Succeeding in Junior High

The Goal

Of primary importance to the Queen of Heaven Academy faculty and staff is to provide students with a wholesome Catholic environment where faith can be nurtured and academic learning can flourish.

The Method

The Academy uses the latest in educational internet conferencing software whichintegrates faculty and students in scheduled weekly live sessions. Audio, video, chat, breakout rooms, whiteboards, media presentations, and other electronic tools are used which foster interaction with the teacher and amongst other students.  All courses, whether teacher directed or parent directed, at all levels provide lesson plans, assessments, bulletin boards and email correspondence.

Orientation - Prepare for Success

All new Academy students participate in a web-based orientation which teaches them how to use the Populi conferencing software and course management system.  After completing the web-based orientation, a technical computer check is performed to ensure the student’s audio, video, and headset are functioning properly. Finally, during the last week of August, students meet at regularly scheduled class times for academic orientation in order to meet their teachers and classmates and to learn the procedures and expectations for each course in which they are enrolled.  Actual academic instruction begins the day after Labor Day.

Parental Support - Organize for Success

Like the high school student, junior high students are most successful if they have dedicated help of a parent or supervisor; however, they need more guidance and need to be checked up on more frequently and for a longer period of time than the high school student.  Consistent accountability will keep the junior high student on track. The following teacher directed junior courses (math, Latin, English Grammar for Latin students, science and religion) have interactive live class meetings where students and teachers meet. Parents are not expected to teach those subjects or grade assignments and tests.  The following courses (Language Arts, History) are parent directed courses.  In a parent directed course, there are no live sessions; however, lesson plans, assessments, email and message boards are used in the course. Parents are not expected to grade assessments, but they will need to discuss the material with their students to make sure the student is thoroughly understanding the material. The final junior high course, Progymnasmata (pre-rhetoric), is a writing course where the student is assigned the same teacher for the entire year. The student and teacher correspond using email communication and together work one on one through the Progymnasmata writing assignments. 

It is extremely important that junior high school parents help their students organize their studies so they can accomplish assigned work thoroughly and in a timely manner. The junior student should print out the weekly lesson plan for each course, check off the assignments as they are completed, and then show the completed lesson plan to their parents.  A calendar that notes monthly essay due dates and major exam dates helps the student with time management as major academic assignment dates approach.

Organization is key to the successful junior school student. The most important practical help a parent can give a student is to show the student how to organize assignments and to ensure homework and tests are completed and submitted.

Prioritize - Make Time for Success

Week at a Glance

8:30 – 9:15 – Latin/English Grammar
Break – 15min.
9:30 – 10:15 – Math
Break – 15min.
10:30 – Noon – English, History, Religion, Science (Daily rotation)

This schedule allows students ample time to do offline study and to participate in extra-curricular activities. Every 8^th week of instruction the Academy, at all levels, schedules a “Mostly Dead but Not All Dead” week. During this week, no live class sessions are held and no new material is introduced allowing students to prepare for upcoming quarterly exams. Over the years the Academy has found “Mostly Dead but Not All Dead” weeks to be extremely effective in allowing students to excel in their studies, especially those subjects like math and foreign language that need extra study for the purposes of long-term memorization. The frequent and consistent testing of our students not only helps them to advance more easily in their studies but also prepares them for the rigors of college level study.

Practical - Know the Tools of Success

Course Management System

Grades and course material are available 24/7. Every Monday morning an email is sent to the parent email address indicating what is due for the coming academic week. Log in as your student and check progress weekly. Always know your student's status in a course. 

Email - Communicate, Communicate, Communicate for Success

Our faculty returns answers to your questions within 24 hours.

Tests

Though most exams are auto-scored, major tests (quarterly exams, finals, and unit exams) that require hand-scoring, are returned within two weeks.  Essays are also returned within two weeks. 

Recordings

Classes are recorded and posted at the end of the instructor's teaching day under the appropriate academic week.

Flexibility

QHA has a definite schedule – classes begin the last week of August and continue with final exams through the end of May. With the improvement of the internet, students can attend class from anywhere: hotels, grandma’s house, traveling down the road, dad’s work, and from just about anyplace a consistent high-speed connection can be obtained. If an academically strong student misses a class or two, it will not affect his overall grade. Tests and assignments have grace periods for submissions allowing a bit of
flexibility within the due date. Of course, once students learn the rhythm of a course they can also work ahead quite easily.

Families are Important!

Our moms are performing heroic duties. QHA is here to help educate your children.