The PK3 program at St. Philip is centered on weekly thematic units.  Within this structure colors, shapes, numbers, counting, and the alphabet are constantly explored.  In addition, basic math skills, name recognition, following directions, and problem solving are reinforced. Phonic skills are taught using Letter People (Abrams and Company, Inc). Your child’s religious growth is furthered through our text, God Made Me (Loyola University Press).

Readiness activities include reading, math, science, music, art, bible stories, and physical education.  Special activities include a visit the Pumpkin Patch, Breakfast with Santa, and preparation of a Mother’s Day Tea.

Our daily schedule includes morning circle, small group time, centers, art, snack, bathroom, story, music and movement, lunch, nap, enrichment class as well as outdoor play. Enrichment classes include Art, Music, Library, P.E. and Spanish. Enrichment classes are attended on a weekly basis.

At St.Philip Neri we believe that early childhood education provides the transition from home to a school atmosphere. We believe the early learning years provide the basis for future learning.  This is why we encourage parent involvement –there are specific times during the year that we ask for and encourage parent or grandparent participation and help.  We feel that parent involvement is an important part of a child’s success in school.

PK4 students are given the opportunity to develop academically, socially, and spiritually. Students engage in whole class, small group activities, and centers throughout the day that allow both academic and social development.

Students are immersed in a literature-based Language Arts curriculum that allows them to develop skills in alphabet identification and sounds. PK4 students also engage in hands-on activities in math that foster their knowledge and skills in counting, shapes, patterns, measurement, time, graphing, addition, and subtraction. Catholic faith is nurtured among students through a Religious curriculum that focuses on the world God made for us.

PK4 students participate in our SPN Mardi Gras parade where they ride in wagon floats. They also have a fun morning with the grandparents on Halloween. Most of all, students are provided a nurturing environment that promotes both a love of God and of learning that they will carry with them throughout their academic careers.

Each Kindergarten classroom is staffed with a certified teacher and a full time assistant.

Language Arts

Our language arts curriculum is based on the Reading Street Program by Scott Foresman. The reading curriculum consists of weekly stories and comprehension skills. In addition to sight words, students are taught word attack skills.  Children have opportunities for reading and writing throughout the day.

Writing

Guiding writing, writer's workshop and journaling are used for writing instruction.

Math

On a daily basis, math skills are taught through the calendar and the Sadlier curriculum series. Many opportunities are given for the use of manipulatives to cover concepts.

Religion

Teachings of the Catholic Church are introduced through the Sadlier Series, We Believe . Prayers and attendance at Mass are an integral part of the religion program.

Social Living

Science and Social Studies are integrated throughout the language arts curriculum and seasonal holidays.

Students attend an enrichment class daily.

Activities throughout the year include: field trips, the Kindergarten Christmas Play, Kindergarten Graduation and participation in school wide seasonal activities.

First grade students learn phonics and comprehension skills.  The students are taught in whole group and small group settings.  The students also participate in daily rotations that incorporate independent practice and cooperative peer groups with a focus on writing, phonics, sight words, and comprehension.

First grade students learn addition and subtraction facts up to 20.  They work on problem solving, basic geometry, fractions, telling time, and counting money.

First grade students learn the four types of sentences and parts of speech (nouns, verbs, and adjectives).  They learn sentence structure and through the writing process they complete four major writing units throughout the school year.

Students in first grade learn about Jesus’ life, love, teachings, and miracles.  They learn various aspects of the Church, the liturgical year, sacraments, and daily prayers.  They participate in school wide celebrations such as the Living Rosary, Stations of the Cross, May Crowning, and weekly Mass.

First graders learn various social science lessons that correlate with our Reading units.  They include animal life, plant life, seasons and weather, holidays, and a unit study on the state of Louisiana.

First graders at St. Philip Neri utilize Chromebooks across all subjects during the school day. They also have several fun celebrations like Johnny Appleseed Day, 100th Day, and Fine Arts Friday.
 

