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The curriculum of a school is the sum total of all decisions made concerning teaching and learning. The goal of all of our decisions is instruction that leads to high student achievement built on our mission statement. Our mission is to guide all children toward their own personal best using a variety of teaching methods, small classes and a challenging course of study. The effectiveness of our curriculum can be determined by our children’s scores on the Stanford Standardized Test and how well they perform in all levels of higher education.
The spiritual development of each child is encouraged through Chapel twice weekly and the study of scriptures and character- virtue traits throughout the week. A different character-virtue trait is highlighted each month, using stories and situations to enable children to make daily decisions based on Christian values. Our teachers afford children the respect of holding them accountable for real responsibilities and making wise decisions. The major Christian Holy Days are celebrated with stories, plays and songs. The students learn many songs to sing in the classroom and in the weekly chapel services. Participation of Fourth and Fifth Grade students in weekly chapel services encourages their speaking skills and leadership abilities.
Character and spiritual education is an integral part of the Ascension Episcopal School curriculum at all age levels. It is taught through a focus on character traits. Each month a different virtue is studied. Scripture, stories, dramatic play and daily interactions are all used to reinforce such virtues.
All students and faculty participate twice weekly in Chapel. Parents, grandparents and friends are always welcome, especially during holiday celebrations and at the time of the child’s birthday. Special Chapels are held for All Saints’ Day, St. Nicholas Day, Epiphany, Ash Wednesday, and Ascension Day.
Discipline is taught through instruction and decision-making rather than punishment. The staff nurtures each student with loving firmness, respect and fairness. We want our students’ interactions to be governed by a respect for others rather than fear of punishment.
The Anglican Church has had a long tradition of inclusiveness with respect to other religions and cultures. Ascension Episcopal School strives to continue that tradition, as the world we live in becomes more global.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Service to our Community is a very important part of our students' education at Ascension Episcopal School through the following programs:
WHAM (West Houston Assistance Ministry)
Holiday Cards for Veterans
Jump Rope for Heart
Community Service Day
Bear Hugs for Haiti Orphans
Technology is incorporated into the curriculum with classroom computers and a computer lab. Projects generated in the classroom are enhanced with the aid of the computer. The Internet is used for research and PowerPoint® is taught and utilized in the upper grades. The computer lab is used by Kindergarten through Fifth Grade. Computer literacy and keyboarding studies begin in the First Grade. Technology is the language of the future. The integration of computers with the core curriculum enhances the mastery of academic subjects. Learning the application of this tool furthers our student's ability to compete in a global society.
The mission of the Ascension Episcopal Library is to foster a community of enthusiastic, lifelong learners and readers. The library is open to faculty, students, staff and parents for research, reference, leisure reading, curriculum enrichment, professional growth and individual interests.
The Ascension Episcopal School library includes a well-balanced collection of books, magazines and professional journals, as well as a computerized library database and Internet access. The library is open 7:00 am to 3:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
The librarian encourages students to read a wide range of books and promotes the habit of reading for recreation and research. Assistance is provided for individual requests and for research projects using both print and non-print resources. Children in the Early Childhood Program and PreKindergarten classes are taken to the library once a week to have books read to them and to become familiar with the facility. Students may check out books during their weekly library classes and parents are encouraged to check out additional books for their children at any time.
Reading Lists for Summer of 2010
FIFTH GRADE:
HAISLN 5th grade suggested reading - http://www.haisln.org/recommendedreadinglists.html
Additional Books and Authors
You may choose books from the following list below:
- Author: Avi *Suggested Titles --The Seer of Shadows; Crispin: The Cross of Lead
- Author: Sharon Creech *Suggested Titles -- The Unfinished Angel; The Wanderer; Walk Two Moons
- Author: Kate Di Camillo *Suggested Titles--The Mag
Music is a window to the soul. Music study and appreciation begin in our Early Childhood Program and continue through Fifth Grade. Students participate in singing and learning to play various instruments. The music curriculum includes music history and music appreciation. Our choir, open to students in Third through Fifth Grades, sings for special chapel services, off campus for other occasions, and for our Christmas and Spring programs. Second and Third Graders are introduced to pre-band instruments (song flutes or "precorders") while Fourth and Fifth Grade students play soprano recorders. Second graders have class piano instruction one day per week.
Music triggers whole brain processes and functioning which directly affect one's cognitive, emotional and physical functions and abilities. Many studies have shown the positive influence of music instruction in children's academic success in ways that are observable, identifiable and measurable. Music study also opens minds to more creative thinking.
The physical development of our students is an important part of achieving our mission. All students at Ascension Episcopal School participate in Physical Education (P.E.) which includes a study of nutrition as well as encouragement of healthy habits at an early age. Recess, offering free play, is also part of our school curriculum. The importance of play in childhood is a vital part of a child's educational journey. It is the foundation for physical development, social interaction and the enjoyment of living. Through organized physical education, our students learn skills, cooperation and teamwork. The goal of P.E. and Motor Skills is to implement the following objectives according to the age and developmental level of each student:
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To learn and practice good sportsmanship and cooperation
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To explore a variety of physical activities (sports, aerobics, yoga, physically interactive games)
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To learn that physical fitness involves conscious choices which include nutrition, exercise, and responsibility for the care of one's body as the temple of the Holy Spirit
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To understand the connection nutrition and exercise have with learning, mental health, and physical health
Preschool and Pre-K activities concentrate on gross motor development, targeting the following areas:
Grades K-5 cover the following units of study, each encompassing an approximate three week time frame:
Fitness Health Trek is an assessment that takes place once a month. It is not a graded or competitive test, simply a challenge to each student in Grades 1-5 to beat his/her own record. The activities include a One Minute Sit Up Challenge, a 30 Second Push Up Challenge, a Chin Up Challenge and a 5 Minute Run. Students work in pairs and track their own progress on special cards kept by the teacher.
In addition to the regular curriculum, the P.E. Department also sponsors the following activities:
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Jingle Bell Fun Run (December)
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"Bodyology" Field Trip (January)
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Rodeo Day Dance Presentation (February)
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School Walk For Diabetes (March)
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Personal Safety Course (April)
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Flying Kites on Ascension Day
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Eagles Field Day (May)
In addition to the traditional science curriculum taught in the classroom, Ascension Episcopal School believes that students need to be involved in experiencing science through hands-on inquiry, not just covering the material in the textbook. Each class is involved in a weekly science exploration lab called Science Exploration in which students use the scientific method to carry out experiments. First and Second Grades attend a weekly lab for 45 minutes and Third through Fifth Grade students participate in a 1½ hour lab. Because the students are actively involved in the experimentation, they leave the lab with a real understanding of the procedure and their results. Many of these labs are designed to compliment the science units being taught in the classroom. In addition, our students are experimenting in other areas such as consumer testing, chemistry, dissections, and microscope investigations. As the students assume the active roll of scientist each week, they find science more exciting and develop a clearer understanding of scientific principles. Exploration, observation and the organization of data enable our students to think in a logical manner and improve their problem solving and investigative skills in all areas of life.
The Spanish as a Second Language Series Amigos is designed to provide a sequential course of study for students who initiate the study of Spanish in the early grades (Kindergarten through Fifth Grade.) The program provides for the systematic development of all four skill areas in language learning: listening, speaking, reading and writing. The functional use of grammar, rather than the study of it, is stressed in the beginning courses, and students are involved in actually speaking simple phrases and words in order to internalize basic structures.
Students are periodically assessed in the areas of listening, speaking and pronunciation and reading. Writing skills will also be assessed in Third, Fourth and Fifth Grades. |
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