The Eighth Grade year establishes a firm foundation for the students’ matriculation to high school.  Responsibility, time management and long-term projects are incorporated throughout the year.  In religion, the students study the doctrine of the Church by participating in an in-depth study of the Nicene Creed; halfway through the year they are asked to put their cognitive knowledge of the dogma of the Church into real-life practice by studying morality.  Along with their religious studies, the students are required to serve the community and the school.  Secondary writing skills are honed with intensive writing across the curriculum.  Each student also creates a book of original poems and illustrations as an exit project.  A study of the U.S. Constitution is woven into the history curriculum, along with other aspects of U.S. History.  To underscore this instruction, students are given the opportunity to travel with the class to Washington, D.C.  In math, the class is leveled into ability groups.  The upper group studies algebra  The rest of the class is leveled into math ability groups, so that basic math skills are solidified before graduation.  In June, the students graduate to various high schools in the area, but often return, reporting that their further academic studies have been greatly enhanced by the groundwork laid at St. Francis School.