During the Second Grade year at SPN, the students become the best version of themselves spiritually, academically, and socially.    

The students grow in their faith as they learn and prepare for the sacraments.  In the fall, we prepare for Reconciliation learning forgiveness and God’s love.  In the spring, we focus on receiving Jesus for their first time in First Communion.  We continue to grow in faith through our daily prayer, and understanding of Jesus’ life and guidance.

Academically the students build on their oral reading and comprehension using various sources of nonfiction, fiction and multiple chapter books.  We develop as writers using the writing process, bringing to life our writing by showing not telling.  The students bring to life their How To Writing by demonstrating what is written, work on research to create a Biography project to share orally, and to end the year publishing our very own book.  We strengthen our problem solving skills using hands-on math activities to build our math fact fluency, create our own word problems, and apply math to the real world.  We use technology throughout the day to apply what we have learned using different resources. 

In second grade, we focus on growing spiritually with our faith, we continue to work on problem solving for ourselves and others, remembering what Jesus would do in each situation.  We build as a class community through our morning meetings, partner work, and learning respect in and out of the classroom. 

As a second grader at SPN, the students become the best version of themselves spiritually, academically, and socially.    

The students grow in their faith as they learn and prepare for the sacraments.  In the fall, we prepare for Reconciliation learning forgiveness and God’s love.  In the spring, we focus on receiving Jesus for their first time in First Communion.  We continue to grow in faith through our daily prayer, and understanding of Jesus’ life and guidance.

Academically the students build on their oral reading and comprehension using various sources of nonfiction, fiction and multiple chapter books.  We develop as writers using the writing process, bringing to life our writing by showing not telling.  The students bring to life their How To Writing by demonstrating what is written, work on research to create a Biography project to share orally, and to end the year publishing our very own book.  We strengthen our problem solving skills using hands-on math activities to build our math fact fluency, create our own word problems, and apply math to the real world.  We use technology throughout the day to apply what we have learned using different resources. 

In second grade, we focus on growing spiritually with our faith, we continue to work on problem solving for ourselves and others, remembering what Jesus would do in each situation.  We build as a class community through our morning meetings, partner work, and learning respect in and out of the classroom. 

Third grade at St. Philip Neri is a year of growth and independence for our students. 

Our third grade math curriculum promotes the mastery of multiplication and division, and expands on solving word problems to improve critical thinking. 

Our reading program enhances fluency and comprehension.  Students read a variety of fiction and non-fiction stories from both the basal reader and selected novels.

Our language arts curriculum focuses on vocabulary, grammar, and various writing skills, including reflective narratives.

Multiple topics and experiments are covered in Science, including the human body, plants, animals, and the solar system. 

Our Social Studies program concentrates on the history of Louisiana.  Students learn various map skills as well as identifying the locations of the fifty states.

Our Religion curriculum is designed to enhance their Catholic faith through daily prayers, class discussions, and weekly student liturgies.
 

Fourth grade’s purpose is to bridge the gap between lower elementary and middle school.We engage in collaborative learning, group discussions, and best practices in methodology.

Religion - Learning and applying the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes in their daily lives, students deepen their relationship with God and others through prayer and explore the lives of the Saints, culminating in a Saints project.

Reading - Students engage in a novel-based curriculum to address comprehension, vocabulary,  and reference skills.

English - Students compose in various writing modes with an emphasis on analytical expository. They build on grammar skills such as parts of speech, sentence structure, and writing mechanics.

Math - Students learn and apply basic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division), number sense, geometry, fractions, decimals, measurement, and prealgebra to everyday situations.

Science - Through experiments and collaboration, students explore life sciences, physical sciences, earth science, and nutrition and extend them to their real-life experiences.

Social Studies - Focusing on the five geographic regions of the United States, students study the geography and examine the history to better understand our nation.
 

