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Elementary School

1st - 5th Grade
- Why Choose Holy Angels for elementay school?
  
  Holy Angels Regional School is dedicated to providing a quality and Christ-centered education that addresses the needs of the whole child: spiritual, academic, social, emotional, and physical. Our school prides itself on leading the way for our students to serve and care about the broader world around them. As a community, we emphasize the importance of self-advocacy and developing key leadership skills that enable our students to become the leaders of the future.
  
  We have direct access to St. Francis de Sales church, one of our regional parishes. Our school is also "campus" style so, in addition to our main building, we have a separate Pre-K building and gym/auditorium.
- 1st grade
  
  Our 1st grade is different from other public schools in the area because Catholic education is the core of our day. Catholic teachings are infused throughout each subject and used to foster positive behaviors and relationships.
  
  Religion:
  On Mondays, we reflect on Sunday’s Gospel reading with a fun lesson/activity and relate it to the student's lives. Throughout the week, we use the book “Blest Are We” for instruction, weaving the day’s teaching into all aspects of our day. On Fridays, we work on interactive Social Emotional lessons focusing on compassion and empathy for others.
  
  Math:
  We will learn addition and subtraction strategies and place values to 120. We will learn how to measure, order, and compare length, and collect, organize, read, and interpret data. We will learn the attributes of shapes, identify equal shares, and partition into halves and fourths. We will tell time to the hour and half-hour, identify and count coins, and solve word problems.
  
  Reading/ELA:
  Phonics instruction is a large part of our morning. A multi-sensory approach is used to explicitly teach phonemic awareness and phonics. Vocabulary building and comprehension skills are taught using decodable readers and rich texts. Students work through the writing process to write for a range of purposes (to entertain, inform, and persuade).
  
  Science:
  We will learn how scientists work and the tools they use. We will conduct investigations, gather information, and grow in our understanding of engineering, animals, plants, environments, earth’s resources, space, weather, matter, and forces and energy.
  
  Social Studies:
  We will explore aspects of self, others, families, and communities across the world. We will focus on the development of awareness of the similarities among individuals in the classroom as well as within the school, community, and world.
- 2nd grade
  
  Second grade at our school is such a special year! Because we are a Catholic school, not only am I able to share my faith with my students every day, but I have the distinct privilege of preparing my students for two special Sacraments, First Penance and Reconciliation, and First Holy Communion. Religion is not taught as an isolated subject but is infused throughout our school day.
  
  To make sure students don't fall behind, I often customize my teaching to suit different learning styles. For example, a typical math lesson is presented visually, orally and in a tactile manner through use of manipulatives such as counting cubes.
  
  Math:
  Adding and subtracting 3-digit numbers with and without regrouping, place value to 1,000, foundations for multiplication, measurement, time, money, and geometry
  
  ELA:
  Reading with fluency, reading comprehension, identifying story genres, author's purpose, sentence structure, writing (narrative, opinion, informational, friendly letter, poetry), main idea, sequencing events, compare/contrast
  
  Science:
  Using inquiry skills, planning an investigation, design process, plants, animals, habitats, changes to the earth
  
  Social Studies:
  Communities, government, democratic principles, rules and laws, goods and services, culture and traditions, life then and now
  
  Religion:
  Belonging to the church, asking for God's forgiveness, celebrating the word of God, celebrating the gift of Eucharist, Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion
- 3rd grade
  
  A typical day in 3rd grade consists of:
  Religion
  Math
  Science
  Social Studies.
  
  I alternate between science and social studies units throughout the year.
  
  In the afternoon the third graders have their language arts block. The language arts block includes reading, writing, spelling and vocabulary. The students are actively engaged throughout the day.
  
  Students are engaged through a variety of learning activities throughout the day. Kids can be seen engaging in hands-on learning, technology, creative projects and assignments. Students work in small groups, as a class and individually.
  
  To make sure students don't fall behind, one of the most important things I do at the start of a new school year is assess the levels and needs of each student in my class. I always identify the strengths and weaknesses of our students and identify their learning styles. Once I have a better understanding of my students’ needs, styles, strengths and weaknesses, we can begin to differentiate instruction to better reach them and to help ensure that they don’t fall behind.
- 4th grade
  
  As for the subjects I teach within the classroom, I like to balance the instruction out with the whole class, paired/partnered, as well as small group work. During the 4th grade school year, the goal for 4th graders is to become more advanced readers not just with their fluency but with their comprehension and their understanding of complex ideas and thoughts. They also are taught how to take her ideas and findings and construct an essay.
  
  For math, the students are expected to achieve the ability of basic fraction skills (adding and subtracting fractions), multiplication and division and be able to solve multistep problems.
  
  Throughout science, students will study electricity, geology (earthquakes and erosion), plant life, animal life and the human body.
  
  At Holy Angels we focus on New York States' history throughout the years. We also focus on World Geography.
  
  Within my classroom, the students will also be learning health. In health we will discuss bullying prevention, mental health issues and activities that can be done at home or at school to remain stress free.
  
