Primary learning Community

Traditionally, the major goal of the primary grades is to achieve basic literacy and numeracy for all children. At Saint Mary we accomplish this goal in many ways: the majority of academic minutes are dedicated to language arts and mathematics in these early grades, teachers use an array of instructional strategies to deliver these concepts, and language arts and math concepts are integrated into other content area learning throughout the day.

In addition to the development of strong skills in language arts and numeration, the curriculum of our primary grades provides a vehicle to establish foundations in content areas such as science, social studies, physical education, art, music and Spanish. Our teachers use Archdiocesan learning standards to direct their lessons and are fortunate to have plenty of resources in the classrooms to help them meet students’ needs. They collaborate with our technology teachers and special services teachers to incorporate current trends in technology and best practices in instruction with proven traditional teaching methods to deliver a balanced curricular program.

Our primary learning community enhance differentiated instruction with literacy blocks, where classes are combined to provide reading instruction at each student level.

Students enjoy going to field trips like the pumpkin patch in fall and the theater in late winter. Additionally, they participate in in-school field trips and cultural arts assemblies, to enhance their school experience. They are paired with older students for mass mates and buddies and they work together in writing, reading and religion projects.

Students in second grade receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Sacrament of First Eucharist.