Middle School

The Middle School English program promotes a sequential study of literature, composition, critical thinking, and speech which is designed for the middle school student. The teaching of these components is integrated and crosses the curriculum.

The objectives of the Literature Program are to instill a love of reading, to develop vocabulary, comprehension and analytical skills, and to expose students to a wide variety of good literature. The Intensive Reading Unit fosters a love of reading through students exploring thematic connections among a number of high interest works selected from a range of reading levels. Independent Reading Assignments and use of the library support this objective throughout the year. Class study of major literary works provides guided practice in analysis through discussion and writing. The study of several short stories, poetry, and nonfiction complements our program. These will allow students to learn the various skills of how to effectively read for information, identify main ideas, predict outcomes, discern the consequence of thought/affection and action, make inferences, identify and interpret figurative language, and sequence. In addition, these short works expose students to different cultures.

The Writing Program offers students a variety of writing experiences growing out of the study of literature: letter writing, creative writing, analytical writing, and journal writing. As students move through the grades, greater emphasis on expository writing prepares them for the High School. The department makes use of our school’s computer and library resources in the writing process. The teaching of grammar and its application to the mechanics of writing is sequentially organized. Concepts taught in fourth and fifth grade are reinforced in sixth grade. Instruction on cursive, spelling, sentence structure, punctuation, and parts of speech increase editing and revising skills.

Throughout Fourth Grade English Language Arts (ELA), students will receive instruction in reading, writing, listening, spelling, grammar, handwriting, and critical thinking processes so that they may progress forward in their development toward becoming effective communicators. A variety of materials and sources will be used throughout the year. The novels read will be geared towards general interests as well as to specific age interests. These novels are James and the Giant Peach, Wonder, and Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. They supplement the core curriculum and include titles that expose students to different themes. In addition, they expose the students to intellectual, emotional, social, and moral issues.
In terms of writing, students will receive instruction for moving through all steps of the writing process: brainstorming, writing, drafting, revising, proofreading/editing, and publishing. Students will learn the components and skills necessary for writing, including personal narrative, persuasive, explanatory, compare and contrast, poetry, short responses, and extended responses.

Throughout Fifth Grade English Language Arts (ELA), students continue to build on concepts learned in Fourth Grade. They evaluate parts of speech, including subjects, predicates, nouns, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, contractions, interjections, prefixes, suffixes, root words, and compound words. Students also study advanced sentence structure, types of sentences, synonyms, antonyms, homophones, and homographs. The students also receive instruction on specific skills and strategies including inference, author’s purpose, prediction, fact and opinion. Text structure including sequencing, cause and effect, main idea, details, and context clues are also covered. The students will also gain an understanding of specific skills including dictionary skills, library skills, and encyclopedia skills. Close reading of novels, including Restart, Wish, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Esperanza Rising will enhance student reading and experience with different genres.

The writing units include personal narratives, persuasive writing, explanatory writing, expository writing, and cursive handwriting. Students will delve deeper into comparing and contrasting, poetry, fairy tales and will receive instruction on types of responses including responses to literature, short and extended responses. Additionally, grammar, vocabulary, spelling, and phrases are taught and reviewed daily.

Throughout Sixth Grade English Language Arts (ELA), students will receive in depth instruction on the use of literary devices, grammar and sentence structure, personal narrative writing, reading comprehension skills, informational reading, persuasive writing, paragraph writing, nonfiction, fiction, fact vs. opinion, test taking skills, evidence-based writing, textual evidence, descriptive writing, character development, theme, comparing and contrasting two works of literature, poetry, how to write poetry, different types of poetry. Poets that will be covered in class include William Shakespeare, Edgar Allen Poe, Shel Silverstein, Robert Frost, Maya Angelou and Dr. Seuss. The novels read and analyzed during sixth grade include Bridge to Terabithia, Lightning Thief, Hatchet, and A Wrinkle in Time. All novels provide students the opportunity to explore different themes, genres, and writing styles.

* Students in Grades 3-8 take the NY State English Assessment in the spring. *

Our Middle School Mathematics Program instructs students according to the New York State Mathematics Standards. Teachers work collaboratively to develop lessons and assessments and to prepare for the NYS Math Assessments that take place in the spring in grades 6, 7 and 8. Middle School math topics include number sense and operations, algebra, statistics and probability, measurement, and geometry.

