Lower School (Grades PK-4)
As a member of a family, a child knows the love and security of a home. The transition from home life to school life is an important milestone in a child’s early development. At the Academy, as at all Sacred Heart schools, love and care for each student helps to ensure a smooth transition. Most students begin their Academy years in the half-day Pre-Primary class for four-year-olds or the full-day Primary class for five-year-olds.
Grades 1-4 encompass dramatic growth and build on the foundation of the Primary year. Through a program of comprehensive and rigorous studies, children learn to master basic skills, form good study habits, demonstrate understanding of concepts, and develop strong writing skills.
In keeping with the Sacred Heart philosophy of educating the whole child, a strong emphasis on character formation is at the heart of our Lower School program.
Middle School (Grades 5-8)
This special stage of development is pivotal in a child’s life. The Middle School program at the Academy is designed around a core curriculum implemented through a block schedule. This type of schedule, with its multiple learning strategies, invites the student to be actively engaged in the learning process.
Learning environments that allow for differences in learning styles are created in various ways.
- Acknowledging the adolescent’s increased sociability, Middle School classes often feature small group work, which places the child in a cooperative learning environment.
- Math classes are ability grouped (in grades 7 and 8) to allow for more individualized attention.
- To maximize the learning strengths of both boys and girls, the Academy has single gender classes in grades 6, 7 and 8.
As is true in the Lower School, a strong emphasis on character formation is integral to the Middle School program.
