Our Curriculum & Specials

At Holy Name Parish School, we believe education is more than academics—it’s about nurturing the whole child. Our curriculum is designed to inspire curiosity, build confidence, and instill strong moral values, preparing students to succeed in a dynamic and ever-changing world. From early childhood through Grade 6, we emphasize hands-on, experiential learning that fosters creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration.

Our dedicated faculty and staff work in partnership with families to create a supportive and inclusive community where every student is encouraged to grow academically, socially, and spiritually. By integrating innovative programs in STEM, literacy, social-emotional development, and service, we empower our students to become compassionate, lifelong learners who live Holy Name’s values in meaningful ways.

Students at Holy Name Parish School outside

Our Guiding Principles

Our academic program, curriculum selection, and classroom activities are designed with the following in mind:

Students at Holy Name Parish School in class

A Relational Approach

A strong, trusting relationship between the student and the teacher is the foundation of learning and is the core of a Holy Name education. Classroom teachers carefully cultivate a classroom community where each student feels welcome, safe, and ready to learn.
Students at Holy Name Parish School volunteering

Intentional Holistic Development

Holy Name is committed to helping students develop responsibility, cooperation, empathy, gratitude, and honesty. This development is also interwoven into classroom instruction. A lesson in a particular subject can also be a lesson in learning from mistakes. The holistic development attends to the intellectual, spiritual, emotional, and moral dimensions of students.
Students at Holy Name Parish School in class

Classrooms Are Interactive

Deep and thorough conceptual understanding requires students to apply what they know. Classrooms offer opportunities for students to build, construct, collaborate, and debate. They work with the teacher, as well as with classmates, to construct knowledge and develop skills.
Students at Holy Name Parish School in class

A Balance Between Concepts and Skills

To enable future learning, students need to learn how to craft questions to inspire research, knowledge-building, and learning. While learning to ask questions is essential, students also need perseverance and robust subject-specific skills to answer those questions. Courses are designed to balance both.
Students at Holy Name Parish School in class

Technology as a Tool

The universality of technology cannot be ignored. It is an educational tool that can facilitate collaboration, allow for a deeper dive into a topic, and enhance learning. However, as a tool, students must also learn to harness it and balance its use. While students have access to Chromebooks and other technology, our school and curriculum is not entirely digital. We find value in pen and paper, reflection, and face-to-face discussion.
Students at Holy Name Parish School outside

Help Students Find Relevance

“Why” is one of the most common questions a child will ask. Part of inspiring and motivating involves helping students understand why they need to learn about a particular topic or skill. Assignments and projects help students understand the relevance of what they are learning.

Our Curriculum

Nursery & K1

Holy Name’s Early Childhood program provides a nurturing environment where we inspire curiosity and creativity.

Nursery Curriculum:
In our Nursery (3-year-old) program, we believe education is more than academics; it’s about nurturing the whole child. Our students experience learning activities that establish the critical foundations of literacy and numeracy. We emphasize hands-on experiential learning that cultivates a spirit of awe and wonder through child’s play. Students learn to share, make friendships, have conversations, and take turns. Through our social-emotional program, students are introduced to virtues aligned with our faith formation: kindness, respect, empathy, cooperation, responsibility, perseverance, courage, gratitude, honesty, and creativity. Through 8 thematic units, fundamental math, literacy, and language skills are developed. This is accomplished through literature and activities that explore various content areas, including science, technology, fine arts, social studies, and physical development. Our Phonemic Awareness program builds strong foundational literacy skills for our Nursery students. Holy Name’s Early Childhood program provides a nurturing environment where we inspire curiosity and creativity.

Kl Curriculum:
In our Kl (4 year old) program children learn through their play. Students experience hands-on learning activities that establish the critical foundations of literacy, numeracy, phonemic awareness, social studies and science. Our ELA, Math and Phonics curricula emphasize hands-on experiential learning that fosters creativity, critical thinking and collaboration. Each day students enter a nurturing environment that helps them develop the habits necessary to be successful students. We focus on the whole child. Our Curriculum is designed to inspire curiosity and build confidence. Through faith formation we instill strong moral values preparing our students to succeed in a dynamic and ever changing world. Through our Social Emotional program students are introduced to virtues aligned with our Faith formation: kindness, respect, empathy, cooperation, responsibility, perseverance, courage, gratitude, honesty and creativity.

Learn More About Our Early Childhood Education

K-2

In the early elementary grades, students learn to interact in a classroom, collaborate, share perspectives, and develop perseverance.

English Language Arts
Kindergarten through second grade uses Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) as the ELA Curriculum. The program places an emphasis on foundational reading skills but is a comprehensive program for teaching reading, writing, and listening. Through domains designed to interest them, students build knowledge and vocabulary, integrating all subject areas. Students build a strong foundation for reading and writing while developing key analytical skills that prepare them for the more complex reading comprehension to come.

Math
At the early elementary level, students use the Stepping Stones math program. Stepping Stones focuses on building a mathematical language in students that allows for thorough conceptual understanding. The program also encourages mathematical discourse between students. Stepping Stones also teaches multiple ways to share mathematical content, i.e., graphs, visual representations, and models. The hands-on experiential learning program provides concrete skills and concepts.

Science
The science program uses a spiraling curriculum that is carried through from one grade to the next. The program builds on the material covered in previous years and expands on concepts that are pertinent to the intellectual and developmental levels of the children. It is a comprehensive project-based inquiry, hands-on curriculum. Students utilize techniques of observation, their five senses, and the scientific method to explore various scientific topics.

Social Studies
The Social Studies curriculum encourages lifelong learning of communities, cultures, and major geographical areas to give students a better understanding of the world around them.

