Pre-Kindergarten 

            The Pre-Kindergarten program at St. Andrew’s exposes children to a variety of learning experiences and provides a positive setting for children in the early stages of learning. St. Andrew’s places an emphasis on self-motivation and creativity and on the development of positive attitudes toward school. 

            Language Arts: The program helps a child develop listening comprehension and phonological awareness; understand the everyday functions of print; provide motivation to read, print awareness; and letter knowledge. 

            Math: The Pre-K math program includes understanding the concept of number; recognizing patterns and relationships among objects; recognizing shapes and using words that indicate direction; measuring; and collecting, sorting, organizing and communicating information. 

            Science: Units are taught in the areas of health and science. Meaningful experience  increases the children’s understanding of the natural world, living things, cycles, change, and patterns. Hands-on activities and field trips enhance these studies throughout the year. 

Social Science: The social science curriculum helps foster skills in problem solving, decision-making, and working independently and with others in a classroom environment. 

            Physical education: Pre-Kindergarteners receive physical education instruction two times a week. In addition to the physical education instruction, pre-kindergarteners also have time for free play each day. The development of fine motor skills is enhanced by coloring, printing, cutting, pasting, and puzzle-working activities.

            Resource classes: Pre-Kindergarteners have exposure to technology through the use of computers in the classroom. The goal is for the children to become confident and independent users of the computer and of age-appropriate software. Technology is used to extend their knowledge and to enrich curriculum content and concepts. Music instruction is provided weekly. In addition to daily art activities in the classroom, Pre-Kindergarteners also have exposure to a variety of media in art class once a week. A library period is provided weekly. 

            Pre-Kindergarteners experience new situations and materials each day. In addition to learning activities, the children have center time, snack break, stories, free play, and activities to develop language skills and oral expression.

Kindergarten

            A child’s year in kindergarten is one of the most important years he or she will spend in school. St. Andrew’s strives to make this introduction to formal education a positive, exciting experience. Academic success is fostered along with the emotional, social, physical and creative success of every kindergartener. 

            Language Arts: Kindergarten at St. Andrew’s provides a comprehensive phonics-based reading and language arts program that correlates reading, handwriting, auditory skills and oral language skills. 

            Math: The mathematics program provides the basis for instruction. Opportunities are provided for practice in counting, addition, subtraction, problem solving, measurement, time, money notation, geometry and probability. 

            Science: Units are taught in the areas of health, science and social science. Field trips and special programs presented in the classroom enhance these studies throughout the year.

            Physical education: Kindergarteners receive physical education instruction three times a week. The kindergarten playground is equipped with safe and challenging age-appropriate equipment. In addition to the physical education instruction, kindergarteners also have ample time for free play each day. 

            Resource classes: Weekly visits to the well-equipped computer lab provide an avenue for students to learn basic computer concepts and operations. Music instruction is provided weekly. Abundant creative experience with a variety of media is provided by art classes once a week as well as by arts and crafts activities in the classroom. Parental involvement in special craft sessions and in Art in a Suitcase give the children additional opportunities to practice fine motor skills. Beginning conversational French is taught in kindergarten twice weekly, and a library period is provided each week. 

            Each day in kindergarten at St. Andrew’s is a busy day. In addition to the structured learning activities, time is provided for free play, for a casual snack break, for stories and for a special “sharing” time. 

First Grade

            In first grade, children continue to develop academically, socially, physically and emotionally. They are given many opportunities to learn in a positive, caring environment which fosters optimum growth for each child. 

            Language arts: First grade provides a comprehensive reading/language arts program which includes reading, listening, speaking, handwriting, spelling, and creative writing. Reading instruction includes a strong emphasis on phonics and comprehension skills. Language instruction introduces basic principles of grammar, parts of speech, sentence writing, paragraph writing, and letter writing. Spelling instruction reinforces phonics skills. Spelling tests are given weekly. Manuscript handwriting skills are practiced daily. 

