SMMS Elementary School
Our elementary program seeks to help students grow beyond just academically, utilizing time both inside and outside of the classroom to promote growth socially and spiritually as well. Led by our team of incredible teachers, your student will leave the program with a strong foundation of what it means to live like Jesus in their words and actions, and how to see Christ in each other.
Please read below for more information about our curriculum and classes.
Second Grade
In second grade, students are encouraged by Mrs. Ruiz to learn in community, sharing ideas and experiences with one another to support each other’s learning. It is through this community-based learning that students’ knowledge, skills, and insights grow. Your second grader will also be prepared for and partake in the sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.
Third Grade
Our third grade classroom is led by Ms. Kolder, who chooses to teach because of the joy she finds in her calling. She strives to create a fun and safe learning environment for her students, where they are free to be themselves as they ask questions and take risks during instruction. Our third graders will learn more about both academics and their faith, as they grow more and more into the people that God made them to be.
Fourth Grade
Ms. Raab leads our fourth grade classroom with the belief that her role as an educator is to empower her students to utilize their God given talents so that they can be the best version of themselves. Students will grow academically, emotionally, and spiritually, as curriculum is combined with movement, projects, student collaborations, and hands-on experiences to bring learning to life.
Fifth Grade
In fifth grade, students are encouraged by Ms. Dickerson to come to class each day fully themselves and ready to learn. Through each individual bringing their unique gifts and talents, the classroom is transformed into one of collaboration, creativity, and community. A special emphasis is placed on getting students ready for middle school and the responsibilities that come with it.
Our Curriculum
Religion: We teach students to live the Beatitudes and Corporal Works of Mercy as each class focuses on a service project that helps them connect their faith and the world. Students are taught about building a personal relationship with Jesus, the parts of the Mass, Scripture passages, and more. Second grade is prepared for and participates in their Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.
Language Arts: Our elementary school focuses on development of students’ reading, writing, speaking, listening, and spelling skills. Daily reading logs, weekly spelling lists, classroom read-alouds and text analyses, novel studies, and grammar assignments are used to support students’ growth in these areas.
Math: Depending on your student’s grade level, they will encounter concepts such as multiple digit addition and subtraction, money and time, multiplication and division, word problems, adding and subtracting fractions, algebraic equations, and classifying shapes.
Technology: Technology is used to support each student’s learning through our 1:1 use of iPads for our students. This enables them to use IXL, Epic, and Google Classroom and apps to further reinforce their knowledge and provide opportunities for differentiation of concepts introduced in our curriculum.
Social Studies: While in our elementary program, your student will be introduced to a wide range of enriching topics. These include, but are not limited to, real-life heroes, basic economic concepts, features and resources of California, Native Americans and their culture, the basic structure of our government, pre-Columbian societies, early U.S. history, and United States geography.
Music: SMMS students partake in an enriching musical experience. Our music teacher, Ms. Zandbergen, leads each class through preparation of songs for Liturgy and music appreciation. Each class has a different musical focus, with some preparing for a Christmas program, some for square dancing, and some for a musical. Students are also encouraged to participate in choir for our weekly school Mass.
Science: Upon completing our elementary program, your student will be familiar with concepts such as living a healthy lifestyle, the motion of an object, plant and animal life cycles, matter and energy, our solar system, the scientific method, the properties of matter, how natural disasters occur, and more! Our teachers use a variety of hands-on-learning techniques and experiments to make learning fun for their students.
Physical Education: Each class’ physical education standards are incorporated into a variety of games and activities. An emphasis is placed on sportsmanship and working together as a team.
Spanish: Our Spanish teacher, Maestra Gonzalez, prepares students to read, write, and speak basic sentences in Spanish. She also teaches them about the language, culture, and traditions of Spanish-speaking people.
Art: Parent volunteers receive training to instruct our students about principles of art. The result is a fun and enriching art program that fosters wonderful student creativity!