Religion
We integrate our respectful Catholic community with our commitment to the academic education of the whole child. Along with the formal education of our students in the Catholic faith, we are blessed to incorporate our religious beliefs and commitment into our daily lives and our curriculum. Our day begins with community morning prayer, and frequent Masses and prayer services provide the foundation for our Catholic faith. With the support of We Believe (Sadlier) and Stories of God’s Love (Benziger), students in Nursery through Grade 6 receive instruction in all areas of our faith.

Grades 3-6

As students transition into the upper elementary grades, we help students develop more responsibility for their learning and increase the emphasis on subject-specific content.

English Language Arts
Grades 3-6 use the Wit and Wisdom (W&W) program for ELA. W&W is a text-focused curriculum that simultaneously teaches students to read while building knowledge about specific science, history, or fine arts topics, e.g., oceans, the Civil War, and the human heart. This program helps students build the knowledge and skills they need to be successful readers, exceptional writers, and effective communicators. Every lesson allows students to build their knowledge while reading complex texts built around a central theme.

These core texts are wide-ranging and varied and provide a careful balance of literary, informational, and fine arts texts. As they read (and reread) these complex texts, important questions are asked for them to ponder, write about, and discuss. Students practice these skills and receive feedback from their peers. Collaboration and independence are the pillars of this program.

Math
Students use Reveal Math in grades three through six. The program balances conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, math fact fluency, and mathematical reasoning while also promoting the development of mathematical language and vocabulary. Math instruction includes the use of hands-on and interactive elements as well as real-world applications for math.

Science
The science program uses a spiraling curriculum that is carried through from one grade to the next. The program builds on the material covered in previous years and expands on concepts that are pertinent to the intellectual and developmental levels of the children. It is a comprehensive project-based inquiry with a hands-on curriculum. Students utilize techniques of observation, their five senses, and the scientific method to explore various scientific topics.

Social Studies
The Social Studies curriculum encourages lifelong learning of communities, cultures, and major geographical areas to give students a better understanding of the world around them.

Religion
We integrate our respectful Catholic community with our commitment to the academic education of the whole child. Along with the formal education of our students in the Catholic faith, we are blessed to incorporate our religious beliefs and commitment into our daily lives and our curriculum. Our day begins with community morning prayer, and frequent Masses and prayer services provide the foundation for our Catholic faith. With the support of We Believe (Sadlier) and Stories of God’s Love (Benziger), students in Nursery through Grade 6 receive instruction in all areas of our faith.

Our Specials

Students at Holy Name Parish School in class
Nursery to 6th Grade

Art

In the Art Room the goal is to assist students in becoming independent decision makers with superior problem solving capabilities.  We focus on developing the fine motor skills of each student, as well as develop their cognitive thinking skills. The students work in a variety of mediums ranging from drawing, painting, sculpture, crafts and mixed media, so that they possess a myriad of artistic experiences.  The curriculum in the Art room is both multicultural and multidisciplinary, so that what is learned in the Art Room can be applied in other areas of the students’ life and academic studies. The curriculum is designed to possess a context outside of the Art Room, so that again, students can see how and why Art has a place in every person’s daily life.  It is the goal of the Art program to create a community of art appreciation. 
Students at Holy Name Parish School in class

Nursery to 6th Grade

Music

Holy Name Parish School’s music program emphasizes the overall development of its students’ love of music. Students gain confidence in skills and performing by being exposed to a variety of teaching methods that are grade-level appropriate. Oral, written, and group work; partner practices; instrumental rehearsals; group and solo performances; frequent small group rehearsals; and composing are included in the program. Group games and dancing develop rhythmic and physical coordination. Students are taught comparison and description of historical and ethnic musical styles. The children transition from grade level to grade level beginning with simple percussion instruments and progressing to recorders and glockenspiels. Vocal technique is constantly developed through the grades.
Students at Holy Name Parish School in gym
Nursery to 6th Grade

Physical Education

Holy Name Parish School’s physical education program encourages the development of the social, physical, aesthetic, ethical, and emotional needs of its’ students. Students engage in a variety of age appropriate games and activities to reinforce aspects of development in a positive and fun environment. Movement concepts, game strategies, responsible conduct and sportsmanship focus on individual growth and versatility.
Students at Holy Name Parish School in class

Nursery to 6th Grade

Technology

The computer program at Holy Name Parish School demonstrates consideration for the appropriate intellectual, social, physical aesthetic, emotional, and ethical development of students in multiple ways. The program is designed to prepare students to effectively and ethically integrate technology as a learning resource in school and in their lives. The curriculum implementation philosophy is to continuously reinforce technological skills, thus building transferable aptitudes. The program also presents the Church’s Internet social teachings thus developing responsible digital citizens. Children are instructed to respect others, themselves, and the equipment at all times, reinforcing the Church’s teachings of core values.

The curriculum in the Early Childhood Program uses technology to enhance core curriculum areas including phonics, literacy, math, religion, and social-emotional learning. 

Students at Holy Name Parish School in class
1st Grade to 6th Grade

Spanish

Students discover and learn about different histories, cultures and environments. The children are exposed to cultural music, holidays and celebrated events.
Students at Holy Name Parish School in class

1st Grade to 4th Grade

STEM

Our STEM program is an Inquiry based hands-on curriculum to overcome challenges presented using principles of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Student at Holy Name Parish School outside
Nursery, Pre-K, & Kindergarten

Creative Movement

Students focus on the development of gross motor skills. Through a combination of activities, games, and movement to music, students further develop their abilities for healthy movement including hopping, skipping, and throwing a ball.

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