Grade Specific Curriculum:
Kindergarten Skills
ELEMENTARY CURRICULUM
Thank you for your interest in St. Peter’s Lutheran School. We opened in 1993 with Preschool through 4th grades. Currently, we have 222 students enrolled in our preschool through 8th grade. Our school is owned and operated as a mission of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church.
SCIENCE
Elementary students have science three times a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Each class comes to the Science room for a 35-minute period. Our program consists of a “hands-on” approach to science. Students have the opportunity not only to hear about science concepts but they are able to experience them.The bulk of our curriculum is from GEMS (Great Explorations in Math and Science). The Lawrence Hall of Science at UC Berkeley developed the GEMS series. Each unit contains experiments and background information for that topic. We supplement our entire curriculum with a Biblical world view. Since the majority of work in Science is “hands-on”, students work in cooperative groups. Each student keeps a science journal in which to record data, key terms and helpful information. Participation and cooperation are extremely important in Science. A grade is given for applying skills and understanding concepts, while a separate grade is given for participation. Forty percent of the academic grade, for 4th and 5th grade students, is based on test scores.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Elementary meets three times a week. Our physical education program covers a wide range of activities. We work toward a peaceful playground and atmosphere. Good sportsmanship and encouragement is a focus. We use our full-size indoor gym, outdoor track, outdoor blacktop, and grass field.
SPANISH/ART/MUSIC
Spanish is taught twice per week using a DVD program developed by Northern Arizona University. Art is taught one day per week by the classroom teacher. Music is taught in the classroom one day per week.
COMPUTERS
Primary classrooms are equipped with computers. Grades 4-8 will use the computer lab twice a week. We focus on keyboarding, word-processing, Power Point, Publisher as well as thinking and research skills. Our classes use the lab to do research projects. Our computer lab has been updated with Dell PC’s, printer networking and internet access. Mr. Domenick Lucca is our computer teacher.
LIBRARY
The students use our full service library on a weekly basis. The Librarian is Ms. Lynn Stender.
CHAPEL
All students meet in the sanctuary for Chapel every Wednesday at 8:40 a.m. The message is delivered by one of the St. Peter’s pastors, a visiting pastor or one of the school classes.
VICTORY DRILL
This program is an excellent phonics program in which a student is able to progress at his or her own rate. It requires nightly practice at home and daily testing at school. It is used in grades 1-3 only.
MATH FACTS IN A FLASH by RENAISSANCE PLACE
This program is similar to Accelerated Reader program we have used for a couple of years. Students will be able to practice their math facts at home on the Renaissance Place website and test at school.
FRIDAY NOTES
Friday notes are sent home each Friday by the classroom teachers and posted on the school’s website under Class Notes. These are a major means of communication between the parents and the teachers keeping parents aware of events in the classroom.
