Primary Grades K-2
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St. Mark Catholic School strives to meet the individual needs of each child.
In the primary grade classrooms you will see student centered learning that meets the developmental needs of each child. This includes a strong focus on reading, writing, and math.
Children participate in hands-on, motor-rich activities that stimulate and enhance the learning environment. We strive to build strong foundational learning skills through a structured environment that will help students individually as they grow and mature.
Our primary grade classrooms are self-contained, and we have two full time classroom aides that assist in the primary classrooms.
Opportunity to learn
- Students are active participants in their learning.
- Benchmark testing ensures student progress and development.
- Strong core curriculum
- Technology rich classrooms
- Small student/teacher ratio allows teacher to meet individual student needs.
- Enhanced curriculum including Spanish, Art, Computer, PE, Music and library skills.
Opportunity to grow
- Manners and etiquette are taught and expected.
- A positive behavior program is used throughout the elementary grades, including specialty classes; that encourages positive choices. Parents see a daily behavior report that keeps them informed of their child’s behavior.
- Elementary teachers work together to individualize and differentiate lessons to meet the needs of each student.
Opportunity to Serve
- Monthly service opportunities organized by the school.
- Upper grade/Elementary buddy classes in which older students help younger students with various activities.
- Classroom jobs and responsibilities
| Kindergarten Highlights |
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Language Arts (Reading, Phonics, Spelling) Our current reading series incorporates a large amount of decoding practice (blending letter sounds), along with sight word activities to make that step from “pre-reading” to “reading” an exciting process in Kindergarten. Learning each of the consonant letter sounds, followed by the short and long vowel sounds, is done in a variety of ways: traditional paper and pen skills, singing, poems, and stories. |
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Math We use many hands-on activities to conquer each concept in math class, ranging from games that teach counting skills to beads and counters (and even M&M’s and cereal) to learn graphing skills. Learning to count to 100 by twos, fives, and tens by the 100th day of school is rewarded with a class celebration! |
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Religion The Kindergarten class attends the all-school Masses each week, and will join the primary class Masses during the second semester. In addition to exploring all of the gifts that God has given us with our five senses, the students are also introduced to the life of Jesus. We learn about the unending love of Christ and share ways to show love to one another. |
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Social Studies/Science Using theme units each month, the students learn about community events and special holidays. We also participate in hands-on experiments. |
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Peer Interaction We meet monthly with our sixth grade buddy class to do service projects, play games, and read together. They also sit with us in Mass. |