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Curriculum
All people are sons and daughters of a loving God and share equally in God’s unconditional love. All of our formational programs for the students reflect this loving, inclusive experience. Our formational programs strive to be pro-active in the promotion of an appreciation for diversity and inclusiveness in language and behavior. This appreciation is demonstrated in the curriculum and is evidenced by our Mission/Philosophy Statements and by all of our school policies included in our Parent/Student Handbook. Organization St. Dominic School provides instruction for children in 3 Year, 4 Year and 5 Year Kindergarten through Grade 8. Kindergarten - K-3, K-4, K-5 Emphasis is placed on religious education and the development of reading and math readiness skills. However, the following subjects are also included in the Kindergarten child’s curriculum: social studies, science, music, art, physical education and computer education. Religion Program for All Students
Children's Liturgies and Sacrament Preparation Students in grades K-3 through 8 attend Liturgy weekly as a total School Community. The students, teachers, parish music minister and priests plan these Liturgies. Parents/guardians are always welcome to join in our children’s liturgies. Sacramental preparation is done in cooperation with the Director of Religious Education. Parents/guardians play an important role in this area. In Grade 2, the students receive First Reconciliation as well as their First Eucharist. For more information click on the link below. Primary - Grades 1, 2 & 3 Language Arts Language skills and concepts include reading, writing, spelling, penmanship and grammar. These skills are incorporated throughout the curriculum. Math The basic concepts of numeration, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division are introduced, reinforced and mastered in these grades. Science The objectives of this program are to encourage discovery and observation. There will be many hands-on lessons and experiments. Social Studies Instruction includes community life, geography, history, map skills and interpretation of graphs and charts.
Intermediate Unit - Grades 4, 5, & 6 Language Arts To continue to meet the diverse needs of our students, reading instruction is taught in grade level grouping with attention to individual needs. Writing, spelling and grammar continue to be taught at grade level. Trade books will be incorporated across our curriculum. Math Reinforcement of basic skills as well as application of problem solving skills related to daily usage. Science Emphasis on hands-on activities that reinforce the basic principles in science Social Studies The focus is on the expansion and development of the United States. In grade 4, there is a special emphasis on the State of Wisconsin.
Junior High - Grades 7 & 8 Instruction in the junior high is departmentalized. Each teacher is responsible for his/her area of expertise. Academic core areas are Science, Math, Literature, Social Studies, Religion, English and Spanish.
Additional Curricular Areas Reading Specialist & Academic Support Specialist St. Dominic School has a Reading Specialist to work with students in grades 1 through 3. Additionally, our Academic Support teacher provides diagnostic testing and support for all grades and subject areas. Language - Spanish Students in Grades 1-8 have formal instruction by a certified teacher in
Spanish. Spanish curriculum will involve skill development, speaking with
fluency and cultural awareness. Art The homeroom teachers teach Art, with periodic supplementation by a part-time Art Instructor. Art Works Program in Grades K-5 thru 8 is a sequential curriculum of skill development with age appropriate activities. Different artistic styles with appropriate music are introduced. Many projects are also of a seasonal nature or integrated with other subject areas in the Grade Curriculum. Art Enrichment programs are provided when possible. Music Music is provided twice a week by the music specialist for children in Kindergarten through grade 5 and once a week for students in grades 6, 7 and 8. Music is an important part of our school liturgies. The parish music minister directs the Youth Choir, which includes students in grades 3 to 6. A music minister also assists our students and teachers in planning liturgies. 6th, 7th and 8th graders have the option of joining a Jr. High Choir. 4th and 5th grade students may join the extra-curricular choir. These choirs meet after school. Children in grades 4 through 8 who are interested may join in our school band. Private band lessons are held during the school day. Students are responsible for work missed during these class periods. Band students from St. Dominic join with Band students from St. John Vianney in concerts held periodically during the school year. Children in grades first through eighth may also join the String Program. Private violin lessons are held during the school day with group lessons after school. Physical Education A physical education specialist provides Physical Education at least twice a week. Students will not be excused from physical education classes unless they present a doctor’s excuse or a parental/guardian excuse signed by the principal. Tennis shoes are required for participation. Library Library is available to students throughout the school day for research and reference. It is staffed by a certified teacher who instructs the students in library skills, shares the joy of oral reading with younger students, handles circulation of books and organizes the volunteers who assist in the Library. Computers & Telecommunications SMART Boards at St. Dominic School: View the slideshow... One of the goals at St. Dominic School is to create technologically literate students so that they can communicate effectively and creatively as they move into higher education. The school computer program is designed to develop and refine the student’s technological skills and serves to support the school curriculum in order to enhance overall student development. To accomplish this goal, St. Dominic School has developed and supports a staffed computer lab that is equipped with 30 Windows XP desktop personal computers with flat screen monitors, color laser printer and current education and Microsoft computer applications. Students from K-5 through Grade 8 have weekly computer lab class time, with additional training as their curriculum dictates. The classroom teacher is fully participative during all computer lab sessions, along with the school’s computer support staff person. Each classroom is also equipped with 3 student desk top computers along with an overhead monitor in that is connected to the teacher computer for class use by students and teacher presentations or topic research. The software selected for the students at St. Dominics is chosen to integrate computer technology with their existing curriculum. Each software application is evaluated in order to assist the student to obtain needed information, analyze and create documents that will be used for personal or group projects, and will be helpful in presenting clear and concise reports. SMART Boards, interactive white boards, are being introduced as funds allow. As of January 2008, we have one portable unit as well as one permanently installed in the computer lab. All student software, as well as Office 2007, integrates with the Boards. Here are a few ways that St. Dominic students use the computer and application software:
Each computer station in ST. Dominic’s computer lab has a headset jack and an attached microphone so that the student can benefit from the audio that accompanies much of the software. The microphone allows the student to interact with the application, such as during their Spanish lesson or to record their voice into a project they are creating, such as a Power Point presentation or a project outline using Inspiration. All the computers throughout the school are connected to a school network, protected from external intrusion. High-speed Internet access is available to all students with appropriate permission from the parents. All internet/web use is monitored by the teacher and/or the computer support person that is in the lab or classroom. Any person wishing to use the school’s/parish’s computer and/or telecommunications equipment is to sign an Acceptable User Policy before being permitted to use such equipment. This policy will be given to each family & student at the beginning of the school year.
Academic Expectations Whenever school personnel and administration suspect a student may have exceptional educational needs, the parents/guardians are contacted immediately. After thorough discussion of the student’s needs, a referral for testing is made with either the St. Dominic Supportive Consultant or the local Public School District within which the parents/guardians reside. If the child requires more than St. Dominic can provide, then a public school referral or other support agency may be recommended. Each student will be evaluated on a yearly basis.
Standardized Testing Each spring, students in grades 3, 5 and 7 take the Iowa ITBS Achievements Test and Educational Ability Series. Vacations, dental and doctor appointments during these two weeks is highly discouraged, since the tests have to be administered by a teacher in a standardized setting. Therefore, any student missing one or more of these tests due to vacations, routine dental and/or doctor appointments will not be able to make up the missed test(s). His/her report will be incomplete. If a student misses one or more of these tests due to illness or some other emergency, the teacher will arrange for a time to make up that particular test(s). The Archdiocese of Milwaukee Religion assessment is administered to all students in Grades 3, 5 and 7 at the scheduled March Iowa Testing time. The Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Examination is also administered to students in 8th Grade.
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