High school is one year away. By the end of this year, we strive to teach the skills and lessons our students need to prepare for the tough entrance exam at Gonzaga Prep or honors classes at public high schools.

The eighth-grade curriculum is challenging and rewarding. Students take pre-algebra and science offers an in-depth study of each of the human body systems with an emphasis on their interdependency. To better prepare them for the challenges they will face, students also study the effects of drugs and alcohol on the human body, as well as families and society. Much of this research is done on computers, which are part of a grant received by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and an anonymous donor.

Eighth-grade religion focuses on what it means to be a Christian teenager. There is much emphasis on developing a lifestyle and spirituality that emulates Jesus. They put their faith into action through their class' Community Service Projects. Students have reached out to residence of St. Joseph Care Center, writing letters, visiting and attending Mass. They are also helping sort food at the Spokane Food Bank, in addition to participating in the school's other projects.

As their writing skills continue to develop, eight graders track their progress in folders called portfolios. By the end of the year, they can see how their grammar, sentence structure and ideas have improved. They put those skills to use by writing persuasive papers, research papers and autobiographies.