Middle School - Enrichment Program
Foreign Language
St. Martin’s students begin their foreign language journey by studying French during their Nursery year. Emphasis in the Elementary years is placed on learning vocabulary, pronunciation and grammatical structures through songs and finger plays. Listening and speaking skills are introduced as students progress in their studies. The culture and customs of France are continuously reinforced.
In their Fifth-Grade year, students are given an opportunity to continue their study of French or make the transition to Spanish. Along with vocabulary acquisition, increased attention is directed toward dialogues; grammar, reading and writing are introduced. The Middle School program offers students an opportunity to continue their foreign language studies in French or Spanish 1A and 1B during the Seventh- and Eighth-Grade years.
Music
St. Martin’s offers a comprehensive, developmental program in music that benefits students by introducing not only songs and rhythm exercises, but also history, terminology, theory, and appreciation. Our music program weaves a multifaceted curriculum that addresses all learning styles and abilities, strengths and weaknesses.
Our Elementary music program incorporates the general principles of Dalcroze, Orff and Kodaly. Our First Grade studies American folk songs while learning the basic skills of sight-reading music. Students in Second Grade explore scale degrees, chord structures, and the ensemble experience with the creative “boomwhacker” program. The Third- and Fourth-Grade programs focus on more advanced tactile and instrumental skills through “Recorder Karate” in Third Grade and baritone ukuleles in Fourth Grade. Middle School students then build on this foundation by participating in either choral or instrumental ensemble. While heightening their understanding of the intricate nature of music, the goal of this program is to foster a genuine interest in and appreciation for music ensemble performance while preparing students for future opportunities in music.
Art
From pictures in museums, to advertisements on television, to the design of web pages, art is a part of our daily lives. The visual, spatial and material world we create is an expression of who we are as individuals and as a society. Not every child will become an artist, but at St. Martin’s we believe all children should be encouraged to develop the ability to see clearly and to decipher meaning from the visual forms around us.
St. Martin’s art curriculum encourages students in First Grade through Middle School to apply their ideas and imagination to the creation, interpretation, and critique of artistic projects. Students learn the basic elements of art and the principles of design using two-dimensional as well as three-dimensional design. Through experiential learning, they explore different media styles used by artists past and present Students gain insight into their own personal styles and learn to appreciate stylistic differences.
Library
On any given day in Library, visitors might find students in Kindergarten and First Grade laughing about the adventures of Frog and Toad in Arnold Lobel’s early-reader series, students in Fifth Grade using the Big Six research method for their reports on Native Americans, or students in Seventh and Eighth Grade engaged in an animated Touchstones discussion about the allegory of the cave in Plato’s Republic. St. Martin’s Library curriculum has a twofold aim: to encourage pleasure and to find meaning in reading.
Our Library curriculum is a developmentally appropriate, conceptually interrelated program. In the early grades --- Kindergarten, First, and Second --- emphasis is on book care, parts of the book, how books are made, and how we use books. Third- and Fourth-Grade Library curriculum examines the Dewey Decimal Classification System, fiction and non-fiction, literary genres, research, locating books in the library, and finding, organizing, and reporting information. Middle School Library curriculum is centered on Touchstones discussions, in which students take personal responsibility for the direction and depth of their conversations based on selections from thought-provoking writers. In both the Elementary School and Middle School, the Big Six method of research is employed to help students organize their approach to research projects and reports.
Technology
The First through Eighth-Grade Technology curriculum at St. Martin’s is based on a partnership with the University of Richmond and Boston University. This partnership provides a comprehensive program of instructional theory, curriculum integration, and application software. The Technology program consists of integrated lessons that are developmentally appropriate in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Publisher, Microsoft Power Point, the Internet, and Kid Pix.
At the appropriate level, each grade in the course of a year progresses through four units: GeoSearch, Web Writer, Wall Street, and Multimedia Yearbooks. In the GeoSearch unit, for example, the primary technological focus is on databases. Students use a variety of databases to explore a topic, learning to sort, filter, and analyze data as they hone research techniques. In the Wall Street unit, as a further example, the technological focus is on spreadsheets, as students combine math, spreadsheets, and stock market analysis in researching and tracking their own stock selections. As part of their final portfolio display, students present charts and tables. St. Martin’s technology curriculum enables students to use the computer as a tool of communication, enhancing their capabilities in research, analysis, and design.
Physical Education
St. Martin’s Physical Education (PE) curriculum involves physical activity through team sports, individual skills and health related fitness. Through our PE class, students improve muscular strength and endurance, build self-esteem and confidence, and learn the skills necessary to work in a team environment.
Students experience a variety of team games, including soccer, volleyball, basketball, lacrosse, handball, ultimate Frisbee and pilo-polo. The individual skills for each game are developed to help build confidence, self-esteem, and enjoyment. During all games and activities, good sportsmanship is encouraged and rewarded through the Good-Sport-of-the-Month program. Individual health related fitness activities are integrated into each class, including running, push-ups, sit-ups, plank pose, and other body strengthening skills.