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ART Our Art program strives to offer students an opportunity to create and explore as many media as possible. Our instruction is technique-based with an emphasis on cultural and historically relevant Art History. Students are encouraged to make whatever they are interested in, allowing different Art media to channel their expression. We routinely venture out to other institutions for inspiration; we have held an Art Hop of student work downtown, visited nationally renowned Alchemist Sculpture Foundry to sketch bronze works in progress and hosted local ceramicist and performance Artist Jana Hanka for a special kiln fire dance.
Kindergarten and first graders focus on color mixing, establishing good painting practices, print-making, observational and imaginative drawing as well as ceramics and sculpture. Older students up through sixth grade expand upon these themes with more rigor and complexity each year. Like any performance art, practice makes “perfect.” Middle School students attend Art three times a week and delve more deeply into the above media with a much stronger emphasis on observational drawing and color mixing with a focus on how to apply those skills to any media.
Above all, we strive to support a love of the Arts and encourage kids to not only enjoy expressing themselves through visual art but become a lifelong art appreciator.
Computer Science The computer program works to coach students on various technology skills while providing a stimulating classroom learning experience. The goal is to bring out the creativity and individuality of each student through inventive teaching approaches.
K-2 Skills taught at this level range from, becoming comfortable with a mouse, and the introduction to basic software integration. Technology application skills reinforce reading comprehension and math skills. Students also begin to build their keyboarding speed and accuracy.
3-5 Skills taught to this age group are geared towards; the introduction of Microsoft Office Software including PowerPoint, Word, Publisher and OneNote. Students continue to build their keyboarding speed and accuracy.
6-8 Skills are focused on high school readiness. Students are expected to have more advanced skills in the Microsoft Office applications and improved grammar and language skills. Keyboarding speed and accuracy skills are projected to grow immensely as well.
Physical Education The K-8 Physical Education program is designed to promote the enjoyment that comes with maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle. Students are engaged in a variety of age-appropriate activities that develop not only physical skills but foster critical team-building and social skills to complement the development of the whole child. Our focus is set on creating a safe, high-energy climate where each student can be successful and have a positive attitude toward physical activity.
Spanish K-2 For our emerging language learners, the focus will primarily be on fun. The methodology for the lower elementary students in their Spanish exploration will be music and games. The idea is to develop a love rather than a fear of learning languages. Each week, we will sing and play together in Spanish.
3-5 Our upper elementary students will focus on high-frequency words and ideas, as well as culture, how Catholics celebrate their faith in Spanish-Speaking countries, and Spanish prayers. World Language Learners are expected to compare Hispanic culture to their own at all levels. Spanish will be primarily be taught utilizing stories and games. 6-8 Our middle school students will focus on high school readiness in preparation for Spanish 1. These students will receive a modified version of the Spanish 1 high school curriculum. Students are taught the highest frequency words in Spanish through the teacher’s telling of funny stories. This maintains student interest to both remain in the target language and hear repetition without boredom setting in. Biliteracy is the goal for our middle schoolers, so students will listen to, read, write and speak in Spanish in increasing amounts.