The lower school curriculum at The Cathedral School is designed to promote literacy, develop math skills, enhance students’ understanding of the world around them, cultivate work habits, and foster citizenship.  All of the curriculum, nursery through grade eight is articulated through standards that define the important knowledge, skills, and understandings we believe all students must acquire in order to become fully functioning, well-educated citizens.  Our skilled and dedicated teachers are committed to helping all children reach their own personal best in every subject area.

Reading

The reading program includes student selected books, or “just right books,” which teachers help students select.  In addition, students read high quality literature in “whole class” selections.  Students also read a variety of content texts in other curriculum areas, such as science, social studies and mathematics.

Writing

Writing is integrated into all aspects of the curriculum.  Students write in a variety of forms to communicate information, opinions and ideas.  Students are taught to use a writing process that includes developing the idea in prewriting, composing drafts, revising, editing and reflecting upon finished work.  They use the six basic writing traits of overall development, organization, support, sentence structure, word choice, and mechanics in their writing.

All literacy instruction is based on the following essential understandings:

Reading and writing require a fundamental knowledge of sounds, letter, words and the conventions of language to read, write and speak effectively.

Reading is a thinking process used to construct meaning.

Writing is a thinking process used to generate, clarify and communicate ideas.

Mathematics

The Cathedral School’s mathematics program focuses on developing students’ skills in many areas of mathematics.  By studying the underlying structure and relationship of numbers and operations, students learn to compute, estimate and solve mathematical problems in meaningful ways.  Instruction emphasizes problem solving strategies and reasoning as students arrive at and justify mathematical solutions.  Students are also helped to make connections among mathematical concepts to strengthen and further their understanding.

Social Studies

The Cathedral School social studies curriculum incorporates ten themes identified by the National Council of Social Studies.

Culture

Time, Continuity, and Change

People, Places and Environments

Individual Development and Identity

Individuals, Groups and Institutions

Power, Authority, and Governance

Production, Distribution and Consumption

Science, Technology, and Society

Global Connections and Interdependence

Civic Ideals and Practice

The social studies curriculum in the lower grades builds a foundation that supports the learning in the upper grades.  Early knowledge is taught in ways that help children gain insight into the social and physical world in which they live.  Upper grades apply this background knowledge of social studies themes when studying the history of western civilization.

Science

The goal of the science program is to have all students demonstrate scientific literacy.  The science program helps each student develop scientific knowledge and vocabulary, an understanding of the scientific method, an understanding of major theories and concepts, and an understanding of the relevance of science to everyday experiences.  The curriculum consists of separate units that have been carefully designed to involve children in hands-on investigations of scientific phenomena.  Through investigation, discovery and application, students learn scientific concepts in life, earth, and physical science.

Greek

In the Cathedral School Greek program students study Modern Greek language, Greek culture, and Greek mythology.  Students learn about Ancient Greece and its contributions to present day society.  The rich history of Greece and its culture is integrated into the curriculum of all grade levels through art, storytelling, myths, music and dance.

In the Greek language classes, students will become familiar with the oral language through simple conversations, common vocabulary and holiday-related songs and poems. The emphasis is placed on repetition, using various methods to familiarize the students with the language. The instruction is designed on a continuing basis with progression from preschool through eighth grade. Special attention is given to Greek culture through games, folksongs, fairy tales and legends.

In addition to Modern Greek class, students in grades seven and eight are introduced to Ancient Greek.  The eighth grade students take The National Greek Examination.  This exam is normally taken only by high school students.  In the Upper School, attention is given to the origin of words, based on the recognition that the study of Greek can be an effective aid in improving language skills in English. Many English words are derived from Greek. This is emphasized through vocabulary lessons. Thus, the students enhance their vocabulary and improve their reading and spelling.

