Curriculum Overview

St. Barnabas School will use the Illinois standards-based curriculum developed by the Archdiocese of Chicago as a basis for instruction and modified for local needs. The curricula is available online at the archdiocesan website, www.archchicago.org/schools.curriculum.

St. Barnabas is divided into four organizational units:

Early Childhood - consists of a 3 year old and 4 year old preschool and full-day and half-day development education Kindergarten classes.

Primary – includes grades 1, 2, 3, and 4. Classes are primarily self-contained with little departmentalization.

Intermediate - Includes grades 5 and 6. Subject areas are departmentalized.

Junior High - Includes grades 7 and 8. Student areas are departmentalized.

The basic curriculum for grades 1 – 8 includes Religion, Family Life, Spanish, Reading, Language Arts, Spelling, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Computer Science, Music, Art, and Physical Education.

St. Barnabas uses the MATCH (Matching Achievement to Curriculum Heights) Program for Reading and Math to promote high student achievement for all levels of learners. Cluster grouping makes it easier for teachers to meet the needs of students in their classroom by reducing the achievement range of students within a classroom. For Reading, students are clustered within their grade by ability and prior learning. The content of the reading classes varies, depending on the needs of the members of the group, with all classes adhering to Illinois Learning Standards for the grade level. For Math, students are grouped within their homeroom grade or may also receive instruction in the next grade math curriculum. The content of these Math classes is grade-level curriculum specific and adheres to Illinois Learning Standards.

In grades 1-4, teachers send home a letter at least once a month to indicate what students will be learning. In grades 5-8, teachers send home a syllabus for each subject at the beginning of each quarter.

The school also offers students the following educational opportunities:

Utilization of the McDonald Learning Center
Technology instruction and integration into all academic areas
Accelerated Reading Program in grades 2–8.
Great Books Program for children in grades 2–8 sponsored by the Family School Association
After School Scholar Club
An in–school and out–of–school cultural program which includes performances, trips to the city, museum outings and other activities.
Opportunities to participate in a variety of school performances and assemblies
Involvement in Student Council (grades 3-8)
Learning through Audio-Visual Media use
Band lessons in grades 4 - 8
Strings lessons in grades 1-8
Sports programs for boys and girls in grades 1-8
Optional after school extra-curricular opportunities sponsored by the Family School Association
Use of the special resource teacher's services, for identified students
Encouragement of students to develop their talents through contest participation such as the Midwest Talent Search as well as other opportunities
Referrals to outside resources to meet each child’s particular needs. Services include: speech therapy, family therapy, learning disabilities and supplemental diagnostic testing.
A listing of available tutors