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Principal’s
Corner
Each day brings new challenges and discovery. Our
Catholic Faith is what makes St. Gerald what it is… a school where
Catholic values are incorporated into academic lessons and life
skills. A wide variety of activities take place daily offering each
child a chance to succeed and develop skills and talents. Our faculty
and staff, parents and students are dedicated to actions that keep our
school,
Catholic
Vital Excellent
St. Gerald is a great place to be…
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Pre-School 3
year old
In our little corner of God’s world there is
mystery, magic, and miracles. Mystery is seen and experienced as
little ones leave the all-encompassing love of their parents, for the
first time in their lives, and learn to trust us, play with children
they have newly met, and explore, with small steps, the wonders of
learning. Magic is found everywhere. Blobs of Play-Doh become
letters and numbers; seeds grow into flowers; teaspoons of dough bake
into cookies; crayons produce works of art; story time carries us away
to far away places; and teachers and friends, who were unknown in their
young lives such a short time ago, are now a loving part of their circle
of life. Miracles are daily blessings as we see their little
minds grasp obedience to rules, the recognition of colors, shapes and
numbers, the solemnity of prayer, the excitement of learning, the
happiness of song, dance, and birthday parties and most of all, around
us all, is the miracle of God’s love which allows us to share this
precious time of life together.
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Pre-School 4 year old
For many of our students, St. Gerald
Preschool is their first school experience. The social interaction is
very important at this time. There will be many new friends to share
playtime, conversation, simple science experiments and everyday math
concepts. The wonder of God and His gifts is taught through all of our
daily activities.
A place of laughter,
And lots of fun.
A place of friendship
For everyone.
Letters and numbers
Dance and song.
Rhymes and music,
We’ll sing along.
God’s love around us,
All of our days,
As we work
And learn and pray.
Come, join us!
ST GERALD PRESCHOOL
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Kindergarten Room 113
The kindergarten children grow and bloom as they
build upon the roots of home and preschool. Our kindergarten curriculum
works to nurture the seeds of Christian faith and to develop a sense of
wonder and appreciation for God’s creative work. In the process we
discover and unfold our own creative powers and academic abilities
through language arts, math, music, art, science, social studies,
physical education, and technology.
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Kindergarten Room 114
Welcome to Room 114. We strive to make our
Kindergarten classroom a warm friendly environment that welcomes
children and makes them feel comfortable so they are encouraged to
learn. We celebrate each child’s uniqueness through a variety of
learning experiences. Whole class, small group and individual
instruction are used when teaching new concepts. Each child is an
equally important part of the whole class. It is vital to us to get to
know each child’s needs and we want to meet their needs. We value each
child’s opinion and encourage all children to join in discussions and
activities. We want to make learning fun!
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First Grade Room 105
Welcome to first grade at St. Gerald’s. This year
will be a fun and challenging one. There are so many things that we
will learn and do.
First grade is a year of incredible growth and
change for your child and it is a privilege to be a part of that. There
are so many new things that will happen for them; for some, their first
full day at school, lunch in the lunchroom, homework, tests,
responsibility, (just to name a few). By the end of this year, you will
be able to see a tremendous change in your child’s abilities to read and
write.
It is my hope that the year will be one that they
will always remember. My goal is for your child to enjoy being here. I
realize that they are still your precious little ones. Wasn’t it just
six short years ago that they came home with you for the first time? We
will keep them safe and happy in our environment and give them the best
foundation for their Catholic education.
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First Grade Room 107
Our classroom is created to provide stimulating experiences to enhance
each child’s development. This is done in the following ways:
Spelling: A list of spelling words
is sent home on Mondays. There is a test every Friday.
Phonics: We will review consonant
sounds and also work with the short vowels. As we progress, we will
decode both long and short vowel words. At the end of first grade, your
child will read words with consonant blends, fluently.
English: The children will learn and
practice the basic parts of speech, formulate sentences, and begin to
express their thoughts through creative writing activities.
Math: The curriculum consists of
numerals, sets, number words, place value, measurement, telling time,
counting coins and addition/subtraction facts to 20. Math class
provides many “hands-on” activities by use of manipulatives and daily
practice in which the children engage in chalkboard activities.
