Lower School

The Lower School includes Grades 1 through 4. Particular emphasis is placed on the developmental stages of growth at each level and the learning styles of the students. Teachers develop a program geared to those concerns as they provide a solid foundation in basic skills for the mastery of subject matter. Students are joyous learners as they are encouraged to integrate the material into their lives. Teachers and parents work closely together to help the girls develop age-appropriate study and organizational skills. Students are encouraged to be independent and take responsibility for their learning. The Lower School program is rooted in love and strives to help students share their unique gifts and to appreciate the gifts of others. Emphasis is placed on effective communication skills as they begin the foundation of lasting friendships. Students are alerted to the needs of others which call for their interest, service, and self-giving. Outreach activities service the elderly and the homeless and hungry in our city, and students in other countries.

Religion

The Religion program focuses on our Catholic heritage and provides prayer experiences in class, in chapel, in liturgies, and in celebration of the feasts of the Church year. Highlights of the program include:

• Grade 1-Affirmation of each child, her call to grow in the awareness of God's love and her place in God's family.
• Grade 2-Preparation for the reception of the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist.
• Grade 3-Recogniton of God's presence in creation and appreciation of the Mass as the family celebration of the People God.
• Grade 4-Formation of a strong Christian conscience through knowledge of the Commandments in the Old Testament, and of Jesus' Law of Love in the New Testament

Science

Students are encouraged to develop a scientific curiosity about their environment through hands-on activities. The program includes the scientific processes of observation, inference, classification, measurement, prediction, communication, and space/time relationships. Mini-labs in each classroom provide effective tools for real life explorations.

Social Studies

The students are provided with knowledge and skills to enable them to live today's society with an understanding that history is an ongoing process. At each grade level, teams of teachers develop an integrated program using a thematic approach. Nonfiction children's literature and reference materials are used as "basic texts." Concepts and skills are taught through discovery, journal writing, hands-on projects, and research reports. The students develop a reverence for topics that are relevant to them.

Language Arts

Each grade level integrates "whole language" ideas into the basic skills program. The students are actively engaged in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. They participate in creative, hands-on projects to expand their knowledge. The writing process develops from simple invented spelling and journal writing in the first grade to short stories, poetry, and reports in the fourth. Book writing, illustrating and publishing can be seen throughout the grades, with a "professional " authorship program in the third grade. The appreciation of good literature, silent sustained reading, and group discussions are used to reinforce a budding love of reading. Enrichment is provided through the use of library resources, films, field trips, and "parent involvement" activities. The students are active learners who love to read and write.

Mathematics

Particular emphasis is placed on individual learning needs as the students develop an understanding of math "all around them." Concepts are developed through the use of concrete manipulative and "mental math." Technology provides important tools for the development of graphing, measurement, and computational skills. Students see math as exciting, valuable, and "conquerable."

Special Classes

Classes in art, foreign language, physical education, library, group guidance, and computer provide opportunities for personal expression, creativity, and appreciation of skills in each area.