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St. Michael's education is designed to assist students in developing
reflective, creative, and disciplined approaches to learning. In
addition, the curriculum is designed to foster positive self-concepts
that help students to grow into caring, competent and confident
young adults. This is achieved by a dynamic teaching staff incorporating
a variety of methodologies in a climate of high expectation with
attention to the needs of the individual learner. The curriculum
builds a foundation for future academic success and creates coherence
and connectedness to everyday life-experiences through interdisciplinary,
integrated and cross-curricular approaches to learning.
The Language Arts curriculum is in many ways the centerpiece of
our entire program. The curriculum is designed to create students
who can read, write and speak articulately, thoughtfully and confidently.
Emphasis is placed on the acquisition of grammar skills with instruction
at each grade level. Students are exposed to a variety of age-appropriate
literature and writing genres. Students are encouraged to speak
publicly in oral presentations in the classrooms, at assemblies,
and at the weekly Masses. The students participate in an annual
Declamation Day for students in grades seven and eight.
The Social Science curriculum complements the Language Arts program
by challenging students to think critically and carefully about
their society and the world that surrounds them. Students are encouraged
to explore their role as citizens in society. In grades kindergarten
through three, students focus on learning about themselves, their
families, their neighborhood, church, school, and communities; in
fourth grade students study US regions; in 5th grade students study
US History through the Civil War. In 6th grade students begin a
two-year course study on World History, and in 8th grade students
return to a study of US History, post Civil War. Highlights of the
curriculum are trips to Crow Canyon Archeological Site in Colorado
and an eighth grade trip to Washington, D.C.
The mathematics program encourages students to be disciplined, logical
thinkers. Age- appropriate mathematical skills and principles are
studied daily at each level with an emphasis on drill and concept
building. Students with the necessary aptitude can take the equivalent
of a high school algebra course their eighth grade year.
The science curriculum is designed to make students curious
and knowledgeable about the world of nature. In grades one through
five, students study units on life, physical, and earth sciences.
Health units are introduced each year as well. In sixth grade students
take life science, in seventh they study physical science and in
eighth they focus on earth science. Lab units are designed to foster
an understanding of the scientific method and reasoning. Students
in grades 4,6, and 8 participate in the statewide science fair competition.
December 1998 saw the dedication of a
new addition to the St. Michael's campus: our wetlands, outdoor
education center. This education center will allow the integration
of a hands-on, direct observational approach to our science curriculum
which was previously available only on an in-classroom scale. Students
will be able to observe and record the changes in the outdoor space
as it evolves, learning about the desert's flora and fauna on a
first-hand basis. In addition to the wetlands, each grade level
will have access to a garden plot and future greenhouse.
Both music and art are taught by specialists to all students.
The fine arts building exemplifies our commitment to the fine arts.
The visual arts program provides students with the basic skills
necessary to grow in aesthetic awareness, critical thinking, knowledge
of art past and present, and creative potential. The music curriculum
is designed to foster a love and appreciation for music theory and
performance. Using guitars, unpitched percussion instruments and
their voices, students explore and perform many different types
of music appropriate for their age. Students display their art in
May at the Art Expo and perform many different types of music at
the annual St. Michael's Fine Arts Night in May and at the Holiday
Concert in December.
The program is designed to enhance each child's physical,
social and emotional growth and development. Sportsmanship, fair
play, teamwork, cooperation, respect and competition are stressed.
In the lower school, body awareness, space, force, blow, time and
direction are employed in the activities chosen. In the upper school,
students begin to study specialized skills and rules through instruction,
written quizzes, practice and participation. Students in grades
four through eight are required to wear assigned physical education
uniforms. Students in grades five through eight are encouraged to
participate in an after school sport. We compete against other private
schools in the Tucson Independent Athletic League. Girls can choose
to participate in volleyball, basketball, softball, coed soccer,
coed flag football, and track and field. Boys can choose to participate
in basketball, coed soccer, coed flag football, and track and field.
Latin is required of all seventh and eighth grade students. The
Latin curriculum not only builds reading, writing, and listening
skills in Latin but also develops general language acquisition skills.
Students are also presented a common core of classical translations
extending from Homer's Greece to the world of Augustus. In addition,
students in grades four through eight are instructed two or three
times weekly in contemporary conversational Spanish. The course
is designed to build confidence in communicating in a foreign language,
increase overall language skills and awareness, and foster an appreciation
of Hispanic culture. Students in grades one through three also receive
once a week instruction in contemporary conversational Spanish.
As a member of the National Association of Episcopal Schools, St.
Michael's is proud of its connection with the Episcopal Church.
It welcomes students of all faiths and does not seek to convert
them, but rather to nurture them in a Christian community and educate
them about the Judeo-Christian ethic. In short, we feel it is important
that we seek spiritual growth just as we seek academic and physical
growth in our curriculum. All students attend a brief (twenty-five
minute) chapel three days a week. A varied chapel format is followed,
including liturgical prayer, hymns, and student or faculty presentations.
Students of grades one through eight also attend a weekly Mass.
Formal religious instruction is taught by a specialist one day a
week in grades four through eight. In grades 4 & 5 lessons are
based on the scripture readings used at the school's weekly celebration
of Mass. A variety of activities are used to illuminate the readings
and how they can apply to individual lives and beliefs. In the middle
school, students begin a more formal introduction to the framework
of Judeo-Christian religious belief as well as the exploration of
developing a personal moral code through study of specific ethical
issues.
St. Michael's curriculum for computer education for grades two through
eight promotes student learning and supports balanced literacy.
Students focus on using a computer as a tool for developing strategies
that will support and enhance their curriculum studies and serve
as an extension of their current areas of study. They use educationally
approved software for acceleration of core curriculum level as well
as review of basic required skills. Students are instructed in what
is available on the Internet and what we consider acceptable use.
Resource, discovery and communication skills are encouraged with
the use of Internet projects. Students gain additional problem solving
strategies that enhance learning capabilities. We introduce and
encourage proper keyboarding skills. We explore research strategies,
browsing, searching techniques, and setting bookmarks. Students
access email as a means of assisting in communication. In addition,
we have laptop computers available for science and special classroom
projects.
Our academic curriculum is enhanced by a number of experiential
activities. We schedule a number of annual and one-time events.
Traditional events include a St. Nicholas Day, Mardis Gras Festival,
Las Posadas and a Lessons and Carols Advent Service. More academically
oriented programs such as Spelling and Geography Bees as well as
Declamation Day provide positive competitive experience. Local musicians,
artists, storytellers and dancers are also invited for assemblies.
Field trips into the community which make use of a variety of local
resources including the University of Arizona, local museums, and
natural settings are also encouraged. The field trip experience
culminates in the eighth grade where students make an annual seven
day trip to Washington, D.C. Eighth grade students are also required
to complete an eight hour community service project. The Friends
of St. Michael's and the Student Council also provide a number of
activities for students and their parents during the year. |
