+ Pre-Kindergarten 3 & 4

For many children, Pre-Kindergarten is their first experience with school, and Saint Henry School strives to provide a loving, Christ-centered environment that allows students to explore the world around them. Our primary goal is the formation of the whole child – spiritual, intellectual, emotional, physical, and creative. Low teacher-student ratios allow for a high level of individualized instruction and focus, meeting each student where they are and helping them grow and develop. Students experience developmentally appropriate religion, reading, math, science, and social studies curricula, while also allowing time to play and exercise. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd provides lessons and activities that explore the mysteries of our faith. Reading, writing, and grammar are rooted in a phonics-based reading program. Our hands-on math program cultivates deep number-sense while teaching geometry and introducing basic math skills. Science and Social Studies are both taught through hands-on, experiential learning, and supported through the Language Arts curriculum. In addition to these core-curricular areas, students in the 4-year-old program also participate in Art, Music, Library, and Physical Education.

+ Kindergarten

Preparation for academic success and fostering a love of learning form the foundation of our Kindergarten classrooms. Students excitedly explore all traditional curricular areas, with a heavy focus on phonics and literacy as each child strengthens their reading ability, while also engaging in a rigorous mathematics program designed to continue the strong number-sense begun in Pre-K for mathematics success in later years. The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd curriculum is also continued, furthering the students’ curiosity and understanding of the mysteries of our faith. Science remains experiential, but students begin to learn the scientific process by forming hypotheses, collecting and analyzing data, and communicating conclusions. The Social Studies curriculum deepens students’ awareness of how they fit into the broader community, focusing on human rights and appreciation of cultural and individual differences. Students also begin to study Spanish and take a formal computer class in addition to Art, Music, Library, and Physical Education introduced in Pre-K.

+ Grades One through Four

The primary grades move beyond introductions and focus on developing mastery in the core curricular areas. Emphasis is placed on reading ability and fluency, the language arts, and establishing solid basic skills in mathematics with strong number sense. Faith formation is continued through the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd curriculum, while introducing additional study on Catholic doctrine and scripture in preparation for the first sacraments in second grade. In Social Studies, students are challenged to understand and demonstrate the concepts of society and community, and utilize the study of world and United States history to understand these ideas at a nuanced level. Fundamental concepts of Earth and Life science are studied, highlighting the scientific process including data collection and analysis. In addition to the core curriculum, students also take course in Spanish, Art, Music, Computer, Library, and Physical Education.

+ Grades Five through Eight

As students continue to mature and progress into the middle grades, the focus shifts from mastery of basic skills to enhanced learning and deep understanding of increasingly complex topics. With each year of study students are granted greater independence in learning and a greater share of responsibility. Further, more attention is paid to ensuring students are well prepared for success at the high school level in all subjects. The core curriculum of Religion, Mathematics, Science, Literature, Language Arts, and Social Studies are all continued. These core subjects are departmentalized, exposing students to changing classrooms throughout each day and learning from teachers who are specialized in their subject area. Classes in Mathematics are also formally differentiated by ability, with students placed in Advanced or Grade-level classes. A heavy emphasis is placed on improving student writing, with all grades utilizing the Institute for Excellence in Writing curriculum to augment the traditional English course. Spanish, Computer, Art, Library, and Physical Education all continue to develop in complexity and new options are available for music.