8th Grade 

Q: Where do most 8th grade students from St. Theresa's go to high school?  

A: It will vary annually.  STCS students typically attend St. Michael's Catholic Academy or St. Dominic Savio.  A smaller percentage will attend the public high school to their current home location.  All of the Catholic high schools in Austin are rich in tradition and will provide students with a strong academic experience.  

Learn
Eighth Grade: Required & Elective Courses 

• Religion
• English Language Arts and Reading 
• Physical Science
• U.S. History (early colonial period through Reconstruction)
• Mathematics (Pre-Algebra, *Honors Algebra and *Honors Geometry)
• Foreign Language: *Spanish or *Latin
• Physical Education
• Communication Applications
• Extensive Electives: High School Art, Multimedia/Yearbook, Advanced Band, Beginning Band, Rhythm Cats/Percussion, Robotics, Extreme Math, and Show Choir/Musical Theater, Computer Science Discovery, Fitness & Conditioning, Acting on Stage and Film, Silent Study Hall, Production Team, Debate, Spring Sports

Serve 

• Coordinated class-wide service projects across Austin
• Catholic Schools Week day of service at local charity or other service provider
• Ministerial service in Mass and classroom
• 6th graders serve as mentors to 1st grade students 
• Campus ambassadors and leaders through Student Leadership Council
• All MS students complete a minimum of 15 service hours per year 

Believe 

• Pines Catholic Camp retreat in fall and afternoon of reflection in spring
• Weekly participation in the school Mass
• Participation in the Worldwide Children’s Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration
• Advent and Lent Reconciliation services
• Participation in Fall and Spring school-wide praying of the Rosary
• Praying of the Divine Mercy Chaplet, litanies, and other Catholic devotions
• Exposure to Catholic sacramentals and indulgences
• Multiple faith-based projects in Religion class and elsewhere to apply faith principles
• Application of Catholic Social Teaching and principles of justice to service and other aspects of life
• Saint of the Day and student-led prayer related to the saint of the day in Religion class
• Class visits to the church for quiet prayer and reflection, Scripture reading, prayer services, and catechesis
• Liturgical Music practice in the church every week

• 3-day, 2-night religious retreat to The Pines Catholic Camp 
• Serve as Ushers in Mass 
• Standard Bearer & Master of Ceremony in Mass 
• Organize the 5 Days to Raise campaign to present a school gift
• National Spanish Exam
• Visits to high schools
• Special Grade 8 commemorative photos 

“Our 8th graders are our student leaders. They set the tone in the classroom, across
  the campus, and in Mass. Leadership is the focus of their three-day retreat to The
  Pines.  There they are commissioned to go into the world as servant leaders.”
                                                  -Mike Wendling, MS Math Teacher & Math Department Chair

“The Spanish program at St. Theresa's prepares the students to be successful in high
  school in Level 2 Spanish and beyond.”
                                                   -Raquel Colom, MS Spanish Teacher & NJHS Sponsor

“Students move on to ninth grade very well prepared to do well in high school.”
                                                   -John Steinhardt , MS Math Teacher