Elementary School

Elementary school is a time of great curiosity, growth, and personal discovery. Students progress from learning the alphabet to reading works of literature and non-fiction. They go from counting to completing complex algorithms. They know their place in the community and the world and develop a deep and abiding love for Jesus, His teachings, and His church. Read more to learn about our exciting elementary school programs and why HFCS is the right choice for your child!


We provide differentiated academic instruction for each child by providing opportunities for emotional, social, physical, and intellectual growth. Weekly visits to the library, the innovation lab, music, character, and physical education classes enrich the education of the whole child—spirit, mind, and body.

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1st Grade

The purpose of 1st grade is to teach children a rich, meaningful, and balanced curriculum of skills and information through age-appropriate lessons and activities that encourage them to want to be present and learn. It is a place where children continue their development towards an ever stronger foundation in Reading, Writing, Mathematics, and our Catholic Faith. It is a place where teaching to the “whole child” is emphasized – physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and academically. It is a place where the children are offered safety, security, respect, and love as God’s “gifts.”

First graders continue to develop their reading skills and love for reading by immersing themselves in “good fit” fiction and non-fiction books that they will experience during Readers’ Workshop. They will continue to learn more word attack skills, spelling, phonetic rules, and comprehension skills.  We will have Writer’s Celebrations at different times of the year to share our progress in composition and sight words. First graders will apply their Math skills and strategies during “Number of the Day.”

Religion is incorporated throughout the day by stopping to pray during our daily routine: when we hear a siren, when we are thankful, and when we need extra help.  Our discipline and rules in our class are based on Jesus’ words and our HFCS pledge: Speak, Learn, Listen, and Respect like Jesus. We participate in service projects and community outreach. We have a buddy class with which we share projects and activities.

We have mini-celebrations for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and St. Valentine’s Day. We have special visitors, including firefighters and a bird expert from the Idaho Fish and Game Department. We are continually learning and experiencing God’s gifts He has given to us in our school.

Religion
Mathematics
Language Arts
Science
Social Studies
Enrichment

  • Loyola Press, Finding God
  • The overarching themes are: God, Jesus, The Church, The Sacraments and Morality
  • Attending weekly Mass and monthly Rosary (hosting a Mass and Rosary)
  • Integration of Religion into all areas of instruction
  • Bible Scripture Book
  • Circle of Grace
  • Participation in the daily All School Morning Opening involving prayer, scripture, and Christian song
  • Getting to know Jesus through daily classroom prayer
  • Learning about Catholic traditions
  • Reading and applying the Bible by listening to Bible stories
  • Helping others (family, school and community) love and respecting others as Jesus would
  • Teach as Jesus would do, “Let the children come to Me”

  • Origo, Stepping Stones, Digital program
  • Develop and increase number sense and concepts of tens and ones in the place value, number strategy
  • Learn addition and subtraction facts up to 10
  • Measurement, Time and shapes
  • Coins and value, graphing

  • Scott Foresman, Reading Street
  • Vocabulary, Grammar, Spelling, Composition, Reading skills and strategies
  • Text comprehension through introduction of various strategies, word skills, and literary elements
  • Reading and Writing Workshops
  • Library visits
  • Accelerated reading program offered
  • Handwriting Without Tears

  • Color Unit
  • Apples and Pumpkins
  • Weather
  • Bird Unit
  • Ocean Unit

  • Integration throughout Reading
  • School rules and procedures
  • Farming – Field trip to Walters Fruit Ranch
  • Pilgrims – Thanksgiving
  • Gingerbread
  • Nativity
  • America
  • Community Outreach

  • Art class, Hands on Art, once a month
  • Music class weekly
  • PE weekly
  • Character Education weekly
  • Technology, computers weekly
  • “Reading Grammas” twice weekly
  • Field Trips to Walter’s Fruit Ranch, Retirement Center, and Coeur d’Alene Park

2nd Grade

Welcome to 2nd grade, where the love of learning is encouraged and developed.  Our school year will be filled with learning, laughter, and excitement! We’ll discover the world around us as we study penguins, bats, frogs, and the role of bees in our lives.  We’ll learn about maps, find different countries, and read about important leaders throughout history.  We’ll travel through time as we study dinosaurs, the teachings of Catholic saints, and the amazing, ongoing water cycle.  We’ll build our spiritual life through daily prayer, attending Mass, helping others, and preparing for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion.

Integrating science and social studies with the core subjects of reading, writing, and math will help us solidify the foundational skills learned in 1st grade.  Our learning will become deeper, emphasizing content and acquiring skills to become independent learners. Multiple reading comprehension strategies and a deepening understanding of the structure and meaning of words are taught.  Writing is valued as a form of communication, and students learn to use a variety of formats to give voice to their thoughts.  In math, number relationships are developed along with place value concepts with numbers reaching to 1,000.

