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St. Philomena Grade School’s curriculum is based on the State Common Core Standards. Building on this core academic content, the instructional program also works to develop the essential skills of critical thinking, problem, solving, communication and collaboration. Some of our curriculum highlights include:
• Strong Faith Formation Program which intertwines daily instruction, prayer, and reflection to deepen students’ Catholic identity. The program also includes:
- Weekly Mass led by the children
- Confession offered during the school day every 6 weeks for grades 3-8
- Participation in a Service Program for grades 7-8 (including work in a local soup kitchen)
- Adoration Chapel devotions
- Weekly classroom visits by the priests
- Opportunities to become altar servers for all 5-8 grade students
- Parish Youth Group
• K- 8 Writing/Composition Program developed by and is supported through the work of Lucy Calkins and the” Teachers Reading and Writing Project” of Teachers College Columbia University. Through this K-8 program explicit writing instruction is delivered daily in a planned and sequential way, developing within students writing skills in a variety of genre.
• Math Program implemented in 2010-2011 of Math In Focus® K-5 math program. Using a Singapore Approach this program will focus on:
- A precise framework of concepts and skills
- Concepts and skills taught in depth to allow for mastery
- Use of a concrete-to visual-to abstract development of concepts using model drawings to connect visual representation to problem solving
- Emphasis on problem solving considered central to all mathematics study
- Pre-Algebra/Algebra program at the middle school level.
- Illinois Virtual School (IVS) is offered to qualifying middle school students in math. Students take web-based advanced math offerings during regular class time, with access to the courses at any time for additional study and advancement.
• Technology is embedded throughout the curriculum
to maximize learning opportunities in all content areas. This is supported through:
- Technology Integration Specialist, a teacher who works with teachers in planning and designing lessons and with students in classrooms to support technology integration into the instructional program.
- Smart™ Boards (interactive whiteboards) in every classroom.
- 10 COWs (Computers On Wheels laptop mobile labs) available for classroom use.
- 1 COW has 30 laptop computers
- 5 COWs have 20 laptop computers
- 4 COWs have 20 netbooks
- 6 desktop computers in each classroom
- 3 document cameras
- MP3 Players for teacher and student(s) podcasts
- Wireless school campus
- Every teacher has a laptop to facilitate instructional planning and parent communication.
- RenWeb™ student data software system allows parents to access lesson plans, homework, grades, behavior reports, announcements, lunch menus, and other grade specific information from any location via the web.
• Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) standardized testing is administered three times a year. This computer adaptive standardized test dynamically adjusts to each student’s performance level providing a better indicator of student’s true achievement and academic needs. Using this test data, teachers can identify the skills and concepts individual students have learned; diagnose instructional needs of individual students; and monitor academic growth over time.
• New science lab added to the middle school in the 2010-2011 school year. This will be the foundation for building a premier STEM (Science/Technology/Engineering/Mathematics) middle school instructional program.
• Rosetta Stone Foreign Language program offered to students in grades 3-8 for an hour each week. Students can choose from 15 different languages. The web-based program uses a microphone to practice speaking skills, and can be accessed at home for additional study time.
• Fine Arts offerings include weekly lessons in both music and art. Visual Arts classes for students in K-8 incorporate the basic elements and principles of design, while providing opportunities to work with a variety of art media. Combined with an art history component this program offers a comprehensive visual arts experience.
• Modified block scheduling for middle school students (6th-8th) provides a structure that increases student learning and helps develop key work habits, such as goal setting, planning, prioritizing, and managing time. Block scheduling also provides more time for:
- guided application of skills through hands-on activities, labs, and technology.
- in-depth study of more complex concepts and processes.
- students to ask questions and receive one-on-one help.
• Pre-K Program is a pre-school program for four year-olds. The program is based on the Illinois Early Learning Standards and offers opportunities for academic, social, spiritual and physical development.
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