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Our day with God
Our day begins and ends in prayer. We seek to do God's will and so we begin and end our day with a conversation with Father so He might guide is in all that we do. We know that God loves us, but His plan for us is often difficult to discern, so we seek the quiet moments of prayer to listen intently and receive His grace.
Throughout the day, we are engaged in the job of becoming educated so that we might better prepare ourselves to fulfill God's plan for us. We firmly believe that God created our world and therefore it is knowable and discoverable. Education trains our minds to observe, consider, ponder, reflect, create, connect, communicate, and share the incredible gifts that God has bestowed upon us.
Therefore, we set high expectations for our students because they are God's children and how can we not do everything possible to help them reach their full potential? To this end, we are continuously evaluating and improving our academic programs. Below is a glimpse of our three different levels: Pre-K, Elementary School, and Middle School. -
Pre-K 3 & Pre-K 4
Our licensed Pre-K 3 and Pre-K 4 programs offer children a structured, dynamic learning environment focused on four core areas:
- Academic Learning
- Socialization
- Physical Coordination
- Imaginative Play
Academically, children progress at different paces, but our differentiated program prepares your child for Kindergarten according to their individualized needs. Children learn their letters, numbers, sounds, colors, shapes, etc., through a variety of teaching strategies that appeal to multiple learning styles. Whether your child is a visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learner, our teachers differentiate their lessons to maximize your child's academic learning.
Socially, your child will learn how to play well with others. Our program helps children move from parallel play to cooperative play, allowing them to build the communication skills necessary to share, resolve conflicts peacefully, manage disappointment, and collobarate to solve challenges. Each Pre-K classroom is designed around "centers" that expose children to new learning opportunities in small groups.
Physically, your child is developing both gross and fine motor skills. In the classroom, children hone fine motor skills playing with a variety of toys that strengthen little fingers and improve coordination. Outside the classroom, children run, jump, skip, climb, throw, and catch, building their gross motor skills, hand/eye coordination, and muscle strength.
Imaginative play not only fuels creativity, but it also gives your child opportunities to express him or herself. This is a critically important part of our program as future critical thinking skills and problem-solving skills necessary later in life begin developing during these formative years through unstructured imaginative play. Our program includes separate music and art instruction so that your child's creativity can flourish and expand in bright new ways. -
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Kindergarten - Grade 5
Our K-5 program creates the strongest foundation possible for student learning by first setting high expectations and then leveraging effective instructional strategies, curriculum, and assessments to help students achieve and exceed those expectations.
Reading and math are at the base of this foundation. Our goal is to have 100% of our students reading and performing math at or above grade level. While 20% or fewer of students in urban public schools are reaching this benchmark, 50-75% of BSS students reach this benchmark by January. Through a combination of phonics-based reading programs, small group tutoring, adaptive learning software, and an incredible 8-1 student to teacher ratio, we are pushing ever closer to that 100% goal before the end of the school year.
K-5 students also receive a robust education in science, performing hands-on lab experiments that develop scientific problem-solving skills. Students develop a more complex understanding of their world by studying the four strands of Life and Living Things, The Material World, Earth and Beyond, and Energy and Change.
Social Studies units cover a wide range of time periods and topics. From Ancient Civilizations to Modern American History, students learn about the growth and development of humankind in order to better understand the larger threads of human history, the commonalities that tie us together.
Additionally, elementary students study art, music, and physical education each week. Once a week, they have time to stretch out in our newly-renovated library and just enjoy a good book.
The extensive study of Christ then puts everything else into perspective, helping students to grow closer with Jesus and follow his Great Commandment: love God and love others. This is the true benefit of a Catholic education. Our students learn that God is love and that our morals and ethics have their roots in God's love and therefore spring from the Divine. Love, empathy, compassion -- these are what guide us in our thoughts and behaviors towards others. -
Middle School
Middle school students enjoy the benefits of a full team of teachers, each one a growing expert in a single subject. Five teachers on the team -- math, ELA, science, social studies, and religion -- means more focused attention on continuous curriculum development, cross-curricular collaboration, and student learning growth. With more teachers to rely on, learn from, and connect with, students increase their rate of success. This is why our 8th graders graduate and move on to the best private high schools in Rhode Island.
Our middle school curriculum leverages project-based learning strategies that develop students' critical thinking skills as they wrangle with real-world problems. This student-centered approach focuses not only on skill development and content mastery, but also on collaboration, problem-solving, and grit.
In ELA, students learn to be expert readers in both literature and non-fiction, honing their comprehension skills. They conduct literary analysis, which improves their critical thinking skills. They learn argumentation skills that will benefit them throughout life, honing those skills in their writing, presentations, and class discussions.
In science, students develop hypotheses, conduct experiments to gather data in the form of observations, measurements, and reactions, and draw conclusions based on that data. They conduct these experiments in order to develop a deeper, clearer understanding of our world.
In math, students not only learn problem-solving, but they also develop a mathematical mindset steeped in logical thinking. It is this mindset that gives them an edge moving forward not only with math but also with engineering and technology.
In social studies, students explore the patterns of history to better understand both the mistakes and the successes that define our civilization. As historians, they learn to distinguish credible sources of information from discredible ones. They ask the tough questions of history in order to become informed citizens.
In religion, students study the teachings of Jesus so they can be a light unto the world. By developing a personal relationship with Jesus, students come to know Love and Peace. They learn to uphold the Great Commandment: Love God and love thy neighbor.
In addition to our core classes, we offer several specialty courses:- Entrepreneurship: This project-based class teaches students how to start and run their own businesses -- and then they do it! On average, each student earns $350 in their business. They then learn how to save, reinvest, and help others. These are lifelong skills.
- Music: Our developing music program teaches kids the fundamentals of music appreciation and understanding. Students learn music theory and learn to play multiple instruments. Preparation for our Christmas and Spring concerts gives students an opportunity to perform in front of an audience.
- Art: The art program provides students with an ever-developing experience with a variety of art forms, helping all students develop basic skills and an advanced appreciation of art, while helping students interested or talented in art to develop their skills further.
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Middle School 1-t0-1 Chromebook Program
Middle School students receive a Chromebook, charger, and protective sleave that they become responsible for until they graduate. Parents pay a $200 deposit that will be returned to them when the Chromebook is returned in working condition. Parents may submit their $200 deposit to the office in either check, money order, or cash. Or parents may submit their $200 deposit online below via credit card or ACH.
