St. Francis of Assis School provides education for elementary and middle school students.

Preschool & Kindergarten Classes Overview:

Religion: Kindergarten students will use We Believe by Sadlier. Students will learn about the gifts God has given us and that God is our Creator. Jesus came to show us God’s love and then He wants us to share His love.

Language Arts: Kindergarten students focus on basic reading and writing skills. Letter recognition, letter-sound recognition, and blending of sounds as well as recognizing and reading aloud sight words. Manuscript handwriting (printing) is learned at this level as well. Students learn to write simple sentences.  Spelling and grammar skills are developed along with reading skills.

Mathematics: Students learn basic skills in the areas of number sense (counting, number sequences), the vocabulary of addition and subtraction, measurement using Saxon. They learn how to collect data and record results, and begin problem-solving.

Social Studies: The focus in the primary grades is on the basic skills of social studies, using maps and globes, timelines and charts, and learning the basics of the elements of culture, tradition, and history of their family and community. Students are introduced to important figures, holidays, symbols, and celebrations of their state and of the United States. The curriculum used for Social Studies is Studies Weekly.

Science: Students use scientific methods to observe, collect, record, and analyze data. In physical science, they learn the structure and properties of matter, the characteristics of energy, and the interactions between matter and energy. Life Science includes the interdependence of living things and their environments. In Earth and Space Science, students understand the structure of the Earth, the solar system, and the universe.

Health and Well-Being: Kindergarten students begin the year learning how to identify and express basic emotions and to identify them in others.  They learn to co-regulate and self-regulate using breath and physical movements. Together we use puppets to explore relationships and ways to handle challenges.  Students engage in physical activity and play in each class.

St. Francis of Assis School provides education for elementary and middle school students.

Elementary School Classes Overview:

First – Second Grade

Religion:  This year, our combined first and second-grade classes will use We Believe by Sadlier. Students will focus on the sacraments of the new rite of initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, and Reconciliation. In addition, the Law of Love and the stories of Mary and the saints will be studied.

Language Arts: First and second-grade students continue working on phonics using the base skills learned in kindergarten. They continue to learn sight words and segment words by sounding them out.   They continue to write in manuscripts and write more complex sentences. During the second half of grade 2, students begin cursive handwriting. Spelling and grammar skills are developed along with reading skills.

Mathematics: Students continue number sense skills on their grade level, measuring, representing, and comparing data using Saxon. They learn multi-step problem-solving, use mental math skills, and do double-digit addition and subtraction. Memorization of addition and subtraction math facts is critical.

Social Studies: The focus in the primary grades is on the basic skills of social studies, using maps and globes, timelines and charts, and learning the basics of the elements of culture, tradition, and history of their family and community. Students are introduced to important figures, holidays, symbols, and celebrations of their state and of the United States. The curriculum used for Social Studies is Studies Weekly.

Science: In grades 1 and 2, content and skills are a continuation of Kindergarten learning. Students, in simple investigations, observe, collect, record, analyze, predict, interpret, and determine the reasonableness of data. In physical science, they learn the structure and properties of matter, the characteristics of energy, and the interactions between matter and energy. Life Science includes the interdependence of living things and their environments. In Earth and Space Science, students understand the structure of the Earth, the solar system, and the universe.

Health and Well-Being: This year, students continue to develop their skills in identifying emotions and self-regulating in challenging situations. They identify the five key areas of Well Being – Mental, Emotional, Physical, Social, and Academic and begin to discover how to seek support and become more resilient in all areas, identifying healthy behaviors that impact personal health and well-being.  Students engage in experiential activities and role play to explore topics such as nutrition, emotions, social dynamics, and more. 

Third – Fourth Grade

Religion: This year, our combined third and fourth grades will use We Believe by Sadlier. Students will first study Jesus as the Savior, Who gave us the gifts of conscience, and taught us how to forgive and to be reconciled to God and our neighbor. Next, students will learn the meaning of commandments 1 through 3. The Mass will be the next focus. Commandments 4 through 8 comprise Unit 3, and, finally, in Unit 4, students will study the Beatitudes and see Jesus as our model of holiness.

Language Arts: Students are taught at grade level. Grade 3 includes some phonics skills. In both grades 3 and 4, students read fiction and non-fiction, and develop vocabulary and spelling skills. Grammar is integrated into the reading and writing programs. Students write descriptive pieces, narratives, fantasy, and so on.

Mathematics: Students are taught at grade level using the Saxon curriculum. Grade 3 continues the basic skills of K-2. Grade 3 begins multiplication; grade 4 begins division. Memorization of math facts is critical. Number sense expands to thousands and millions. Concepts of area and perimeter are introduced and solidified. Other skill areas, such as measurement and problem-solving become more complex.

