Curriculum | St. Rose of Lima School

St. Rose of Lima School

40 Church Hill Rd, Newtown, CT 06470, United States of America

203-426-5102

Curriculum: Grades K-8

St. Rose of Lima School, 2009 National Blue Ribbon School, offers a rigorous academic curriculum, which is flexible to meet the varying learning abilities of students, and affords every student the opportunity to nurture each their unique learning potential. Accredited by NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges): we use innovative practices and technology across our curriculum, which provides students, at every grade level, with lifelong skills that will be used beyond their years at St. Rose.

One of the major innovations we have embraced is the use of “personalized blended learning”. Personalized learning affords teachers the ability to coach students to gradually assume responsibility for their own learning and development. Traditional teacher-led instruction, peer collaboration, and individual learning are brought together in this flexible learning environment to help students realize their maximum potential. Innovation zones provide an environment which is built around a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) curriculum with focused activities including robotics, coding, design, visual and digital media, and engineering. Computer Adaptive Learning Platforms provide a personalized learning path, tailored to each learner’s needs, and students can learn at their own pace. This also provides a means for teachers to monitor progress, and make informed instructional decisions.

Edmentum Exact Path provides the platform for diagnostic assessment at the beginning, middle, and end of the school year. The data is used to create the individualized learning path for each student; as well as information that teachers use to create skill-based groupings and provide individualized instruction. In addition, St. Rose uses the Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA), as a benchmark assessment three times throughout the school year. This tool measures a student’s reading accuracy and his/her reading comprehension level and shows a child’s reading growth over time. It provides information about the student’s reading level and, most important, what it is our students need to do to improve reading skills and behaviors. IOWA Basic Skills and CogAT tests are conducted and analyzed at the end of each school year.

The Diocese of Bridgeport Catholic Schools curriculum standards demonstrate how our Catholic schools exceed the expectations set forth by state standards. The curriculum standards are developed and updated through the Office of the Superintendent of Schools (OSS). Religion curriculum standards are formulated by the OSS in consultation with a committee of educators and approved by the Bishop. These standards serve as the foundation for curriculum development on the school level. The curriculum for students in kindergarten through eighth grade includes language arts, religion, grade- and advanced-level math (Pre-Algebra, Advanced Pre-Algebra and Algebra), social studies, technology and features weekly classes in physical education, art and music. Students at St. Rose learn cursive handwriting, a skill not available in most schools today.

Learn more about our Preschool program on our Preschool page.

Grades K-2

Our curriculum in grades K-2 builds the foundation for a traditional Catholic elementary education. Instruction in grammar, phonics, mathematics, and religion provides a focus for our young learners in building key skills that will be applied throughout their education. Curriculum is focused on students learning to read through our structured phonics program, which is scaffolded from Kindergarten to 1st grade to 2nd grade. Instilling a love of the teachings of Jesus Christ, as well as living the Gospel Values, is the cornerstone of our religious instruction, that is woven throughout our curriculum. Kindergarten and First Grade begins the preparation for Second Grade and the receiving of the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Eucharist. Our religion curriculum is further enriched by students attending mass every Friday, during the school year.

Grades 3-5

Our curriculum in grades 3-5 builds upon the foundation started in grades K-2; grade 3 sees the shift from learning to read to reading to learn. Novels are added to the anthologies used in the intermediate grades for reading instruction; and independent reading at and above grade level is encouraged through classroom libraries. Core subjects of English language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, and religion are enriched by the creative arts and innovation lab. Students are instructed in music, art, physical education, Spanish; as well as STEM and other hands-on and computer based activities in the innovation lab. Fourth and Fifth graders participate in Geography Bees, Spelling Bees, and Invention Convention at the school, regional, and state levels. Grades 3-5 join the school community in celebrating mass every Friday; and lead the liturgy through lecturing, altar serving, offertory, and choir.

Grades 3-5 begin a transition from the self-contained classroom environment to a limited departmentalized structure; which helps bridge their primary years to their middle school years. Teachers use block scheduling for ELA and Math to facilitate the personalized learning model, which includes online work, using the Edmentum Exact Path and the Google Suite of tools on Chromebooks.

Grades 6-8

Our curriculum in grades 6-8 prepares our Middle School students with the skills and tools they will need to succeed in high school and beyond. The Middle School uses a departmentalized model, students have a homeroom and then change classes throughout the day to receive instruction from subject area teachers. Courses are double blocked on specific days of the week to allow for more in-depth understanding and mastery through instruction, application, and personalized learning rotations.