St. Philip Neri Middle School offers a comprehensive grammar and writing curriculum.  In English class students focus on strengthening and advancing their vocabulary and grammar skills to be used as tools to exemplify proper and effective writing, thus, creating dynamic communicators.   Students use technology to communicate, collaborate, research, and problem-solve.
 

St. Philip Neri students are offered leveled placement to foster the intellectual growth of each child.  Previous skills are incorporated as students use hands-on exploration as well as technology to analyze and solve real world problems. 

Fifth graders focus on the principles of whole numbers, decimals, fractions, and measurements to ensure a sound basis for future application of these skills. Sixth graders then apply the previous principles while analyzing expressions, equations, integers, ratios, proportions, and geometry. Seventh graders advance to pre-algebra where they learn and utilize rational numbers, linear equations, multi-step equations/ inequalities, functions, and application of algebra to geometry. St Philip Neri math students graduate with the knowledge necessary to achieve success as critical thinkers in their high school math courses. 
 

Reading is one of several courses in middle school at St. Philip Neri that offers leveled placement to foster the intellectual growth and needs of individual students.

At each grade level, students are required to complete grade appropriate cold comprehension stories, also known as cold stories.  These stories are unseen reading passages for the students to read and comprehend, to prepare them for standardized testing, both now and in the future.

Novels are read each year, in addition to short stories in the textbook. 5th grade genres include realistic fiction, historical fiction, fantasy, and adventure.  5th grade themes include friendship, tolerance, survival, and good versus evil.  6th grade genres include historical fiction, poetry, nonfiction, adventure, and mystery.  6th grade themes include loss, forgiveness, acceptance, and endurance. 7th grade genres include drama, mystery, realistic fiction, historical fiction.  7th grade themes include racism, socioeconomic conflict, justice, and coming-of-age.
Reading class in all middle school grades builds on skills from previous years, includes typical assessments, in addition to projects, writing assignments, and in depth discussions, and leaves students with the skills they need for more in-depth reading in high school.

Saint Philip Neri School is a Catholic educational community in which the faith of the student comes first and foremost.  Throughout middle school, students discuss the lives of saints and holy men and women.  Middle schoolers also focus on prayer, including the different modes of prayer, developing a habit of prayer, and the Mass being the greatest prayer.  Every student has the opportunity to go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation once a quarter.

Fifth graders analyze the seven sacraments.  Beginning with the idea that all people share in God’s life through the gift of grace, students recognize that all those baptized are called to holiness through participation in the sacraments.  Within each sacrament the students evaluate the rite of the sacrament as well as the main parts and symbols.
Sixth graders focus on Sacred Scripture and God revealing himself to us through his word.  Students read scripture, discuss what God is revealing to his people, and apply how the teachings and messages are present in their lives.  A portion of the school year focuses on the Theology of the Body, the teachings of Saint John Paul II.

Seventh graders begin by entering deeper into the mystery of the Trinity before focusing on Jesus Christ. While focusing on the second person of the Blessed Trinity, students analyze the life, teachings, death, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus.  Next, students review the seven Sacraments focusing on the sacraments as signs that actually bring about what they represent.  Finally, the students evaluate their lives as they seek to live out the call to be disciples of Christ. The seventh graders also attend a day long retreat in the spring to reflect on their relationship with God and discuss how to deepen that relationship through prayer, Adoration, Mass, and community.

Students at St. Philip Neri learn to think like scientists and engineers, while grappling with core scientific principles through deep learning concepts that cut across science domains. In each science unit students are asked to inhabit the role of a scientist or engineer in order to figure out scientific phenomena through real world problems. Over the course of the unit students collect and make sense of evidence from multiple sources and through a variety of modalities, ensuring that they have multiple vehicles through which to develop and articulate their understanding.

 -Fifth graders will focus on the fields of study including Earth and space science, food chemistry, and ecosystem restoration.

 -Sixth graders will focus on the fields of study including biology, thermal energy, weather patterns and climate change.

