Learning Links for School and Home
Educational Games - many subjects https://www.sheppardsoftware.com/
www.poptech4kids.com
United States and capitals https//www.sheppardsoftware.com/web_games.htm
Click on the link to your student's grade level to access your summer reading assignments.
At Blessed Sacrament School, a part of our mission is to incorporate religion into all subjects and into all aspects of our activities. We aim to make children aware of God’s unending love for them in many ways. We encourage them to share that love with others and to live out Christ’s teachings in their everyday lives. This goal is accomplished in many ways. Formal religious education occurs in daily religion class. The day begins with a prayer and a scripture reading that the principal reads over the intercom system. Monthly attendance at a school mass as well as attendance at holy day masses create a close connection between the church and school.
Throughout the day opportunities to connect formal religious learning with everyday events present themselves. Students witness a faith community in action when they observe the faculty interaction. Our faith touches every subject we teach. Students are encouraged to treat others with respect and to think of ways to settle their differences that are in keeping with the teachings of Jesus.
The Curriculum is aligned to the Diocese of Providence, and Diocese of Hartford, CT.'s curriculum standards. The Standards will help prepare students with readiness skills to be successful in college and career.
The Diocesan Standards, are the framework upon which our ELA curriculum is built. To build that foundation in kindergarten through grade 5, we use a combination of curriculum guides with a strong contribution of teacher expertise. In the elementary grades, teachers use Houghton Mifflin Harcourt's Into Reading reading and writing series, Renaissance's Accelerated Reader program, a selection of novels and non-fiction texts, and some of the internet resources listed above as tools to build a strong foundation in reading and writing. Each unit in Into Reading includes customizable instruction in reading comprehension skills and strategies. Through teacher modeling and guided, collaborative, and independent practice, students become independent thinkers who employ a variety of skills and strategies to help them make meaning as they read.
To further student development in reading comprehension, our elementary teachers also utilize the Renaissance Accelerated Reader 360 (AR360) Program. Accelerated Reader is a software program that progress monitors each student's comprehension achievement in their zone of proximal development. It is widely agreed among educational experts that it is vitally important every student receives appropriate, challenging text when learning to read. AR360 includes hundreds of leveled, high-interest nonfiction articles that students read on a computer or tablet. The software will identify the skills each student, or group, is ready to learn next and suggest AR 360 articles for instruction and practice with those skills. Teachers can browse by grade level, readability level, or topic. In all cases, teachers select the content that’s right for their students and your student's instructional goals. Because every student is reading challenging, but not frustrating material, the great majority of Blessed Sacrament students are achieving above grade level expectations.
The Middle School curriculum includes small group instruction (maximum of 15 students: 1 teacher) in Literature and Creative Writing, and whole class direct vocabulary instruction.
Middle school faculty uses the Sadlier Grammar for Writing series in grade 6, and Sadlier's Writing Workshop series in grades 7 & 8. Grade 6 grammar lessons include units in Composition, and Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics; which includes lessons on parts of speech, subject-verb agreement, punctuation and writing effective paragraphs. The 7th and 8th grade also concentrate on grammar, but the Writing Workshop series requires students write 4 essays: a compare-contrast, a personal narrative, a persuasive essay, and a research paper.
The Middle School Literature program uses Prentice Hall's Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes series and includes work in fiction and non-fiction short stories, poetry, biographies and autobiographies. Our faculty and students also select at least 4 books that classes read collectively during the school year.
All middle school students receive direct vocabulary instruction in Sadlier's Vocabulary Workshop series. Each unit consists of 20 new vocabulary words that are frequently seen on S.A.T. exams. Students study usage in context, synonyms, antonyms, spelling, and pronunciation.
All students are given a universal screen (STAR 360) in the fall, which shows where each child is developmentally in the area of ELA. Teachers can then plan their instruction to meet the needs of all students. They are able to do this by employing differentiated instruction, small group instruction, as well as leveled readers, which are part of The Reading Street and the Sadlier Series.
Blessed Sacrament is fortunate to have Title 1 tutors and volunteer resource teachers who are available to work with at-risk students.
We are confident that upon completion of the ELA program, we create enthusiastic, life-long readers and learners.
The objective of the Blessed Sacrament School mathematics program is to enable the students to develop and to apply mathematical skills currently and in future endeavors. The foundation is built upon the Common Core State Standards. THe resources used to built this foundation is the Envision Math Program(aligned to the Common Core) as well as severasl internet programs,They will develop computational, conceptual and problem solving skills and be able to apply mathematical terminology and technology in their everyday lives now, in high school and beyond.
Each math student is given a universal screen to determine where they are in terms of computation and application of skills. Math groups have a ratio of 1 teacher to 15 students. The teachers employ differentiated instruction, small group interactive activities, online math programs, and the use of Title 1 tutors.
Within the Christian school environment, students are encouraged to appreciate the value of mathematical skills and concepts in their lifelong journeys. Students are challenged to think logically and become competent problem solvers who will eventually apply these skills to future endeavors. Individual differences are recognized and an attempt is made to reach all students at their level of competency.
The main purpose of the science program at Blessed Sacrament School is to give students a basic understanding of the terms and concepts of earth, physical and life science; to nurture students’ curiosity about the natural world; and, to provide them with the methodology of science. In this way, our underlying objective is to enhance and to develop students’ appreciation of the world God has given us.
The science program is geared towards developing in students the specific skills they need to become lifelong learners, including thinking and research skills. It is our goal to develop in students the skills needed to make ethical decisions regarding science issues that are based on our Catholic values and are consistent with the teachings of the Catholic Church.
The focus in the grade 7 & 8 social studies curriculum is to build the students' awareness of the history of the United States and the principles that guide our government. Teachers create a variety of academically integrated activities focused on major events from Columbian times to modern history. Grade 7 focuses on events up to and including the Civil War and Grade 8 studies U.S. post-Civil War history. Integrated activities include field trips, role-playing, debate, literature readings, primary source analysis, instruction on research techniques and film or documentary study. Additionally, middle school students at Blessed Sacrament study a variety of civics curriculum through the We the People program. This civics program involves intense instruction on the role of elected leaders and provides real-world opportunity for students to engage with our government through Project Citizen and a mock congressional hearing.
The main purposes and objectives of the study of Spanish are to empower students with strong skills in order to appreciate the many cultures of Spanish-speaking countries and communities and to adequately express and understand the spoken and written Spanish language by having completed the initial steps toward fluency.
the end of eighth grade, a student will:
•be familiar with the major Spanish holidays and celebrations.
•know the Spanish-speaking countries of the world.
•be able to carry on a basic conversation in Spanish.
•be able to read simple Spanish essays/texts.
ART
Our visual arts program allows the students to gain practical experience working with various art projects. Students will acquire an understanding of Art History through discussions and visual aids. The students will develop a sense of awareness of their surroundings and the world in which they live.
MUSIC
The purpose of the Music education program is to promote self-esteem, spiritual awareness, and socio-emotional growth through the development of vocal and instrumental skills, knowledge of music history and theory, and a general appreciation and respect for different forms of music.
A highlight of the school year is the annual Christmas Concert where students in grades K-8 showcase their talents.