Academics

Our Art program is one of the best in the Diocese. Grades K-5  have art once a week. Grades 6-8 have art once a month. The students learn to make many different types of art such as ceramics, sketching,  water coloring, oil pastels, chalk pastels, printing, and much more. The art created by the students is always showcased throughout the school. We also display the art at the Diocese of San Jose.  In addition, some students’ art work is showcased at the Saratoga Rotary Fine Art Show in the spring.

Grades 6th, 7th, & 8th

St. Joseph Catholic School, Mountain View is very pleased to offer a Middle School Spanish Introductory Spanish 1 class, beginning in August, 2016. This is an entry level course in Spanish that will work on listening, speaking, reading and beginning writing in Spanish.

The purpose of this Spanish is to help students to communicate, orally and in writing simple sentences in the present tense. This communication will be developed through repeating with the direction of a teacher, recording themselves speaking Spanish on their ipads, and speaking to each other in small groups. Vocabulary will also be emphasized such as learning all greetings, days of the week, months of the year, time telling, names of family members, colors to just name a few.

The course will be offered two days a week and a letter grade will be given.

Grades 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th

St. Joseph Catholic School, Mountain View continues to offer Mandarin twice a week to these grades.  This program introduces students to culture and commonly used words/expressions in Mandarin.  It provides a foundation for welcoming our Chinese exchange students.

Curriculum

Kindergarten

• Learning A to Z”
• Applications – Lexia and Razzkids

1st Grade

• “Practice Book” Publisher – MacMillan
• Learning A to Z
• Applications – Lexia, Razzkids, and Read,Write & Type

2nd Grade

• Spelling Sourcebook for 2nd Graders” Publisher – Egger Publishing
• Learning A to Z
• Applications – Lexia, Spelling City, Razzkids, and Read, Write & Type

3rd Grade

• “Spelling Sourcebook for 3rd Graders” Publisher – Egger Publishing
• “English Grammar and Workbook – Grade 3” Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company
• Learning A to Z
• Applications – Lexia, Spelling City, ReadingPlus, Razzkids, and Read, Write & Type

4th Grade

• “Spelling Sourcebook for 4th Graders” Publisher – Sadler
• “English Grammar and Workbook – Grade 4” Publisher – Houghton Mufflin
• Application – Lexia, Spelling City, and Reading Plus

5th Grade

• “Vocabulary Workbook – Level Blue” Publisher – Sadler
• ”Spelling Sourcebook for 5th Graders” Publisher – Egger Publishing
• “English Grammar and Workbook – Grade 5” Publisher – Houghton Mifflin
• Application – Lexia, and Reading Plus

6th Grade

• “Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Book” Publisher – McDougal Little
• “Spelling Sourcebook for 6th Graders” Publisher – Egger Publishing
• “Vocabulary Workbook – Level A” Publisher – Sadler
• Application – Lexia and Reading Plus

7th Grade

• “Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Book” Publisher – McDougal Little
• “Spelling Sourcebook for 7th Graders” Publisher – Egger Publishing
• “Vocabulary Workbook – Level B” Publisher – Sadler
• Application – Lexia, and Reading Plus

8th Grade

• “Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Book” Publisher – McDougall Little
• “Spelling Sourcebook for 8th Graders” Publisher – Egger Publishing
• “Vocabulary Workbook – Level C” Publisher – Sadler
• Application – Lexia, and Reading Plus

Curriculum

1st Grade

• “Envision Math” Publisher: Pearson
• Application – ST Math

2nd Grade

• “Envision Math” Publisher: Pearson
• Application – ST Math

3rd Grade

• “Envision Math” Publisher: Pearson
• Application – ST Math

4th Grade

• “Envision Math – 4th Grade” Publisher: Pearson
• Application – ST Math

5th Grade

• “Envision Math – 5th Grade” Publisher: Pearson
• Application – ALEKS and Mathletics

6th Grade

• 6th Grade General & Advancd Math – “Big Ideas Math” – Publisher – Big Ideas Learning, LLC.
• Application – ALEKS and Mathletics