Throughout our 2nd grade journey, we emphasize respect for others, positive values, and making good choices.  Students learn the importance of working together cooperatively as well as learning how to be independent and responsible.  Children are valued as unique individuals and are given support and encouragement to work toward their greatest potential.  Celebrations of learning with family and friends are frequent and are scheduled throughout the year to give value to the work done in our classroom.

It is a privilege to have the opportunity to work with Holy Family Catholic School’s 2nd-grade families as together we educate and support the growth of your children.  We look forward to an exciting year of learning adventures!

Religion
Mathematics
Language Arts
Science
Social Studies
Enrichment

  • Finding God Curriculum
  • Understand why we pray and how to pray
  • Learn and use a variety of prayers in multiple settings
  • Model God’s love for mankind through words and actions toward others
  • Prepare for the Sacraments of Reconciliation & First Holy Communion
  • Participate in and occasionally host weekly Mass at school
  • Host the May Crowning Mass
  • Circle of Grace
  • How and why we pray
  • Sacrament of Reconciliation
  • First Holy Communion
  • Showing God’s love to others

  • McGraw-Hill’s Everyday Mathematics Curriculum
  • Develop number relationships such as double facts, adding/subtracting 1 & 2, and using friendly numbers to add and subtract number equations
  • Use place value concepts up to 1,000
  • Tell time using analog and digital clocks
  • Identify coins and determine the value of a variety of coins
  • Apply problem-solving skills to solve word problems
  • Analyze graphs and data to predict information and answer questions
  • Begin measuring with standard units of measurement
  • Identify and list the attributes of geometrical shapes

  • Scott Foresman Reading Street Curriculum
  • Utilize Independent Reader’s Workshop model of teaching with students reading self-chosen “good-fit” books for continued reading practice and consistent application of skills
  • Individual/small group reading conferences with the teacher for differentiation of learning
  • Development of multiple comprehension strategies for reading
  • Explore different literacy genres, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, biographies, and folktales
  • Build a vocabulary of useful words
  • Learn and apply knowledge of increasingly complex phonics patterns, including vowels and, prefixes & suffixes
  • Develop fluency and automaticity in reading through daily practice
  • Increase the number of high-frequency words memorized
  • Understand writing is a form of communication
  • Analyze and utilize a variety of writing structures, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, friendly letters, and opinion pieces
  • Write a complete paragraph with complete sentences
  • Apply writing conventions of correct spelling, capitalization, ending marks, and commas
  • Use correct grammar, including past verb tense
  • Utilize Handwriting without Tears curriculum

  • Explore and learn about the life cycle of animals, insects, and amphibians
  • Investigate the water cycle, weather patterns, and storms
  • Utilize the scientific method through individual science projects

  • Learn about the different types of communities and their varying needs
  • Research the important roles of historical leaders
  • Examine maps and map symbols

  • Saint Reports and Costumes
  • Thanksgiving Harvest Feast
  • Advent Penny Drive Service Project
  • Meet and Greet with a Beekeeper
  • Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion
  • Mother/Grandmother’s Day Tea
  • Father/Grandfather’s Day Science Experiments
  • Hosting May Crowning Mass
  • Penguins All-Around Celebration

3rd Grade

Our 3rd-grade program focuses on gaining confidence and mastery of academic and life skills. The 3rd-grade curriculum builds on the skills gained in previous years and is designed to encourage students to take responsibility for their own learning.  Organization skills, time management skills, and good study skills are taught and supported throughout the year, aiding the transition into the 4th grade.

Using technology, hands-on activities, games, projects, films, guest speakers, and field trips, the 3rd graders are exposed to a variety of learning experiences that allow them to apply their knowledge and skills. Homework is given over the core subjects. Tests and quizzes occur, but more often, you will find that experiences and projects replace conventional tests and quizzes over core subjects.

Our class brings in community members, including parents from the class, to educate us about the community, and take a special trip to the library to learn more about what is offered. “Simple Machines Day” offers the students a chance to play with the different kinds of simple machines we have in our world. The highlight of the year is when the 3rd grade studies the Judicial Branch. Each year, 3rd graders have the privilege of holding a mock trial at the Federal Courthouse for a chance to see our justice system in action.

