-
PreK and Kindergarten
tHe barnabas early Childhood Experience
Center based learning and hands- on experiences drive our early childhood program. We believe that children are naturally curious and this insatiable excitement for learning should be encouraged, supported and fostered.
Each day begins with a morning meeting, establishing purpose for the work of the day as well as traditional routines and procedures (i.e., calendar, weather, classroom jobs, etc.) Student then explore the 'question of the day' according to the thematic unit of study in each of the classroom centers. Student centers include: Dramatic play, blocks, art, writing, math, science, library, sensory table and light table. Completely student driven, students are able to navigate the classroom independently and guide their own learning according to their interests.
This design drives small-group instruction throughout the day offering teachers the ability to focus her/his attention more strategically on individual students. Through consistent observation of student behavior and performance, teachers are able to tailor their lessons to meet student needs while sharing specific strengths/ areas of growth with families.
In class- learning with matched with a daily gross motor period where students are outside...even in cold weather! This allows student to run, jump, hop, skip and exercise larger muscle groups necessary for development. Group games are not only exciting but foster hand-eye coordination and communication skills. Saturated with bikes, chalk, jump ropes, balls, etc. the possibilties for fun are endless.
-
Grades 1 and 2
The Barnabas lower Elementary Experience
First and second graders at St. Barnabas further dive into content specific learning with defined blocks of time for all academic subjects: ELA, math, science, social studies and religion.
A push for indepdence and automoy reign throughout the lower elementary years as students become fluent readers, writers and problem solvers. Project-based learning encourages creativity and develops cross-curricular thinking. This sort of design allows for students to apply knowledge from all major subject areas into one specific task.
Extending the foundation of center-based learning from their earlier years, student choice drives a bulk of the day. Students work on their core studies via whole class instruction which is immediately follow-up with with small group collaboration that fosters leadership skills, teamwork and critical analysis.
A daily internvetion period allows for students to strengthen and extend their skills in specific ELA and math concepts. This prepares students to be sound mathematicians as they master addition/subtraction concepts as well phonics skills and comprehension strategies necessary for success. -
Grades 3 and 4
The Barnabas Upper elementary Experience
Third and fourth grade students assume greater responsibility for their learning and are challenged to further extend their foundational skills while finding their personal voice and style.
As students transfer from 'learning to read' to 'reading to learn', classroom librarires are rich sources of exploration and excitement. Novel studies and exploration of high quality book series are matched with feature authors and a deep exploration of poetry. A particular focus on nonfiction texts push students to explore and question the scientific and historic world around them.
Personal voice is a key component to upper elementary students development. Through research with digital and print sources, students expore the power of persuaion with opinion writing pieces. Healthy discourse and debate are fostered as students rely on evidence and facts to defend oral statements made, engaging in lively, productive classroom discussions.
A daily internvetion period allows for students to strengthen and extend their skills in specific ELA and math concepts. This prepares students to be sound mathematicians as they master multiplication/division/ fraction concepts as well vocabularly skills and comprehension strategies necessary for success. -
Grades 5 through 8
The Barnabas Middle School Experience
Fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grade students thrive as student role models as they prepare for high school, college and beyond. The middle school students benefit from a rigorous curriculum combined with arts and music that allows them to explore their interests and define their strengths. Students switch classes for each academic subject taking a deep dive into each course, learning from content experts.
Through a technologically immersive environment, students are prepared to tackle modern problems with modern solutions. Our 1:1 device program allows for each student to have their own Chromebook during the day. A fully equipped science lab maximizes hands-on learning and makes learning come alive to ensure that students are most prepared as thinkers and active participants in the world around them. Middle school students deepen their study of religion and faith through weekly attendance at mass every Friday morning.
Middle school specific clubs such as Student Council and Yearbook allow for students to explore leadership opportunities and become advocates within their school community. In this, students are able to hone communication skills while continuing character development specific and critical to pre-teen maturation.