English Language Arts includes literature, vocabulary, writing, grammar, and spelling. Novels are used for literature studies, and form the basis for Passion Projects, Field Trips, and other enrichment opportunities and cross-curricular activities.

Religion meets daily, for one period; with the exception of Friday, when our religion class is a schoolwide mass with the parish community. Our Middle School students lead the liturgy by participating as lectures, altar servers, gift bearers, and choir. In addition, Gospel Values are taught within the religion curriculum and students prepare for Confirmation during the 7th and 8th grade years; including a Saint project, retreats, and sacramental instruction.

Foreign language, innovation lab, music, art, and physical education are woven throughout the daily schedule to give students an opportunity to enrich their regular course work through the skills honed in these creative and virtual platforms.

Middle School has a 1:1 device structure; all students use school issued Chromebooks and have Google accounts to access the Google suite of tools, which are used throughout their day in all classes.

STEM

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) all play an integral part in the teaching of the whole student. Students in Kindergarten through Grade 8 follow the same steps of the Engineering Design Process used by all engineers. Upper grade students write engineering design journals, modeled on journals written by professional engineers for design challenges.

We teach independent innovation and allow students to explore greater depths of subjects by utilizing integrated content skills, thinking critically and working as a member of a team.

SCIENCE

The St. Rose of Lima School science program provides hands-on experience where s
tudents explore, explain and predict phenomena in both natural and simulated environments and have an opportunity to present oral and written analysis. Students in grades 5 – 8 learn the scientific method by designing and conducting science experiments. The program also introduces students to environmental science and organism classification. Students in Grades 7 and 8 participate in our Science Horizons science fair. Ten finalists advance to the prestigious Connecticut Science and Engineering Fair.

LABORATORY

Technology & Tools

At St. Rose of Lima School, we recognize the vital role that technology plays in every aspect of a student’s life. Our students begin computer instruction at an early age so they can utilize the latest technology for problem solving and critical thinking skills as they enter into the world of robotics, scientific exploration, art graphics and engineering by design.

Students are provided an opportunity to engage in well-defined cross-curricular projects using our state-of-the-art technology systems and tools. These include in-depth research and writing presentations, robotics design, video production, musical production, art graphic products.

St. Rose of Lima School students become proficient in:

Presenting, tabulating, and explaining data
Researching topics using credible world wide web resources
Accurately and efficiently typing research and a knowledge of proper presentation formatting
Knowing the interrelationship of various computer programs by importing and exporting data between applications
Keyboarding skills
Hardware engineering and software implementation concepts
Developing the ability to problem-solve, think critically and communicate using technology
We are proud of the leading edge technology that our school offers to students, including:
Desktop computers and tablets used by teachers for classroom instruction
Laptops in the writing/resource lab – A dedicated computer lab – SMARTboards in every classroom
State-of-the art wireless infrastructure
Brand new sets of Chromebooks and Smart TVs available for use in classrooms

Digital safety is a topic weighing heavily on our minds. We are committed to educating students about the responsibilities that come with technology. We host educational assemblies for students and parents, provide resources for parents and teachers, and have User Policy Agreements. A School Climate Committee reviews safety policies, including efforts to protect students from cyber bullying. Information regarding the seriousness of cyber bullying and the importance of cyber safety is available here. Resources include downloadable internet and cell phone use contracts. The National Crime Prevention Council provides a wide variety of topics regarding personal safety, including internet safety and information on cyber bullying.

Art, Music, & Language

ART

The art program provides students the opportunity to work on a variety of integrated curriculum projects that introduce and refine skills in painting, sculpting, pottery, sketching, pastels, oils and modern art while focusing on thematic core classroom instruction. Upper grade students engage in research projects to further their knowledge of the art and history world. The “piece de resistance” is an end-of-year juried Art Show at which all students’ best works are featured, celebrated and judged. Upper grade students are also provided a one-year course in art graphics which integrates their art knowledge base with technology skills and other core curriculum skills to create graphic design products.

MUSIC

WORLD LANGUAGES, SPANISH

Students are introduced to songs, prayers, basic greetings, identify colors and shapes, use numbers to 10, identifying objects in the classroom, and talk about foods, the family, pets and community. Writing and speaking skills are built throughout the academic years to prepare students for high school Spanish II. Grammar concepts introduced at the middle school level include Spanish noun/adjective agreement, pronouns, definite and indefinite articles and present tense regular and irregular verb conjugation.

DRAMA PROGRAM

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