Religion
Mathematics
Language Arts
Science
Social Studies
Enrichment

  • Define the meaning of prayer and the different kinds of prayer
  • Specific prayers include Prayer to the Holy Spirit, knowing the statements of the Apostle’s Creed
  • Know the words “justice” and “service” as related to the Church
  • Know the meaning of stewardship as caring for all things given
  • Describe the diverse roles of members in a community
  • Celebrate the Liturgical Seasons
  • Daily prayer and weekly Mass
  • Scripture integrated whenever possible
  • School Pledge

  • McGraw Hill’s Everyday Math program aligned to the state and diocesan Math Standards
  • Multiplication and Division Facts
  • Benchmark and unit fractions (1/4, ½, 1/3)
  • Apply order of operations
  • Multi-step word problems
  • Problem solving strategies

  • Accelerated Reader Program – personalized goals for independent reading practice
  • Learn the writing process and be able to use editing skills to proofread writing
  • Apply grammar skills when writing opinion pieces, reports, and narratives
  • Daily skills reinforced interactive grammar notebook and Daily Spiral Language Arts Review
  • Library visits
  • Novel Studies/Groups
  • Identify and apply the use of figurative language
  • Practice and apply cursive handwriting

  • Hands-on experiences and practical uses
  • Simple Machines
  • Weather Related Hazards
  • Adaptations of Animals
  • Planets/ Phases of the Moon

  • Kinds of communities
  • Characteristics of a good citizen
  • President research and reports
  • Participate in mock trial
  • Three Branches of Government
  • Apply knowledge of mapping skills

  • Weekly music/PE/ character development classes
  • Regular technology integration of Kindle devices, iPads, and computer lab
  • Mr. Nick once a month for STEM activities
  • Monthly Art classes

4th Grade

Our 4th-grade students are proud to be the leaders and role models for the west wing of our school. They are the oldest grade in the west wing and take this responsibility to heart. They watch out for and help out with, the younger students. The 4th-grade class buddies up with the preschool class, which furthers this mentoring role.

Fourth grade works toward being independent learners and problem solvers – not just in academic subjects, but throughout all aspects of their lives. They strive to live, love, and act like Jesus – just as our school pledge states.

Religion
Mathematics
Language Arts
Science
Social Studies
Enrichment

  • Liturgical calendar
  • Living our school pledge
  • Memorizing prayers – Nicene Creed, Morning Offering, Rosary
  • Stations of the Cross
  • Shadow Stations of the Cross
  • Community Outreach – visiting the elderly
  • Ten Commandments
  • Beatitudes
  • Circle of Grace

  • McGraw-Hill’s Everyday Mathematics
  • Multiplication/Division Facts
  • Daily math review
  • Problem Solving

  • Accelerated Reader Program
  • Daily language review: Grammar, Reading, Writing
  • Textbook: Reading Street
  • Weekly grammar concepts
  • Poetry and Figurative Language
  • Novel studies, including but not limited to: Because of Winn Dixie and Hatchet
  • Handwriting without Tears

  • Earth Materials
  • Rocks and Minerals
  • Electricity
  • Magnetism
  • STEM Activities

  • U.S. States and Regions
  • Idaho History

  • Garnet Digging
  • Cataldo Mission
  • Shadow Stations of the Cross
  • State Fair
  • Friday Art/STEM activities
  • Hatching chickens
  • Keyboarding without Tears

5th Grade

Fifth grade is a year of transition.  Students learn to be more independent in order to be ready for middle school.  There is an emphasis on student accountability and responsibility.  Fifth grade is a mix of group work and independent projects.  In addition, students learn to complete assignments using Google Classroom.

Religion
Mathematics
Language Arts
Science
Social Studies
Enrichment

  • Finding God textbook
  • Exploring the sacraments and how they keep us connected to Jesus
  • Liturgical seasonal worship
  • Importance of stewardship
  • Daily prayer opportunities
  • Practice how to model Christ’s love
  • Examine the media’s role in the Circle of Grace

  • Everyday Math textbook
  • Fractions
  • Decimals
  • Volume
  • Division
  • Graphing skills
  • Properties of two dimensional shapes
  • Problem solving skills

  • Reading Street textbook
  • Emphasis on nonfiction text structure and reading
  • Analyze elements of a story including theme, plot and characters
  • Writing narratives
  • Support opinion or fact with evidence
  • Keyboarding without Tears

  • McGraw-Hill Science textbook
  • Ecosystems
  • Human body systems – circulatory, respiratory, digestive
  • Atoms and molecules – introduction to chemistry
  • STEM activities

  • The United States textbook
  • Native Americans
  • European Explores
  • Early Colonies
  • Road to the American Revolution

  • Catholic Schools Week
  • Social studies, science, religion and reading-aligned field trips
  • Chance to lead all school prayer
  • Computer coding
  • Choir
  • Band
  • Volleyball, basketball, cross-country