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Religion and Academic Curricula

St Lawrence Elementary and Middle Schools provide a challenging, coherent, and relevant program based upon rigorous descriptor-curriculum outcomes developed by the Diocese of San Jose and California state standards. The curriculum fulfills the school's philosophy and mission, supports a strong Catholic identity, and leads to student achievement of the Schoolwide Learning Expectations.

The St. Lawrence Advantage in Religious Studies

  • Weekly Mass attendance
  • Daily morning prayer assembly
  • Prayer table or corner in each classroom
  • Daily religion instruction
  • Monthly service projects
  • Student choir for Masses
  • Monthly school-sponsored Sunday Mass
  • Preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist
  • Twice yearly penance and reconciliation services
  • Curriculum built on Diocesan Religion Outcomes

All students in grades PreK-8 receive daily religious instruction created from the Diocesan Religion Outcomes and the Sadlier We Believe textbook series. Teachers design lessons to meet student needs through whole group, small group, and individual instruction providing variety for multiple learning styles and abilities. The course of study consists of age-appropriate lessons in Church/Doctrine, Scripture, Worship, and Christian Living. Each class sponsors one service project each year for whole-school participation. For example, school supplies are gathered in September and sent to Mexico; Thanksgiving baskets are filled in November; and all students participate in meeting the needs for the Christmas Giving Tree in December. Service projects are introduced in the classrooms and wrap-up discussions and evaluations follow the projects to give meaning to the social justice teachings of the Church.

Each Wednesday the whole school attends Mass during which the classes take turns serving as altar servers, proclaimers, and gift bearers. The school choir leads the assembly in singing assisted by student musicians.

Twice each year the St. Lawrence Education Center community, grades K-12, gather for Eucharistic liturgy. In the spring, the presider is Bishop Patrick J. McGraw who also visits classrooms to speak with students following the Mass.

The St. Lawrence Advantage in Academics

  • Trained, experienced teachers
  • Extended Language Arts periods
  • Extensive use of math manipulatives
  • Spanish instruction in grades PreK-8
  • Library for Elementary and Middle School
  • Algebra for 8th grade
  • Fully equipped Science Lab
  • Fine Arts Pre-K to 8th grade
  • Technology integrated into curriculum
  • Co-curricular Event Days
  • Academic Decathlon

The curriculum at St. Lawrence is based on on the California State Standards, which have been adopted by the Diocese of San Jose. This foundation is further enriched by the variety and depth of lessons presented by the dedicated and enthusiastic teaching staff. All grades have extended language arts periods to establish a strong basis for all learning. This schedule allows time for more reading during class time, as well as writing and editing development. Library visits are part of language arts for elementary students, where they learn library skills in addition to story and literature enjoyment and understanding. Library is available for Middle School students as needed and is open daily at lunch for their use. There is a Middle School Book Club that meets in the library regularly to discuss the latest selection. In the primary grades, there is an emphasis on learning to read that incorporates phonics instruction concurrently with the teaching of multiple reading strategies using leveled books. Intermediate level and middle school students are instructed in reading strategies to increase comprehension and skills in reading in the various content areas as well as literary analysis.

Math manipulatives and math games are used extensively throughout the elementary grades to support the curriculum and to practice and internalize both basic facts and mathematical concepts. Primary grades use math centers and all grade levels strive to apply mathematics to real-life situations. Qualified eighth graders may take Algebra I in small classes that have been very successful at preparing students for high school Algebra II or Geometry. Students qualify for Algebra I through a combination of excellent grades in 7th grade, placement on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills, and the U.C. Berkeley Algebra Readiness Test. Their final acceptance comes after a two-chapter probation that determines their ability to do the work and keep up well with other classes.

All middle school students take science classes in the lab with a full time science teacher. The weekly topics are supported by hands-on activities and lab experiments each week. Middle school students complete a school Science Fair project, and the local winners enter the Silicon Valley Science Fair. The JASON Expedition, an interactive field trip, enriches the 6th grade curriculum and is also open to seventh grade. Eighth grade participates in Physics and Math Day at Great America in the spring. Elementary students have their classroom science lessons, led by the classroom teacher and an elementary science specialist, who brings hands-on lab work into the classroom.

Social studies curriculum follows the Diocesan student learning outcomes and California State Standards with emphasis on the strands of history, geography, civics, and economics. In kindergarten through grade three students are introduced to the basic concepts of each strand; beginning in grade four the basic concepts are woven together within the standards at each grade level. Teachers use textbooks, biographies, original documents, diaries, letters, legends, speeches, narrative artifacts, streaming video, and community resources to engage students in the content at each grade level as well as incorporating appropriate literature. Local, state, and national elections provide experiences of real-life applications of civics for students.

Physical education classes meet regularly according to students' age and grade level. Emphasis is on physical fitness and game skills that will prepare students for life-long physical activity and fitness. The program is based on the California standards for Physical Education and Health.

Spanish instruction begins in the Elementary School with once a week classes focusing on developing speaking skills and cultural awareness. In the middle school grades, Spanish is an elective and instruction is more formalized with the introduction of grammar as well as reading and writing skills.

The St. Lawrence Advantage in the Arts

  • Weekly music classes for grades K-8
  • Music fundamentals, history and appreciation
  • Choir for grades 3-8
  • Christmas plays, other plays with music
  • Art in every classroom
  • Arts in Action provides additional instruction

Students from Pre-K to grade 8 have music class one a week. The music instructor teaches the fundamentals of music as well as music history and music appreciation. Students are also prepared for special performances, such as the Christmas programs, in music classes. Choir is an extra-curricular activity for students in grades 3-8. The choir sings at the weekly student Masses and participates in the Diocesan Choral Festival.

Art is part of every classroom curriculum. Much of the color and life on classroom walls, windows, and even ceilings comes from student artwork. Arts in Action, a community-based fine arts organization, provides weekly lessons for the students that teach specific skills and often reflect the curriculum in other subjects. An annual Art Show in the spring showcases the students' talents.