ACADEMICS
PRIMARY EDUCATION - Kindergarten, 1st & 2nd Grade
The goal of the Primary School Program is to foster a love for learning through the development of a strong foundation
in reading, writing, and mathematics.
In our primary grades, our emphasis is to guide children onto a path of a life-long love of learning. Our curriculum encourages curiosity, stimulates thinking, and helps to instill in each child a sense of self-confidence.
At the primary grade levels learning how to read is the most important part of the school day. Our reading program includes a multi-sensory approach which focuses on the five dimensions of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, comprehension, and reading fluency. We strongly believe that reading success is the gatekeeper to all other core academic learning.
Open Court Reading series is the basal core reading program utilized.
Accelerated Reader by Renaissance is a program used to encourage students’ independent reading. For a minimum of twenty minutes each day, all students are expected to read or have someone read to them.
Another large learning block of time is allocated to mathematics. The math program distributes instruction, practice, and assessment of related concepts throughout the year providing consistent review, practice, and assessment. Eureka Mathematics is the K-5 core math program utilized.
We also offer customized and comprehensive, evidence-based reading intervention with a certified reading specialist and small intensive reading groups. Using the Orton-Gillingham approach, our interventionists focus on developing phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary development, and reading comprehension.
We know that children at this age learn best by doing, which is why our curriculum is organized around hands-on activities. Children explore topics in an interdisciplinary manner – for example the story in the reading book might be linked to science and an art project or the reading summary might be in the form of a diorama. The addition of religion classes and Mass, create a faith-filled learning environment and emphasize the development of strong moral character.
In addition to our strong academic core and religious courses, we offer enrichment courses for the development of the whole child. These include Physical Education, Spanish, Music, Library/Technology, and Art. These enrichment courses can be taken as a stand-alone program for HSE students.
Our goal is for all students to leave the primary grade levels with confidence in their abilities, a sense of joy, and responsibility for their learning. This is a result of each child having a sense of security knowing that all adults in their life–parents, teachers, and the staff at St. John Neumann Catholic School, are working together to help each child grow to be their best.
Classes meet Monday – Friday, 7:45 am – 3:20 pm.