Kindergarten - 2nd Grade

• Reading
  • We develop readers through phonics (small and whole groups), sight word fluency, and comprehension skills. Our goal is to encourage a love of reading and the enjoyment of books within our students. We implement a writer's workshop in addition to our reading curriculum to develop their writing skills to prepare them for first grade.
• Math & Science
  • Introduction of new concepts, including hands-on experiences, classroom experiments, whole and small group activities, and STEM activities.
• Religion
  • Faith Formation is the core of our St. Pius X education. We teach the basics of our Catholic Faith, including prayers, rosary, Lent and Advent activities, and attending Mass.

Highlights: 

• 100th day project and celebration
• Thanksgiving feast
• Christmas program
• Polar Express Day

First grade is a pivotal year for students; here at St. Pius we strive to create strong, long-lasting academic and moral development in our students. Our students are taught a variety of learning strategies as we understand that every child learns and develops in their own way. We know that with proper guidance and setting a strong foundation early on, students will thrive to excel in academics and life.

• Reading & Language Arts
  • Targets all skills for students to become strong readers and writers: phonics, word work, vocabulary, comprehension, spelling, interactive writing, response to literature, and grammar. 
  • We have a variety of activities throughout the day that keep students engaged, including centers, reading on iPads, Thinking Maps, crafts that correlate with literature, and writer’s workshop. 
  • Since we differentiate our instruction and have a daily routine of whole and small-group reading instruction, we are able to meet the needs of all students.
• Math & Science
  • Sets the groundwork not only for advanced mathematics but also for science. Incorporating both subjects encourages higher-level thinking skills and a deeper understanding of the skills being taught. 
  • We use S.T.E.A.M. activities and lots of math manipulatives to achieve the necessary objectives.
• Social Studies
  • We often integrate social studies topics into our religious objectives.  This helps students make connections between our Catholic faith and the world around them.
• Religion
  • We pray to pray together, worship together, and strive to “Be Golden.” 

Highlights:
 

• Jesse Tree
• Polar Express Day
• 100th Day of School
• Author Signing Party
• S.T.E.A.M. challenges

Second grade is filled with many exciting things. This is a time for the students to grow closer to God. The year's highlight is preparing, making First Reconciliation, and receiving First Communion. We also have second-grade students paired with eighth-grade students as prayer partners. This is a special relationship that is carried on throughout the entire school year. The partners complete many spiritual activities together.

In second grade, we work to meet the student's individual needs and learning styles through acceleration and differentiation. We do this through individual, small-group, and whole group instruction. 

Second-grade students learn various comprehension strategies and how to monitor their comprehension.

• Math
  • Students get a solid foundation built upon the acquisition of basic math facts.
• Reading
  • Through a writer’s workshop, our students begin to become authors.
• Science
  • We use experiments, stimulating their natural curiosity, to confirm their hypothesis.
• Social Studies
  • We explore our neighborhood and community and how we fit into the rest of the world.
• Religion
  • Our goal is to help students to achieve their personal best. Our vision is that our students grow spiritually and academically.

Highlights:

• First Communion
• Prayer Partner Pairing Ceremony
• Prayer Partner activities
• Field Trips
• Solar System project
• Polar Express Day