Academics
Curriculum Overview
Our curricular structure is designed within a framework of an educational
community for the new century - shaped by a Catholic world-view which empowers
students to be outward focused.
- Through daily
association with families and professionally qualified faculty visibly
committed to a Christian lifestyle, this school provides opportunities for
each student to develop a personal commitment to Gospel values.
- By developing basic
educational skills, we provide the framework necessary for students to
accept their role as society's intelligent decision-makers of the future.
- In kindling an
appreciation for membership in the larger community, we strive to develop
each student's awareness of his/her responsibility to that larger group and
the call for a personal pledge to justice and service within that framework.
The school faculty oversees a
dynamic and interactive process of curriculum development geared toward mastery
of a high school preparatory program according to the capability of the
individual child. The teaching methods used are varied and
contemporary; an outgrowth of sound learning theory. The curriculum
is enhanced by teachers, students, and parents working together to bring
meaningful learning experiences to children.
At St. Madeleine Sophie School,
we believe that there are certain skills, knowledge and experiences that are
central to Catholic education. These have been structured into an
integrated and coordinated set of courses in which all students participate.
The curriculum integrates the
following subjects: Religion, Language Arts (reading, writing, spelling,
English, speaking, listening), Mathematics, Social Studies (geography,
history, civics), Science, Music, Art, Physical Education and Health.
Family life, substance abuse education and lessons in personal safety, among
others, are co-curriculars which are offered (as per diocesan guidelines) during
the school year.
Curriculum Design
The goals of St. Madeleine Sophie School include successfully meeting the
challenge of providing a first-rate, contemporary program for our students. A
beginning point for our design is the enormous volume of expertise and effort
marshalled by the state's Commission on Student Learning to develop the
Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALRs). Bringing together the best
curriculum in both the public and private schools, these guides flowed from the
state's own four student learning goals as outlined in the Basic Education Act
of 1993. While not bound by state law to follow any particular course of
study, wel use the best pieces of this body of work as a foundation for our
special "brand" of professional practice.
A key element of our Framework is its structure which is consciously designed
to "align" our mission, student learning goals, classroom instruction
and assessment into an integrated whole. Our end result will have solid and
logical links between the learning activities and assessments in the classroom
with the philosophies and long-term objectives of the school. The examples
below help to illustrate the conceptual alignment. They contain specific
examples from our developing framework to help explain. Also identified
are the groups or person who have the primary educational input at each level.
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