefits of Health: Students will understand, experience and appreciate the health benefits that result from physical activity.
• Cooperation: Students will interact positively with others.
• Do it Daily For Life!: Students will assume responsibility to lead an active way of life. 

The physical education program is set up to provide students with an opportunity to experience activity in a variety of different ways and environments. Some of these activities and environments may be viewed as non-traditional for physical education, but nevertheless are valid activities that will be used to complete the specified outcomes provided by Alberta Learning. 

These activities will help students develop positive attitudes towards a healthy, active lifestyle and promote personal growth and social responsibility both in the classroom and within the community. Students will gain knowledge to help them in future settings and to maintain a healthy lifestyle beyond the scope of the classroom. Louis St Laurent’s P.E. Department stresses the importance and belief that all students will be included and expected to participate to the best of their ability.

These activities will help students develop positive attitudes towards a healthy, active lifestyle and promote personal growth and social responsibility both in the classroom and within the community. Students will gain knowledge to help them in future settings and to maintain a healthy lifestyle beyond the scope of the classroom. Louis St Laurent’s P.E. Department stresses the importance and belief that all students will be included and expected to participate to the best of their ability.

These activities will help students develop positive attitudes towards a healthy, active lifestyle and promote personal growth and social responsibility both in the classroom and within the community. Students will gain knowledge to help them in future settings and to maintain a healthy lifestyle beyond the scope of the classroom. Louis St Laurent’s P.E. Department stresses the importance and belief that all students will be included and expected to participate to the best of their ability.

These activities will help students develop positive attitudes towards a healthy, active lifestyle and promote personal growth and social responsibility both in the classroom and within the community. Students will gain knowledge to help them in future settings and to maintain a healthy lifestyle beyond the scope of the classroom. Louis St Laurent’s P.E. Department stresses the importance and belief that all students will be included and expected to participate to the best of their ability.

The themes of the grade 7 Religion program follow the scriptural themes of Creation, Revelation, Covenant and Redemption in Christ. The students are invited to reflect on the first two articles of the Apostles’ Creed as the summation of the faith that has been handed on to us through the church. They learn of God’s call to a Christian lifestyle of creed faith in a praying and sacramental community.

The grade 8 program focuses students’ attention on the person of Jesus Christ, revealed as the fullness and perfect image of God. The students reflect on the last part of the Apostles’ Creed, which is studied as the summation of the faith that has been handed on to us through the Church. They study key aspects of the Sacraments and reflect on the Ten Commandments.

The grade 9 program focuses on the themes of maturity, choices, and relationships. They are invited to shape their lives through the choices they make in light of Christ’s invitation to share life. The students are further assisted in understanding how relationships are an important part of growing in a covenant relationship with Christ.