Starting in Fall 2021, our school is implementing a new math series, eMath Instruction. This series provides high quality materials aligned to the New York State curriculum, including videos on their website (emathinstruction.com) for each lesson. Students can watch these videos to review and reinforce the day’s lesson, or view the videos when they are absent for a lesson.

6th grade: In Math 6, students expand their abilities developed in the elementary grades to work with numbers by using operations with multi-digit numbers, working with fractions, including dividing two fractions, working with decimals, and an introduction to negative numbers. Students work extensively with ratios including equivalent ratios, unit rates, and percentages. Work with algebra includes variables, equivalent expressions, one-step equations, and simple inequalities. Students use area, surface area, and volume to model real world problems with geometry.

Statistics has students concentrate on understanding how to answer statistical questions by using data distributions, measures of center, and simple measures of variation, such as the range. Probability work connects the measurement of chance with previous fraction and percent work.

7th grade: In Math 7, students expand their study of ratios, rates, proportional relationships, and percentages. Connections are made between fractions, decimals, and percentages as a way to measure portions of the whole. Students learn to operate with negative numbers and understand why the operations work as they do. Students increase their knowledge of algebra by modeling situations with two-step linear equations and linear inequalities.

Students extend their ability to answer statistical questions by using quartiles and box plots to compare samples. Students understand how to use a variety of models, such as tree diagrams, to analyze compound probability problems. Finally, students explore the geometry of angles and triangles.

*In 8th grade, students can take Math 8 or Algebra 1, depending on their mathematics level.*

8th Grade (Math 8): In Math 8, students increase their ability to use algebra to solve problems, including the solution of equations with variables on both sides. Extensive work is done in geometry to understand rigid motions, dilations, and their connections to congruent figures, symmetry, and similarity. The equation of a line in the coordinate plane is developed from work with proportional relationships and unit rates. Linear functions are used to model a variety of real-world scenarios. Systems of linear equations are solved graphically, by substitution, and by simple addition.

More advanced topics in algebra, such as negative exponents, roots, and solving simple quadratic equations are learned and applied, especially with the Pythagorean Theorem and with scientific notation. Geometric modeling is done with circles, cones, and spheres as well as other solids. Topics include the area formula for a circle and the volume formula for cones and spheres.

8th Grade (Algebra 1): Students taking Algebra 1 will explore a variety of topics within algebra including linear, exponential, quadratic, and polynomial equations and functions, in preparation for the Regents Exam at the end of the course to receive high school credit. Students will achieve fluency in solving linear and quadratic equations as well as with manipulation of polynomials using addition, subtraction, multiplication, and factoring. Students will understand the key differences between linear and exponential functions. Students learn to model problems using algebra, functions, sequences, probability, and statistics.

For all courses, math skills is taught in conjunction with classroom teachers on areas of math weakness. Students work on fundamental math skills and receive extra support for grade level topics.

*All students in Grades 6-8 will take the N.Y. State mathematics assessment in the spring.*

Physical education is a vital component for the development of a student’s physical, mental and social well-being. Students, through planned activities, will have the opportunity for physical development in the areas of strength, flexibility, coordination, endurance, balance, agility, range of motion, and power. Students are introduced to the fundamentals of team and individual sports, which include skills, rules, and game strategy. This diverse program will allow students the opportunity to develop individual skills and be introduced to new, enjoyable experiences for life-long physical fitness and well-being. Classes will stress the importance of student participation and sportsmanship while learning and performing various skills.

In the Middle School Science curriculum, students learn to apply scientific concepts, principles and theories to understand the physical world and the living environment. Learning is achieved through experiments and investigations, which are enriched by appropriate use of technology as well as traditional laboratory apparatus. Students are challenged to think critically, use judgments, search for new answers, and creatively apply newly acquired knowledge to various related situations. Students are encouraged to make connections between classroom experiences and other academic disciplines, as well as to the world around them. Progressing from fourth to sixth grade, students become more independent and sophisticated in conducting their investigations, developing an understanding of what constitutes a good experiment.

The Fourth Grade Science Fusion curriculum begins with the exploration of life science including plants and animals in their environment. Students research how both plants and animals interact and react to environmental changes as well as environmental conservation and its importance to humans, plants, and animals. Following this, the students continue with the earth sciences which allows them to observe earth’s different landforms and how they are constructed through erosion and weathering. Students analyze different weather patterns, cycles and processes which includes the water cycle. Following this, students examine physical science, such as matter, mass, volume and density, its properties, and relationship to one another. Students conclude the year with researching the engineering process and design by constructing their own invention.

