Upper School (6-8)

The Notre Dame Upper School English Language Arts curriculum is designed to increase student understanding of and appreciation for a variety of genres in literature and music.  All work is aligned with California's Common Core Literature Standards.

The sixth through eighth grade students focus on:

• Novels, short stories, poems, plays, folktales, and legends
• Various musical genres
• Class discussions, both large and small group
• Daily writing in the form of reflections, short answers, journal entries, essays,  interviews, and research papers
• Vocabulary building 
• Elements of writing including grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure
• Elements of a story including theme, tone, mood, author’s purpose, point of view, allusion and symbolism
• Figurative language including simile, metaphor, irony, sarcasm, idiom, puns, and onomatopoeia

Students use:

• Novels
• Anthologies
• Poems
• Song Lyrics
• Documentaries
• Video clips 
• Current and historical events
• Primary and secondary sources
• Movies
• Vocabulary books

Notre Dame Elementary Upper School offers a complete math program that meets the varying needs of our students. We use a sequential program that responds to students’ developmental levels while encouraging them to ask “why” and not simply “how.” NDE strives to inspire students to explore problem-solving strategies through a real-life approach to mathematics. 

The sixth through eighth grade students focus on: 

• General Math Concepts using Common Core Standards (6th Grade)

• Pre-Algebra (7th Grade)

• Algebra (8th Grade)

• High School Geometry (accelerated 8th grade)

Students use:

• Grade level textbooks

• Small teacher : student ratios

• 5-days per week instruction

• Leveled groupings at each grade level

• Ongoing assessments through quizzes, tests and projects

We are proud to offer differentiated instruction at each grade level.  Teachers meet the students at their ability level.  Students move through the math program at the speed that is best suited to their needs and mastery level.

We team with Notre Dame High School, Belmont to offer accelerated classes for students who have demonstrated a strong mastery of Algebra with readiness for high school level Geometry. 

The Notre Dame Elementary Upper School Religion classes are based on coursework that results in a foundational understanding of the Old Testament, The Life of Jesus (New Testament), and Church history. We use a Catholic framework that incorporates the traditions of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur while developing a deep understanding and respect for other faith traditions. 

The sixth through eighth grade students focus on: 

• Old Testament  (6th Grade)

•   The Life of Jesus (7th Grade)

• Church History  (8th Grade)

•  Social Justice, Catholic Traditions (6th - 8th )

Students use:

• Grade level textbooks

• Small and large group discussions

• Grade specific community service

• Monthly participation at school masses

• Catholic celebrations and prayers

Notre Dame Elementary Upper School offers an NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards) aligned, inquiry-based science program committed to teaching about the scientific world through many different styles.

The sixth through eighth grade students focus on: 

• Earth Science

• Physics

• Biology

• Chemistry

Students use:

• Hands-on Lab materials

• STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Mathematics) projects

• Lab Reports

• Outdoor Education (6th Grade)

• Annual Science Fair (6th - 8th Grade)

Notre Dame Elementary Upper School follows California Standards in the exploration of Social Studies (History).  Students are given opportunities to travel through history to find out the “why” of our world and the connection that our past has to our present.  

The sixth through eighth grade students focus on: 

• Ancient History  (6th Grade)

• Medieval History  (7th Grade)

• American History  (8th Grade)

• Geography (6th - 8th )

Students use:

• Grade level California textbooks

• Primary Sources

• Research based projects with MLA standards for citations

• High School level data bases for authentic research 

• Maps of the world

• Current events (political, social, environmental)

• Field trips to reinforce concepts and material