Science 6-8, Advanced Algebra 8, Prealgebra 7, and Health 6-8
email: kfrisco@holycrossacademypgh.org
email is the preferred method of contact, but you may also call the office at 412-364-7171 and leave a message and I will return your call
Holy Cross Academy Student and Parent Handbook - Please read through for policies and procedures of Holy Cross Academy
Announcements & Important Dates
1/19/2026 ~ No School Dr. Martin Luther King day
1/20/2026 ~ No School - In-service Day
1/24/2026, 2/07/2026 ~ OLSH Placement Test
1/25/2026-1/31/2026 ~ Catholic Schools Week
1/30/2026 ~ Aquinas Academy St. Thomas Aquinas Merit Scholarship deadline
02/07/2026 ~ PJAS Regional Competition at Baldwin High School
2/07/2026 11:00am ~ Aquinas Academy Open House
02/21/2026 ~ OLMC Confirmation Retreat
03/07/2026 ~ Aquinas Academy Placement Test
03/21/2026 ~ North Catholic HS Placement Test
06/01/2026 ~ HCA Class of 2026 Graduation Ceremony
06/02/2026 ~ OLMC Confirmation 7pm
~ 25 minutes of IXL Starred Skills practice due by 9pm 1/18/2026
Week of 8/25, 9/01, 9/08, 9/15, 9/22 Foundations of Algebra Review, Inequalities (Holt Chapters 1-3)
Week of 09/29, 10/6, 10/13, 10/20 Data Analysis & Probability
Week of 10/27, 11/3, 11/10 Intro to Functions
Week of 11/17, 11/24, 12/1, 12/8, 12/15 Linear Functions
Week of 1/12, 1/19 Solving Systems of Equations & Inequalities
Monday: Finish 6-1 packet, Homework worksheet
Tuesday: 6-1 Practice B & Problem Solving
Wednesday: 6-2 Practice B & Problem Solving
Thursday:
Friday:
***Don't forget 25 minutes on ⭐IXL Starred Skills ⭐ due by Sunday 9pm!
~ 25 minutes of IXL Starred Skills practice due by 9pm 1/18/2026
Monday: Ch. 1 Review problems
Tuesday: Ch. 2 & 3 Review problems
Wednesday: Prepare for Unit 3 Test ~ Solving Equations & Inequalities
Thursday:
Friday:
***Don't forget 25 minutes on ⭐IXL Starred Skills ⭐ due by Sunday 9pm!
Graph of the Week reflection (due Friday)
Monday: ck12.org website Valence Electrons (see Google Classroom)
Tuesday: None
Wednesday: Read page
Thursday:
Friday:
Monday: Cell Basics worksheet
Tuesday: Spotlight on Cells page 1
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Monday: 2.2 Review & Reinforce worksheet; finish 2.2 questions on page 51
Tuesday: Study for quiz
Wednesday: 2.3 Vocabulary Definitions
Thursday:
Friday:
Grade 6: Building Health Skills - Decision Making
Grade 7: MyPlate.gov
Grade 8: Drugs and Substance Abuse
I am so excited to be a teacher here at Holy Cross Academy, and I absolutely love guiding the education of the entire student body in STEM-related content. After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh with a double major in both Biology and Psychology, I attended Duquesne University and earned a Master of Science in Secondary Education. This year is my 14th year of teaching, and my fourth as a full-time teacher at Holy Cross Academy. Previously, I taught high school Biology and General Science for 10 years in Natrona Heights, PA. I am married to my high school sweetheart and we have three children, all of whom attend Holy Cross Academy. Although my passion is watching or coaching sports my children are involved in, I also love hiking and camping when we can squeeze it in.
I am absolutely thrilled to be teaching the middle school students of HCA science and math, and hope to instill the value of lifelong learning in our students!
Advanced Algebra 8 is the second half of the algebra course begun in Grade 7. The course begins the year reviewing functions and graphing learned in Grade 7, and requires mastery of the foundational skills of algebra from the previous Algebra course. Studies continue with learning systems of equations, polynomials and factoring, and statistics and probability. Students will begin Geometry concepts in the 3rd report period.
8th grade science studies the physical sciences, with Chemistry and Forces and Energy as the major units of study.
7th grade science studies life science, with The Diversity of Life and Cells and Heredity as the major units of study.
6th grade science studies Earth and Space Science, with Geology and Astronomy as the major units of study.