*Students in Grade 4 take the NY State Science Assessment in June*
Fifth Grade Science uses the Science Fusion curriculum from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. The content areas focus on four major categories: Life Science & Cellular Systems, Earth Science & Ecosystems, The Solar System, and Particles of Matter. Scientific connections, applications thinking, tools, communication, investigation, and technologies are incorporated into daily lessons. Fifth grade topics covered include the scientific method, landforms, human body systems, living things, classifying matter, earth’s resources, rocks and minerals, investigation motion, adaptations, forms of energy, climate, food and exercise, and ecosystems. Students will become engineers and will perform and participate in individual science experiments that illustrate the scientific principles taught, via the NY State Department of Education STEAM Standards. Students will also participate in the annual year-end STEAM Inventor’s Fair.

Sixth Grade Science continues to develop the skills and concepts established in 4th and 5th Grade. The program, containing elements of Earth, Life and Physical Science delves into the fundamental aspects of these sciences while establishing additional skills needed for success in middle level science study. Students develop skill in performing and evaluating basic experiments while following the steps of the scientific method, as well as gaining proficiency in the use of scientific tools such as the microscope and the balance. Students will study such diverse topics as scientific explanations, life structure and function, cell structure and function, reproduction of organisms, genetics, environmental change over time, interactions of life, biomes, ecosystems, human body systems, and gain an understanding of the effects of gravitational forces on objects while learning the basic concepts of simple machines.

The Middle School Social Studies program is designed to help students develop a better understanding of both the past and the world in which they live today. History is the story of human experiences which includes social, economic, and political developments and interactions. It provides opportunities that promote critical and creative thinking as well as the ability to solve authentic, complex, cross-disciplinary problems. Students develop the intellectual, technological, and advocacy skills needed to excel in society so that they may become effective citizens in an interdependent world. Equipped with these skills and a solid base of knowledge that comes with a careful examination of the values and decisions made by those who came before us, we believe that students will be prepared to deal with the critical issues of their time.

The curriculum for Fourth Grade Social Studies stresses understanding the effect that geography had on the people, history, and economy of New York State. Topics include the geography of New York State, Native American groups and the environment, the Colonial and Revolutionary period in New York, introduction to federal, state and local Government, immigration and western industrialization, migration, and New York in the modern World and the present.

The curriculum for Fifth Grade Social Studies stresses the understanding of geography, economics, and cultures of American history. Students will further their knowledge of history and government. Fifth Grade topics include early history, Native American tribes, the Age of Exploration, the Thirteen English Colonies, Colonial life, the American Revolution, the Constitution, a new nation, slavery, the Civil War, the modern era, the Great Depression, World War I, and World War II. Students also participate in the annual Famous Faces in History Exhibition.

Sixth Grade Social Studies emphasizes the interdependence of all people, primarily in the Eastern Hemisphere. It provides students with a basic understanding of the economic, political, and social developments of the Eastern Hemisphere from the early development of civilizations to the modern world, concluding with World War I and II. The civilizations and time periods highlighted include Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, Ancient India and China, Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Reformation, the Enlightenment, the Industrial Revolution. Students will also learn historical thinking skills, including how to analyze historical primary sources appropriate for this course. Lastly, the 6th Grade participates in the International Food Festival which showcases countries from around the world and displays their history, culture, language, food, traditions, and music.

The Department of Fine & Performing Arts at Saint Demetrios strives to educate, create, and inspire young artists to be passionate actors, singers, musicians, visual and graphic artists.

Through a wide variety of educational courses and extracurricular activities, Saint Demetrios provides students interested in the arts with a rigorous and exciting educational experience. Theatrical productions, concerts, art shows, workshops and field trips are just some of the many avenues of instruction that the department offers to its prospective students.

GRADE 4-6 ART
The Art curriculum includes not only art production, but also teaching art history, art aesthetics, and art criticism. Projects include two and three-dimensional design with various media.

Students are introduced to projects that reinforce an understanding of the elements of art as they relate to composition. Projects are designed to develop students’ visual ideas and techniques as artistsand allow for individual student creativity within designated objectives aimed at student understanding of the visual arts creative process. Students will experiment with a variety of media to create visual arty including the elements of art (line, shape, color, value, texture, and form), along with principles of design (rhythm, direction, balance, contrast, dominance, proportion, and harmony/unity) in their art making practices. Art is a form of visual communication. Therefore, students will continually reflect their thoughts on the work of other artists, their own art, cultural art traditions, and art history. Artists and art history are included in specific projects to reinforce student comprehension of the role of art in history.

