At Saint Agatha School, our dedication to student learning and achievement begins early. Our comprehensive curriculum kicks off with our Early Childhood Program (K0 and K1), which is part of the esteemed Lynch Foundation Early Childhood Project. Here, teachers nurture the social and emotional well-being of every student, laying the groundwork for effective learning. Through engaging activities, children play their way to reaching high learning objectives. Our OWL program, "Opening the World of Learning," offers a holistic curriculum that fosters language and early literacy skills while also nurturing personal and social development. This enriching curriculum is enhanced by hands-on activities that make learning fun. Our passionate teachers are the heart of this program, and we are committed to providing a nurturing environment where our youngest learners can thrive.
The Early Childhood program offers both a 5-day and 3-day program for age 3 (K0) and a 5-day program for age 4 (K1), running from 8 am to 2:30 pm. Additionally, our Early Arrival program begins at 7:00 am and our Extended Day program ends at 5:30 pm (4:30 pm on Fridays), providing flexibility for families.
Our elementary curriculum is robust, encompassing a wide array of subjects and activities aligned with the Common Core standards. In addition to rigorous core academic subjects and technology integration, our curriculum includes art, music, and Spanish (begins in Grade 5) from K2 through Grade 5. These enriching experiences foster creativity, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills, which are highly valued at our school.
We emphasize integrated thematic units and project-based learning approaches, providing students with opportunities to explore topics in depth and make meaningful connections across disciplines.
To further enhance our curriculum, we have established partnerships with esteemed institutions such as Emmanuel College, Lesley University, Boston College, The Museum of Science, and The Lynch Foundation. These collaborations bring valuable resources and opportunities for enrichment to our students.
Beyond the school day, our students engage in further learning and are active members of their community. Our students are active participants in many clubs, sports, and community service organizations. After school, most students join one of our several clubs or teams, including Basketball, Drama Club, and Choir. Students in need of extra help receive after school tutoring during our homework club.
Saint Agatha School offers several advantages for Middle Schoolers!
Developmentally appropriate environment: At Saint Agatha School, we are specifically designed to provide a holistic approach to education, catering to the unique academic, social, and emotional needs of middle schoolers during this critical period of transition and development.Subject | Description |
---|---|
ELA | ELA encompasses grammar, writing, reading, and vocabulary growth. Creative writing is the primary focus, supplemented by research writing. Students explore poetry through song lyrics. Grammar is integrated into assignments, and vocabulary is expanded through the use of new words in various contexts. MAX Courage. |
Reading | Reading combines trade books and nonfiction articles. Students utilize Cornell Reading Notes to delve deeper into texts, uncovering underlying themes, character dynamics, setting significance, and specific vocabulary. |
Math | Math instruction utilizes the Sadlier suite of texts, reinforcing mathematical concepts from Grades 1-8. Classes are advanced, with pre-algebra in seventh grade and algebra in eighth. Chromebooks are utilized for graphing and visualizing mathematical data, with an emphasis on understanding concepts alongside procedural knowledge. Students often progress to Algebra 2 or Geometry in high school. |
Social Studies comprises three main courses: 6th grade Ancient History, 7th grade Geography, and 8th grade U.S. History. Each course emphasizes historical specificity, change over time, and the analysis of historical artifacts and documents.
Subject | Description |
---|---|
6th Grade | Ancient History explores humanity's earliest societies in Africa and the Middle East, progressing through the civilizations of India, China, and Greece, culminating with the fall of Rome. Students learn to analyze historical sources, including artifacts and documents, and gain insight into the achievements of ancient civilizations. |
7th Grade | Geography introduces students to physical and human geography, exploring Earth's natural processes and human interactions with the environment. Through the 5 Themes of Geography, students examine global regions and analyze spatial relationships. |
8th Grade | U.S. History traces the development of the United States from early migration to European colonization, major historical events such as the American Revolution and westward expansion, to contemporary issues. Emphasis is on analyzing primary sources to understand historical events firsthand. |
The Social Studies curriculum culminates in the annual History Fair, where students from grades 5 to 8 showcase projects on topics of their choice. Recent presentations include The Silk Road, countries like Brazil, and events such as The Cuban Missile Crisis.
Novels | Movies |
---|---|
Tuesday with Morrie | Facing the Giants |
The Acorn People | Little Boy |
The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates | The Shack |
The Shack | Miracles from Heaven |
Stella By Starlight | A Long Way Off |
The First Phone Call from Heaven | The Case of Christ |
Same Kind of Different As Me | The Case for Christ |
6th grade topics include: Plate tectonics (Earth’s interior, sea-floor spreading, continental drift); Earthquakes; Volcanoes, Rocks and Minerals, Weather and Climate, Earth’s Changing Surface mapping, erosion and deposition, fossils, geologic time scale.
7th grade topics include: Cell Structure, function, processes and energy, Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration, Mitosis and Meiosis, Genetics(patterns of inheritance, DNA, genetic disorders), Evolution, The body systems (Skeletal, Circulatory, Respiratory, Excretory, Nervous, Endorcrine and Immune)
8th grade topics include: Motion and Forces (acceleration, friction, momentum, Newton’s 3 Laws of Motion, Forces in Fluids), Energy (forms of energy, energy conservation and transformation, thermal energy and heat transfer), Chemical Building Blocks(states of matter and change, atoms, periodic table of elements, radioactivity), Atomic bonds, Chemical reactions and interactions, Acids, Bases and Solutions, Carbon Chemistry.
Two school wide performances each year: Christmas and Spring.
School Chorus which serves as leader of music at all school masses & special events.
Middle School Drama Club which presents a musical each spring. Past shows include: Alice in Wonderland Jr., Aladdin Jr., Annie Jr, The Little Mermaid Jr., Godspell Jr., Peter Pan Jr., The Music Man Jr., & Seussical Jr., Madagascar Jr.
St. Agatha School Band open to students in grades 3-8
In 2024 we have introduced a range of elective classes for students in grades 6-8 at Saint Agatha School.
Robotics with Mrs. deVarennes
Personal Finance with Mrs. Smith
Creative Writing with Ms. Tran
Theater with Mrs. Fitzpatrick
Each elective will meet weekly for 45 minutes and will be composed of students from all three grades. To ensure a well-rounded experience, students will rotate through each elective approximately every 45 school days.
LATIN IS BACK!We’re also excited to reintroduce Latin for our Grade 6 students, taught by Ms. McDonald.
This introductory course will cover basic Latin vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure, while exploring Roman culture, mythology, and history. Students will practice translating simple Latin sentences, discover the roots of many English words, and participate in engaging projects. No prior Latin experience is necessary—just a curiosity for learning!