Learn about plant cultivation and earth science in this hands-on gardening class.  Students will plant, care for, and harvest food crops in the school garden and greenhouse, while learning about natural processes affecting soils, water, ecology, and plant growth.

World Language IA focuses on French, Mandarin or Spanish and covers the first half of high school level I curriculum and uses the same texts as the high school.

Course Length: Year

Open to Grades: 6, 7, 8

Prerequisites: Math Placement

Prerequisites: Intro to World Language

Prerequisites: Intro to World Language

Course Length: Year

Open to Grades: 7

Prerequisites: English 6, History 6
Estimated hours of homework per class period: 15 minutes

Humanities 7 develops students’ reading and writing foundations while introducing them to broader questions about literature, history, and themselves. Our overarching theme of connection challenges students to make connections between the present and the past, consider multiple perspectives, and study the middle ages as a period of increasing interconnectedness. We return again and again to critical reading skills like monitoring understanding, annotating, and supporting claims with evidence. Students also deepen their understanding of theme, symbolism, and other techniques authors use to build layers of meaning in a text. In writing, instruction emphasizes process--brainstorming, drafting, revising, and editing--as the key to writing with clarity and style across genres. Analytical, evidence-based writing is a major focus of seventh-grade humanities, though students also write narratives and poetry. The history curriculum supports students’ nonfiction reading and critical thinking skills. Using a textbook, primary source documents, and articles, students will investigate how people around the world lived during the middle ages. The history topics wrap up where the 8th-grade American history curriculum begins, with a study of the Columbian Exchange, the Atlantic slave trade, and slavery’s lasting impact in America.

Prerequisites: Math Placement

Course Length: Year

Open to Grades: 7, 8

Prerequisites: Prealgebra 
Estimated hours of homework per class period: 30 to 45 minutes

Let’s learn about ART! This course is perfect for all students to learn about and experience different mediums and techniques. The Elements of Art and Principles of Art will be introduced and emphasized in various activities and projects. During the course, students will be exposed to a variety of visual arts and have an introduction to subject matter that they may be interested in exploring more in-depth during a full quarter elective in the future, such as drawing, painting, ceramics, glass, printmaking, geo design, photography, and/or book arts!  No previous art experience required, but a willingness to take risks and try new things is key!

Prerequisites: None

Prerequisites: None

This course is designed to introduce students to choral ensemble singing. Good breathing and vocal technique, vowel placement, projection, and a basic understanding of musical elements will be addressed through performance of Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Jazz and Popular styles. Teamwork, personal growth, and creative thinking are developed through rehearsal and performance. This is a performance-based class and outside of the school day performances will be required.

Open to Grades: 6, 7, 8

Course Length: Quarter

Open to Grades: 6, 7, 8

Prerequisites: None

In this quarter-length course, students will explore repetition and patterns in art. We will explore tessellations, stamping patterns, doodle art, mandalas, and 3-D art. We will work with a variety of mediums including, paper, paint, pens/ink, printmaking/stamping materials, pens, found objects, and/or even tile! We will do individual and group projects. No previous art class experience is required; this class is accessible to everyone.

Course Length:  Year

Open to Grades:  7, 8

Prerequisites:  MS Algebra I
Estimated hours of homework per class period: 20 minutes

 

Course Length: Quarter

Open to Grades: 6, 7, 8

Prerequisites: None

 

Prerequisites: None

This course is designed for actors of all levels. The goal of this course is to grow student's acting skills, release the madness of their imaginations, and expose them to games and exercises in which they will build tons of characters and situations. The students will learn: basic acting vocabulary, improvisation games, voice work to sound different character-to-character, and they will increase their power and come at character-building in many ways. This class WILL NOT perform for the Middle School, and students will have fun and grow from creating characters and scenes with each other.

 

Instrument choices: Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, French Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Baritone, Violin, Viola, Cello, String Bass

Course Length: Year (Meets Tuesdays and Thursdays)
Open to Grades: 6, 7, 8

 

This ensemble consists of students playing at all levels on woodwinds, brass, and percussion. You will play with students who are equally interested in having a good time growing their skills and making great music. In this class, you will learn a variety of musical styles and genres including jazz, swing, and funk, and will learn to become more proficient on your instrument.

Prerequisites: None

This quarter-long class focuses on training beginning and intermediate performers to combine the elements of acting, dancing and singing into performing selections from the musical theater genre. MTP utilizes both individual and group work in a variety of short scenes and concentrates on character development through body language/dance and vocal inflection/tone. A variety of techniques and exercises will be employed and the historical and social contexts of musical theater will be explored as well. Ultimately, students will have a better sense and ability to create characters through music and dance. At the end of the quarter, students will perform their songs and scenes for an invited audience of parents and select middle school classes. 

Course Length: Year

Open to Grades: 6-8

Course Description:

Most of us know who Bear Grylls is. Or at least most of us have seen a survival reality show where contestants are asked to survive in extreme elements in the wild. This class will not be asking you to survive 3 weeks on a deserted island or navigate your way out of an ice storm in Antarctica…but it will give you the basic skill sets to be more confident exploring the great outdoors. Students will learn how to navigate with and without a compass, start a fire, cook on a fire, track and trap animals, read the weather, and be a smarter, safer, and more appreciative adventurer. 

 

Course Length: Quarter

Open to Grades: 7, 8

Prerequisites: None

Plant to Plate II is a continuation of Plant to Plate I. Students will work collaboratively in the garden and kitchen using safe cooking and gardening techniques incorporating scientific concepts and our Benedictine values. Students will use their "advanced" gardening skills to maintain and nurture our school garden. 