Religion: Areas of discussion are
as follows: Creation, Jesus’ life on earth, Advent and the birth of
Jesus, Lent and Jesus’ death on the cross, the church, the parts of the
mass and the symbolic elements represented in the mass.
Science:
We are in for an exciting
adventure as we study the world of science. We will cover topics in the
following areas: Trees/Plants, the Sky/Stars, our bodies as they grow
and change and much more. Many experiments in Science are planned.
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Second Grade Room 104
How exciting second grade will be as the children
prepare for and receive two sacraments. Before receiving the Sacrament
of Reconciliation and First Eucharist, we will study about our Catholic
faith while exploring the Holy Trinity, the Bible, prayer and the
importance of our parish community. In social studies we will celebrate
freedom, learn about our community, study geography, learn why our past
is important today, and know how important it is to work together in
every job. The children will continue to realize that reading is so
important as they continue through every grade. We will red some funny
stories and in English, we will write stories. Math will bring us
addition and subtraction facts, telling time, money, fractions, and
readiness for multiplication and division. Science is always exciting as
we examine plant and animal life on earth. Lastly, we will be very
wonderful writers as we learn cursive writing. So, here’s to an
enjoyable, busy year as we work and pray together.
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Second Grade Room 106
Welcome
to room 106. This is the year we prepare for the sacraments of
Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist. In Math we will get into the ideas
of two digit addition and subtraction along with a brief look at
multiplication. In second grade we have other great subjects like
science, where we learn about fossils and dinosaurs. Of course in
readings we will be reading some wonderful stories and see where our
imaginations will take us. Social Studies is a new subject so we will
find out what is behind the cover of our books at the same time. We
have a great learning experience together.
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Third Grade Room 204
Third grade brings many new
experiences to our students. They make a big move up to the second
floor and now they have textbooks too!
At this level,
the student is given more independence and responsibilities.
The students
read independently daily, write down their homework themselves, and are
held responsible for returning homework and papers daily. We learn more
about nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs in English. The students
also learn to multiply, divide, and solve word problems. New Social
Studies textbooks will help the children explore communities near and
far, as well as old and new. Good penmanship and spelling are expected
in our everyday work too. Technology is also a big part of our day. We
use the computer daily to practice our math and typing, and we complete
projects using the computer throughout the year. We discuss the many
wonderful gifts that God has given us every day. The classrooms attend
mass once a week. The students are reminded that Jesus is always with
us and they strive to follow in his footsteps as Catholics.
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Third Grade Room 205
Smile,
Rm. 205’s doors are open to all 3rd
graders. It’s time to have fun and learn more things. You will be
reading stories that will let you use your imagination, through plays,
puppetry, illustrations as well as reading orally and silently. In
spelling, the words will go along with the reader as we expand our
vocabulary. In English, we continue to learn more about parts of
speech, writing sentences correctly, and having the chance to do some
creative writing along the way. Handwriting is enhanced in 3rd
grade. We will continue to learn to form letters correctly. Practice
makes perfect! In math, we keep working on those addition and
subtraction facts, telling time, problem solving, money, and
measurement. By 2nd semester we become multiplication
maniacs, as we learn to multiply and divide! In science, we enjoy
learning about our world around us; plants, animals, matter and the
solar system. Social Studies give us the opportunity to learn about our
community and other places around the world. Religion is a time to
share what we know and discuss what questions we may have about our
faith. Twice a year, the students are given the opportunity to
participate in a classroom play. They perform the nativity, and the
Stations of the Cross. Through drama these religious stories are retold
to us by your children. So welcome aboard to 3rd grade, rm.
205 where it is, “Thumbs up to Learning!”
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Fourth Grade Room 206
Improving students’ writing is a one of the goals
of fourth grade. We study and expect the use of good grammar while
learning to write narrative and persuasive paragraphs. The students
study earth science by observing snails and by creating a compost bin
with worms. Whether acting or creating scenery, each student will have
the opportunity to participate in a play. Most importantly, we discuss
and understand the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes focusing on “we
should treat others as we want to be treated”.
