Curriculum

While Annunciation Catholic School’s curriculum is guided by the Archdiocese of Washington Standards of Learning – that outlines the content of our teaching – our classrooms are dynamic, creative and challenging places of learning and teaching for every student.

Courses offered include:

Advisory / Conflict Resolution

Advisory / Conflict Resolution is offered to all students in Grades 7 and 8. It is a conflict resolution and character building class designed to help students acquire the skills and understandings they need to deal with conflicts productively and nonviolently within the framework of the Gospel values.

Art

Art, offered to all students, Kindergarten through Grade 8, is designed to develop an appreciation of the subject through studying its principles and history. Students have the opportunity to create art using a variety of materials. The creative efforts of all students are displayed throughout the year and during the Spring Art Show.

Computer Education

Computer Education is offered to all students, Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 8, in the Computer Lab. Students are taught the basics of hardware and software usage, keyboarding, and multi-media applications are implemented in an age-appropriate manner including work with graphic design. Software covering academic subjects is also incorporated. Students become proficient in search techniques on the Internet, creating power point presentations, and various graphing techniques.

Language Arts, Reading, and Writing Program

Reading for dedicated periods of the school day with a wide variety of choices is the cornerstone of our reading and writing program. Annunciation Catholic School understands that reading and writing are skills and experiences that must be joined and be the center of each student’s academic program.

In the primary grades, the Language Arts, Reading, and Writing program consists of Phonics, Spelling, Reading, and Writing. Reading is taught in the structure of Readers Workshop with independent reading, guided reading, and word study. Each student is assessed throughout the year to determine his or her instructional reading level and areas of strength, need, and interest. Based on the periodic assessments, the teacher can target particular needs and strengths for each student and the class as a whole. Daily read alouds are also an integral part of literacy instruction in the primary grades. Writing experiences begin with pictures and grow to sentences and paragraphs. Writing, in its many forms, is part of every school day in every subject area.

In the upper grades, a strong emphasis is placed on teaching students an array of reading comprehension strategies that they can use dependent upon the subject matter they are reading. For example, when reading a mystery, students can use their prediction skills. When reading a biography, students might create a timeline of important events. When reading an historical novel, students might employ the strategy of “thoughts and questions” to help them reflect and own their new knowledge as they are reading. Students learn a variety of literacy skills including vocabulary and concept development through wordy study, reading comprehension including literary response and analysis, English Language Conventions including the study of traditional grammar, the writing process including the different types of writing applications, and listening and speaking skills.

Writing portfolios are maintained for all students in Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 8. These portfolios become a part of the student’s permanent academic record as they follow the student throughout his or her academic career at Annunciation Catholic School. Writing portfolios are an invaluable resource for not only the current and future teachers, but also the student as he or she grows as a writer.

Mathematics

At all grade levels, the fundamentals of math are explored and instilled in a practical hands on manner that allows students to understand the real life applications of mathematics. Students are challenged to develop and hone their critical thinking and problem solving skills. Assessment is ongoing, or formative based, to give teachers the best information about the status of the student’s learning.

Students in Grades 5 through 8 are provided with math instruction in a departmental format. Significant emphasis is placed upon applying basic fundamental math skills and concepts to everyday experiences. In an effort to include writing experiences in math, students keep a daily journal. Additionally, in an effort to incorporate the work of our staff development collaboration with Howard University, teachers of all subject areas also work to include math in their teaching.

Pre-Algebra is offered to students in Grade 7 who have demonstrated an aptitude and have successfully completed the advanced Grade 6 math course.

Algebra is offered to students in Grade 8 who have demonstrated an aptitude and have successfully completed the Pre-Algebra course.

Music

Music, offered to all students Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 8, is designed to stimulate interest in the subject. Students make discoveries about concepts through singing songs, playing musical instruments, and studying the lives of great composers. The musical talents of the students are showcased during the Christmas Pageant and Spring Concert.

Physical Education

Physical Education, offered to all students Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 8, is designed to develop gross motor skills, physical fitness, sportsmanship, leadership, responsibility, and determination. Students in Grades 5 through 8 learn the skills and rules of several organized sports. All students participate in Field Day.

Religion

The Religion program teaches the basic tenets of the Roman Catholic faith and strives to promote the Gospel values through a lived faith experience. Each day begins with school wide prayer, and homeroom teachers provide religious instruction during the first class period. The parish priests also provide weekly instruction to individual classes. Bi-monthly Masses are prepared by Grades 4 through 8 and are celebrated with the entire school. Students plan each liturgy and participate fully as lectors, cantors, and altar servers.

During the liturgical seasons of Advent and Lent, students and faculty participate as one in daily prayer services. Stations of the Cross are said in the Church by the individual classes during the Lenten season. In honor of Mary, the Rosary is recited by the entire school, during the months of October and May.

Service projects are done on a grade level and school-wide basis during the school year. These include canned food drives, school-wide recycling, a walkathon for cancer research, Jump for the Heart, and fundraising for the Sisters of the Mission of the Holy Child Jesus and victims of the Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina.

In Grade 2, students prepare for the Sacraments of Penance and Eucharist. Students in Grades 7 and 8 prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation. As part of the Confirmation preparation, students must keep a journal recording and reflecting on at least 20 hours of community service.

Science

From Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 4 there is an emphasis on students predicting, observing, discovering, recording results, and making conclusions when studying areas such as plants, animals, life cycles, weather, rocks and minerals, the solar system, and the environment. In Grade 4, students study and use the scientific method while conducting their first experiment for the school wide Science Fair. The science curriculum in the upper grades consists of physical, earth, environmental, and biological sciences. The core curriculum is complemented by hands-on experiences and is inquiry based. In Grades 5 through 8, students participate in laboratory experiments and the school sponsored Science Fair judged by local scientists.

Social Studies and History

The social studies program focuses on the building of communities, cities, and countries with an emphasis on cultural and ethnic diversity. Primary grades focus on families and local and regional communities. They begin by examining the difference between the past and present, moving to understanding their rights and responsibilities as citizens, and how people can shape and change their communities by interaction with their environment, technology, and human and natural resources. In Grade 4, students examine the important aspects of our local community by discovering how geography and culture work together to shape the regions of Washington, DC and Maryland through topics such as the changing and competing uses of the Chesapeake Bay. Grades 5 and 8 study U.S. history from the discovery of America to the events that affect us today through various research and group projects. Grades 6 and 7 explore ancient civilizations and world cultures, while completing hands on projects such as building castles and researching how they function.

Spanish

Spanish, offered to all students in Grades 1 through 8, is designed to develop a basic understanding of Spanish vocabulary and grammar applied in reading and writing. Students also develop an in-depth understanding and appreciation for the Spanish culture.