Bishop McNamara
grades
curriculum guide pk3–5th
Inspiring a lifelong love of learning and giving. Our school is a place where the students learn from each other, from their environment, and through educational experiences —it is a place where childhood dreams exist.
Catholic School is a vibrant, warm and welcoming community centered upon the teachings of Jesus Christ. Our dedicated teachers prepare your child to grow to his/her greatest potential, both spiritually and academically. It is our ministry to help students recognize, foster, and exhibit their role in carrying out our Catholic values and traditions.
Bishop McNamara
BMCS Bradley Site
247 N. Center Ave. Bradley, IL 60915 815-933-8013
BMCS Bourbonnais Site 324 E. Marsile St. Bourbonnais, IL 60914 815-933-7758
Catholic School provides an exceptional learning environment that develops critical thinking skills through a variety of learning opportunities. The strong community, high academic standards, and celebration of the Catholic faith are the reasons parents choose Bishop McNamara Catholic School as a wise investment for their child.
FAST FACTS
BMCS Bourbonnais School
Hours
PK3
Full Day: 7:45am - 2:45pm
Half Day: 7:45am- 11:15am
PK4 - 5th Grade
7:45am - 2:45pm
Hot Lunch/ Daily Snack
There is a hot lunch program available to all students. Orders are placed every two weeks and paid for through our FACTS Family Portal. Students may bring in a daily snack as indicated by classroom teacher.
Uniforms
PK3
Hours
BMCS Bradley School
Full Day: 8:10am - 3:00pm
Half Day: 8:10am - 11:30am
PK4-5th Grade
8:10am - 3:00pm
Students in grades K-5th wear uniforms that vary by gender and season. School uniforms are purchased through Lands End Uniform Shop.
Extended Day
The Extended Day program is available to all families on days we are in session. Extended Day services are available before school beginning at 6:30 am and after school until 5:30 pm. On days where we have an early dismissal, Extended Day begins at the time of dismissal.
Parent Ambassadors
Parent volunteers are welcome! All parent ambassadors/volunteers are required to complete a VIRTUS/Protecting God’s Children course before volunteering in the school. Upon completion you may volunteer in your child’s classroom or at any school sponsored event.
Important Documents Required for Enrollment
Online Enrollment Application found in FACTS
• Birth Certificate
• Physical and Dental Exams per Illinois State Law
• Vaccination Records and/or Immunization Objection Form
pre-kindergarten 3
Philosophy
The 3-year-old Pre-Kindergarten program promotes exploration within both a structured and nurturing learning environment. Our child-centered program promotes and supports inquiry and exploration, as well as social-emotional development. Children are met where they are in their development, and they develop intellectual curiosity as they unfold their God-given gifts.
admission Requirements
In order to enroll in our 3-year old Preschool program, your child must be:
• 3 years old by September 1
• fully potty trained
Daily Curriculum Includes
• count, compare, read, and write numbers to 10
• develop self-care skills (getting dressed, putting shoes on, and washing hands)
• correctly begin to print his/her name
• develop independence and social skills through play and structured classroom activities
• recognize basic colors and shapes
• exhibit Christian behavior by helping and caring for others
• engage in active play using gross motor skills (jumping, throwing, climbing)
weekly educational experiences
• Music Class
• PE Class
• Art Class
• Visit to School Library
pre-kindergarten 4
Philosophy
The 4-year-old Pre-Kindergarten program allows children to engage their hearts and minds in their learning every day. The program is designed to meet the developmental needs of children through purposeful play and inquiry-based exploration. Students in our 4-year-old program begin working on age appropriate academics that will prepare them for Kindergarten.
admission Requirements
In order to enroll in our 4-year old Preschool program, your child must be:
• 4 years old by April 1
• fully potty trained
Daily Curriculum Includes
• count, compare, read, and write numbers to 20
• sort objects by traits like color, shape, and size
• religion (daily prayer, Bible stories, crafts and prayer experiences)
• recognize number, letters and colors
• name uppercase and lowercase letters
• fine motor skills through classroom activities
• work independently
• develop skills for problem solving and decision making through social experiences
• exhibit Christian behavior by helping and caring for others
weekly educational experiences
• Music Class
• PE Class
• Art Class
• Technology Class
• Journal Writing
• Visit to School Library
• Prayer Buddies at Mass
Religion
Students learn through stories, activities, prayer, and reflection about the Catholic faith and how we can be better followers of Jesus.
Mathematics
Develop beginning math skills through the use of hands-on experiences, problem solving and application.
• compare numbers
• understand addition and subtraction
• identify and describe shapes
• analyze, compare, create, and compose shapes
Reading / Language Arts
Instruction is adapted to sequential and comprehensive, and is adapted to meet individual di erences.
