Eighth grade students are required to carry a minimum of six courses. The Placement Committee will place students into the appropriate level of English, math and science. An eighth grade student who fails any subject during the regular school session must successfully complete remedial work in the subject area at Brother Martin summer session before he may advance to the freshman year at Brother Martin.
Religion 8
English 8 or English I Honors
Introduction to Algebra, Algebra I, or Algebra I Honors
Computer Applications I (concurrent with Intro to Algebra), Digital Media
Earth Science, Physical Science, Physical Science Honors
World Geography or World Geography Honors
Health & Physical Education I
Fine Arts Survey
Advanced Chorus (elective)
Beginning Band (elective)
Advanced Band (elective)
NJROTC (elective - replacement for Health and P.E. credit)
The course will begin with an introduction of the history and spirituality of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart. It gives our newest Crusaders an understanding of the rich history of Brother Martin High School and the Brothers of the Sacred Heart in New Orleans and throughout the world. This curriculum will primarily focus on God’s Revelation through Sacred Scripture. In the process of interpreting Sacred Scripture students will examine salvation history, with a particular focus on Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of our salvation. Revelation, both Divine and Natural, is explored as well as inspiration, interpretation, and exegesis. This study begins with a person’s natural instinct to search for God.
This course is designed to introduce basic fundamentals of grammar and usage, including sentence formation. From there, students learn the organization and development of a paragraph. Students study various literary types as found in the literature anthology and young adult novels. A language unit is included as well as vocabulary study. Incorporated into this class are the study habits and skills that enable the student to be a successful learner both inside and outside of the classroom.
This course [Eligible for high school credit] is a high school credit course for eighth graders that reviews the basic skills of grammar usage, sentence formation, and paragraph construction. Work then concentrates on stylistic techniques, organization, vocabulary building, and essay writing. The student studies various literary types and begins analysis of themes as well as vocabulary. In this rigorous course, students go beyond the surface of what they read and study to express understanding through composition and presentations.
This course completes the student pre-high school mathematical foundation and provides an introduction to algebra through real-world applications. Topics covered include integers, variables and expressions; solving equations and inequalities; number theory; graphing; geometrical concepts; statistics and probability; percents and rational numbers; multiplying and factoring polynomials.
This course [Eligible for high school credit] completes the student’s pre-high school mathematical foundation and provides an introduction to algebra through real-world applications. Topics covered include integers; variables and expressions; solving equations and inequalities; number theory; graphing; geometrical concepts; statistics and probability; percents and rational numbers and multiplying and factoring polynomials.
This course [Eligible for high school credit] is taken by those eighth graders whose academic record indicates the ability to handle the Algebra I Honors curriculum. This program includes a more advanced study of variables and open sentences, problem solving, polynomials, special products and factoring, algebraic fractions, graphing, radicals, and real numbers.
[Eligible for high school credit] This course is a full-year, half-credit course required of all incoming eighth-graders not enrolled in Physical Science, Band or Chorus. The following major topics are introduced: computer hardware and software, operating systems, networks and the Internet, word processing, spreadsheets, digital presentations, programming in SmallBASIC, and Web page creation in HTML. Classes meet every other day.
[Eligible for high school credit] This course is a half-credit course taught over the entire academic year on alternating days. The class is designed to give students an introduction to current technology topics while reinforcing basic computer-usage skills required of Brother Martin students. Students will work on several individual and team projects related to these topics: 2-D game design and development in electronics programming with Python code and micro:bit, and artificial intelligence. Classes meet every other day.
This course [High School Credit] This course is an introductory course of the principles of Earth
Science. Content includes the processes that have changed the earth throughout its history. Topics will include plate tectonics, volcanic activity, earthquakes, mineralogy, oceanography, astronomy, and meteorology. Course work includes technology based lessons, lab work, as well as traditional classroom instruction. This course is opened to eighth and ninth grade students not taking Physical Science or Physical Science Honors.
This course [High School Credit] is a survey of the fundamental principles of physics and chemistry, the metric system, the scientific method, descriptive chemistry, force, motion, heat, light, electrical energy, organic chemistry, and the periodic table. The course does include math and algebraic operations to be 22 used in problem solving. Physical Science serves to prepare students for future work in biology, chemistry and physics. A student is placed in Physical Science only if he is also placed in Algebra I in eighth grade.
This course [High School Credit] is taken by students whose background indicates the ability to work at an advanced level. The course covers the same topics as Physical Science with enrichment activities, additional math problems, and laboratory work to prepare students for future work in advanced science courses. A student is placed in Physical Science Honors only if he is also placed in Algebra I Honors in eighth grade.
This course [High School Credit] is a required high school credit course for all entering eighth grade students. The first quarter concentrates on basic geographic skills such as map reading, graph analysis, and chart interpretation. Also, the student learns the elements of physical and cultural geography. The second quarter places emphasis on the North American continent with special attention given to Louisiana. The third quarter concentrates on Latin America and Western Europe. The fourth quarter is devoted to the study of Africa, Asia, and the Pacific Rim. The course is also designed to serve as an introduction to Brother Martin’s technology resources.
This course [High School Credit] is taken by students whose academic background indicates the ability to work at an advanced level. The course covers those same topics explored in World Geography but with enrichment activities that encourage analytical thinking. The student enrolled in this course is required to research topics in depth outside of the classroom. Also, more advanced writing skills are required; therefore, students placed in World Geography Honors are also placed concurrently in English I Honors.
