Below you will find a description of how the Archdiocese of Baltimore's curriculum is implemented here at St. Agnes.  For a link to the complete Archdiocese of Baltimore's course of study click here.

Nursery and Pre-School

Religion
Activity Centers - Learning Projects
Art
Circle-Directed Learning
Outside Play
Literature
Weekly Reader
Gross Motor Skills
Music
Cleanup

Our preschool program is grounded in a loving, nurturing, Christian atmosphere of acceptance recognizing each child as a unique individual gifted by God. Our preschool provides a bridge for the student between home and school that plays a significant role in the physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual and social development of the child. Our curriculum is based on developmentally appropriate practice utilizing an integrated thematic approach to learning through experiential, concrete activities that are considerate of the varied perspectives, talents and intelligences of our students. Grounded in dramatic and manipulative play, discussion and open-ended questioning are utilized as tools in the development of creative and critical thinking skills and knowledge beyond the students’ egocentric perspective.

Kindergarten

Religion: Christ our Life published by Loyola Press.
In kindergarten, the theme is "God loves us". We have lessons on God our creator, celebrations, reverence for the Bible, love, being sorry, and silence. We learn about the holidays and participate in seasonal liturgies, often with the prekindergarten class. We begin and end each day in prayer and offer thanks at snack time. The school's religious theme this year is "Hail Mary, full of Grace".

Language Arts: Scott Foresman Reading
In reading we include the foundations of literacy: phonemic awareness, print knowledge, and emerging reading skills. Vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension skills are emphasized. The lessons include a list of high-frequency words that we learn by sight.
In literature we explore various literary genres and devices, the author's craft and style and the illustrator's craft and style. Literature is presented in the read-aloud format.

Phonics: Modern Curriculum Press, Phonics, level K
In phonics we cover phonemic awareness, rhyme, print knowledge, alphabetic awareness, and decoding strategies and skills. We have a focus letter each week and learn letter recognition, letter sound, and handwriting.

Writing: Heinemann, Units of Study for Primary Writing
In Writer's Workshop, the students begin to express themselves using drawings and then words and sentences. They learn to plan a written piece, compose a sentence to express their ideas and begin to hear the sounds making up the words. They learn the corresponding letters and gradually express themselves in written form. The units include personal narrative, nonfiction writing, poetry, author studies, and the craft of revision.

Mathematics: Houghton-Mifflin Mathematics, level K
Our topics in math include: sorting and classifying, patterns, numbers 0-30, calendars and clocks, measurement and money, addition concepts, subtraction concepts, geometry and fractions. The topics are presented as hands-on activities with "pencil and paper" follow-ups.

Science, social studies, and art: Science, social studies and art are included as an integrated part of the language arts curriculum. Some of our topics will include: frogs and toads, the farm, bats, the election, Native Americans, seeds, butterflies, seasons, and holidays. We do many art projects and include art as a choice at playtime every day.

Grade One through Grade Eight

Religion
Christ is at the center of all we do. Our faith is an integral part of the day-to-day life of our school, and is woven throughout all academic areas. Faith is nurtured by daily prayer, monthly liturgies, sacramental preparation, and daily religion classes, as well as through a variety of outreach and community services activities. In all of our religion classes, students are instructed in Church Doctrine, Scripture, Prayer, Worship and Moral development. Our children are a holy work in progress. With their teachers as Catholic models, they will develop the moral and religious foundation that will be the bedrock on which they build their adult lives.

Language Arts

Our reading curriculum is literature based enhanced with novels and trade books. It includes not only comprehension skills and vocabulary but also phonics decoding skills and phonemic awareness in the primary grades. Opportunities are provided for critical, personal and written responses to the literature. Assessments are designed to inform instruction though continuous feedback.

In our English curriculum, students are challenged to put grammar and writing skills together in a variety of writing models using correct mechanics and writing techniques. These activities recap the lesson and allow the students to focus on thoughtful written expression.

Mathematics
Our students develop skills that will help them assume responsibility and apply what they learn to real life situations. Our curriculum is based on National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) standards.

Science
The goal of the St. Agnes Science curriculum is reflected in the National Standards set forth by the National Science Teachers Association and the main goal of the Archdiocesan course of study, “to improve student attitudes toward science, to increase student interest in science careers, to increase student critical thinking skills and to help students realize that God is the author of all creation. This discipline enables students to become scientifically literate citizens and to interpret and appreciate all of God’s creations. The major goals of middle school science are: Students will recognize the role science plays in their everyday lives, including its relevance to creation.

