St. Peter School, established in 1901 by the School Sisters of Notre Dame, offers a rigorous academic program to a diverse student body that includes many international students. Limited class size, a fully certified faculty, the majority of whom have Masters degrees, and the presence of two Special Education teachers enable the school to maintain consistently high expectations of all students while ensuring individual attention. Partnerships with local universities extend learning beyond the classroom. Foreign language instruction, whole language with a strong phonics component, Guided Reading, Algebra I and project-based learning experiences enhance the curriculum.

Leadership, respect, responsibility and commitment to faith are fostered through a variety of enrichment activities. The Student Council sponsors a dance, a food drive and other service projects. Basketball teams are coached by Mr. Gray and volunteer parents. Altar servers participate in school liturgies and celebrations. St. Peter School’s Afterschool program is designed to provide a safe environment with supervised homework time and activities to expand children’s horizons.

Religion
Religious education initiates students into the heart and beauty of Catholic Christian teaching centered on the life of Jesus and the values of His Gospel. The program promotes a continuing commitment to religious literacy through a systematic presentation that is developmentally appropriate. Students receive formal instruction daily combined with prayer experiences, multicultural global awareness, Scripture study and liturgical celebrations. Catholic Christian values permeate all areas of the school’s curriculum, culture and climate as students, teachers and staff embrace a way of thinking and interacting with one another consistent with Gospel values. All members of the St. Peter School community are encouraged to grow closer to God and to live lives that reflect that relationship.

The National Catholic Educational Association’s Aids Awareness Program, family life studies and prayer, penance and service programs, recitation of the Rosary, as well as preparation for First Communion are among the supplementary activities of the Religion curriculum.

Literacy/Language Arts
Literacy/Language Arts is the process through which a learner independently applies the appropriate strategies to read, write, listen, speak, and think in order to gain or communicate meaning. Most importantly, Literacy/Language Arts promote reading, writing, listening, speaking and thinking as critical tools in lifelong learning. The development of this process stems from balanced, explicit, and diagnostic instruction that is student-centered and takes place within a meaningful context. Students develop competency through the guided use of a variety of genres including basal texts, children’s literature, adolescent literature, informational texts and content-area materials. The integration of literacy skills across curriculum disciplines fosters the growth of student competencies. Regularly scheduled classes in the school library extend student exposure to children’s and adolescent’s literature.

Mathematics
Incremental development, continual review and frequent cumulative testing are the pillars of the Saxon Mathematics Program that is at the core of St. Peter School’s mathematics curriculum. Incremental development describes the method in which concepts are taught in small, easily understood sections presented in individual lessons taught over the course of the academic year. Once an increment has been taught, it is reviewed daily through worksheets and homework sets. The process of continual review helps to foster assimilation, mastery, and complete understanding of concepts and skills. Frequent cumulative testing allows students to demonstrate their mastery of skills before new concepts are introduced. Assessments encompass all concepts and skills that students have practiced.

Social Studies
St. Peter School’s Social Studies curriculum encourages students to see themselves as part of a larger community. The studies of communities evolve through the grades and include families, classrooms, cities, countries and the world. Multicultural awareness and a celebration of differences are central themes. Students gain knowledge of geography and map skills to gain a better understanding of the world around them. Intermediate and junior high classes focus on American and world history, geography and government. Class projects and a variety of field trips encourage students to demonstrate understanding of their place in society while expanding their interaction with the global community.

Science
The science curriculum is designed to introduce three major content areas: specifically, physical science including physics and chemistry, earth and space science, and life science or biology. Students in grades K1-8 are instructed in these areas through a spirally developed sequence utilizing the inquiry method with a hands-on approach to learning. At the earliest levels, topics are introduced while at other levels these same topics are reviewed and/or explored in more depth. Emphasis is placed on scientific investigation based on student questions, data gathering, research, observation and experimentation. Science instruction is further enhanced using videos, computer software, textbook articles, outreach programs, and field trips to achieve an in-depth understanding of the subject matter and its relationship to the natural processes in our environment. The program is taught by a science specialist in the school’s lab, which is equipped with a variety of materials designed to extend students’ active learning.

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Technology Education
The computer education program encompasses a comprehensive approach to developmentally appropriate technology skills. Concepts and specific skills are introduced, mastered and extended at appropriate grade levels and include: technology awareness, keyboarding, paint, draw and graphics, word processing, information systems, network awareness, Internet/Telecommunications, multimedia, video, electronic presentations, databases, spreadsheets, desktop publishing and programming. St. Peter School offers a program correlated to the National Educational Technology Standards taught in the school’s Hoff Technology Center and supported through a school-wide Internet-accessible computer network.

World Language
The study of Spanish language and culture is introduced in Grade 5 and continued in Grade 6 to 8. Taught two days a week by native speakers, students learn using interactive videos and text materials to apply vocabulary to oral and written projects that foster the development of comprehension and conversational skills. Teachers are contracted through “The Spanish Saturday School”.

Physical Education
Weekly physical education classes are taught to grades K1-8 and are designed to offer each student an opportunity to explore and expand their physical health. Students participate in a dynamic program of games and challenges that help them to develop their physical skills, sportsmanship and an appreciation of healthy habits.

Creative Arts
Students experience opportunities to enjoy and be fulfilled by their own creativity and self-expression through a variety of interactive experiences. Integrated in core curriculum studies and with special instructors in the areas of art, drama and music students explore their uniqueness. All students participate in school performances at Christmas and in the springtime as well as during holiday and liturgical celebrations.