SCHOOL MINISTRY

Academics

Expectations by Grade

Our Lady of Peace School Ministry is a dynamic K-8 school community. We are challenged to meet the needs of the early primary student to the needs of the emerging high school student and nearly everything in between. While all housed in one building, our school programming is comprised of three sub components: primary, intermediate, and middle school.

Primary School • Grade K-2

During the first few years of schooling teachers help acclimate their students to the structure of school and begin to lay the foundation upon which the rest of their education will rest. These are the years when students study "the basics." Students go from reciting the alphabet to learning how to read. They being the year counting fingers and toes and by the end of the year can add and subtract in their heads.

Primary teachers monitor closely the progress of each student, mindful that each student's set of skills and abilities emerge in a unique way. The primary teacher's daily instruction is designed to meet the unique developmental needs of students at this level and typically includes a wide variety of activity in the classroom.

Intermediate School • Grades 3-4

During the next few years of schooling teachers help build on the foundation established during the primary years and increase the rigor of instruction. Students transition from "learning how to read" to the process of "reading to learn." This change often takes some getting used to for both student and parents. Students are required to do more individualized seat work and this often includes additional homework.

With a solid academic foundation in place, intermediate teachers embark a new journey with students, one in which the student begins to make choices about the content they learn. While intermediate teachers continue to monitor the progress of each student, daily instruction is more rigorous and a more intense assessment process begins to include measuring the quality of the work.

Middle School • Grades 5-8

The middle school years are often as equally scary and confusing as they are fun for middle school students. The learning process is well on its way and strengths and interests of each individual student begins to emerge. Of course, the rigor and demands of the learning process often take a back seat to the demands of a student's social life.

Middle school teachers encourage student self-direction in learning and guide students toward accepting an increased responsibility for the student's own education. Each middle school teacher demands quality work in the content area he or she teaches and are deeply understanding of the needs of the middle school student they serve.