Curriculum

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION STATEMENT

As a Catholic school, the School of the Madeleine is unique because it is a religious community within an academic one. As a religious community, we strive to live the Gospel message of Jesus by providing significant religious activities for our students. Formal religious education is part of our curriculum. Religious experience and education is woven throughout the entire Madeleine experience.

The school day begins with Morning Prayer, an essential start to the day. Students are involved in providing leadership at Sunday Family Liturgies, school liturgies, and prayer services. Our parish priests are involved with planning Mass and prayer with the children and teachers. The parish priests provide the Sacrament of Reconciliation twice yearly for students in grades 3-8. Those children who are Catholic have the opportunity to prepare for first Reconciliation and Eucharist. Our service learning program helps students understand that it is important to serve as Jesus did. We believe that it is the integration of religious community and the academic commitment to excellence that will enable our children to live happy and healthy lives of faith.

Catholic children receive the sacraments of first Reconciliation and Eucharist in the second grade. The preparation for these sacraments is done in conjunction with the parish. Parents of students enrolled in the sacramental program are expected to participate in the parent-faith formation segment of the sacramental preparation. Older students who have not received these sacraments are prepared on an individual basis by our Director of Religious Education.

Library: The library is staffed by a librarian and parent volunteers. Students visit the library and check out books weekly. A wide variety of fiction and non-fiction books

Educational Media: CTN (Catholic Teacher Resources) is used for a range of educational applications, including Reading A-Z, BrainPOP, Mathletics, Code.org. These resources permit individualized, adaptable learning experiences, and provide teachers with insightful data and information regarding student learning and progress.

Retreats: Grades fifth through eighth participate in overnight retreats fall to devlop community, trust, and spirituality among the class. The 8th grade attends a closing retreat in the spring to reflect on the class’ years together and to prepare for the transition to high school. These are opportunities to explore issues of God, self, and relationships in another context and environment.

Caritas Creek Environmental Education Program: The 7th grade participates in a weeklong environmental education program. They spend Monday through Friday at a camp with a trained staff and the 7th grade teacher. This experience helps them appreciate and value our natural environment and community. The families are responsible for the cost of this experience.

Christmas Program: scheduled each year and prepared by the music teacher with the assistance of the classroom teachers.

MAD Band: Starting in 4th grade, students may participate in an after-school band program. Weekly music lessons (individual and group) are offered for the following instruments: trumpet, saxophone (alto and tenor), flute, clarinet, trombone, euphonium and drums. Parents pay for lessons; some scholarships are available. Loaner instruments are available to first-time Band members. The MAD Band has group (Advanced, Intermediate, and Beginning) rehearsals on Wednesdays. These rehearsals are completely underwritten by the Parents’ Association.

EdTech: The school is a 1-1 iPad school. Each student is provided an individual, school-managed iPad to supplement the learning experience. The Tech Center provides each student with access to resources for 3-D printing, coding, robotics and graphic design. School of the Madeleine students use technology with ease, know common uses of technology in daily life, demonstrate how technology has personally affected their lives, and exhibit responsible use of technology with ethical behavior and netiquette. Technology projects provide additional opportunities to collaborate with other students.

HOMEWORK

Homework is a regular part of the instructional program. The amount of homework varies, depending upon the grade level of the student. The goals of homework assignments include:

• development of personal responsibility for completing assigned tasks;
• reinforcement of the idea that learning continues at home;
• reinforcement and enhancement of the curriculum;
• development of good study habits.

Each teacher provides specific information regarding homework expectations at the beginning of the school year. Homework assignments generally are given Monday through Thursday. Weekend homework may include a long-term assignment or make-up of overdue work. Parent’s signature may be required for homework agendas.

STANDARDIZED TESTING

School of the Madeleine follows the Diocesan standardized testing program. The STAR Renaissance test is administered digitally once per trimester. The results of these tests are available to parents with report cards. The scores are used by teachers as a diagnostic tool to more effectively adapt the academic program to the strength and needs of the current class.