Grades 4 - 6

Grades 4 – 6 contain multiple class sections, and students are introduced to a departmental program in these grades.

In grade 4, students build fundamental skills to read challenging fiction, nonfiction, and other materials. They continue to learn about the world and build vocabulary skills by reading more complicated stories and poems from different cultures and various books on history, science, art, and music. Fourth grade students will make significant strides in their ability to explain plainly and in detail what a book says, both explicitly and what is implied from its details. In Grade 4, students will write effective summaries, book reports, and descriptions of characters or events using correct grammar and punctuation. Fourth Graders increase computational accuracy and fluency in mathematics, build on multiplication, division, fractions, and decimal skills, and use them to solve practical word problems. Weekly Art, Music, Spanish Language, Computer Education, and Physical Education classes continue to expand students’ horizons and build life skills. Daily formal religion classes continue, and value-oriented lessons are incorporated throughout the curriculum.

In grade 5, students read widely and deeply from a range of high-quality, increasingly challenging fiction and nonfiction sources. They build knowledge about subjects through research projects and respond analytically to literary and informational texts, synthesizing ideas and analyzing information from print and online sources. Fifth graders use higher-level thinking to support opinions with reasoned arguments in group discussions. In both short and extended writing projects, students write multi-paragraph stories and essays demonstrating a logical sequence of ideas and correct language usage. Computer technology is widely utilized for research and writing. Science, ELA, and Math are taught as separate, departmental subjects. Mathematics emphasizes fractional and decimal concepts, analyzing patterns and relationships, and graphing data. Computer Education, Art, Music, Physical Education, and Spanish Language continue weekly. Religious studies continue to give students a fuller knowledge of scripture and the sacraments.

In grade 6, students apply and improve skills to work with longer, more challenging books and articles. They focus on how authors influence readers, making points and supporting their arguments with evidence and reasoning. Sixth Graders sharpen their ability to write and speak more clearly and coherently and express their expanding vocabularies in written stories, reports, and essays, devoting attention to precise details in their reading and writing. Linking ELA and math, sixth-grade students can gain and express information from sources utilizing graphs, charts, and diagrams to convey data. Mathematical concepts, such as rates, ratios, and working with variables and expressions, begin to lay the foundation for higher education and career readiness. Science, ELA, and Math remain separate, departmental subjects, and Computer Education, Art, Music, Physical Education, and Spanish Language continue weekly. Religious themes are incorporated in many core subject areas, and Grade 6 students also participate in prayer and Mass services.