Lower School

The mathematics curriculum consists of programs which emphasize mastery of basic skills and facts for speed, accuracy and understanding of concepts up through algebra. Instruction begins with a hands-on, concrete approach and builds a solid foundation of basic mathematical skills. Your child will participate in activities that enable her to develop problemsolving skills, critical thinking, abstract reasoning and mathematical concepts consistent with each grade level. Your child will become confident in the mathematical skills that will support her future work in classes, careers and daily living.

Social studies is primarily the study of history and geography, but also includes civics and an elementary understanding of economics. Our goal is to help your child think critically and analytically about past events, as well as provide a framework for understanding other cultural works such as art and literature. We also seek to foster a sense of belonging and cultural identity, which are essential for your child to come to an appreciation of his own heritage, as well as to cultivate respect for diversity in other cultures and beliefs.

Religion is a vital part of the school curriculum and will instill and nurture in your child a personal relationship with and deep love for Jesus Christ, transmitting a thorough understanding of the Catholic faith, and conveying that spiritual growth is an integral part of his daily life. Religion class meets, and the faith is integrated throughout the curriculum and school year. Students are encouraged to form habits of virtue throughout the school day, as well as at home.

Spanish is taught in kindergarten through eighth grades. In the elementary and intermediate grades, your child will learn basic conversational phrases, vocabulary and grammar, as well as the geography and culture of Spanish-speaking countries.

Physical education is an important aspect of the integral formation of your child. Through physical exercises, organized sports and age-appropriate games, he will have fun while staying fit and learning about good health. He will develop strength and coordination, teamwork, communication skills, self control, and the ability to follow directions and rules.

STEAM is an acronym for an educational approach that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics to guide student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking. By including the Arts, STEAM incorporates artistic and design-related skills and thinking processes into traditional STEM education. The end results are students who take thoughtful risks, engage in experiential learning, persist in problem-solving, embrace collaboration, and work through the creative process.

In the Lower School, the integration of technology with classroom content improves student achievement. Teachers use technology to introduce, reinforce, extend, enrich, assess, and remediate student mastery of private school grade curricular standards. Thoughtfully planned lessons help engage students to a higher degree and lead to the development of 21st-century skills, such as complex thinking, creative problem solving, and collaboration.

In science and social studies, programs like Discovery Education and Brainpop help students connect to the outside world and examine and solve real-life applications of science and social studies. Brain breaks and movement activities are enhanced through developmentally specific programs. Curricular resources like Starfall for Language Arts and Mathletics for Math enhance instruction and provide remediation or enrichment according to the needs of the individual student.

Throughout the Lower School, technology is used as one of many tools to personalize instruction and reinforce mastery of learning targets based on the individual needs of each learner.