SMMS Primary School
Our primary school is made up of our transitional-kindergarten, kindergarten, and first grade classes. Taught by Mrs. Payne, Ms. Schuberg, and Mrs. Crane, respectively, our classes strive to foster each child’s innate curiosity about the world God created, as well as nurture their God-given gifts, talents, and interests to help them develop into the person He created them to be.
Please read below for more information about our curriculum and classes.
Transitional Kindergarten (TK)
Our TK classroom, led by Mrs. Payne, is hands-on, student-centered, and play-based. Students can explore, experiment, and grow, as their teachers nurture their unique, God-given gifts. Not only will students grow academically, but also socially, as equal importance is placed on both knowledge and character, and systems are set into place to support each child’s development in these areas.
Kindergarten
Our kindergarten classroom, led by Ms. Schuberg, is driven by the belief that all children have a natural curiosity about the world God created and an innate desire to learn. Students will feel safe and respected, as a focus is placed on learning about each student’s strengths and interests so that both their needs can be met and opportunities for growth can be provided. The education and a love of learning instilled in each student will help them come to a greater understanding of the unique person God made them to be, their place in the world, and how they can best serve as Catholic Christians.
First Grade
Our first grade classroom, led by Mrs. Crane, is a stimulating educational environment where students can grow spiritually, academically, socially, and emotionally. Students will be meaningfully challenged while also being provided with support to develop skills necessary for their success. Students will reach their full potential in this Christ-centered environment, as their teachers strive to fill the classroom with love, acceptance, and understanding.
Our Curriculum
Religion: Scripture study is utilized to teach our students about God’s love, as well as their own design to give and receive love. Students learn that they are created in God’s image, and that the Church is God’s family.
Language Arts: Our language arts program is designed to foster the growth of students’ oral, receptive, and written language development. Depending on your student’s grade level, their daily routine may include daily reading practice, daily read-alouds, daily grammar and usage study, weekly spelling units, and a variety of other speaking, listening, and writing opportunities.
Technology: Technology is used in our primary classrooms to reinforce reading and math skills, practice spelling, differentiate learning, research science and social studies topics, and track growth through formative assessments.
Math: Upon completion of our primary school, your student will be able to count and compare numbers up to 100, identify and describe two-dimensional shapes, describe and create repeating patterns, tell time, and count money.
Science: Students in our primary school explore God’s creation through physical, life, and earth science. They explore topics such as the weather and seasons, physical properties of objects, the states of matter, and plant and animal structures. Much of this learning is done through hands-on activities and meaningful experiences.
Social Studies: Our social studies curriculum teaches students what it means to be a good citizen through the study of various jobs in our community, rights and responsibilities of citizens, and what honesty, courage, and determination look like in our society. They are introduced to and taught how to use maps, and they begin to be introduced to the concept of history and how to compare and contrast life today and life in the past.
Music: Students participate in a variety of singing, movement, and rhythm activities. As they progress throughout our primary program, they learn about tempo, pitch, and the basic concept of the C scale and primary chords. Each class also puts on an annual Christmas program.
Art: Our students participate in the Art Trek program, which is powered by a dedicated group of parent volunteers. This program teaches students basic art principles, as well as instructs students how to use a variety of art techniques, such as clay-building, drawing, and painting.
Spanish: Kindergarten and first grade participate in a weekly Spanish class that engages them in a variety of visual, oral, kinesthetic, and auditory learning experiences to learn Spanish vocabulary and its meaning.
Physical education: Our physical education standards are incorporated into a variety of exercises and games. An emphasis is placed on good sportsmanship, working as a team, and Christian conduct.