7th Grade

• Grade 7 – “Big Ideas Math” – Publisher – Big Ideas Learning, LLC.
• Application – ALEKS and Mathletics

8th Grade

• Top five students go to Saint Francis High School Algebra 1 Honors
• Algebra 1 – “Big Ideas Math: Algebra 1” – Publisher – Big Ideas Learning, LLC.
• 8th Grade Math including Pre-Algebra – “Big Ideas Math: Course 3” – Publisher – Big Ideas Learning, LLC.
• Application – ALEKS and Mathletics

Music

Available for all grades

Music is taught once a week to grades PK-5. They are taught rhythm, creativity of music, harmony, tempo, and various music genres. All students participate in two performances a year: one at Christmas and one in the Spring. Ms. Paula Bates has been our music teacher for two years and assists at one other school. She has been studying voice and teaching music in the schools and in her church for many years.

Choir

Available for grades 4th – 8th

St. Joseph School has enjoyed a robust Choir program for many years. Mr. Joseph Pigg volunteers his time to work with and teach over 30 students, at 7:00 a.m. to 7:45 Friday mornings to help students with the complexities and beauty of Christian music. Our choir sings at all of the school Masses as well as once a month at the Family Mass held at our Parish, St. Joseph Church. They also compete in the Choir festival in April, held by the Diocese. Any 4th-8th student is welcome to join.

Curriculum

“Why Teach Physical Education?

Physical education contributes significantly to every student’s health and well-being. Physical education is an instructional priority for California schools.  Every student—regardless of disability, ethnicity, gender, native language, race,religion, or sexual orientation—is entitled to a high-quality physical education program. Physical education is an integral part of the overall education program for every student and provides one of the few opportunities for every student to develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence necessary to lead a physically active lifestyle. A high-quality physical education program promotes an active lifestyle and improved health, motor skill development, and better cognitive performance. (Etnier and Sibley 2003; Etnier et al. 1997).

Motor Skill Development

The proper development of movement and motor skills requires instruction, practice, and appropriate feedback. Most students do not develop the proper technique or understanding of movement and motor skills on their own. Proficiency in movement and motor skills allows greater enjoyment when one participates in individual and dual sports, combatives, aquatics, tumbling and gymnastics, rhythms and dance, and team sports. In addition, this proficiency carries over to life skills, such as safely walking and climbing and avoiding falls.

Academic Performance

Over 200 studies (Etnier and Sibley 2003) have addressed the relationship between physical activity and cognitive function. Meta-analyses have been applied to the studies in general (Etnier et al. 1997) and, more specifically, to children from elementary to high school age (Etnier and Sibley 2003). According to Etnier and associates (1997), the evidence consistently shows that despite study design, student health, or type of activity, exercise improves the cognitive performance of children. One study found that “devoting substantially increased school time to health-related physical education does not have detrimental effects on students’ academic achievement” (Sallis et al. 1999).  A Study of the Relationship Between Physical Fitness and Academic Achievement in California Using 2004 Test Results (2005) reports that while there is little research on the relationship between physical fitness and academic achievement, the research that has been conducted indicates a positive correlation between physical fitness and academic achievement. As one rises, so does the other (A Study of the Relationship Between Physical Fitness and Academic Achievement 2005, 1). (Physical Education Framework for California Public Schools Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve Adopted by theCalifornia State Board of Education Published by the California Department of Education Sacramento, 2009)

Lesson Plan

FALL

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

• Orientation
• Games-Color Tag
• Football, Throwing & Catching
• Football, Punting, Kicking & Flag Pulling
• Trash Can Football with Flags
• Fort Knox, Capture the Chicken, Cat & Mouse Dodge ball

OCTOBER 2016

• Hot/Cold Water Dodge Ball
• Softball, Throwing & Catching
• Softball, Hitting Instructions, Tee Hitting
• Softball Games

NOVEMBER 2016

• Soccer, Dribbling, Kicking, Throw-Ins, Passing
• Soccer, Sharks & Minnows( K-4), KOC Free Throw Contest(5-8)
• Soccer Games
• Presidential Physical Fitness Testing I(Pull-ups) & Team Handball

