The aim of the Catholic Religion program is to instill in our students a deep love of our Catholic Faith and for Our Lord Jesus Christ. The study of the Catholic faith seeks to direct the quest for Truth, Beauty, and Goodness written in the human heart toward its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Through the study of the Life of Jesus, the Ten Commandments, the Creed, and the Sacraments, students are prepared to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in 8th grade. Sacred Scripture, Tradition, and the teachings of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, are daily resources used during Religion Class. 

Thanks to the deeper study of the Catholic Faith, students will grow in the understanding of their faith and a biblical worldview, and they will be prepared to give reasons for their Christian hope with gentleness and respect. Reading and learning about the lives of saints as part of our Religion curriculum, helps students to see our call to holiness fully alive, presenting them truthful and attractive models to follow. 

We not only seek to develop knowledge, but a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, truly present in the Eucharist, a tender devotion to our Blessed Mother Mary, foster a love for the Sacred Liturgy and filial love for the Holy Mother Church. 

During the Middle School years, the ELA curriculum continues to develop the students’ writing and grammar skills, increase vocabulary, and improve their ability to analyze texts using classic pieces of literature. The writing curriculum encourages improvement in essay development, sentence structure, and the command of conventional usage of English grammar, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling. Students will elevate language usage through word choice and a more formal voice in their academic writing, as well as using properly cited textual evidence to support their ideas.

Through class discussions, responding to writing prompts, and more extended essays, students will analyze themes and central ideas of the literature selections. Students will explore how authors use figurative language, mood, imagery, etc., to convey themes, develop characters and the plot, and establish points of view, and to develop public speaking skills.  The classic literature selections will help convey a catholic imagination and encourage the development of Christian virtues. Collaborative projects, research, and presentations help deepen content understanding.

Mathematics is a beautiful and creative discipline that helps us to see the beauty of God through the patterns within this world.  We have been created in God’s image and He has placed the desire to create within each of us. Within our Middle School Math Curriculum students will discover the beauty and wonder of Mathematics, not just as a set of rules, but as a powerful tool for understanding and solving real-world problems. As they build proficiency in basic math skills, they explore deeper algebraic concepts, uncover patterns, and make connections to help them think critically and creatively. Students develop strategies to model situations with numbers, words, and symbols, learning to approach challenges with perseverance and number sense. Throughout this experience, we aim to foster a positive attitude toward Math, encouraging our students to appreciate its relevance and preparing them for success in higher-level Mathematics. Middle School Math is a time to think big, explore new ideas, and see Math as an exciting adventure.

Science, at its core, is the analysis of the beauty of God’s creation through questioning, exploration, and discussion. Students expand their understanding of nature and life through the investigation of different areas of science.

During the Middle School years, students dive deeper into Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. The curriculum supports students, both collaboratively and independently, to learn through observation, research, and experimentation. Each week, students make use of our state-of-the-art laboratories to conduct experiments during their designated lab classes. All students in 1st-8th grades take part in a yearly Science Fair, where they demonstrate their understanding of the scientific method and explore a topic of great interest.

STEM engages students in asking questions and solving problems both in and out of the classroom. Through collaborative learning, in depth questioning, and hands-on projects, students develop their critical thinking skills. 

In Middle School STEM, students use their developed questioning and problem solving skills to further expand upon their understanding of digital literacy, computational thinking, and engineering. They work collaboratively to conduct research, construct models, solve problems, and improve designs. Through these processes, students explore the topics of electricity, circuits, robotics, coding, word processing and website building, physics, and compound machines. 

The Social Studies curriculum fosters an understanding and love of human history, from the time of God’s creation to the present day. Beginning with World History in 6th and 7th grades, students will learn and explore geography and the rise of ancient civilizations, such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, Greece, and Rome. Historical periods of study include the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Absolutism and Enlightenment, the Revolutionary Era, and the Modern World. In 8th grade, students narrow their focus to the history of the United States of America, beginning with the Revolutionary War and moving towards modern times

At Mater Salvatoris fluency in languages is fundamental to a thorough education. Learning a second language helps our students to develop their minds, as well as the social and communication skills they need to succeed within a multicultural and diverse society. Students benefit from immersion in the language, as well as integrating comprehension, oral and written expression skills. Learning another language opens them to know and value other cultural expressions, and be enriched by them.

The Middle School Art curriculum encourages students to see and experience art and beauty through the eyes of God. Through the study of the History of Art, students are introduced to the artistic expression of each historical age, as a reflection of each culture (Society, Politics, Philosophy, Religion), and its ways of expression in different methods and materials. 

Students work with a variety of techniques, including drawing, painting, collage, mixed media, printmaking, textile arts, and sculpture. This combined approach of both Art History and techniques, allows students to dive into the true meaning and expression of the beauty of Art. 

Physical Education for Middle School girls focuses on skill development, fitness, sportsmanship, leadership, and creating a lifelong appreciation for physical activity. The curriculum is structured to offer increasing complexity and challenge while promoting physical fitness, teamwork, and mental well-being. 

During these years, we focus on team and individual sports, fitness, and health education. Students participate in agility, coordination, advanced sports skills, fitness concepts, team strategy, and team-building activities,  as part of a well-rounded education.