• phonemic awareness
• sight words
• grammar
• spelling
• vocabulary
• peer questioning and discussion
• exposure to writing
• listening skills
• reading fluency
• public speaking
• poetry
• partner discussions
Science
Students learn through observing, predicting, questioning, and explaining.
• trial and error experiments
• study of plants and animals and how they adapt to their environment
• weather patterns
• forces and interaction
• speed
• light and sound
Social Studies
Students will focus on the study of society and the relationship of individual members within a community.
weekly educational experiences
• Music Class
• PE Class
• Art Class
• Technology Class
• Journal Writing
• Math / Reading RTI
• Visit to School Library
• Prayer Buddies at Mass
kindergarten
1st grade
Religion
Students learn through stories, activities, prayer, and reflection about the Catholic faith and how we can be better followers of Jesus.
• attending weekly mass
• celebrating liturgical holidays
• working with prayer buddies
• service projects for our community
Reading / Language Arts
Instruction is adapted to sequential and comprehensive, and is adapted to meet individual di erences.
• recognize the distinguishing features of a sentence and grammar rules
• apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words
• read with su cient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension
Mathematics
Highlights include adding and subtracting numbers up to 30, solve basic word problems with the help of drawings, objects, and equations.
• developing understanding of addition, subtraction, and strategies for addition and subtraction
• developing an understanding of whole number relationships and place value, including grouping in tens and ones
• understanding of linear measurement and measuring lengths as iterating length units
• reasoning about attributes of, and composing and decomposing geometric shapes.
• tell and write time
• mathematical vocabulary
weekly educational experiences
• Music Class
• PE Class
• Art Class
• STEM Lab
• Technology Class
• Math / Reading RTI
• Visit to School Library
• Prayer Buddies at Mass
• build vocabulary
• writing for a variety of purposes and audiences
• guidelines for being a good listener
Science
Students learn through observing, predicting, questioning, and explaining.
• trial and error experiments
• life cycle of plants and animals
• patterns of sun, moon and the stars
• sound and vibration
• uses of light and sound in communication
Social Studies
Students will focus on the study of society and relationship of individual members within society. The students focus on
• awareness of local & world communities
• relationships among communities
• meeting needs through goods and services
2nd grade
Religion
Know and understand the basic teachings of the Catholic Church. Understanding of Gospel readings, discuss Bible stories, and begin to develop devotion to Mary and to the saints in their personal prayer life. Students prepare for the sacraments of reconciliation of first communion.
Mathematics
Develop the mental habits of precise, inquiry, and reasoning. Students continue with more sophisticated approaches to addition and subtraction and begin understanding the patterns leading to multiplication.
• extending understanding of base –ten notation
• building fluency with addition and subtraction
• using standard units of measure
• describing and analyzing shapes
• work with time and money
• mathematical vocabulary
Social Studies
Students will focus on the study of society and relationship of individual members within society. The students will focus on
• rules and responsibilities to help promote order and safety
• community projects
• learning important symbols, events, and people in history
• learn about wants versus needs
• introduction to basic geography and the use of maps and globes.
Reading / Language Arts
Gain more skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Continue to build an understanding of the connection between sounds, letters, and words. Enhance skills in using word roots to help figure out the meaning of new words.
• decode words for better reading fluency
• recognize and read gradeappropriate sight words using norm-referenced assessment lists
• read with su cient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension
• emphasis on using convention of the English Language
• narrative, opinion/persuasive, informative writings
• public speaking
Science
Students learn through observing, predicting, questioning, and explaining.
• Trial and error experiments
• The study of plants and animals how they use sunlight and water to grow
• Function of plants and animals in dispersing seeds or pollinating plants
• Diversity of life in di erent habitats
• Study of Earth systems
• Study of Matter
• Heating and Cooling weekly educational experiences
• Music Class
• PE Class
• Art Class
• STEM Lab
• Technology Class
• Math / Reading RTI
• Visit to School Library
• Prayer Buddies at Mass
3rd grade
Religion
Know and understand the basic teachings of the Catholic Church. Recognize that the Creed reveals the fundamental teachings of the Catholic Church. Share understanding of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Accept the example of Mary and of the saints as models for daily living.
Mathematics
Mastery of fact families in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Use this information, to be able to solve two-step word problems and equations.