The Art course objectives are as follows:
• Be able to describe the art elements and design principles
• Be introduced to drawing/painting techniques
• Create artwork from observation along with from visual memory
• Learn how to communicate ideas visually
• Explore various types of media (art materials)
• Find solutions to various artistic problems
• Use visual vocabulary in class discussion
• Respond to daily questions with thoughtful answers
• Discover art history and different artistic styles
• Critique a work of art

GRADES 4-6 MUSIC
Music courses in Grades 4-6 are designed to introduce students to the elements and history of music. Exploring the music of the past, present and future, students will relate commercial music to classical music and appreciate the musical culture of different places and times. Videos, audio and live concert performances will enhance the musical experience.

These classes also focus on the fundamentals of rhythm, theory, and singing. Through their studies, students will be able to recognize the different note values, read treble and bass clef, follow along and sing to sheet music, clap and keep various rhythms.

Saint Demetrios Preparatory believes that language is the basis of human relationship and communication. Multilingualism is essential in an ever-changing, global society, and it opens the door to opportunities. Proficiency in a foreign language demands the ability to communicate purposefully, while appreciating contemporary and classical cultures in an intercultural population. As a Greek-American school, St. Demetrios prides itself in offering Greek Language studies to students across grade levels. This study enables students to communicate with native speakers of Greek, but also to learn about and understand the culture, traditions, and history of Greece.
Fourth Grade Greek and Greek History

The curriculum of Fourth Grade Greek is followed through Geia Xara, Level 4, a primary level course which has been created perfectly in step with students’ development using different kinds of learning strategies to match children’s different learning styles, while at the same time broadening their creativity, communication, and collaboration skills. By using Geia Xara learners learn and practice Modern Greek easily and quickly with plenty of practice. The course has been especially written to lay the foundations for obtaining the A2 Level Certificate of the Ellinomatheia Exams. The book consists of three units. Each unit includes an episode of the on-going adventure—Storyline Fun, which revises vocabulary and grammar taught in the lessons. The storyline of Geia Xara has been written to engage students and make learning Greek more exciting. Students will follow Niko and Eleni, two children from Greece, their cat Rita, and the mischievous mouse, Pi in their exciting adventures. They will explore Greece and learn about the Greek cultures and traditions, giving students insights into Greece today and Ancient Greece.
With this book students will work on reading, vocabulary and grammar:
• Reading and improving reading so they can read with greater ease and fluency
• Vocabulary and enriching their vocabulary with more Greek words including learning how to tell time
• Grammar: verbs, conjugation (active and passive voice), verb tenses—present, past, future, and present-indefinite, pronouns, adjectives, suffixes, sentence syntax (subject-verb-object)
• Spelling
Students will also focus on specific skills which will provide ample practice of Listening, Speaking, and Writing. Carefully staged speaking and writing frameworks will develop young learner’s confidence. Students will practice oral speech through dialogues and activities.
Students in Fourth Grade will also be introduced to the history of Ancient Greece and the major achievements of ancient Greek civilization. Topics include the Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations, the twelve gods of Olympus, Ancient Sparta, the city-state of Athens and its governance, the Persian Wars, the Golden age of Athens and the Age of Pericles, the Peloponnesian War, and the Macedonian state.

Fifth Grade Greek and Greek History
The curriculum of Fifth Grade Greek is Geia Xara, Level 5, a primary level course which has been created perfectly in step with students’ development using different kinds of learning strategies to match children’s different learning styles, while at the same time broadening their creativity, communication, and collaboration skills. By using Geia Xara learners learn and practice Modern Greek easily and quickly with plenty of practice. The course has been especially written to lay the foundations for obtaining the A2 Level Certificate of the Ellinomatheia Exams. The book consists of three units. Each unit includes an episode of the on-going adventure—Storyline Fun, which revises vocabulary and grammar taught in the lessons. The storyline of Geia Xara has been written to engage students and make learning Greek more exciting. Students will follow Niko and Eleni, two children from Greece, their cat Rita, and the mischievous mouse, Pi in their exciting adventures. They will explore Greece and learn about the Greek cultures and traditions, giving students insights into Greece today and Ancient Greece.

