Sacred Heart Schools Viewbook (2020-21) | Page 11

THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES IN PRIMARY SCHOOL Nothing brings more joy than knowing our Primary School students in senior kindergarten and 1st and 2nd grades feel safe, loved, and at home on our SK-8 campus while continuing to learn about the world. We focus on instilling confidence and a sense of belonging in these early years at Sacred Heart. The coed senior kindergarten lays the groundwork for the Schools’ co-institutional model, allowing boys and girls to get to know one another. In 1st grade, children break into single-gender classrooms, allowing teachers to tailor the learning in their classes to the needs of each student. Early learning cannot be rushed. We also know that children learn in different ways. That’s why our lead teachers, teaching assistants, enrichment coordinator, reading support specialists and special area teachers are attuned to each child’s needs and abilities. Faculty and staff work to know each child individually and to provide the kind of daily encouragement that allows all children to flourish. Kindness, respect and responsibility are qualities we actively seek to cultivate in our students. In SK-2, children explore a variety of topics through reading and writing. They practice problem-solving strategies and work on explaining their mathematical thinking. Students also develop science skills as they question, observe and analyze phenomena they experience in the natural world. French is introduced and students continue building their Spanish vocabulary through games, projects and role-playing. They express themselves creatively through the visual and performing arts. Our inquiry-based approach encourages curiosity, stimulates thinking, and helps to instill in each child a sense of self-confidence. 11