Curriculum 

- Grades K to 6
Academics in the Lower School (JK to 6)

The Lower School is a place where young minds begin a lifelong quest for knowledge. Our foremost goal is to instill a love of lifelong learning in each child. Beyond that, facilitating student's social and emotional growth, stimulating creativity and imagination, and developing problem-solving, learning skills, and work habits to be employed throughout life are the focus of the curriculum.

In order to best meet the educational needs of our students, the classes in grades Junior Kindergarten to three are self-contained. Grades 4 - 6 are departmentalized, preparing students for life in junior high. Specialists in art, music, and PE support and enrich the classroom learning.

The Lower School curriculum includes instruction in language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, reading, religion, physical education, art, and music. Starting in the first grade, computer instruction is integrated into the curriculum.

For those requiring an extended day that supports your daughter's academic, social, and emotional growth, the Academy’s After School Care Program runs from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. daily, and 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday. 

Celebrating Girl's Day in JK



Wearing kimono and having tea, eating sweet mochi treats, and making special cherry blossom trees using thumb prints are just a few of the ways the JK class celebrated Girl's Day!

Kinder Kinder - How does your garden grow?

The Senior Kindergarten girls have taken an interest in gardening.  This year they planted several flower, vegetable, and herb gardens. 

They have patiently watched their gardens grow and blossom. Recently, Mrs. Oyer’s class harvested a crop of manoa lettuce.  Everyone was able to pick and taste their own piece of lettuce.  

Now, they are all anxiously waiting to harvest their crop of tomatoes, cucumbers, and strawberries.  In addition to their very own gardens, the SK classes also planted vegetables with their little JK sisters, which they hope to harvest in April or May.  

 

Robotics in Grades 4, 5, and 6

Students have an opportunity to learn about basic robotics programming skills as part of their science curriculum, with an engineering expert from the high school faculty.

During daily sessions, the student build Lego robots, learning to program the robots and use sensors.

In grade five (pictured), students were assembled into teams and guided in designing three programs: action replay, sound detection, and sound control. Once students develop basic skills in programming, they use their own creativity and prior knowledge to write programs. Go Robotics!

Science ROCKS in Grade 4
                   
Geology Bus Tour : Finding rock samples at Sandy's  Beach (Left)
Making observations of calcite minerals (Middle)
Taking apart a "mock rock" to observe its component parts (right) 

           

Grade 6 "I Am a Scientist" Program at Chaminade University

Students experienced Chaminade University’s I Am A Scientist program which is a part of a state of the art Science Research Center that provides students with hands on science experiences off campus.  Their goal is to increase science literacy and interest in Hawaii’s students, demonstrate the everyday relevance of science, increase student’s awareness of career opportunities in bioscience, and encourage them to continue their education and consider careers in science.

Students conducted experiments utilizing cutting edge technology and equipment under the guidance of experienced scientists.  Some of the experiments included extracting DNA from their cheek cells and operating and employing the use of motes and simple computer programs such as “Battleship” and “Connect Four” to practice cyber military operations.

Souvenirs included a white lab coat, Chaminade University t-shirt, pencil and their extracted DNA in a vial.

Art Exploration


The Lower School Art curriculum focuses on experimentation and exploration.  Here, the Junior Kindergarten (JK) students are trying out different kinds of watercolor paints.  They are exploring the properties of each (intensity of color, color blending, ease of use) and deciding on their favorite media. 

 

 

In addition to watercolors, the younger lower school students explore clay, paper sculpting, and easel painting.

Is it Living or Nonliving?


The Junior Kindergarten (JK) children had fun going on a nature walk looking for living and nonliving things to add to their collection!  They learned what determines whether something is living or not:
Does it need food? 
Does it need water?       
Does it move on its own?        
Does it grow?      
Does it reproduce or create more of its own?

Back in the classroom, the children sorted their collection according to whether it was living or nonliving.  It was an adventurous day of exploration, learning, and most of all, fun!


Chinese New Year Celebrations in SK

Catholic Schools Week Celebration 2011
Amimoto Video
Remee Tam - Vice Principal of Lower School
Phone: (808) 734-5058, ext. 255

Elizabeth Docken - Dean of Lower School
Phone: (808) 779-4896

Elisa Chong - Counselor for Gr. JK to 6 
Phone: (808) 734-5058, ext. 254

Terry Ching - Administrative Assistant
Phone: (808) 734-5058, ext. 256