With this book students will work on reading, vocabulary and grammar:
• Reading and improving reading so they can read with greater ease and fluency
• Vocabulary and enriching their vocabulary with more Greek words
• Grammar: verbs, conjugation (active and passive voice), verb tenses—present, past, future, and present-indefinite, pronouns, adjectives, suffixes, articles, definite and indefinite noun phrases, sentence syntax (subject-verb-object)
• Spelling
Students will also focus on specific skills which will provide ample practice of Listening, Speaking, and Writing. Carefully staged speaking and writing frameworks will develop young learner’s confidence. Students will practice oral speech through dialogues and activities.
Students in Fifth Grade will also be introduced to Byzantine History. Topics include the Roman Empire, Rome to Byzantium, Constantine the Great, Constantinople, Constantine the Great and Christianity, Julian, the Church Fathers, Justinian the Great, Hagia Sophia, Heraclius, Iconoclasm and the Sunday of Orthodoxy, Arabia, the Crusades, Constantine Palaiologos, and the Fall of Constantinople.
Sixth Grade Greek and Greek History

The curriculum of Sixth Grade Greek is followed through the publication Ta Ellinika Mou of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, which is composed of thirteen thematic units and an Anthology. Each unit is composed of two reading passages, one a narrative, and one a dialogue. Additionally, through the various texts, students have the opportunity to encounter the writing of many notable Greek poets, such as Noble Prize winner Odysseus Elytis, Dionysios Solomos, Nikiforos Vrettakos, and Penelope Delta.

Students continue to work on reading, vocabulary and grammar:
• Reading and improving reading so they can read with greater ease and fluency
• Vocabulary and enriching their vocabulary with more Greek words
• Grammar: verbs, conjugation (active and passive voice), verb tenses—present, future, present-indefinite, adjacent, supersynthetic, adjectives, suffixes, articles, definite and indefinite noun phrases, sentence syntax (subject-verb-object)
• Spelling and writing
• gradient-spelling-Temporal replacement
• Definitions-Definitive-Submissive-Prescriptive
• Inflection of anisosyllabic nouns

Students in Sixth Grade will be introduced to the history of Greece after the fall of Constantinople. Their classes will survey the time period of the Ottoman Occupation (1453-1821) to the Greek Revolution of 1821 and the independence of Greece from Ottoman control. Students will investigate the life of the enslaved Greek people, the paidomazoma (forced recruitment of Christian boys during Ottoman rule), the secret schools which were established during this time period, the Christian soldiers who volunteered in the army, and the development of Greek folk songs. The contributions of Rigas Feraios, a Greek writer, political thinker, and revolutionary and the Filiki Eteria (Society of Friends), to the Greek Revolution will also be examined. Students will pay particular attention to various key events of the Greek Revolution.

Greek Dance opportunities for Grades 4-6 provide students with a solid foundation in various traditional Greek dances, thus granting them a more complete Greek cultural experience.

The STEAM curriculum provides students with not only a thorough knowledge of basic computer applications, but also advanced skills which they will utilize in college and beyond. Computers have become a major part of American society today. In the 21st century, computers are prominent tools in a wide variety of areas such as research, education, banking, government, and news. It is our goal to acquaint students with the history of technology, basic and advanced computer applications, and the importance of computers in today’s society.

THEOLOGY

Saint Demetrios is a school committed to nurturing the traditions of our Christian faith. Incorporating our faith in our education has been an intrinsic part of our school since its inception.

Religion class is offered in Grades 4-6 and taught by our Greek teachers. We are blessed to have our clergy stop by throughout the year to enhance religious instruction.

Fourth Grade Religion
The Religion curriculum for Fourth Grade provides students an overview of the major feasts and saints of the Orthodox Church. The curriculum also allows them to gain an understanding of certain elements of Church by reading various stories with didactic features.

Fifth Grade Religion
The Religion curriculum for Fifth Grade includes studying and understanding major figures of the Orthodox faith, including the Virgin Mary, John the Baptist, Christ, and other Saints. Students also study the various miracles of Christ from the Holy Bible and the Passion of Christ leading up to His Resurrection. They also become acquainted with different prayers and hymns and review major feasts and holidays of the Orthodox Church.

Sixth Grade Religion
The Religion Curriculum for Sixth Grade begins with the Parables of Christ and an analysis of each parable. Students also study the feast of Pentecost and the Gospels, identify parts of the Church building, learn about symbols and holy objects used during the Divine Liturgy, and gain a better understanding of the sacraments of the Orthodox Church.
Lastly, students in all grade levels attend Church services (Divine Liturgy) every six weeks. This strengthens the foundation with our community and provides students greater opportunity for spirituality to improve their connection with God, their fellow human beings, and the faith.