Elementary School/ K - Grade 5

Kindergarten: Must turn 5 before December 31st (born 2020)

Elementary

Kindergarten through 5th grade students are given the tools necessary to help them become independent and collaborative learners, which as they progress into the middle school and beyond, are vital components to lifelong learning.

Program Overview

Students in Kindergarten through 5th grade are given the foundation needed to help them begin to understand how to use different tools and strategies at their disposal to become avid and responsible readers and learners. Students learn about the changing world around them and the role they play within it, thereby gaining the ability to transfer skills and knowledge gained to different areas of school and life as they continue to grow into more mature learners. 

To find out more information about school curriculum, please click below.

English Language Arts (ELA)
The Reading & Writing Workshop model structures the ELA block. This model allows for a
balanced literacy approach, based on a curriculum that integrates reading, writing, and
grammar, to meet the needs of all learners. A balanced approach to literacy allows the
teacher to address the standards using the following methods: whole class instruction
through read alouds and mini lessons, shared reading/writing, independent reading and
writing time, teachers working with small groups, and literacy centers. This model allows
time for teachers to use assessment data to differentiate and meet all students’ needs by
working with students one-on-one or in small group settings. The workshop model provides
independent time for students to build stamina, which is an important skill needed for
sustained reading and writing, as well as for taking standardized assessments. Independent
reading or writing time allows students to transfer skills modeled by the teacher during the
whole class mini lesson to their independent work.

To address the reading foundational standards for grades K-2 our school uses the Wilson
Fundations® program which is based on the Wilson Reading System® principles. Wilson
Fundations® provides research-based materials and strategies. This is a structured
program in foundational skills, including: phonemic awareness, phonics, word study,
fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, handwriting, and spelling. Wilson Fundations® also
includes a parent component, informing parents of the language, strategies and skills
learned in the classroom This allows for the parents and teachers to work together as a
team to help our students learn to read and write.

Mathematics
The Mathematics Program in the lower grades emphasizes instruction in both computation
and mathematical concepts. Students are encouraged to communicate and reason logically,
and begin to understand how to become independent thinkers and problem solvers.
Manipulatives are used across the program to allow students to illustrate concepts and to
encourage them to apply math skills they learn to real-life problems.
Social Studies

In the primary grades learners explore the self, the family and the community. Students
acquire a deeper understanding of the concept of community as they examine theirs and
other communities as well as the historical, geographic, social and economic components of
larger communities. Students begin to see the importance of their involvement in their own
communities. Cross-curricular connections to literacy are
consistently planned so that students learn to apply the literacy skills they are developing to
all subjects and content areas.

Science
The Science program is activity based. Students complete projects that explore focus
questions in each grade. Simple experiments reinforce observational and analytical skills,
scientific knowledge and discovery. Cross-curricular connections to literacy are consistently
planned so that students learn to apply the literacy skills they are developing to all subjects
and content areas.

Religion
Students receive regular instruction in Religion that focuses on the principles and doctrine
upon which the Catholic faith is founded, and how we can use these principles to be more
Christ-like in our daily lives. Our monthly values infusion program, which focuses on a key
value every month throughout our school, teaches students be respectful of others and
more conscious of their own actions, so that they may be on a path to self-discipline,
enabling them to make good decisions based on solid moral ground.

Special Subjects
Students also receive weekly instruction in Mandarin, Art, Music and Physical Education.  Fourth and fifth grade students also receive weekly instruction in coding.