Course Length: Quarter

Open to Grades: 6, 7, 8

Prerequisites: None

Plant to Plate I is an interactive, hands-on gardening and cooking class. We will learn how to grow and harvest fruits and vegetables, care for the chickens, and maintain the garden. Students will learn basic, intermediate, and advanced cooking skills including health and safety measures in an outdoor kitchen. Science concepts will be woven into  our work in the garden. Benedictine values will be at the center of our time around the table as we "break bread" together. 

Course Length: Quarter

Open to Grades: 6, 7, 8

Prerequisites: None

Let’s Make Prints! Students will learn the basic history of Printmaking (with slides and examples), and explore a variety of traditional and non-traditional printmaking techniques including monoprints/monotypes, block printing, and editions. We will use a variety of mediums and methods like gelli plates, rubber, cardboard, and/or foam plates. We will make prints from objects found in nature and from recycled materials. Elements of graphic design, collagraphs, gluing, cutting, registration, and reduction printing will also be incorporated into the course. You’ll learn all the basics: transferring an image, envisioning it in positive/negative space, carving, inking, and printing. Students will leave the course with a collection of their prints, and a group project. No previous printmaking or art experience is required; this course is accessible to everyone.

Course Length: Quarter

Open to Grades: 6, 7, 8

Prerequisites: None

Course Length: Quarter

Open to Grades: 6, 7, 8

Prerequisites: None
Estimated hours of homework per class period: 15 minutes

This quarter-long class is designed for students who want to compose their own music. Students will gain a strong foundation of the fundamentals of songwriting including music theory, lyric writing, harmony, music notation, and chords. Students will create their own songs, collaborate with classmates on projects, and develop their musical ear to further appreciate the music they love.

Course Length: Quarter
Open to Grades: 6, 7, 8
Prerequisites: None

Students will build on skills learned in 6th grade and acquire a higher understanding of how to improve their sports skills and why it’s essential. This course teaches and provides practice specific techniques and conditioning in the sports of football, basketball, and tennis.

Prerequisites: None

Do you like working with your hands to solve problems? Do you find it satisfying to use your time and talents to fix things that need attention? Do you like to leave a place better than you found it? Do you enjoy the intangible and intrinsic rewards of stewardship? Stewards in Action is a class dedicated to helping students discover the joys of campus stewardship. Together, we will look at ways that we can make a positive difference in the school operations, appearance, and environmental impact. Students will learn basic tool use and techniques – skills that they can apply to real-life projects and problems. Most class time will be spent outdoors, with projects including: campus habitat restoration, trail improvement, tool reconditioning and repair, and community education/information.

Course Description:

“Stories are a communal currency for humanity.”- Tahir Shah. Stories are, and always have been, how we learn about ourselves and others. Our histories, cultures, ideas, triumphs, and meaningful failures are all passed down and through our stories. How we hear and tell those stories is an art that truly benefits humanity. In this course, we will explore the different ways we hear and share stories. We will take walks around campus while listening to podcasts, we will go outside and read short stories, and we will watch films that visually create worthy tales. We will also craft our own stories and learn how to best share them through creative writing and in person story telling. In doing so, we will gain an appreciation for the inherent value of stories and a better understanding of how to absorb and share them. 

Open to Grades:  6, 7, 8
Prerequisites: None

Course Length: Quarter 

 

This quarter long course provides an introduction to various Adobe programs and different design skills with art elements and principles. This is a hands-on project-based class in which students get plenty of opportunities to learn vector and bitmap graphic design software for print products. A digital portfolio showcasing student works throughout the quarter is used to celebrate the completion of this course.

The Priory seventh and eighth grade physical education class meets one time a week for fifty minutes and emphasizes advanced health-related fitness activities.  The class provides a varying array of traditional sports like volleyball, golf and basketball combined with non-traditional sports like cricket, lacrosse and badminton to create an exciting learning environment.  In addition to improving overall physical fitness, the curriculum focuses on other important outcomes, including the attainment of motor skills, knowledge, and social values.  The focus during class time, however, is on students being actively engaged in developmentally appropriate movement. Students should learn to enjoy and seek out physical activity along with developing and maintaining acceptable levels of physical fitness.  Our curriculum is based on the framework and standards of the state of California and SPARK (Sports Play and Active Recreation for Kids, a nationally honored non-profit organization dedicated to physical education). 

This course is designed to introduce students to topics in astronomy, geology, plate tectonics, and meteorology in order to understand Earth’s features, forces, and place in the universe. Problem solving skills and scientific method are emphasized throughout the year. This is a hands-on class where projects and lab experiments are performed on a regular basis. One major goal is for students to further respect and cherish the Earth in the hope that they will become responsible stewards of our planet.

Prerequisites: Theology 6

Having fun with science! Students will build and tinker to discover facts about physics and engineering through hands-on exploration. These will include creating and designing projects, such as an egg drop, bridge building, catapults, roller coasters and so much more.  Throughout this course, students will strengthen their knowledge on science and everyday life concepts, including: air resistance, projectiles, gravity, support structures, the scientific method, the design process, the design review process, data collection, data analysis, constructive feedback, observation, working independently and working in groups. Students will leave this class with several projects and a greater understanding of the scientific process and areas of study. The information students learn about in Stem Building is applicable to all future science courses.

No previous knowledge or experience with engineering or science is necessary for this course. Open to all grades.