Elementary School

Kindergarten - 5th Grade Learning to Read, Write, Pray, and Problem Solve

Our kindergarten is academically rigorous. Reading skills blossom, and mathematical minds are challenged. In addition to learning the alphabet and the sounds of the letters, children learn to decode words, recognize sight words, and write down ideas. We teach essential math skills, including numeral and number recognition, sorting, and patterning. 
Prayer begins each morning, thanking God for all He has given us, talking to Him about our loved ones, giving Him our worries, and knowing He is with us. Our kindergarteners develop an understanding of right and wrong, and that respecting others helps the classroom community run smoothly. They learn to share materials, manipulatives, and attention by acquiring skills to be able to do this without being bossy or rude. Eventually they recognize that there are productive ways to express ourselves, that what we say and do affects other people, and these interactions play a key role in making friends. Mastering this skill is an ongoing process and five-year-old’s are just beginning to learn it. Kindergarten focuses on treating others as we would like to be treated.

​First graders begin each day with specific routines which create a calm environment where students can begin to share leadership in the classroom. First graders learn the basic daily prayers which allow them to participate in Mass and our community but they also have opportunities to express their unique love for God and their thanks for His gifts. This is the year mastery of skills introduced in kindergarten is expected and necessary for emergent readers, authors, scientists, and mathematicians to succeed. We know that an integral part of academic success is physical, social, and emotional well being so first grade devotes time to building life skills and the concept of mutual respect as a healthy community of learners.

Second grade is the year where the foundations built in pre-k, kindergarten and first grade come together. Students are able to apply the skills they have learned to the next level. Our academic program emphasizes language arts, reading, writing, speaking, and thinking skills and is integrated into all areas of our curriculum. Our math program emphasizes rigorous thinking, computation, and problem-solving skills and experiential learning. It is such an incredible year of growth and change for children academically, emotionally, and spiritually. Religious lessons in second grade are important because students are preparing to receive the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Communion. Each day in Catholic school presents opportunities for students to put their values to use in the classroom, at lunch, and at recess.

Third Grade marks a shift in what happens at school.  Instead of learning to read students are now reading to learn.  Written responses to literature and math become more complex and expectations are rising.  Hand writing shifts from printing to cursive and students become eager to earn their pen license.  The use of technology to collaborate and demonstrate knowledge also increases in third grade.

Fourth grade is a very exciting year in which students will be building their knowledge across all academic areas. In the content area of reading, students will be both challenged to build academic language for the purpose of comprehension. Similarly, students will be acquiring the skills to broaden their writing, learning and executing proper essay format across curriculum appropriate to audience and purpose. Fourth-grade students will engage in hands-on and multiple step experiments focusing on the areas of physical science, life science, earth and space science. In the area of math, students embark on a journey to conquer long-division, mixed numbers, simplifying fractions, and decimals. 

5th grade’s got it goin’ on! The 5th grade engages in cool activities that create a link between elementary school and middle school. Inventerprise, 5-7 science fair, zoo snooze, and ONREP field trips, technology, art, and engineering are embedded in and enhance our research projects as well as in our historical storyline on the colonization of the United States. Fifth grade social studies culminates the study of the United States that has been in progression since first grade and prepares our students for the enormous content of middle school's world history.  Math in the fifth grade covers concepts such as order of operations, algebraic expressions, and geometry. Language Arts lessons will inspire students to read closely and write for purpose with a strong voice. Book club activities help the fifth graders to communicate on a chosen topic while break out activities allow students to team up to collaborate in solving intricate puzzles. Fifth grade is a leadership year at St. Francis. These students are the oldest on the playground and set examples of good sportsmanship. They share their citizenship skills by caring for the school's flag and their leadership in faith during the annual May Crowning event.
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