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 iReady and the Google Suite of tools on Chromebooks.

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 7th grade; 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.

Science

The St. Rose of Lima School science program provides hands-on experience where students 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.

The St. Rose of Lima School science laboratory houses many large and varied collections including rocks, minerals, fossils, bones, bird nests, snake and animal skins, antlers, bivalves, gastropods, ocean sponges, echinoderms, arthropods, sand from around the world, and many more preserved specimens.

Technology

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, and graphic art products.

St. Rose of Lima School students become proficient in:

• Presenting, tabulating, and explaining data
• Researching topics using credible resources
• Accurately and efficiently typing research papers
• Knowledge of proper presentation formatting
• Importing and exporting data between applications
• Keyboarding skills
• Google Suite (Gmail, Drive, Docs, Slides, and Sheets)
  Problem-solving, thinking critically and communicating using technology

We are proud of the leading-edge technology that our school offers to students, including:

• Desktop computers, laptops, and tablets used by teachers for classroom instruction
• Laptops in the library/resource lab
• Chromebook carts in every classroom from grade 2 to 8
• iPads in lower grade classrooms and in the Innovation Lab
• Smart boards or Smart TVs in every classroom
• State-of-the art wireless infrastructure
•  

Engineering

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.

All students, Pre-K through grade 8 attend art class once a week in our dedicated, two-room art studio.

The art program provides students with the opportunity to work on a variety of integrated curriculum projects that introduce and refine skills in painting, sculpting, 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 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.

Thanks to a recent grant, we now have a kiln, and Upper grade students have a pottery unit, making and selling their pottery at the Spring Art Show to raise money for charity.

All students, Pre-K through grade have weekly music class.  They use a variety of instruments and rhythmic props to learn rhythm and pitch. Every music class includes singing songs of praise to God or about Bible stories. 

Preschool through grade 2 use song and dance to develop preliteracy skills such as phonological awareness, syllabication, pattern recognition, cadence, working memory, and inner hearing.

Grades 3 through 8 learn music theory to read, sing, and play musical scores on pitched instruments. Students in grades 3 and 4 learn basic recorder, grades 5 and 6 learn basic ukulele, and grades 7 and 8 learn basic keyboarding skills to produce recordings of their own composition.

Physical Education classes are held in our modern, multi-purpose Gathering Hall, which has gym flooring, basketball hoops, bleachers, a stage, and a kitchen. The Gathering Hall exits to our large field, where classes can be held outdoors in nice weather.

In PE students learn to move their bodies for health and fun, work cooperatively towards the same goal on teams, and increase their stamina, hand-eye-coordination, and gross-motor skills. 

Students in Kindergarten through grade 4 have PE class twice a week, and students in Pre-K and in grades 5 through 8 have PE once a week.

All students, Pre-K through grade 8 take Spanish language class. 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.

Students in grades 6-8 take Spanish twice a week.