NOTRE DAME MARIST ACADEMY MIDDLE DIVISION
What is the Middle Years Programme?
N
otre Dame is an authorized International Baccalaureate World School, offering the Middle Years Programme to students in 6th through 10th grade. The MYP provides a framework of academic challenge that encourages students to embrace and understand the connections between traditional subjects and the real world, and become critical and reflective thinkers. The programme consists of eight subject groups integrated through five areas of interaction that provide a framework for learning within and across the subjects. These areas of interaction are: • Health and social education • Community and service • Human ingenuity • Environments • Approaches to learning
The Five Essential Elements
The five essential elements—concepts, knowledge, skills, attitudes, action—are incorporated into the MYP framework so that students are given the opportunity to: • gain knowledge that is relevant and of global significance. • develop an understanding of concepts, which allows them to make connections throughout their learning. • acquire transdisciplinary and disciplinary skills. • develop attitudes that will lead to international-mindedness. • demonstrate deeper learning and responsible behavior through responsible action; a manifestation in practice of the other essential elements. The Learner Profile
The learner profile describes a list of attributes that promote academic rigor and the establishing of a personal value system leading to international-mindedness. The programme encourages students to become:
Inquirers
Risk-Takers
Knowledgeable
Principled Thinkers Open-Minded Reflective
Caring Balanced Communicators
In the Middle
The middle division curriculum, designed and implemented through the collaborative work of Notre Dame Marist Academy teachers, focuses on active learning, interdisciplinary connections and community service. As a student at the middle division, you will enjoy a curriculum that allows you to explore both traditional and contemporary subjects within the IB framework. A snapshot of the year-by-year class load follows: 6th Grade Science 6: Science and technology, astronomy, chemical energy, and the environment Mathematics: Pre-Algebra or Honors Algebra and Geometry Language and Literature: Reading, self-expression, and strategies of learning Language Acquisition: Living Spanish (one semester)/ Introduction to Mandarin Chinese (one semester) Individuals and Society (Western World): Geography, the study of climate, environments, resources, and peoples of Western Europe and the Americas Religion: The Old Testament Design 6: Digital citizenship, keyboarding skills, Internet research, Google Drive, Microsoft Word, and the MYP Design Cycle Arts*: Essentials of Art Performing Arts*: Beginning Chorus, Beginning Band, Intermediate Band, or Advanced Band Physical Education and Health 7th Grade Science 7: Cells, heredity and genetics, the human body, weather and atmosphere, and plants Mathematics: Algebra and Geometry or Honors Algebra and Geometry Language and Literature: Literary genre exploration, grammar, vocabulary, and oral presentations Language Acquisition: Continuing Living Spanish or Mandarin Chinese 1/2
Individuals and Society (Eastern World): Geography, Eastern hemisphere countries, and global perspective Religion: The New Testament Design 7: Digital citizenship, Internet research, Google Drive, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint/ Prezi, blogging, and the MYP Design Cycle Arts: Art Exploration Performing Arts: Intermediate Chorus, Intermediate Band, or Advanced Band Physical Education and Health 8th Grade Science 8: Chemistry, energy, motion and forces, and geology Mathematics: Algebra and Geometry or Honors Geometry Language and Literature: Contemporary and classic literature, and writing across the curriculum Language Acquisition: Continuing Living Spanish or Mandarin Chinese 3/4 Individuals and Society (U.S. History): Forming a new nation and republic, the Civil War, and the relationship of U.S. history to current events Religion: History of the Catholic Church Design 8: Digital citizenship, Internet research, Google Drive, spreadsheets, film creation and editing, 3D design, and the MYP Design Cycle Arts: Art Exploration Performing Arts: Intermediate Chorus, Intermediate Band, or Advanced Band Physical Education and Health *Every student at NDMA must take arts and performing arts, i.e., band or chorus, in grade 6. Students in grades 7 and 8 must continue with arts, band or chorus.
Fit
The Right
Being the “new kid” isn’t always easy, but all students are welcome at Notre Dame. With caring teachers and a full-time counselor, our staff is ready and able to help you navigate the ups and downs of making the transition to our school. We’re pretty sure that like Mira, who transferred to Notre Dame as an 8th-grader, you’ll like it here, too!
Be Cool At Notre Dame, it’s cool to be an athlete, a musician, a dancer, an artist and anything else you want to be. More than anything, though, it’s cool to be smart. As a student at Notre Dame, you, too, would have the opportunity to learn by doing. Here are some of the “hands-on” projects our students experience at our school:
6th Grade: “Cookbook” As a collaboration between Math and Technology classes, students select recipes, gather ingredients, and calculate changes necessary to halve or double their recipes. Using PowerPoint, each student designs a two-page layout with pictures of them cooking or baking their recipes for a class cookbook. Through this unit, students learn how their knowledge can have practical applications in their lives.
7th Grade: “Culture Quilt Project” In Eastern World class, students learn about the importance of all cultures within our nation and classrooms at Notre Dame. Through the culture quilt project, students examine their own backgrounds, which in turn helps them understand other cultures. Each student creates a quilt square with various symbols representing their culture, including elements such as food, language, celebrations, clothing, music, the role of family, religious beliefs or practices, and art. Through this unit, students learn how culture shapes how we see the world, ourselves and others.
8th Grade: “Zonk a Zombie” In this science lab, students learn critical concepts of physics in a fun way. They hypothesize what amount of force and movement will be required to knock down as many zombies as possible using a pendulum, with the option of lengthening or adding mass to it to change its impact. Students collect data that will prove or disprove their hypotheses, all the while gaining knowledge on mass, force, frequency and momentum.
“My favorite thing about Notre Dame is the freedom and opportunity it provides as well as the way everyone encourages kids to try their best. This school also invites and welcomes all students, and provides an environment that really allows students to shine – academically, physically, and socially. The classes provide a better learning experience, and there is a wide variety of afterschool sports and clubs.” Mira Housey Notre Dame student
Notre Dame Marist Academy—Middle Division (Grades 6-8) 1300 Giddings Rd. Pontiac, MI 48340 www.ndpma.org Admissions: 248-373-1061