“Curriculum” comes from the Latin word currere, “to run,” and describes the course or path that one follows in the “running” of their education. At Saint Michael, we want to equip our students to say with Saint Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Here, curriculum is not merely the subjects offered or the books that are read. It is a way of living that incorporates faith, academics, athletics, and student life, and a recognition that education happens everywhere, not just inside the classroom.
Our academic course of study is anchored in the great Catholic Intellectual Tradition and inspired by the classical liberal arts program that has formed generations and civilizations. With a particular focus on the language and mathematical arts, students also study history, science, and theology, with the Catholic faith woven into every subject. Physical education, music, art, and library are offered to students each week, and 4th–8th grades receive instruction in Latin, the root of almost all Western languages.
But teaching and instruction at Saint Michael is not limited to the classroom. We are formed as a school through Daily Mass, the Rosary, prayer, and the lives of the Saints. Students learn a new virtue each month and work to implement it in their lives, cultivating self-respect and respect for others. Our athletes are encouraged to practice virtue both on and off the field, and our broader culture of service teaches students to help others as an extension of what they learn.
We hope our students experience curriculum not only as a course of study, but as a way of life — one developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills and preparing them academically and spiritually for higher education and life beyond the classroom.
We also recognize that no child learns in the same manner, which is why Saint Michael offers learning support, guidance, and counseling programs to help every student succeed.
Academic Support
Guidance and Counseling
These programs provide resources for the growth and development of the student in three areas: Academic development, career development, and personal/social development. This is accomplished in classroom, small group, and individual settings. We provide parents with information on community resources, plan parent programs on relevant topics and maintain a crisis intervention management plan.
Guidance Counselor
Mrs. Melody Russell
Learning Support
Learning Support services are provided in-house by our Learning Support Specialist (LSS) and include:
- Progress monitoring throughout the school year
- Appropriate classroom accommodations
- Communication between the Learning Specialist, teachers, and the parents of the child monitored.
The LSS’s role at our school is centered on the individual needs of children with learning differences. Part of this role is to oversee student assessments which help us uncover the symptoms of learning differences early, to organize and review the data for parents and teachers, and then to monitor student progress as needed throughout the school year. The LSS keeps an ongoing screening process of students, and then initiates communication with the teachers regarding the data.
The LSS takes the lead in discussing assessment data, classroom data, and observations with parents, as well as providing recommendations for appropriate and feasible actions based on this data. The LSS will also provide referrals for diagnostic evaluations, specialized services, and specialized instructors, should the need arise.
As part of the support for students, teachers, and parents, the LSS meets with the parents and teachers to review current evaluation paperwork. After this review, the group will determine an educational plan for the student (Student Academic Plan or SAP), which includes proper accommodations to be provided in the classroom.
Learning Support Specialist
Ivette Raimundo