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Fourth Grade Room 207
During fourth grade, the children will cover many
things. In Religion, the children will learn the Ten Commandments and
the Beatitudes and how to live them. For Math, we work at mastering all
multiplication and division facts through 12, multiplying and dividing
two and three digit numbers, and work at fractions and decimals. In
Social Studies, we learn all the regions of the United States, choose a
state for a project, research a famous African American for Black
History Month, and learn about Illinois. In English, we cover basic
diagramming, parts of speech, learn how to write narrative and
persuasive paragraphs and also write a five paragraph essay which will
include a topic and supporting facts, supporting details, and a
conclusion. This year is an exciting and challenging year!
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Fifth Grade Room 301
Fifth grade is the final stepping-stone for junior
high. To prepare students for this, responsibility, self-discipline,
and organization are stressed. We accomplish this through the use of
assignment notebooks, classroom jobs, homework accountability etc. The
core subjects, which include reading, math, English, and spelling, are
taught using a variety of teaching methods and assessments. Cooperative
learning and power writing are utilized in many subject areas. Religion
is taught daily. Topics highlighted in Science are plants, weather,
biomes, and the study of matter. Independent research projects are
assigned so students may utilize the Internet, library, and other
possible sources of reference. A variety of assessments are used for
each topic, including essays and oral response. In addition to these
subject areas, D.A.R.E. is completed in fifth grade. Some of the
activities students are involved with in fifth grade are a Veterans’ Day
Program, Beach Day, two choral programs, field trips to plays and
museums, all school Mass preparation and participation, and group
presentations. We strive to accomplish our goals always remembering the
presence of God in our lives.
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Fifth Grade Room 302
Fifth grade is the final stepping-stone for junior
high. To prepare students for this, responsibility, self-discipline,
and organization are stressed. We accomplish this through the use of
assignment notebooks, classroom jobs, homework accountability etc. The
core subjects, which include reading, math, English, and spelling, are
taught using a variety of teaching methods and assessments. Cooperative
learning and power writing are utilized in many subject areas. Religion
is taught daily. Topics highlighted in Social studies are the
explorers, early American history, the American Revolution, and westward
expansion. Independent research projects are assigned so students may
utilize the Internet, library, and other possible sources of reference.
A variety of assessments are used for each topic, including essays and
oral response. In addition to these subject areas, D.A.R.E. is
completed in fifth grade. Some of the activities students are involved
with in fifth grade are a Veterans’ Day Program, Beach Day, two choral
programs, field trips to plays and museums, all school Mass preparation
and participation, and group presentations. We strive to accomplish our
goals always remembering the presence of God in our lives.
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Sixth Grade Room 303
Sixth grade science is action oriented. Students
participate in the Illinois Rivers Curriculum Project, a national Science
Foundation, and Illinois State Board of Education interdisciplinary program
that involves not only science, but social studies, language arts,
mathematics, and technology. For almost ten years, St. Gerald students have
been conducting chemical, physical and biological field observations of
Stony Creek. Their data has been recorded, and reports, essays, art, and
poetry have accompanied their findings which are sent to Southern Illinois
University at Edwardsville, for publication in “Meanderings.” Stony
Creek data is then combined with other regional, state, country, and
world-wide data on the quality of water. The sixth grade is one of the few
elementary schools involved in this important work. The academic curriculum
is filled with independent reading, library research field trips for our
science fair, Project Decide, Family Life, and Biblical study. Other
interactive hands-on studies include local geology, prairies, woodlands,
wetlands, local history, church history, and succession studies at the
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Sixth graders work enthusiastically, and
have fun while they are working and learning!
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Sixth Grade Room 305
Sixth grade is all about excitement,
challenges, and personal growth. The curriculum is designed to give
students hands-on learning in a positive and structured environment. The
sixth grade students will start off the year remembering the heroes of
September 11th with special art and writing assignments. There
will also be a strong focus on the Bible during religious studies. Students
will be able to correlate the messages of the Bible with their lives today.
Diagramming and knowing the parts of speech will be a major focus in the
sixth grade English classes. This knowledge will help the students when it
comes to writing their Science research papers. Aside from the curriculum,
the sixth graders can look forward to added responsibilities on the patrol
front. Although the year seems to be jammed packed, we always leave room
for some fun. Junior high dances, sporting events, and pep rallies give us
time to celebrate with our friends and school community.
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Seventh Grade Room 304
As a part of the Junior
High curriculum, students will be taking one year of ancient world history
and two years of American History. In the sixth grade, students will study
ancient world history. Some of the topics that will be covered are ancient
Greece, fall of the Roman Empire, and the history of the Byzantine Empire.