The Cultural Studies aspect of the program seeks to give students a cultural experience through the introduction and study of the ancient Greek history and culture. Students study a variety of myths and the mythology of the Greek gods.  They learn about myths and how they symbolize the stages of life, creation and ceremonies.  These stories are the basis for great classical works of literature and art. The students have the opportunity to capture the fascination of the stories through writing, acting, and art. Upper School students participate in The National Greek Mythology Examination as a culminating activity.

Religion

The Christian tradition is an important part of education at The Cathedral School, providing a moral and spiritual foundation for students.  Religious education is based upon sound Christian principles from a Greek Orthodox perspective.  Our students’ day begins with the Lord’s Prayer in a school wide morning meeting.  Character is developed with our Word of the Month.  Each month, a specific character trait (such as trustworthiness) is “taught” by one of the classes in the school during morning meeting.  Students are guided by two golden rules:

Love thy neighbor as thyself.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

While maintaining a Greek Orthodox perspective, the curriculum’s presentation is sensitive to the diverse backgrounds within the student body.  We welcome students of all faiths.

Library

The Cathedral School library serves all students, from nursery to eighth grade.  The mission of the library includes the support of learning and teaching, the provision of current resources and the stimulation of intellectual curiosity and imagination.  We offer a broad collection of books and multimedia materials to support the classroom and personal reading interests of our student body. The library media center is equipped with six personal computers and a large screen television that connects to the internet.  Teachers use this technology in a variety of ways.  For example, a second grade teacher may take her students to the center to learn about amphibians.  She uses the widescreen projection of the internet to illustrate how frogs grow from tadpole to adult.  She also points out other websites that the children can use to explore learning more on their own.  The media center is a powerful classroom where classes come to fully explore a topic. 

Computer Lab

Students from Kindergarten through Grade Four use the computer lab as an extension of their classroom.  Teachers bring their students to the lab to expand classroom learning.  A third grade class may go to practice multiplication facts; a second grade class may go to look up their neighborhood web site for Social Studies.  Teachers use the computer lab to support and extend learning.

Specials

All Cathedral School students have daily 40 minute classes rotating music, visual arts, and physical education.  The mission of the vocal music program encourages students to perform, create and understand various forms of music so that they will enjoy music throughout their lifetimes. The visual arts program promotes the development of artistic thinking skills in each individual.  Through practice in production (the making of art), perception (the viewing of art) and reflection (the evaluation of art and ideas), students develop an understanding of themselves and the world around them.  The elementary physical education program emphasizes physical fitness and the development of basic motor skills that form the foundation for more complex sports and fitness activities.

Students, teachers, parents and administrators work together to make sure the school has an atmosphere that promotes active learning, student effort, confidence, cooperation and respect.  Each child is given the help needed to learn important content, demonstrate high levels of achievement, and develop as individuals.

Art

The goal of the lower school art program is to introduce students to the basic techniques and genres of art while building artistic confidence and awareness.  Through a variety of activities including teacher-led discussion, individual and group work, and short and long-term projects, students will come to view themselves as artists and recognize examples of art in the world around them.  In each grade, students will explore various wet and dry media, create two and three-dimensional projects, respond to their own artwork and to that of others, develop an artistic vocabulary, and compare artwork from distinct cultures.  Students will also complete interdisciplinary projects relating to their regular classroom curriculum.

Music

Students will become familiar with the different aspects of sound: overtones, height, dynamics, intensity and direction. By listening to Baroque (Bach, J.S.) and classical music (especially Mozart), the students will become familiar with the mechanics of sound.  Students will master and recognize music symbols:  notes, rests and clefs.    They will sing folk songs in English and in Greek.  Rhythm is taught through melodies and games.  The recorder is taught in Grades 3 and 4.

Chess

The goal of the Chess Program is to help students think clearly and logically about solving the problems they face on the chess board. Studies have shown that this type of thinking is readily transferred to other areas, both academic and non-academic. Lower School students have chess class once per week; Upper School students have the opportunity to sign up for a class which is held during their lunch period on Fridays.  This program is sponsored by the Parents Association.