            Math: The mathematics program is used to instruct the students in addition, subtraction, problem solving, measurement, telling time, money notation and geometry. 

            Science: Units are taught in the areas of health and science. The science program provides a study of the senses, living and non-living things, plants and animals and their homes, rocks and soil, air and water, weather, seasons, matter, energy, heat and light, and magnets. Hands-on activities and guest speakers enhance these studies throughout the year. 

            Social science: The curriculum develops an awareness of school, family, needs and wants, work, neighborhoods and communities, our country, and our country’s holidays. 

            Physical education: First graders receive weekly physical education instruction on the school’s playground and playing field. 

            Resource classes: Weekly visits to the well-equipped computer lab reinforce math, reading and language arts skills in a small-group setting. Music instruction is provided once a week. Weekly art classes provide abundant creative experience with a variety of media. Art is also incorporated into daily academic work. In addition, the curriculum includes two classes each week in conversational French and a scheduled library period during which the children check out books of interest and begin to develop library skills. 

            First graders experience a sound and varied academic day. In addition to the structured learning activities, time is provided for a morning snack, “sharing,” stories, individual academic activities and free play.

Second Grade

            The second grade offers students a variety of learning experiences which build upon skills and concepts learned in first grade. 

            Language arts: Language arts skills include reading, listening, speaking, creative writing, handwriting and dictionary usage. Reading instruction is given with emphasis on phonics and comprehension skills. Language instruction introduces basic principles of grammar, parts of speech, paragraph writing, story writing, and letter writing. Literature is incorporated into the classroom language experience. Spelling instruction reinforces phonics skills taught in reading through a weekly word list and test. Handwriting includes mastery of manuscript writing and an introduction to cursive writing. 

            Math: Math instruction includes mastery of addition and subtraction facts through 18, telling time, counting money, renaming with addition and subtraction, simple geometry, frac-tions, and beginning multiplication facts. Students are involved with various problem-solving activities, including constructing and reading graphs and charts. 

            Science: The science curriculum offers students experiences with hands-on activities, the scientific method and a wide range of experiments to investigate life science, physical science and earth science. Science skills include observing, comparing, sequencing, inferring, planning, making models, measuring, predicting, classifying, gathering information, drawing conclusions, and communicating. 

            Social science: The social studies curriculum develops an awareness of our communities and their relationship to our state, country and continent. Basic principles of geography, map skills, government and economics are introduced. Students use weekly student newspapers to enhance their awareness of events in our community, state and nation. 

            Physical education: Physical fitness is developed through a physical education class at school and a weekly trip to the YMCA. Students participate in a wide range of fitness activities including volleyball, soccer, running and kick ball. 

            Resource classes : Weekly visits to the well-equipped computer lab reinforce math, reading, language arts, science, and social studies skills in a small-group setting. Music instruction is given weekly. Once a week art classes provide abundant creative experience with a variety of media.  Conversational French is taught in second grade twice a week. In addition, children check out books of interest and develop library skills during a weekly library period.

Third Grade

            The third grade at St. Andrew’s is an extremely important year. It bridges the gap between primary grades and upper elementary grades. Students develop good work habits and study skills and are encouraged to work more independently. Great emphasis is placed on developing reading and math skills. 

            Language arts: Sentence construction, parts of speech, paragraph formation, dictionary and thesaurus usage, poetry, letter writing and research skills are covered. Emphasis is placed on creative writing. Opportunities are given for students to make oral presentations. The process of writing reports is also taught. Reading activities are planned to continue the development of a solid reading foundation. Emphasis is placed on reading comprehension skills, fluency, vocabulary, and writing skills. Weekly spelling lists are assigned along with exercises to reinforce the spelling instruction. Many of the spelling lessons are designed to complement English and reading lessons. 

            Math: The math curriculum concentrates on developing a command of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts. Emphasis is also placed on developing proficiency in solving math word problems, telling time in minute intervals, handling money and working with long division, fractions, decimals and geometry. 

