CURRICULUM
Saint Richard Catholic School prioritizes academic excellence, character development, and faith formation through a curriculum developed by the Diocese of Jackson in collaboration with the Notre Dame Ace Collaborative for Academic Excellence. Aligned with national and state standards, the curriculum provides a rigorous and innovative learning experience tailored to meet the needs of all students. Differentiated instruction, balanced literacy, and multiple intelligences are central to instruction, ensuring personalized learning. Click the link to review the Diocesan Standards and Objectives for each grade.
In ELA, students engage in a balanced literacy approach, incorporating Orton-Gillingham Multisensory Phonics, guided reading, and writers’ workshops. A combination of small- and whole-group instruction builds essential literacy skills. Accelerated Reader motivates 1st and 2nd graders to develop a love for reading, with optional participation in later grades (click here for the link to AR Bookfinder). Math instruction follows a hands-on, lab-based, workshop approach, emphasizing problem-solving and small-group instruction. Science learning is experiential, with students applying concepts in science and computer labs through inquiry-driven activities. In Social Studies, students develop historical, cultural, and civic understanding through integrated, interactive lessons.
For Pre-K and Kindergarten, a multi-sensory, literacy-rich curriculum fosters early learning through hands-on activities in language arts, mathematics, music, social studies, science, dramatic play, and physical education, supporting both academic and social-emotional growth. Across all grades, Saint Richard provides a challenging and engaging curriculum that nurtures students academically, creatively, physically, and spiritually, preparing them for future success.
Faith Formation
Our Catholic faith is emphasized, modeled, and taught as part of the regular curriculum, through daily religion lessons, weekly Mass attendance, and through the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd special area class, a Montessori style, religious formation class based on liturgy and scripture.
Arts Integration
Saint Richard Catholic School has a rich tradition in the arts. Our educators are trained to integrate the arts into all aspects of the curriculum and to effectively use the arts to engage all learners. The Kennedy Center defines arts integration as an approach to teaching in which students construct and demonstrate understanding through an art form. Students engage in a creative process which connects an art form and another subject area and meets evolving objectives in both. Our teachers utilize this approach to extend learning for all students and to meet the needs of our diverse body of learners. Students reach higher levels of learning and thinking as they apply their knowledge through an art form.
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” -Pablo Picasso
Special Area Classes
Students at Saint Richard Catholic School expand their knowledge, recognize their strengths, and develop interests through our wide variety of special area classes.Classroom teachers and special area teachers plan instruction collaboratively to enrich and develop skills throughout all areas of the school day. Our special area classes continue to develop the whole child spiritually, creative, physically, and academically in ways that emphasize real life skills and applications that children carry with them throughout their lives. All students from PreK3 to Sixth Grade experience enrichment and skill development in: Religion * Spanish * Library and Media Skills * Music * Physical Education * STREAM Lab * Technology and Computer Applications * Visual Art.
STREAM Lab
At Saint Richard Catholic School, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) activities are enriched through the inclusion of Arts and Religion. Ourunique STREAM program offers interactive learning through Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts and Math. Our students are encouraged to collaborate, create, and experiment in a state-of-the-art STREAM Lab complete with robotics, 3D printing, ergonomic stools, and signature lab coats. We encourage our Cardinals to be critical thinkers and to use the Scientific Method to observe, question, research, hypothesize, experiment, and analyze. Learning is truly fun for our students in the STREAM Lab!
Technology
In addition to STREAM, Saint Richard Catholic School acknowledges the importance of technology in education. Our students receive classroom instruction on keyboard applications and technology is integrated into our curriculum for all grade levels. Our classrooms are equipped with Apple TV and Promethean ActivBoards and we also offer 1:1 iPads for Grades 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 and provide iPad Centers for Grades K3-1. We also provide creative software that encourages our students to explore and experiment with filmmaking, photography, and video presentations. In addition to the technology we provide to our students, Saint Richard also provides our parents with a portal to communicate with faculty, monitor classroom assignments and review progress reports. This portal also serves as a virtual learning resource.
Our curriculum and highly qualified teachers, counselors, administrators and staff members of Saint Richard Catholic School prepare students for future success in an ever-changing world and ensure an atmosphere where students are challenged to maximize their potential and to develop a love of learning that will last a lifetime.