Social Studies: Third grade is the culmination of what has been covered in the primary grades, with special emphasis on the concept of community, especially in the realms of economics, civics, and democracy. Fourth grades include a specific focus on New Mexico. The curriculum used for Social Studies is Studies Weekly.

Science: Grades 3 & 4 continue to use the scientific method. In Physical Science, they work on the structure of matter and the characteristics of energy. In Life Science, they understand the interdependence of living things and their environments. In Earth and Space Science, students understand the structure of the Earth, the solar system, and the universe. All of these concepts are more complex than in the primary grades.

Health and Well Being: In Third and Fourth grade students grow their capacity to use effective verbal and nonverbal communication skills to enhance health, build emotional intelligence and resilience. They begin to follow the Well-Being Curriculum from Studies Weekly and gain more clarity about the areas of well-being where they feel strong and where they need more support.  Physical activities, art, and small group discussions are incorporated into the classes.

Fifth – Sixth Grade

Religion: This year, our combined fifth and sixth grades will use We Believe by Sadlier.

Students will study the development of the Covenant between God and His People in the Old Testament, then move on to the New Testament to see Jesus as the fulfillment of the Covenant. Jesus commissioned the Apostles to take His message to the world, which is still the mission of the Church today.

Language Arts: Students are taught at grade level.  In both grades 5 and 6, students read fiction and non-fiction, and develop vocabulary and spelling skills. Grammar is integrated into the reading and writing programs. Students write descriptive pieces, narratives, fantasy, and others.

Mathematics: Number sense expands to billions. Using the Saxon curriculum, Grade 5 Algebraic expressions are more advanced; volume is added to the perimeter and area. Students practice proficiency in the division and are able to use fractions and decimals fluently. Mental math includes all arithmetic operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.  In Grade 6, positive and negative numbers with basic operations are introduced, as are percentages. Measurement now includes formulas to calculate the size of geometric figures such as circles. Problem-solving for each grade becomes more complex.

Social Studies: This year, grades 5 and 6 will focus on the history of the land and people who will become known as the United States of America from prehistoric times to the end of the Civil War. The curriculum used for Social Studies is Studies Weekly.

Science: The content learned in grades K-4 is continued but with more complexity. Grades 5 & 6 study heredity, and develop a science project using the scientific method. The students also learn how to apply scientific knowledge to real-world situations. Added at this time is a requirement to write research reports.

Health and Well Being: In Fifth and Sixth grade students continue to follow the Well Being Curriculum from Studies Weekly.  They strengthen their communication and listening skills as well as their own emotional intelligence by working in small groups and doing one-on-one Well Being Goal check-ins.  Students learn how they learn to enhance Academic Well Being and learn how to reduce stress in all areas of Well Being.  This year each student completes an independent research project on the Health/ Well Being topic of their choice.  They also learn how to identify high-risk behaviors in themselves and others and seek support from trusted adults in their family, school and community.

Middle School Classes Overview:

Seventh – Eighth Grade

Religion: This year, our combined seventh and eighth grades will use We Believe by Sadlier. Students will learn how to live out the ten commandments and the Great Commandment of Love. Then, students will learn how the Church began and then continued through to the Second Vatican Council. Finally, students will study their own role as disciples, continuing in the traditions of the Church.

Language Arts: Students are taught at grade level.  In both grades 7 and 8, students read fiction and non-fiction and develop vocabulary and spelling skills. Grammar is integrated into the reading and writing programs. Students write descriptive pieces, narratives, fantasy, and others.

Mathematics: Grade 7 includes  exponents, powers, and roots; algebraic equations; graphing and interpretation; measurement systems and the Pythagorean theory; problem-solving; mental math. The curriculum used is Saxon. Grade 8 includes rational numbers; graphing and interpretation; slopes; problem-solving; mental math.

Social Studies: Grades 7 and 8 will focus on American History from the Reconstruction to the Modern Era.

Science: Grades 7 & 8 study heredity and develop a science project using the scientific method. The students also learn how to apply scientific knowledge to real-world situations. Students are required to write research reports, integrating technology into their work.

Health and Well-Being: In the Seventh and Eight grades, students supplement the Studies Weekly Well-Being curriculum with outside resources and guest speakers. Students set clear goals for Well Being in each of the five areas – Social, Emotional, Physical, Mental, and Academic – and follow up with one-on-one check-ins throughout the school year to chart their progress. Students continue to learn to seek support from those around them and to reduce stress on their own, enhancing all areas of Well Being. Students complete one to two independent research projects on Health topics of their choosing, sharing this knowledge with their peers.