 -Seventh grade will focus on the fields of study including geology, chemistry, and ecosystems.

Middle School students at St. Philip Neri School learn about our nation’s history through analyzing charts, graphs, primary and secondary sources. Current Events and discussions help the students learn, practice, and apply important 21st-century skills.

In Fifth Grade the students learn about the origins of our American government through the study of Civics, to develop a more profound understanding and appreciation of our free society.

In Sixth Grade students learn about US History from the colonial period through the events leading up to the Civil War.

In Seventh Grade students learn about US History from the Civil War through the Korean War Era.

In general, the students are encouraged to see how the events of the past have shaped our world today.

Art
Students in all grade levels take art weekly.  In early childhood and lower grades, aour youngest students as they learn about different ways to create art through a variety of media.  In upper grades, students are introduced to well-known artists and styles, given instruction in the emulation of well-known artists and styles, and given opportunities to use art as an expression of their own thoughts, feelings, and opinions.

Library
The St. Philip Neri School library is available to students in grades PK3-7th.  PK3-4th grade visits the Library once a week for 45 minutes. Students enhance their love for reading through story time. Books are chosen based on the theme that each particular grade is focused on for that week. Students in Kindergarten-7th grade are able to check out books to take home.  All students have access to computers as well as a large collection of reference materials, fiction books, nonfiction books, and biographies. Middle school students may visit the Library with their teachers to work on assignments, do research, or to check out books. Throughout their time at St. Philip Neri, students will learn research skills, how to use reference materials, book genres, and how to choose books that are just right for them. 

Music
EARLY CHILDHOOD:

The students learn to sing seasonal songs, folk songs, children's songs, etc.  They also so do creative movement activities using various manipulatives such as:  small hoops, bean bags streamers, scarfs, and rhythm instruments.  They learn music concepts such as:  High/Low, Loud/Soft, Long/Short, Fast/Slow, Melodic Contour, and Vocal Exploration.

 FIRST AND SECOND:
The students learn about Major Composers and their music, they also learn how to recognize musical notation. The following songs are taught:  Church Hymns, folk songs, seasonal, etc.

THIRD AND FOURTH:
The students learn to read music and play the Precorder in 3rd grade, and the Soprano Recorder in 4th grade. The students also learn about major composers and their music.  Songs taught include:  Seasonal songs and Church Hymns.

CHOIR:
The SPN Choir is open to students in Grades 2nd-7th.  The choir rehearses on Mondays from 3:35-4:30.  The choir performs several times during the school year.


Physical Education
Our PE program is designed to promote children’s enjoyment, appreciation and participation in physical activities which contribute to the development of self-confidence, social skills and physical fitness.
 
PK and Kindergarten participate in activities that develop their movement skills such as running, jumping, skipping and galloping.   These activities also enhance their basic sports skills of catching, throwing, kicking, shooting and batting.  PE plans are made in correlation to the grade’s letter or theme of the week.  These classes have PE once a week for 30 minutes.

First grade thru Seventh grade engage in activities to build basic sports skills, sportsmanship and a healthy level of fitness.   Skills and rules are explored for all sports-volleyball, football, basketball, cabbageball (softball/baseball), soccer, tennis, hockey, bowling, golf, track and field, and others.

1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th grades have PE once a week for 45 minutes.  5th, 6th and 7th grades have PE twice a week for 45 minutes each time.   One class focuses on the sports skills and the other on the fitness needed in order to participate in these sports.

Spanish

Spanish class not only encourages students to learn vocabulary, but instills a love for the language. On the early childhood and lower levels, students are exposed to basic vocabulary and Spanish expressions. Students respond to simple questions and commands. Third and Fourth grade students are introduced to every day speech in a variety of interesting lessons. Middle school students develop understanding, speaking, reading and writing skills, which prepares them for High School. The curriculum in all levels includes internet lessons, music, games, cultural events and much more. All of these fun activities make students want to learn the language and develop an appreciation for the Hispanic culture.