JUNIOR

Humanities encompasses history, language arts, literature, cultural studies, geography, research projects, and writing. A variety of texts, representative literature, and primary sources are used to discover the interconnectedness of knowledge. Vocabulary is an integral part of the Junior Class experience. After students find definitions, a discussions of common usage, alternative meanings, and etymology follow. “Year-Long Projects” provide eighth-graders with the opportunity to experience an in-depth research project on a topic of great interest to them. The final project includes oral presentation, visual and artistic representation, and a lengthy paper. 

Math includes pre-algebra for 7th graders and algebra for the 8th graders. Pre-algebra covers a wide range of topics from arithmetic, number theory, geometry, probability, and introduces ideas of algebra. It is designed to prepare them for the algebra course. Algebra covers properties of inequality, polynomials, quadratic equations, functions, analytic geometry, and systems of linear equations. The Junior science class covers the three main subjects they will have in high school; these are physics, chemistry, and biology. A full two-year cycle is dedicated to these classes: mechanics, electricity and magnetism in physics, stoichiometry and atomic structure in chemistry, and evolution and anatomy in biology. Other specialized courses, such as meteorology, geology, and astronomy, are also covered. The focus of science is to teach a concept, and then to apply it in hands-on, real lab experiments.

The Farm@Cornerstone, our 2000 square foot garden, is the centerpiece of the work. Crops that are started in the Spring are harvested and transformed into salsas and sauces, pickles and pesto come Fall. A foundational concept of work at this age allows students to take on adult-like roles, work through the planning and execution of a project, and experience a feeling of accomplishment and positive feedback from adults and peers alike. These student-run businesses require planning, risk failure, and record-keeping spreadsheets.  Some of the projects, like volunteering at the soup kitchen in Portsmouth, yield a return not measurable in dollars. That esteem carries over to the next project, and the cycle continues. 

Outside of regular subject area classes, the schedule allows for individualized instruction and a natural pace for absorption of material presented for both mastery and emotional understanding. Art, music, and Spanish are integrated and support the whole early adolescent. “Going out” includes larger and longer trips (notably to Washington, DC, and London, UK) each Spring, and the complex planning these farther destinations entail.