Curriculum Overview
The St. Madeleine Sophie curriculum structure is shaped by a Catholic world-view which empowers students to be outward focused and designed within a framework of an educational community for the new century.
The school administration and faculty oversee a dynamic and interactive process of curriculum development geared toward mastery of a high school preparatory program according to the abilities of each individual child. The teaching methods used are varied and contemporary. The curriculum is enhanced by teachers, students, and parents working together to bring meaningful learning experiences to children. At St. Madeleine Sophie School, we believe that there are certain skills, knowledge and experiences that are central to Catholic education. These have been structured into an integrated and coordinated set of courses in which all students participate.
- Through daily association with families and professionally qualified faculty visibly committed to a Christian lifestyle, this school provides opportunities for each student to develop a personal commitment to Gospel values.
- By developing basic educational skills, we provide the framework necessary for students to accept their role as society’s intelligent decision-makers of the future.
- In kindling an appreciation for membership in the larger community, we strive to develop each student’s awareness of his/her responsibility to that larger group and the call for a personal pledge to justice and service within that framework.
The St. Madeleine Sophie School curriculum integrates the following subjects:
- Religion
- Language Arts (reading, writing, spelling, English, speaking, listening)
- Mathematics
- Social Studies (geography, history, civics)
- Science
- Music
- Art
- Physical Education and Health
- Social Emotional Learning, Technology and additional electives are offered at appropriate grade levels.
- Family life, substance abuse education and lessons in personal safety, among others, are co-curriculars which are offered (as per diocesan guidelines) during the school year.
Curriculum Design
The goals of St. Madeleine Sophie School include successfully meeting the challenge of providing a first-rate, contemporary program for our students.
A beginning point for our curricular design is the enormous volume of expertise and effort marshaled by the state’s Commission on Student Learning to develop the Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALRs). Bringing together the best curriculum in both the public and private schools, these guides flowed from the state’s own four student learning goals as outlined in the Basic Education Act of 1993. While not bound by state law to follow any particular course of study, we use the best pieces of this body of work as a foundation for our professional practice.
A key element of our Framework is its structure which is consciously designed to “align” our mission, student learning goals, classroom instruction and assessment into an integrated whole. The end result forms solid and logical links between the learning activities and assessments in the classroom with the philosophies and long-term objectives of the school.
Curriculum Vision Statement
Realizing the human need for identity, relatedness and purpose, and while recognizing each parent’s role as the primary educator of their children, we propose a graduate who is striving to become:
A SPIRITUAL PERSON . . .
…who recognizes and responds to God as intimately present within all persons – particularly within his/her own being – and within all creation; committed to a Christian lifestyle and active in the faith community.
A WHOLE PERSON . . .
…who realistically affirms the sense of his/her own potential; who appreciates the beauty and privilege of one’s own sexuality; who is intellectually alert, emotionally and physically healthy, and morally self-disciplined, self-confident, and self-motivated.
A LOVING PERSON . . .
…who values the sense of belonging and interconnectedness of all earth’s people, reverencing one another’s diversity, freedom, and privacy; able to reach out to others by sharing one’s own time, talent, resources, and person; capable of forgiving hurts, mending relationships, and healing wounds.
A RESPONSIBLE PERSON . . .
…capable of confidently and competently asking critical questions, responding to meeting just needs, protecting personal rights, and respecting and reverencing all of creation; committed to seeking peaceful resolutions of conflict; while enjoying his/her own satisfaction in tasks well done.
A HOPE-FILLED PERSON . . .
…who is rooted in our still unfolding Catholic tradition; eager to face the future in faith and trust with critical, reflective, creative, and peaceful anticipation.