The St. Paul School curriculum gives students a solid foundation of skills to help them master each subject. St. Paul supports students on both ends of the learning spectrum – those who need additional help and those who need additional challenges.  

Religion

• First Graders learn to love God as our Father.
• They learn about the life of Jesus.
• They study the Holy Spirit through scripture stories, and learn how the Holy Spirit acts in their lives.
• First Graders memorize these prayers:  Sign of the Cross, Hail Mary, Our Father, Meal Prayer (“Bless us O Lord …”), and Glory Be.

Language Arts

• The language arts program integrates a phonics-based reading and writing program.
• Good literature, silent reading, and group discussion are used to build a love of reading.
• Students learn to construct meaning from oral and written communications, and to express ideas through speaking and writing.
• Students correctly spell frequently encountered words.
• They correctly write simple sentences beginning with a capital and ending with correct punctuation.

Math

• Emphasis is placed on developing an understanding of math in the real world. 
• Concepts are developed using concrete manipulatives. 
• Students complete addition/subtraction sentences, identify number facts, and apply commutative properties of addition.
• Students learn about the calendar, money, and time.
• They master counting 1-120, counting by 2’s, 5’s and 10’s.
• Students add and subtract one and two digit numbers without regrouping.

Science

• The science program encourages students to develop a scientific curiosity about their environment. 
• Students use their senses to sort objects according to their observable attributes.
• They experiment with magnets and observe the interaction with magnetic and non-magnetic materials.
• Students learn the importance of the sun, and how life is dependent on a variety of earth materials.
• They study severe weather and learn precautions to ensure their safety if severe weather occurs.
• They study balance and motion through hands-on experimentation.
• They study the life cycle of insects such as mealworms and caterpillars.

Social Studies

• Students learn history, geography, civics, and economics through the context of “Family and Schools.”
• They use calendars to understand the passage of time, learning national events & holidays.
• Students learn with maps and globes. They describe different regions within their school.
• Students identify reasons for rules. They learn respect for the law and the rights of others.
• Students distinguish between consumers & producers. They learn about trade and how people earn and save money.

Specials and Extracurricular Activities

• First Graders attend weekly specials classes including art, library, music, Spanish, gym, and computers.
• St. Paul offers a wide variety of after school activities for First Graders, including chess, gymnastics, dance, scouts, and art.