· Students will be able to make moral decisions affecting the individual, the society and the environment.

· Students will learn to use the tools of science, collect, organize, interpret and communicate scientific information, as well as to develop ideas, think critically and problem-solve using the scientific method and scientific skills.

· Students will acquire and integrate major concepts and unifying themes from life, physical and earth/space sciences.

These goals are achieved through various instructional methods including lectures, labs, hands-on activities, dissections, cooperative group work and other multimedia methods

The major units of study are: Basic chemical and physical properties, astronomy, classification of living things, cell processes, human body systems, nutrition, heredity, weather, plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, earth’s history, ecology, hydrosphere, biosphere, rocks and minerals, processes of the earth and other scientific processes.

Social Studies
Our Social Studies curriculum follows the course of study for the Archdiocese of Baltimore and integrates Catholic social teaching into the study of human history.

Beginning with the study of family life in the United States and other countries, the curriculum continues with the development of early peoples and civilizations, ancient and modern world cultures, the settlement of the Americas, and the growth of the United States as a world power.

Active citizenship is taught through skills lessons, interactive activities, and concrete examples. Geography lessons support ties among past and present peoples, places, and events. Students are taught a variety of research methods utilizing the available technology to gather, assess and apply information and develop independent and cooperative thinking and problem solving skills.

Computer
Computer instruction includes grades kindergarten through eight and focuses on the computer as a learning tool. Students will develop computer skills that can be integrated throughout the curriculum. The computer concepts our children master by grade eight are:

Basic technology operations and concepts, social, ethical and human issues related to technology, use of technology as a research tool, technology productivity tools, use of technology as a problem solving and decision making tool.

Art
Students in grades six through eight participate in an Encore Art Program that is designed to increase their understanding and appreciation of visual arts. The concepts of line, shape, form color, texture and design, which comprise the Elements of Design, are covered. These concepts are then applied to projects involving drawing, painting, printmaking and three-dimensional design. Students are also exposed to a variety of artists and their work. Students in grades one through five have art class once per week with their homeroom teacher. In addition many of our students have benefited from an Artist-in-Residence Program funded through a grant from the Maryland Arts Council.

Music
Our music program follows the diocesan curriculum based on National Standards for Art Education in grades Nursery through Eight. Our music program includes singing, improvisation, arranging, reading, notating, evaluating and analyzing music, music history, theory and world music, and music for worship and Sacraments.

Physical Education
The goal of our physical education program is to create a physically educated person as defined by the National Association for Sports & Physical Education. (NASPE). A physically educated person has learned skills necessary to perform a variety of physical activities, is physically fit, participates in regular physical activity, knows the health benefits of involvement in physical activities and values physical activity and its contribution to a healthful lifestyle.

Library
Our Library Media program focuses on students becoming information literate by developing skills in accessing, evaluating and using data efficiently and effectively. The Standards for School Library Media Programs in Maryland have been utilized in the Diocesan Course of Study, which is implemented at St. Agnes. Appreciation for and familiarity with various types of literature is emphasized.

First through Fourth Grade

Religion
Reading/Phonics
Math
English
Social Studies
Science
Guidance Class
Computer Lab
Music
Gym
Handwriting/Spelling

Fifth Grade

Religion
Reading/Phonics
Math
English
Social Studies
Science
Spelling
Guidance Class
Computer Lab
Music
Gym
Spanish

Middle School - Grades Six, Seven and Eight

Religion
Literature
Math
English
Social Studies
Science
Computer Lab
Music
Spanish (twice per week)
Art
Health
Vocabulary
Advisory Groups

Social and Extracurricular Activities

Public Speaking Competition
Drama - School Play
Geography Competition
Spelling Bee
Talent Show
Chorus
Cheerleading
Field Day
Track
Student Council
Academic Field Trips
Math Competitions
Maryland Arts Council
Scouting (Parish)
Basketball (Parish)

Daily Prayer and Religious Instruction

Monthly and Seasonal Liturgies & Para-Liturgical Services (with Student involvement)
Eighth Grade Confirmation Retreat
Yearly Religious Theme
Service Projects - Children Helping Children

Fully Equipped Computer Lab

The Computer Lab is fully accredited by the Middle States Association of College and School Commissions on Elementary Schools (CES)