St. Germaine School provides a rigorous curriculum that includes not only the core subjects of math and English Language Arts, but also science and social studies at all grade levels.
Curricular benchmarks adopted by the Archdiocese of Chicago Office of Catholic Schools identify key areas of instruction in Mathematics and English Language Arts. Copies of the benchmarks for each grade can be requested at the school office.
English Language Arts Curriculum
Our Language Arts program creates an environment in which students are immersed in literature and writing, encouraging students to become life-long readers and skilled writers, aware of their own voices and willing to engage with the world around them. The ability to read, write, and communicate clearly is critical to academic and life success. We believe that early and regular interaction with text, the joyful experience of reading and writing for pleasure from an early age, and the study of literature develop creative and critical thinking abilities and foster an understanding that helps shape our lives.
Math Curriculum
In Math, St Germaine students work through research-based curriculums that emphasize the application of mathematics to real world situations. Early elementary students work through Ready Classroom, part of the I-Ready series, and sixth-eighth grade students work with Prentice Hall and McDougal’s Algebra 1. Both curriculums take a spiraling approach, providing repeated exposure to concepts through manipulatives, frequent practice of skills, and the use of a variety of methods to strengthen students’ understandings, problem solving and fundamental math skills.
Religious education holds a key place in the daily curriculum. Students learn about Catholic beliefs, doctrine and practices. They participate in frequent liturgical experiences such as celebrations of the Eucharist and explorations of the scripture readings for the liturgical season.