Mrs. Beffa teaches the 7th and 8th grade QUEST course, which uses an interdisciplinary approach to explore real-world topics through investigations, debates, and service learning projects. The first semester focuses on the environment and green energy, while the second semester examines psychology and mental illness. Students are evaluated on their mastery of objectives rather than grades and are expected to perform at a high level to pass.

1. 7th & 8th Grade QUEST
Mrs. Beffa

2. QUEST Course Description:
We are on a QUEST to explore the world in
which we live and make connections.
 Interdisciplinary investigations
 Real-world topics and issues
 Positive community connections

3. First Semester
Exploring the Environment: The Future is Green

4. The Future is Green
Major Units First Semester
Green Energy Debate
Green Business Plan

5. Second Semester
Exploring the Mind & Emotions: Mind Madness

6. Mind Madness
Major Units Second Semester
Psychology & Mental Illness
Great Minds Project

7. Service Learning Project
Each Semester
Each semester each student will participate
in a service learning project. Students will
choose their own project with teacher
approval. Students can choose to work
together as a group or individually.

8. Materials (to bring every day):
 Folder
 Paper
 Pencil
 Pen
 Eraser
 AR Book
 Planner

9. Grading:
 Focus is on student performance on the course
objectives
 What the student can demonstrate
 Each of the course objectives will be evaluated in a
variety of ways
 How each student performs on each of these
objectives is then transformed into a pass/fail grade
 Since this is an advanced course the student will
need to perform at a “B” level or higher on the
majority of the objectives to receive a passing grade
 For more information feel free to contact Mrs. Beffa.

10. Performance Standards & Process
Skills
Performance Information Problem Solving Critical Thinking
Standard Processing
Process • Gather information • Recognize a problem • Use reasoning
Skills • Analyze information • Use problem solving strategies • Use facts and logic
• Organize information • Develop a solution • Explain relationships
• Apply information • Use systems thinking
Performance Communication Responsibility
Standard
Process • Plan a message • Work as an individual
Skills • Create a message • Work as a group member
• Present a message • Work as a leader

11. Proficiency Advanced Proficient Nearing Basic Below Basic
Level 4 3 Proficiency 1 0
2
General Student knows and Student knows Student knows Student knows and Student does not
Description can demonstrate the and can and can can demonstrate know and cannot
objective well demonstrate the demonstrate less some of the demonstrate any
enough to make objective without difficult parts of objective with help. part of the
connections to other making mistakes. the objective but objective.
situations or not the more
contexts. Student difficult parts or
goes ABOVE & may make some
BEYOND what is mistakes.
expected.
Equivalent to letter Equivalent to Equivalent to letter Equivalent to letter Equivalent to letter
grade of “A” letter grade of “B” grade of “C” grade of “D” grade of “F”

12. Communication
*Please take the time to make sure I have your
email address. I send out frequent
communications in the form of updates and
newsletters, and this is the most efficient way for
me to do this. Thank you. 

13. Mrs. Beffa’s Contact Information:
fbeff@festus.k12.mo.us
Class Website:
http://www.festus.k12.mo.us/webpages/fbeffa/