Primary Grades’ Curriculum (Grades 1-3)                                    

The primary curriculum emphasizes the whole child through differentiated instruction.  The school's Catholic identity permeates all content areas to develop moral values through academics.

Ø     Religion instruction occurs on a daily basis.  Emphasis is placed on preparing the children to receive the Sacraments of Holy Communion, Reconciliation, and Confirmation.  All students attend and participate in our weekly school liturgy.

Ø     Language arts combines phonics and a variety of reading strategies with literature and technology to enhance reading instruction.  Journal writing, grammar, and spelling activities are also incorporated into this integrated approach.

Ø     Mathematics instruction explores concepts and problem-solving techniques by taking the student from the concrete to the abstract.  Higher level thinking skills are utilized throughout this process.

Ø     Students formulate and conduct experiments in the school's state-of-the-art science lab.  The scientific method is taught and implemented in the recording of predictions, hypotheses, and data.

Ø     Social studies instruction focuses on developing each student’s understanding of the world, country, and community.  Thematic units of study focus on aspects of culture, government, and geography.

Ø     Health and wellness has become an integral part of the primary curriculum.  The children receive an extra twenty minutes of physical exercise per week in their classrooms, in addition to their regular gym class.  Healthy snacks are encouraged, and health lessons are taught each week.

The goal of the primary department is to teach the whole child -- spiritually, intellectually, socially, physically, and emotionally.