  We also cover religion; 4th grades cover the following Sacred Scripture and Tradition, Catholic Creed, Catholic Prayer, Liturgy and Sacramental Life, Christian Living, Living Discipleship, Religious Diversity and Christian Unity
  
  If I notice the student is falling behind I will speak to the parents about coming in for an extra help session either in the morning or the afternoons. I also will try to pull them to my horseshoe table during independent work to work with them on the topic. If matters become more extensive I will try to work with the school’s AIS team to get the student the aid and support they need.
- 5th Grade
  
  Fifth grade is an exciting year filled with academic growth, increased independence, and opportunities to build confidence. Fifth graders are challenged to think critically, take responsibility for their learning, and model kindness, respect, and compassion. At Holy Angels, faith is woven into every part of the day, allowing students to grow not only academically but spiritually and morally as well. High expectations and a strong partnership between home and school create an environment where every child is known, valued, and encouraged to reach his or her potential. While many schools focus solely on academics, we believe in educating the whole child in mind, body, and spirit, preparing students to become compassionate leaders, lifelong learners, and faithful disciples of Christ.
  
  Religion
  Faith is at the heart of everything we do in fifth grade. Students deepen their understanding of Scripture, Church teachings, the Sacraments, prayer, and Catholic traditions while learning how to apply these lessons to their everyday lives. Students are encouraged to strengthen their relationship with Christ and live out the Gospel values of kindness, forgiveness, respect, and service to others. Our goal is to help students recognize God's presence in their lives and develop the moral character needed to make thoughtful, faith-filled decisions. Our Fifth graders also host one of our school liturgies, as well as present Stations of the Cross for our school community.
  
  English Language Arts
  Our English Language Arts program develops confident readers, writers, speakers, and critical thinkers. Students read a variety of engaging novels, informational texts, and historical literature while practicing close reading, vocabulary development, comprehension, and literary analysis. Through discussions, collaborative activities, and evidence-based writing, students learn to support their thinking with textual evidence and communicate their ideas effectively. Writing instruction focuses on narrative, informational, and opinion writing while strengthening grammar, sentence structure, organization, and revision skills that prepare students for the challenges of middle school.
  
  Mathematics
  Fifth grade mathematics builds a strong foundation for future success. Students develop conceptual understanding and problem-solving skills while mastering operations with whole numbers, fractions, and decimals. They explore geometry, measurement, volume, graphing, and numerical patterns while learning multiple strategies for solving complex, real-world problems. Students are encouraged to explain their mathematical thinking, persevere through challenges, and develop confidence as independent problem solvers.
  
  Science
  Science in fifth grade inspires curiosity and encourages students to investigate the world God created. Through hands-on experiments, engineering challenges, collaborative investigations, and inquiry-based learning, students explore life science, physical science, Earth and space science, and engineering design concepts. Students ask questions, analyze data, design solutions, and develop scientific reasoning while making meaningful connections between classroom learning and the world around them.
  
  Social Studies
  Our Social Studies curriculum brings American history to life through engaging lessons, primary source analysis, collaborative projects, and thoughtful discussions. Students explore the development of the United States from early exploration through the American Revolution, examining the people, events, and ideas that shaped our nation's history. They strengthen historical thinking skills by analyzing multiple perspectives, interpreting maps and historical documents, and making connections between past events and the world today. Students are encouraged to become informed, responsible citizens who appreciate both their civic responsibilities and the values that help build strong communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do you have an on-site school nurse?
  Yes, we have a full time nurse on site at all times. Either Mrs. Sweeney or Mrs. Hannigan is available in our main building every day.
- What food and snacks do you offer? How do you accommodate food allergies?
  Parents send in a healthy snack for their child to enjoy each morning.
  
  Additionally, parents pack a lunch from home for the children. On Wednesdays and Fridays, students have the opportunity to buy a $3.00 slice of pizza for lunch.
  
  Students with allergies are provided a safe place to enjoy their snacks and lunch.
- Do you have extra tutoring if a student needs extra help?
  Our teachers provide extra help to students who need additional support. They provide differentiated instruction in small groups. They also coordinate with our Academic Intervention teachers to make a plan for all students to be successful.
- Do you follow the same NYS testing as public schools?
  Students in grades 1-4 will complete the i-Ready diagnostic test in math and reading three times a year to identify students strengths and weaknesses. Teachers use this acquired data to best meet individual learning needs. Additionally, fourth grade does follow the same NYS testing as public school and complete the NYS exams in Math, ELA and Science.
- What time is drop-off and pickup?
  Drop off is between 8:00-8:15 am.
  
  The day officially starts at 8:25 am and ends at 2:25 pm.
- What do you offer for special education? Support?
  We have two full-time teachers who provide Academic Intervention Services for students in need of support. Additionally, students who have IEPs or 504 plans have accommodations met by service providers from the outside such as Speech, OT, PT, etc that will come to Holy Angels. All special education services are determined and provided by the local school district.
- How do you chose the curricula for each class?
  Our teachers work along with our principal to select curricula that they feel will best meet the learning needs of todayś students. We try to balance cutting edge technology with the core basics that students need to become lifelong learners.
- What extracurricular activities do you provide at your school for 1-5 grades?
  Students have the opportunity to join a variety of after school clubs run by our teachers, Fast Athletics and chess club. Examples of our teacher run clubs include but are not limited to: Cooking Club, STEAM Club, Newspaper Club, and more!
- What interaction do kindergarteners have with Elementary Students?
  Our Kindergartners are partnered with our 8th graders as church buddies who model and help them with proper behavior and participation when we go to church. Additionally, our Kindergarten is a part of our Christmas show, field trips, and special events with our early elementary classes.
- Are elementary schoolers involved with other grade students?
  Our students overlap across grade levels for special programs such as our Christmas show, field trips, reading buddies and more. Our teachers are encouraged to work with teachers in neighboring grade levels to collaborate creatively with one another.