• developing understanding of multiplication and division and strategies for multiplication and division within 100
• developing understanding of fractions, especially unit fractions
• developing understanding of the structure of rectangular arrays and of area
• describing and analyzing two-dimensional shapes
• solve problems involving measurement and estimation of intervals of time, liquid volumes, and masses of objects
• mathematical vocabulary
Reading / Language Arts
• identify the meaning of most common prefixes and su xes
• decode multi-syllable words
• read grade-appropriate irregularly spelled words
• daily exposure to writing
• emphasis on using convention of the English language
• narrative, opinion/persuasive, informative writing
• guidelines for being a good listener
• public speaking
Science
Students learn through observing, predicting, questioning, and explaining.
• study of plants and animals
• life cycles
• ecosystems
• heredity and environment
• species variation
• world climate
• electricity and magnets
Social Studies
Students will focus on the study of society and relationship of individual members within society. The students will focus on
• rules and responsibilities to help promote order and safety
• learning about democracy and rules and laws governing the lives of people
• voting and purpose of political o ces
• learning important symbols, events, and people in history
• learn about wants versus needs
• introduction to basic geography and the use of maps and globes.
4th grade
Religion
Continue to develop devotion to Mary and to the saints in their personal prayer life. Spread the Gospel message by joyfully sharing our faith and our practices with others. Demonstrate etiquette and reverence while actively participating in liturgical celebration.
Mathematics
Developing understanding and fluency with multi-digit multiplication, and developing understanding of dividing to find quotients involving multi-digit dividends
• fraction equivalence, addition and subtraction of fractions with like denominators, and multiplication of fractions by whole numbers
• geometric figures can be analyzed and classified based on their properties, such as having parallel sides, perpendicular sides, particular angle measures, and symmetry
• problem solving
• measurement and conversion
• mathematical vocabulary
Social Studies
Focus on the study of society and relationship of individual members within society.
• geographical regions of the United States
• gain an understanding of the physical characteristics, features, natural resources, history, and climate of these regions
• basics of democracy —local, state, and national governments
Reading / Language Arts
• know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words
• main idea of a text and explain how it is supported by key details
• interpret information presented visually, orally, or quantitatively and explain how the information contributes to an understanding of the text in which it appears
• author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text
• integrate information from two texts on the same topic in order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably
• read and comprehend informational texts, including religion, history/social studies, science, and technical texts, appropriately complex for the individual student
• know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words
Science
Learn through observing, predicting, questioning, and explaining.
• trial and error experiments study of plants and animals
• internal and external structures to support survival, growth, behavior and reproduction
• sensory function as it relates to brain processing and response to information
• natural energy and fuel speed and energy
• conversion of energy from one form to another
• amplitude and wavelength light reflection
SPECIALS
art
The Art curriculum fosters curiosity about materials and process while providing a strong foundation in visual art. Students are encouraged to develop their own artistic voice using a variety of materials such as oil pastels, paint, clay, and fibers, providing a creative outlet that is both joyful and challenging. Lessons share the art of cultures from around the world.
Music
Active listening, movement, singing and playing instruments are various ways students engage with music. Discovery, exploration and improvisation are at the heart of what we do, encouraging and guiding students to develop an appreciation for beauty, awareness of culture, and understanding of music as a vehicle for self-expression and an essential element of community.
PE
Designed to develop both small and large locomotor skills, PE instills an appreciation of a variety of physical activities and games. Individual skills are taught and practiced, and then introduced within the context of an age-appropriate game. Students develop their own individual skills while gaining an appreciation for their role as a member of a team. Good sportsmanship is stressed in every area of concentration.
Technology
Students will use a variety of media and technology resources for directed and independent learning activities. Students will learn to navigate online educational applications, recognize basic technology components and vocabulary, use letters and keys on the keyboard and learn and practice the basics of internet safety.
Bishop McNamara seeks to educate the whole child; body, mind and spirit by offering classes to develop those special areas.stay connected
Communication is an essential element for a positive educational experience. There are several tools to ensure parents are well informed and have an open line of communication with our school regarding updates and reminders, emergency notifications, student and family data, attendance and tracking student grades.
• Email Messaging: Sent to current families for important updates and reminders.
• Text Messaging: Sent as an additional way of communicating urgent information, school updates, and important reminders.
• Tuesday Folder Portals: In an attempt to go green, we have implemented a portal on our website for updated informational flyers for our upcoming school events and fundraiser events for Bishop McNamara.
• Weekly Classroom Newsletters
• BMCS APP: The Bishop McNamara Catholic School app provides parents, students, and faculty members with all the information they need in one place, conveniently accessed and formatted specifically for consumption on their mobile devices.
follow us!
Follow BMCS Online: Be sure to “like” Bishop McNamara Catholic School on Facebook and follow us on Twitter (@Bishop McNamara) and Instagram (@bishopmcnamara). Our school website is www.bishopmac.com.
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