WINTER

DECEMBER 2016

• Presidential Physical Fitness Testing II(Shuttle Run)
• Giant Soccerball Soccer, 4 Goal Soccer

JANUARY 2017

• Basketball, Skills-Shooting, Dribbling & Passing
• Basketball, Bowling Basketball, Team 21
• Basketball, Numbers Basketball, Champion Basketball
• Basketball, Around the World, Knockout

FEBRUARY 2017

• No Swipe Basketball (Standard Basketball)
• No Swipe Basketball (Standard Basketball)
• Kickball Basketball
• Presidential Physical Fitness Testing-Part III(Sit-ups)

SPRING

MARCH 2017

• Presidential Physical Fitness Testing-Part IV(V-Sit)
• Kickball – Long Base, Regular
• Volleyball, Skills-Setting, Bumping, Serving
• Volleyball Games – Regular & Beach Volleyball

APRIL 2017

• Presidential Physical Fitness Testing-Part V(Mile Run)
• Track – 50 Meter, 100 Meter, 200 Meter, 400 Meter, Softball
• Throw & Relays

MAY/JUNE 2017

• Track-Continued
• Cross Country Running, Kickball-Standard
• Polo
• Tennis Baseball, Circuit Training, Musical Hoops
• Students Favorites

Curriculum

First Eucharist is offered to all students second through eighth grades.  Confirmation is offered to seventh and eighth students on even years.

Kindergarten

• “God Loves Us” Publisher – Loyola Press

1st Grade

• “Finding God – Our Responses to God” Publisher – Loyola Press

2nd Grade

• “The Sacrament of Reconciliation – Making Things Right” Publisher – One Sunday Invision, Inc.
• “Finding God – Our Response to God’s Gifts” Publisher – Loyola Press

3rd Grade

• “Finding God” Publisher – Loyola Press

4th Grade

• “Finding God” Publisher – Loyola Press

5th Grade

• “Finding God: Our Response to God’s Gifts – Grade 5 Publisher – Loyola Press
• “Finding God: Our Response to God’s Gifts – Grade 5 – Workbook Publisher – Loyola Press

6th Grade

• “Finding God: Our Response to God’s Gifts – Grade 6 Publisher – Loyola Press
• “Finding God: Our Response to God’s Gifts – Grade 6 – Workbook Publisher – Loyola Press

7th Grade

• “Finding God – Following Jesus – Grade 7” Publisher – Loyola Press
• “Finding God – Following Jesus – Grade 7 Workbook” Publisher – Loyola Press

8th Grade

• “Finding God – Celebrating Church – Grade 8” Publisher – Loyola Press
• “Finding God – Celebrating Church – Grade 8 Workbook” Publisher – Loyola Press

Curriculum

1st Grade

• “Discovery Works” Publisher – Houghton Mifflin Science

2nd Grade

• “Discovery Works” Publisher – Houghton Mifflin Science

3rd Grade

• “Discovery Works” Publisher – Houghton Mifflin Science

4th Grade

• “Discovery Works – Grade 4” Publisher – Houghton Mifflin Science

5th Grade

• “Discovery Works – Grade 5” Publisher – Houghton Mifflin Science

6th Grade

• “Focus on Earth Science – 6th Grade” Publisher – Prentice Hall

7th Grade

• “Focus on Life Science – 7th Grade” Publisher – Prentice Hall

8th Grade

• “Focus on Physical Science – 8th Grade” Publisher – Prentice Hall

Curriculum

2nd Grade

• “Some People I Know” Publisher – Houghton Mifflin Social Studies

3rd Grade

• ”History-Social Science for California – Our Communities” Publisher – Scott Foresman

4th Grade

• ”History-Social Science for California – Our State” Publisher – Scott Foresman

5th Grade

• ”History-Social Science for California – Our Nation” Publisher – Scott Foresman

6th Grade

• “World History – Ancient Civilizations” Publisher – McDougal Littell

7th Grade

• “World History – Medieval and Early Modern Times” Publisher – McDougal Littell

8th Grade

• “United States History – Colonization to Reconstruction” Publisher – McDougal Littell