Middle School (6-8)

There are two homerooms in each Middle School Grade 6-8. The Middle School curriculum is sequential in all areas and students are exposed to a wide variety of cross-curricular learning activities. Math, English, Literature, Science, Social Studies, Religion and Spanish are the core subjects. The students rotate among these faculty members, each of whom has expertise in their subject. Courses in Pre-Algebra and Algebra are also offered to students in the Middle School.

6th grade

7th Grade

8th Grade

Quotes from Middle School Students:

One thing that I liked about 8th grade was being the leaders of the school. This year we were able to host intramurals, we were the refs and set the rules...After seeing all the 8th graders in the past...we finally got to experience it. - 8th grade student
I really like that I get a different teacher every 45 minutes. - 6th grade student

Additional Middle School Information:

Computer Technology, Library, Music, Physical Education, Art, Science Lab, Health & Wellness, and Study Hall are offered throughout the year.  

Middle School iPad Information:  Our Lady of Good Counsel School issues an iPad to all incoming Middle School students.  Students are required to purchase a case for their iPad.  Here is our recommendation for a case that will fit with our iPads:  https://www.logitech.com/en-us/products/ipad-keyboards/rugged-folio.920-009312.html.  You may purchase any case that you like, but the above recommendation will definitely fit our iPads.  Any case that fits a 9th generation standard iPad should work for our school-issued iPads.

Religion is taught on a daily basis. Students attend Mass together each Wednesday, on Holy days and celebrate the Sacrament of Penance in Advent and Lent. Students prepare special programs for our liturgies and participate as servers, lectors, and vocalists.

Parents and students have online access to view progress reports. Online access for parents and students encourages students to be responsible for their own academic progress and allows parents to monitor his/her progress as well. The ability to view grades each week encourages open communication between student, parent, and teacher.

Special Events for Middle School students include Lenten Living Stations of the Cross (Presented by 7th Grade), STEM Fair (7th Grade), Field Day (6th & 7th Grades), and the 8th Grade Night of the Arts. Students also participate in a variety of field trips throughout the year to support our curriculum. There are many other School Traditions.

Leadership opportunities are available for Middle School students. Middle School students are prayer partners with the younger students helping them to learn proper Mass behavior and participation and joining in creative classroom activities to encourage friendships between the prayer partners. Middle School students can also join the Student Council, Yearbook Club, Shakespeare Club, and Debate Club as well, and acquire leadership roles in the school by being Student Council officers.

Middle School Honor Roll includes first and second honors for each trimester based on the following requirements: 

  • All grades for special classes must be 2's and 3's for both first and second honors.
  • First honors require an overall average in all academic classes from 97% to 100%.
  • Second honors require an overall average all academic classes from 93% to 96%.
  • Students found to have compromised their academic integrity by either cheating or plagiarizing work (or assisting anyone in doing either) during the trimester will not be eligible for honor roll.  Additionally, honor roll students follow the Code of Conduct, and may not have any disciplinary actions against them during the trimester to qualify for honor roll.  

Each trimester, awards are also given for outstanding work in Art, Library, Music, PE, and Technology.

OLGC Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS):  The purpose of this organization is to create enthusiasm for scholarship, stimulate a desire to render service, promote leadership, develop character, and encourage citizenship in students of Our Lady of Good Counsel School.  Membership is an honor bestowed upon a student.  Selection for membership is by majority vote of the Faculty Council and is based on the outstanding scholarship, character, leadership, service, and citizenship during the middle school years.  Candidates become members at a special induction ceremony scheduled during the academic school year.   Transfer students entering OLGC who have already been inducted into a NJHS, may submit a letter from their NJHS moderator and transfer their membership.

NJHS Eligibility and Selection Process:  After the second grading period students in Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth grade will be eligible for membership.  The Selection Process is as follows:

1.     Students with a cumulative GPA of 93% in Religion, English, Literature, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Spanish will receive an invitation to complete an information form and return to the NJHS Faculty Advisor.  In the information form, candidates must demonstrate that they possess traits in the remaining four pillars of the NJHS: Service, Character, Leadership, and Citizenship.  No late applications will be accepted for consideration.

Service:  Candidate must demonstrate real and substantive service to their school, community, and or parish. Candidates may not include mandatory Confirmation or school activities.

Character:  Candidate must demonstrate positive character, which reflects the ideals of both NJHS and our Catholic faith.

Leadership:  Candidate must demonstrate positive leadership in clubs, activities, sports, and in the classroom.  Negative classroom behavior demonstrates poor leadership.

Citizenship:  Candidates must demonstrate positive character in clubs, activities, sports, and in the classroom. Scores of 1’s and X’s on a report card demonstrate poor citizenship.

2.     Middle School and Specials teachers will be asked to provide character recommendations on the applicants.

3.     The Faculty Council will take into consideration the right side of the report card, the completed activity form, and teacher recommendations during the selection process.  A majority of the Faculty Council must approve a student for membership into NJHS.

4.     Candidates who have earned 1’s or X’s on their report card in either effort, conduct, or study and work habits will be considered ineligible for membership because these areas go directly with ideas of character and citizenship.

5.     Candidates who have been suspended for any reason will be considered ineligible for membership because such disciplinary actions are contrary to the ideas of character and citizenship.

6.     Candidates who are invited to join the Our Lady of Good Counsel Chapter of the NJHS will become members after the induction ceremony.

7.     Members must maintain all five pillars in order to continue membership in the NJHS. Students who fall below NJHS requirements will be given one grading period to correct the deficiency.

Our Lady of Good Counsel Curriculum follows the guidelines set forth by the
Arlington Diocese Office of Catholic Schools.