Reading and spelling-A 40 -week course about literature and correct spelling. Skills developed are reading comprehension, vocabulary development, writing, literature study, and research.

Physical Education- this is a class where students get a chance to exercise, and it teaches sportsmanship and personal fitness.

Math - a 40-week class covering math basics.

Enriched Math Section- 40-week class for students who are capable of doing a higher level of math

Social studies - a 40-week course that explores geography skills and cultures.

Electives

Art- A ten -week course teaching the fundamentals of artistic techniques including line drawing, painting, and two and three dimensional drawing and shading.

Vocal Music- a ten- week course dealing with basic music reading and vocal development with two to three concerts a year.

Foreign language- A ten -week course introducing the languages of French, Spanish, and German. Numbers, names, and simple conversations are covered. Designed to give students a general idea in a specific language to take in later grades.

Applied Tech- a ten -week course revolving around the various skills needed for modern day living. Students will acquire a boating license, build a bird house, and learn basic drafting skills.

Quest- Lions Quest Skills for Adolescence Program.

Basic Skills 1- This course is designed to improve students' basic skills of note-taking and research.

English 7- Grammar and literature are taught this year. Writing, spelling, vocabulary, punctuation, and capitalization are emphasized also.

Math- this year, the basic concept is to reinforce a student's mathematical skills.

Science-This class teaches students some basic chemistry, DNA, cells, and the human body. The human body section concludes with a two- week dissection of a fetal pig.

Physical Education-A twenty- week course that teaches students how to become and stay physically fit, and routinely gives fitness tests.

History-This class teaches students American history from the first European explorers to the Civil War.

Keyboarding-A ten- week course teaching students basic typing and keyboarding skills.

Health- a ten -week class warning against the usage of drugs and teaching of their dangers. Also teaches students about birth, STDs, and the reproductive organs.

Spanish-a twenty-week course teaching basic Spanish reading, writing, and speaking, and culture.

French- a twenty-week course teaching basic French reading, speaking and writing.

German- a twenty-week course teaching basic German speaking, writing, and reading.

Art- a ten-week course teaching basic art technique, painting, and art appreciation.

Life Technology-a ten-week course not unlike home economics. Skills covered are table setting, baking, health risks, and shopping.

Applied Technology-a twenty-week course teaching varied technological skills.

G.A.T.E.-A twenty-week course for accelerated students. Students will do long term and short term projects refining students' individual and group skills.

Concert Band-A year-long optional class for instrument playing students. Many concerts are scheduled for the year.

Chorus-A twenty -week course open to students who wish to develop their vocal singing skills. Several concerts are planned for the semester.

MATH 8-Previous applications like decimals and fractions are put into play during the first semester. The second semester expands on percentages, geometry, and algebra. There is one math-related project each marking period.

SCIENCE 8- Five different books are issued throughout the year. The books are: Motion and Forces, Chemical Interactions, Weather and Climate, Earth's Changing Surface, and Earth's History: Animals.

SOCIAL STUDIES 8- Using current events, the students will cover the political, geographical, economic, and historic tradition of our democratic society, and expand on some other societies.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION 8- This class is similar to its 7th grade counterpart. Physical abilities are expected to be increased since 7th grade as well. Games include fast break football, speedway, volleyball, basketball, floor hockey, team handball, and track.

SPANISH II-A one-semester course open to eighth graders who took Spanish I last semester. It reviews the basic points of Spanish I and covers the body, food, clothing, animals, and other conversation pieces.

FRENCH II-A one-semester course open to eighth graders who took French I last semester. It covers music, sports, colors, food, weather, and time, as well as France in relation to the Washington, D.C. trip.

GERMAN II-A one-semester course open to eighth graders who took German I last semester. A relatively new class, German II covers verbs, conversation, usage, and other topics similar to those covered in French II and Spanish II.

Note: If you wish to change your foreign language in eighth grade (i.e. taking German when you took French in 7th grade) you may take the 1st class foreign language. Those class descriptions are included in the 7th grade section.

COMPUTER APPLICATIONS-A class designed to teach students computer literacy and review typing skills. It also teaches how to use power point and useful school skills such as internet research and spreadsheets.

ART 8-This one-semester class requires greater artistic ability and have longer projects. Drawing, painting, color, and sculpture are covered.

LIFE TECHNOLOGY 8-Students use computers to explore new areas that will be used later in life such as cooking, job exploration, sewing, and self-exploration.

APPLIED TECHNOLOGY 8-Students use computers to find out how to produce music, record videos, experiment with alternate power sources, and electronics. Students learn to manage time themselves in this class, and have two weeks to finish a module.

PERSONAL FINANCE-Students will be taught money management, investments, consumer affairs, and other financial and economic decision making subjects.

BASIC SKILLS II-A ten-week course taught both in the classroom and the media center, and teaches research techniques and public speaking, among other useful public skills.

CHORUS-An elective class that expands vocal skills and has a few concerts a year. This course cannot be taken in conjunction with band, and the class is a mixed 7th and 8th grade class.

SYMPHONY BAND-An intermediate band for students with a minimum of two years of instrument-playing experience.

INTEGRATED MATH I-A recommendation only class that is similar to the high school 9th grade math class.

APPLIED MATH 8-A basic math reinforcement class.

G.A.T.E. 8-An accelerated class for gifted students, this is a year-long course that serves as an elective. This class is project-based and is offered by invitation. This class reinforces both independent and group projects.