Honors Academy

Math 7 Honors

Building upon elementary school concepts, Math 7 Honors combines grade seven, grade eight, and pre-algebra objectives to complete the generalized math course of study. Following successful completion of this course, math specialization begins as qualified seventh-grade students are offered the Honors Algebra class in eighth grade. In addition, preparation of the new Common Core Standards and PARCC 7 is part of the math program.

Global Interactions 7 Honors

Beginning with the growth of European colonial empires, continuing through the Revolutionary War, with special emphasis on New Jersey history, this course culminates with the study of the American Civil War.  Through in-depth use of timelines, biographies, literature, visitations, the arts, New Jersey and Weehawken references, political cartoons, primary sources, and Internet sources, the class looks at our growth as a nation, using two points of view and paralleling today’s world. A writing component, highlighting the six areas of social studies, enforces the concepts that “history is the present” and “learning about our past helps us to understand our present and future.”

Science 7 Honors

Using an expanded interdisciplinary approach, science 7AT includes the study of Earth science, geology, ecology, light and sound waves, biology, and chemistry. Hands-on activities, investigative labs, independent reading, and discussion of current science topics create a varied, yet well-rounded science program, helping to prepare students for 8AT and PARCC.

English 7 Honors

This course has been curated to prepare distinguished students for the rigors of eighth grade, and the high school English program, by providing them with review and reinforcement in the standards already aligned with English 7. The Honors student will also be expected to expand vocabulary and writing abilities beyond that required in English 7. The course provides the opportunity for ongoing and constant discipline and demand of language and literature skills, delivers expectations and standards of learning which are beyond the average student and assists in the areas tested by the State of New Jersey. In the classroom, formative assessments validate a student's progress with more density and rigor.

English 8 Honors

This course is designed to prepare students for the rigors of the high school language literacy program by providing them with review and reinforcement in the basics already learned. The student will be required to expand writing abilities beyond that required of the average student, and the existing curriculum for grade eight will be maintained, with an emphasis on acceleration and enrichment. Course goals will include a focus on the skills needed for compositions, utilizing the MLA writing format, a focus on grammar, usage, and mechanics skills in the English language, an emphasis on the writing of persuasive essays, explanatory essays, narrative writings, a concentration on composing, revising, editing, and publishing writing, developing and enhancing vocabulary skills and developing good reading habits formed by practice in focusing on interpretive comprehension. 

Algebra Honors

This course has been designed to prepare students for the rigors of the high school math program. Algebra Honors is offered to those students who have a better-than-average ability in the fundamentals of seventh and eighth-grade math. Topics are covered with great depth challenging the students’ abilities.

Honors Physics 8

This course is designed to meet the needs of the students who will be proceeding directly to Biology in the ninth grade. The course content consists primarily of physical science topics, that is, chemistry, physics, and an introduction to Earth and space science, in that order. Heavy emphasis is placed on the proper application of math skills, primarily algebra, to scientific concepts, and the development of critical thinking skills. Lab work is done to solidify certain concepts learned in class.

Civics and Economics 8 Honors

This course begins with the United States during the Civil War, continues through Reconstruction, World War I and II, the Holocaust, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Vietnam War, and culminates with the study of the Middle East. This course makes history relevant to today’s students through in-depth use of timelines, biographies, literature, writing assignments, field trip experiences, New Jersey and Weehawken references, maps, civics, primary source materials, as well as Internet information.

French 

In this course students will be introduced to basic vocabulary and fundamental sentence structures in French. Students will work on their listening and comprehension skills, as well as speaking, reading, and writing skills at the beginner's level. This will be achieved through different activities such as short skits, and brief oral presentations. Furthermore, students will begin to develop cultural awareness and the ability to recognize the products, practices, and perspectives of French and Francophone culture. They will use the language to expand their knowledge in all content areas. Students who take French 1 do so in place of their elective cycle.  

Spanish

First year Spanish students proceed through these basic steps of language learning: listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Before participating in simple conversations about everyday situations, they must understand common sentence patterns and be able to repeat these expressions with proper pronunciation and intonation. Through their study of Spanish and Latin American people, they become more aware of the similarities and differences in these cultures. During their whole linguistic experience, they gradually develop reading and writing skills. Students who take Spanish 1 do so in place of their elective cycle.