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.

Welcome to 2nd grade where love of learning is encouraged and developed.  Our school year will be a journey 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, discover 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 with more emphasis on content and acquiring skills to become independent learners. Multiple reading comprehension strategies are taught, along with a deepening understanding of the structure and meaning of words.  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 towards 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!

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 the 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.

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 pre-school 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.

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.