St. Catherine of Siena Parish School

CURRICULUM HIGHLIGHTS

Kindergarten

 

Art, Speech Contest, Spanish

Music, The beginnings of global awareness: 

China, Italy, Japan and Mexico, 

Through history projects and way-of-life studies.

First Grade

 

Art, Spelling Bee, Speech Contest, Spanish

Music, Study the Rainforest including hut project

Thanksgiving Presentation

Science - Space & Dinosaurs

Learning to write stories

Second Grade

 

Art, Spelling Bee, Speech Contest, Spanish

Music, Johnny Appleseed Day. 

Christmas Pageant and Concert

Reconciliation, Stations of the Cross, Seder Meal, First Communion

Poetry Festival

Third Grade

 

Art, Spelling Bee, Speech Contest, Spanish

Music, Yearlong Ecosystem Project 

Multiplication and division.  Study of Native Americans and the human body

Apostle’s Creed, literature circles

Fourth Grade

 

Art, Spelling Bee, Speech Contest, Spanish

Music, Study the Juaneno Indian culture 

Overnight Surf Science Camp 

California History and Gold Rush Day.

 Student book publishing.

Fifth Grade

 

Art, Spelling Bee, Speech Contest, Spanish

Music, State Report

Introduction to Power Point Presentations

Participate in walk through American Revolution

Create Writing Portfolios. Participates in Science Fair and D.A.R.E. program

Eligible for the school’s sports teams

Sixth Grade

 

Art, Spelling Bee, Speech Contest, French

Music, Ancient Civilization – construct a pyramid, participate in Walk Through Ancient Civilization

Science Fair Project

6th Grade Dinner and Silent Auction.

Outdoor Science Camp

Seventh Grade

 

Art, Spelling Bee, Speech Contest, French

Music, Eligible to join the California Scholarship Foundation

Academic Decathlon

Social Studies’ focus on Medieval times and the Renaissance period

 Science Fair Project 

Visit to the Museum of Tolerance 

Eighth Grade

 

Art, Spelling Bee, Speech Contest, French

Music, Student Government Day and Student Council Fundraising. 

Academic Decathlon

Science Fair Project

May Crowning.

Retreat at Sacred Heart Retreat Center 

1-5 Grade Science
Lecture, outdoor science lab, experiments and “Windows to Science” program

 

6-8 Grade Science
Earth and Life Science: lecture, outdoor science lab, experiments, science fair project

Computer/Technology

Grades K – 8.  Type to learn, graphics, website management, research online, power point, excel.

Physical Education
Structured physical education twice a week taught by our Athletic Director. Focus is on learning teamwork and fundamentals of sports/activities presented include: volleyball, basketball, flag football, field hockey, softball, fitness

 Music
All grades: vocal, rhythm instruments, Christmas and Spring programs
Grades 4 – 6: recorder added to curriculum
Grades 7 – 8: hand bell choir added
to curriculum

Art
Meet the Masters combined with projects related to individual grades’ curriculum
Pageant of the Masters
Math

Grades K-5

Through the use of our textbooks and math materials, which meet Diocesan and State standards, we hope to address the following themes: excellence in mathematics through high expectations and strong support for all students, a coherent curriculum focused on standards and is
well-articulated across all grades, effective mathematics teaching
through an understanding of what students know and what they need to know, learning with understanding by building new knowledge from experience and prior knowledge, assessments that support the learning
of important math and furnish useful information to both teachers and students, technology that influences the math that is taught and
enhances students’ learning.

Math

Grades 6-8

Junior high students are ALSO exposed to units of math that reflect
real life situations. In sixth grade the students maintain a checking
account and plan a summer vacation. In seventh grade the students
draft a fantasy baseball team and keep the statistics on individual
players. In eighth grade students invest in the stock market and track
their losses and gains. These real life projects provide the students
with practical experience and the knowledge that math is not simply
a textbook subject.


A wide variety of activities are offered as after-school programs:

Sports for boys and girls in grades 5 through 8:  flag football, volleyball, basketball, softball and soccer
Scouts (boy and girl)
Music (instrumental)
Art
Choir (Grades 4-8)