Grade 8 - Mrs. Wendy Blounts
September - October
The focus at the beginning of eighth grade is to narrow down a choice of three high schools by attending “high school fairs” in the fall. These fairs give the parents and students the opportunity to become acquainted with what the high schools have to offer in terms of extra curricular activities, scholarships, and curriculum. It’s like trying on a variety of shoes to find the best fit. There is a representation from the public sector as well as private schools at these fairs. They provide the parents and students with choices based on not only academics, but the logistics of commuting, tuition and criteria for entrance into these schools.
November - December
High school entrance exams are administered once at the end of November and again the first weekend in December. Students must be registered prior to this exam. Parents can go to the nearest Catholic high school to register their child during the month of October. The deadline is October 31st. There is a fee of $25 at the time of registration. The exam is three hours long and given on a Saturday morning on the date of your choice. It is recommended that your child get a good night’s sleep and eat something for breakfast the morning of the exam. The scores for these exams are sent to you and to the three high schools of your choice.
Transcripts are mailed out by the school at the end of November. Included on these transcripts are the students 7th grade final averages, first quarter 8th grade marks, conduct and effort grades and the number of days tardy and absent. This information on conduct and tardiness is taken very seriously. All high schools, both public and private, require a separate discipline report with detailed information on the number of detentions and/or any disciplinary action taken by the principal. Each student’s test scores from the Terra Nova given in October are noted along with a recommendation from all of the junior high teachers.
January - February
The acceptances to Catholic high schools are mailed out on January 31st. When they are received, the next decision is to narrow down the choice among the three schools. Students are encouraged to spend a day at these schools in order to observe the interaction of students and teachers and to get a general sense of the atmosphere in each place. Once a decision has been made, a registration deposit is required in order to assure the student has a confirmed place on their roster. Each school provides you with information given at an open house during this time. It gives you the opportunity to find out more about the school and to meet the principal and faculty.
When a student is planning to attend a day at one of the high schools, a note written by a parent is expected to be given to the homeroom teacher a few days in advance of this visit. This enables the teacher to provide the class assignments that will be missed as well as the homework. If a choice of day is given for this visit, it is recommended that the visit be on gym day, so that not as much work has to be made up.
March - April
During this time high schools request second quarter grades. It is important to realize that the high schools monitor the report card grades right up to the very end. If a student’s grades start dropping because “they have been accepted” and therefore, they “mentally check out,” parents will be notified that the student is at risk of not receiving a final acceptance to the high school.
Acceptances to public high schools such as Blue Hills or Norfolk Agricultural School are announced at the end of April. These schools are overwhelmed with the number of applicants; therefore first choice goes to the students who get good recommendations for academics as well as behavior from their teachers. Each student is interviewed at the school and a very comprehensive form must be completed by the eighth grade homeroom teacher which is sent along with the transcript.
May - June
These two months are filled with excitement beginning with Eighth Grade Activities Week. During these fun filled days the students whirl through many fun events such as a trip to New York, a visit to Fenway Park and a cruise on Boston Harbor.
Exams are the following week. Each teacher prepares the students for these exams before the trip so that they are prepared to take them when they return. The class schedule will change that week in order to provide each class with enough time to take the exams. The preparation for these exams is important. Students should study and get plenty of sleep the night before.
A day of retreat is another form of relaxation. It’s a time when students can reflect on how far they’ve come and where they are headed. They are given a few suggested “tools” to help them along their next journey. It is a wonderful way to end the year. For those going on to a Catholic high school, it is the first of many such retreats that are meant to give students time out from their hectic schedules to focus on their spiritual side.
Class day provides students and teachers an opportunity to say goodbye and celebrate their years at St. Joseph School. A luncheon is provided followed by the distribution of yearbooks. A few laughs, a few tears and the realization that for some students, it is the end of 9 years together. Many will go on to the same school, but they may only see each other in passing in the hallway. High schools are much larger than St. Joseph!
Finally, GRADUATION has arrived. Rehearsals have paid off, awards have been given and farewells have been made. The excitement of parties and summer events fill the air. Every class, every student is different, even though the events may be the same. Each year we send off another group of graduates, knowing that we’ve done our best to give them a well rounded education – body, mind and spirit. We place them in the hands of others to continue where we left off. We say goodbye with the hope that one day we will receive a knock on our classroom door and the visitor before us will be a former student that just wanted to say, “hi” and fill us in on how great they are doing in high school.