ACADEMICS OVERVIEW

Curriculum

Preschool Curriculum – St. Patrick’s preschoolers are engaged and supported in all areas of development.  The children are guided through weekly, themed lessons that involves Religion, Math, Reading, and Handwriting skills.  Our early childhood programs have been identified in the community as an excellent start to a rigorous and faith-based education.  Music, Gym, Art, and Library are incorporated into the preschool curriculum weekly.  Students in 4-year-old preschool begin Spanish in the 3rd trimester.

Curriculum grades K-4 – Courses of instruction include Religion, Math, Reading, English/Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, Math, Technology & Computer Skills, Spanish, Art, Music and Physical Education.  Students participate in Library once per week. 

Middle School Curriculum (5 – 8)  – Courses of instruction include: Religion, Math, ELA (English, Language Arts, Reading and Writing), Science, Social Studies, Spanish, STEM, Art, Music, TLC, and Physical Education. 

Enrichment Program-The Enrichment Program is designed for children in grades 1-5.  Students will be selectively enrolled based on academic criteria. In this program,  the children will go beyond what is done in the regular classroom.  Math activities will be logic-based and at an accelerated level.  The activities will promote problem solving, as well as critical and creative thinking.  STEM articles related to science, technology, engineering, and math will be read. This Enrichment Program is packed with hands-on, higher-order thinking skills!

Health – These units are taught during PE time to Middle School students. Sixth grade covers skills for a Healthy Life and for Personal Hygiene.  Seventh grade covers Mental and Emotional Health and Mental and Emotional Disorders.  Eighth grade covers Alcohol, Drugs HIV/AIDS Prevention and the Safe Haven Law.

Math – “GO Math!® is the first K–8 math program written to fully support new standards. GO Math! provides teachers with in-depth instructional support, and a wealth of differentiated instruction resources to ensure the depth of instruction required for all students to succeed.”

GO Math! combines 21st-century educational technology with modern content and a variety of instructional videos to engage today’s digital natives. Every student is supported through the universal access features of the program as they learn to think critically and apply their math knowledge.

Music Class – Studying music not only impacts academic achievement, it also shapes the way our students understand themselves and the world around them.  It reaches and develops part of the whole child that other academic subjects can’t.  Our classes incorporate a variety of teaching methodologies which lay the groundwork for musical literacy.  Orff-Schulwerk actively involves students in music making through speech, singing, movement and instrument playing in a creative environment.  The Kodaly method uses a child development approach to introduce skills focused on ear training and sight singing.  Dalcroze Eurhythmics helps students learn to combine music and movement in order to develop rhythmic unity between the eye, ear, mind and body.

Students in Preschool through 3rd grade have two 30-minute Music classes each week throughout the school year.  Grades 4 through 8 have one 45-minute class per week throughout the school year and are graded.

Science – Science Dimensions and is published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.  “HMH Science Dimensions is a K-12 science program built specifically to address the Three Dimensions of Science Learning outlined in the Framework for K-12 Science Education and the Performance Expectations of NGSS.  Built with a digital-first mentality, this program provides an authentic approach to increasing student achievement in science.”

Spanish – In Spanish classes, the students learn to read, speak and write the language.  Kindergarten through grade 3 attend Spanish enrichment classes once each week.  In grades 4-8 Spanish is a graded class. Grades 4 and 5 attend Spanish class twice each week. In grades 6 through 8, students attend Spanish class three times each week.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) – Grades 5 through 8 attend STEM classes twice each week.  For more information about our new STEM Lab

Student’s Progress – Report cards are issued three times per year for all grades. Formal Parent/Teacher Conferences are held twice a year.