The students will also be taught the history of Africa and Asia. In the
seventh grade, students will be taught the beginnings of the
United States up to the Civil
War. The students will also take the United States Constitution test.
Passing this test is a mandated requirement for graduation. The eighth grade
students will begin their studies of United States history starting from the
Civil War to current times. The students will also take the State of
Illinois Constitution Test, which is also a requirement for graduation.
The Junior
High studies include Religion class. Religion class is broken into two
parts. In the first part, the students are taught how to examine the
teaching of the Catholic faith and how to live their lives according to
Christ. In the second part the students are taught to understand the
Church’s liturgy and the working of the Holy Spirit.
Family Life is
also taught to the junior high. This program teaches the sacredness of the
human body. The Oak Lawn police department teaches the EDG E program. This program is designed
to deter students from joining gangs.
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Seventh Grade Room 307
The aim of the seventh and eighth grade English
curriculum is to integrate the necessary skills for effective communication
of the written and spoken word. Writing, grammar, correct usage, mechanics,
and speaking and listening skills are all included in this curriculum.
Grammar, usage, and mechanics are not taught as ends in themselves but as
necessary conventions for orderly and effective communication of ideas. The
entire language arts program is an essential tool for building competency
and success in other curriculum areas.
The objectives of the seventh grade religion
curriculum for the first semester are to examine the teachings of the
Catholic faith and the meaning of the Gospel and to develop persons of faith
whose lives reflect the message and values of Christ. In the second
semester the objectives are to deepen the students’ understanding of the
Church’s liturgy as prayerful celebration of all that God has done for us in
Christ through the working of the Holy Spirit and to develop an awareness
that our salvation was made present to us in the sacred actions of the
liturgy.
Project Decide is a program designed to help
students make educated decisions regarding their behavior. Value
clarification, decision-making, problem solving, communication skills, and
peer pressure are all addressed. Facts and information
explaining the effects of drugs on the body
are discussed.
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Eighth Grade Room 306
The eighth grade curriculum consists of the basic
academic subjects of religion, algebra, science, social studies, English,
and spelling. In addition to these core subjects, P.E. computers,
handwriting, art, family life, and Spanish are also included.
Religion is taught daily. Confirmation preparation,
service, and the study of morality are key to the program. Opportunities
for students to experience God’s word in all school liturgies, prayer
services, and retreats are also offered.
The family life program in the eighth grade reinforces
the values and principles in our religion curriculum. It challenges
students to reflect on the importance and sacredness of the family. Through
the written curriculum, discussion, role playing, and a variety of teaching
techniques, students continue to develop and practice the skills needed to
build strong Catholic family values and relationships.
In literature class, students enjoy reading and
discussing classic as well as contemporary selections. Students also enjoy
reading and discussing a diverse collection of poetry. Vocabulary building,
reading comprehension, and critical thinking skills are emphasized.
Independent reading is also required.
The junior high math curriculum includes Pre-Algebra
for all seventh grade students and Algebra I for all eighth grade
students. The primary objective of the junior high mathematics curriculum is
to provide students with a strong foundation for high school Algebra and
Geometry. Appropriate technology from manipulatives to graphing
calculators and application software are used regularly for instruction and
assessment. Faculty is available on a regular basis for additional student
support and tutoring.
There is a strong emphasis on leadership and service
during the eighth grade year. All students are given the opportunity to
participate in student council and the school service club. In addition,
eighth grade students are partners with the first grade students. Other
highlights of the eighth grade year include a tour of Chicago or
Springfield, incentive activities, eighth grade ribbon ceremony, the
graduation dinner dance, Great America, and commencement. The entire eighth
grade curriculum is intended to provide students with a well-rounded and
balanced educational experience.
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Eighth Grade Room 311
This school year will be filled with various activities
that will motivate and challenge the eighth grade students to become
successful learners and critical thinkers. As they learn about physical
science through lab activities an understanding of matter and energy and
their effects is developed. Science Fair Projects encourage students to
research an area of interest, design an experiment and report and discuss
their findings.
Decision-making and right choices are developed in our
religious education programs, which include “Morality - A Course on Catholic
Living”, Family Life and Project Decide. Also, Confirmation study begins.
