Language Skills
The emphasis of this course is on paragraph and theme writing to help the student express ideas and improve the mechanics of composition and spelling. The grammar section improves the student's knowledge of grammatical structure through emphasis on sentence structure, parts of speech, and usage.

Advanced Language Skills
This class consists of a traditional treatment of parts of speech, sentence structure, phrases and clauses, and their related syntactic elements, along with comprehensive study of the major rules governing punctuation and capitalization. The interrelationship of grammar and writing is taught, stressing the ideas that writing at this stage is unlikely to be successful if grammar is ignored. Students work with classic origins of our words from other lands, vocabulary enrichment, spelling, and debating.

Literature
The literature segment contains a study of poetry, short stories, novels, plays, and non-fiction selections chosen to motivate the student to read more widely with greater depth and understanding. Literary styles and techniques are introduced with the intention of encouraging the student to read more widely with greater understanding and depth.

Advanced Literature
The class includes a more independent study of challenging novels, short stories, poems, plays, and non-fictional selections. This section is designed to motivate the top students to take a more responsible, active part in enhancing their vocabulary and literary knowledge.

Math 8
The fundamentals are re-introduced with a greater degree of difficulty and new areas of mathematics are explored. This course is a bridge between arithmetic and algebra.

Algebra 8
This course involves an intensive study of basic and advanced algebraic concepts. These include integers, rational numbers, solving equations, polynomials, factoring polynomials, linear equations, functions and variation, systems of equations, inequalities, real numbers, radical expressions, quadratic equations, and trigonometry.

Honors Algebra 8
This course covers real numbers and variables, solving equations and inequalities, graphs and functions, systems of open sentences, polynomials and factoring, rational expressions, irrational numbers and radicals, and quadratic equations. This is an honors class for students who excel in mathematics.

Science
This course studies matter and energy. Included are the methods and processes with special emphasis being placed on the scientific method. Students discover some properties of matter, how they are measured, the different kinds that exist, and the changes -- physical, chemical, nuclear -- that occur in matter. The students become aware of the laws of motion, relationship between work, power, and energy, simple machines and the relationships of machines to energy. The role and impact of technology and engineering in our lives is also stressed. Discussing worksheets, films, filmstrips, magazines, and lab work are all used in teaching this course.

Advanced Science
This class is offered to those students who have shown exceptional ability and interest in science during their seventh grade year. Physical science is presented in a comprehensive manner. Subjects stressed are scientific methods, measurement, chemistry, physics, and environmental pollution. The students are encouraged to think critically through problem solving, lab work, and reporting on scientific writings.

Social Studies
This course is a study of the rise and the growth of the United States. Using texts, supplementary reading materials, film, newspapers and periodicals, the course entails a study of current events, social issues, historical facts, concepts, values, research, and decision making.

Included in the course is a Consumer Education unit in which the student will gain an understanding of such consumer issues as advertising, credit, banking, and careers.

Physical Education
Co-educational physical education classes are held everyday and are a mandatory part of the curriculum. All students are required to participate in P.E. class unless physically unable to do so. A note from the parent will be accepted as an excuse from PE; however, if more than two days from the class is necessary, a doctor's statement is required. Required gym clothes are tennis shoes, plain royal blue shorts and a plain white T-shirt. The clothes may have an O'Fallon or Panther logo. Brand names or other logos are not advised. All gym clothing must have the student's name clearly printed on it. Regular clothes worn to school will not be permitted in gym class. All students are issued a PE locker in which to keep clothing and valuables during class. Students are responsible for supplying their own lock for the lockers. The school will not be responsible for missing items, especially those not secured in a locker.