            Science: The science program provides a study of animals, plants, matter, light, energy, sound, the earth, and weather. Field trips, hands-on experiments and guest speakers enhance the curriculum. 

            Social science: The curriculum develops an awareness of the formation of communities and the many facets of a metropolitan community. Instruction encourages students to read and utilize maps, globes and graphs. Visits to local historical locations provide opportunities to study early stages of community development. Current event presentations enhance the curriculum. 

            Health and physical education: The health curriculum involves instruction in family and social health, growth and development, nutrition, fitness, drugs, safety and first aid. Physical fitness is developed through a physical education class at school and a weekly trip to the YMCA. Students participate in a wide range of activities. 

            Resource classes: Students attend art, music, French, library and computer classes each week. Parental involvement in special crafts and in Art in a Suitcase presentations provide students with additional opportunities for creativity. Field trips, speakers and special programs enhance the science, social science and health curricula. 

Fourth Grade

            In fourth grade, organizational and problem-solving skills are emphasized. Students are encouraged to become more self-reliant, increase study skills and become responsible for all assignments. 

            Language arts: The English curriculum includes a thorough study of parts of speech, grammar mechanics, sentence structure, paragraph development, letter writing, poetry, study and reference skills, report construction, and creative writing. Vocabulary, comprehension and writing skills are emphasized in the reading program. Students explore various genres of literature. Trade books are used to enrich the curriculum. Spelling exercises focus on patterns to help the student identify and spell weekly spelling words. All students are encouraged to spell words correctly in daily assignments and to use the dictionary to look up the meanings of words. 

            Math: The math curriculum concentrates on reading and writing numbers, rounding numbers, multiplication, division, decimals, fractions, graphs, measurement, and geometric figures.  A variety of strategies are taught to help solve word problems. Students occasionally work in pairs to solve problems, and calculators are used along with other manipulatives to help learn new concepts. 

            Science: The science curriculum provides a study of plants, animals, matter and energy, electricity, magnetism, weather, the solar system, and machines. Students participate in hands-on activities and projects. Field trips and guest speakers enhance this curriculum. 

            Health and physical education: Students explore a variety of games and physical activities throughout the school year. Students explore the various systems of the body and share their knowledge through presentations with students in the lower grades. The P.E. teacher integrates math and history lessons into the P.E. curriculum. 

            Social science: The social science curriculum includes a study of map skills and introduces the geography, natural resources, and industry of the regions of Virginia. Virginia history is covered from the settlement of Jamestown through the twentieth century. Emphasis is placed on the American Revolution and the Civil War. Field trips are scheduled to take advantage of the rich historical resources in our community. 

            Resource classes: Conversational French, computer, music, art, physical education and library instruction are provided weekly.

Fifth Grade 

            Fifth grade is extremely important as the bridge between elementary school and middle school. Students further develop their academic strength, self-reliance and study skills. 

            Language arts: Vocabulary and comprehension are emphasized in reading. Students practice writing skills and interpret poetry. Book projects and discussions stress written as well as oral skills. English includes a thorough study of the eight parts of speech, grammar mechanics and creative writing. The school’s computers are used for creative writing assignments. Spelling groups are based on the student’s ability.

             Math: Fifth grade math concentrates on adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing whole numbers, decimals and fractions. The students work with geometric figures and shapes and learn to find perimeter, area, volume and circumference by using formulas. Protractors are used to measure angles. Word problems and reasoning are stressed, and calculators are used on some assignments. 

            Science: The science curriculum provides a study of matter, oceans, earth processes, sound, light, cells, and the human body. Emphasis is placed on student participation in experiments and projects.  

            Social science: American history is presented through a concepts and inquiry approach. The study of geography and current events is included. 

            Health and physical education: Students explore a variety of games and physical activities throughout the school year. Instruction includes the systems of the body, nutrition, and an introduction to basic first aid procedures. The P.E. teacher integrates math and history lessons into the P.E. curriculum.