Primary Grades: K-2
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Our primary grades include students Kindergarten to second grade. They receive key instruction in their core subjects, faith formation, enrichment through their Encore classes, and celebrate cherished class customs, events, and activities. Within the classroom, your student may be divided into smaller groups and given additional assistance to meet his/her individual needs and learning style. Our Resource teachers visit each class to reinforce language, reading, and phonics, and instructional assistants assist the classroom teacher. Our dedicated teaching team helps each child build a strong foundation.
KINDERGARTEN
Our Kindergarten is a full-day program and is a very special year. As students start their educational journey, they grow socially, emotionally, academically, and spiritually, guided by the loving care of their dedicated teachers. Each child's experience is enriched by Encore classes: Art, Library, Music, Physical Education, Spanish, and Technology. Special traditions reinforce skills and a passion for life long learning, like the Thanksgiving play, Cox Farm field trip, 100th day celebration, the Q&U wedding, and much more.The curriculum provides for active involvement and emphasis on basic skills and concepts; pre-reading and reading, language arts, math, science, social studies, and Encore subjects. Instruction in religious truths and values is an integral part of laying a strong foundation rooted in Catholic identity. Full-day Instructional assistants are utilized in Kindergarten for meeting individual needs, learning styles, and small group instruction.
K-Math
Each student establishes a foundation of building blocks with a focus on developmental readiness through:
counting, sorting and comparing sets of objects
pattern recognition
shapes and sizes of figures and objects
creative play, using manipulatives, and exploring the world around them in a tactile way
The development of each child and their introductory math skills is through teacher directed learning, cross curricular lessons, and fostering a joy of learning. Students move from basic principles of addition and subtraction to more complex concepts such as counting time and money at the end of the year. Collaborative learning also fosters interpersonal relationships and social skills.
K-Reading
Focus on early literacy learning skills such as letter identification, rhyming, and phonics are important in Kindergarten. With daily visits, our Resource teachers promote language and phonics mastery through the Heggerty Reading curriculum, empowering our students as the next generation of readers and giving them tools for life. Students are formally assessed with PALS testing each trimester, ensuring progression, appropriate educational materials, and ultimately builds confidence and success.
K-Science and Social Studies
At Saint Leo, the LabLearner curriculum integrates science, math, and language arts through hands on experiments in the classroom each week. Tactile, hands on experiential learning teaches our Kindergartners foundational skills like following instructions, speaking and listening, writing, and critical thinking. Daily weather observation and reporting, raising butterflies and studying the lifecycle of the caterpillar are just a few examples of supplemental Kindergarten activities. Social studies learning goals are introduced through fun activities and monthly themes.
K-Faith and Service
We work hard to help our Kindergartners build a strong foundation of prayer, reverence, and a love of Jesus. Weekly Mass and Adoration reinforce the importance of the Holy Eucharist, praying together, and practicing respect. Our students learn about Jesus, the Holy Trinity, the Holy Family, and the Saints. Each year, their "Saints Parade" is a fun way to celebrate their knowledge and make memories. Even in Kindergarten, our students embrace service, participating in the annual school-wide food drives in November and March, making cards for the sick, and offering prayer intentions for those in need. Our Guidance Counselor introduces the value of Virtues through monthly CARE lessons, which our priests strengthen during their weekly visits.
GRADES 1 & 2
Primary objectives include stimulation of a greater interest in reading and an effort to increase vocabulary, speaking, listening, comprehension, and creative writing. Concentration is on the core subjects with an emphasis on reading, writing, and math. Reading and language arts are integrated and the holistic approach to learning is encouraged. Morning Instructional assistants are utilized to meet individual needs and learning styles.
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