Awareness and commitment to faith is deepened through active participation
in liturgy and prayer services.
Giving service to our school in activities such as
Student Council, the Buddy Program and Adopt a Shut-In, helps students
understand their role of responsibility to others and of good citizenship.
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Physical Education
Concerning children’s motor development,
curriculum, gym room, playground, and equipment the instructional program
is organized into three divisions (games and sports, rhythmic activity,
and gymnastics) for four levels; K-1, 2-3, 4-5, and Jr. High.
Physical Education promotes physical fitness, health,
and skill development. This task sometimes is difficult, but our students
will love it, because most children like to exercise and move and a
challenge. If they come prepared to participate and allow all to learn, they
will have fun and relax.
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Library-Media Center
The St.
Gerald School Library has a diverse collection of books, magazines and
research materials available to students and faculty. The school has an
extensive collection of instructional and educational tapes that are used
for complimenting regular curriculum. We acquire approximately 300 – 400
different materials for the collection each year, including up to date
reference books and magazines chronicling current events. Students visit
the library once per week during the school year and are encouraged to read
and check out books that build their interest in reading (grades 2 thru 8).
In addition to reading, the students are also introduced to library skills
and terms. These skills are built upon each year. Preschool, kindergarten,
and first grade students participate in “story time”, where books are read
to them, followed by discussion that aids in reading comprehension and
listening skills.
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Music Class all grades
The
music program has many goals for this school year. Overall, we hope to
enable to further every student’s knowledge and understanding of music, and
to have a good time in the process! We will expose students of all ages to
a wide variety of musical styles. We will sing and discuss music from many
different cultures and periods, as well as listen to examples of different
kinds of music. We’ll discuss the composers who wrote this music, what
inspired them to do so, and how they did it. We’ll discuss instruments and
their roles in different kinds of music as well. The focus in the younger
grades will continue to be on singing and performing, while the upper grades
will focus more on the creative processes behind the music they’ve been
singing throughout their elementary years.
There will be plenty of
performance opportunities for students as well. In addition to our winter
and spring concerts, students will have many opportunities to share their
talents with us in class. This will also help us in learning to become a
good audience for each other, and to respect each other’s efforts.
We encourage students to
take risks and try new things in class. Thinking creatively is essential in
music – often times there is no definite “right” or “wrong” answer in the
arts.
We look forward to an
exciting, fun-filled and musical school year with the St. Gerald students!
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Computer/Technology Hub
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Challenge Program
THE REVOLVING DOOR MODEL OF GIFTED EDUCATION
This model grew out of an effort to make enrichment
programs an integral component of the total school enterprise. St. Gerald
Challenge Program seeks to improve the extent and quality of enrichment for
all students by promoting a “radiation of excellence” throughout all aspects
of the school environment – all share the glory of various achievements by
all students in many fields of endeavor.. Although the gifted program is
based principally on reading and children’s literature advances in
creativity in all subjects are developed.
In cooperation with the classroom teacher, who selects
the talent pool of nearly fifteen percent of the school population the,
coordinator of gifted education serves to heighten interest and commitment
on the part of the students. This results in investigative activities,
artistic productions, and interschool academic contests in which the learner assumes the role of a
first hand inquirer – thinking, feeling and acting like a practicing
professional.
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Resource Program
St. Gerald’s Resource Program has been designed for
students who are experiencing challenges or difficulties in a particular
subject area. The students come to the Resource Room from their classrooms
at scheduled times throughout the day to receive extra help with the
specific subject. Improving their acquired knowledge and enhancing ongoing
curriculum is the main goal of Resource. This program allows junior high
students extra time and extra help during the school year. Review and
practice with grades one through five reinforce the children’s learning
styles. Entrance into the program is based on previous report card grades,
tests, and faculty and staff observations.
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ELS
LAB
The Essential Leaning
System also known as the ELS program is specifically designed to help
children in grades first through sixth with their reading and spelling
skills. Using a computer program the children stay on task with memorization
exercises and repetition of vocabulary words. This is a great program for
children because when they return to their classroom it reinforces their
daily curriculum, and contributes to success in their class work. Prior to
acceptance, ELS students are required to take a series of tests to confirm
that the program would be beneficial for them. After completion of the
testing process, students are placed accordingly into the ELS program.
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