Curriculum

Santa Maria del Popolo School provides a program of excellence for students in pre-k through 5th grade. The curriculum areas include: religion, language arts, reading, mathematics, science, social studies, health, physical education, Spanish, technology, and the fine arts. The Curriculum at SMdP follows the guidelines outlined by the Office of Catholic Schools. The detailed goals and objectives are contained on their site.

In the area of religious education, the school affirms families as the first educators of their children and relies on their support for reinforcement of faith learned at school. Parents whose children are preparing to receive the sacraments of Eucharist and Reconciliation are required to attend meetings related to the sacrament. All families are encouraged to attend Mass regularly, to pray together, and to discuss the value of their faith with their children.

Santa Maria del Popolo School provides students with opportunities for daily prayer, all school masses, and prayer services. Students in grades 2nd through 5th attend mass on a weekly basis in the chapel. Students are encouraged to live their faith by participation in service and ministry projects.

The SMdP Difference

Santa Maria del Popolo offers our students the outstanding foundation published by the Archdiocese of Chicago and Office of Catholic Schools.

In addition to the curriculum outlined by the Office of Catholic Schools, Santa Maria del Popolo is proud to offer the following:

  • Spanish: all students from pre-K to 5; 1x per week Santa Maria del Popolo is one of the few schools that offer a foreign language in the early elementary years.
  • Technology: all students from K to 5; technology is an important part of the daily routine. Santa Maria del Popolo features an updated technology lab.
  • Library: all students from pre-K to 5; 1x per week
  • Physical Education: all students from K to 5; 2x per week The P.E. and Health class are given in the new Parish Center featuring the gymnasium. Sportsmanship, listening, safety, respect, and effort are stressed. Physical Education has an important role in teaching students about fitness and the effects of exercise on the human body. It also teaches students correct motor skills to be used in athletics. A side effect from being involved in athletics is being able to participate as a member of a team. My goal as a gym teacher is to provide activities that allow maximum participation from all students involved. I also stress the importance of playing safely at all times. Lastly, the activities that I present are activities that students can use throughout their lifetime. Some activities include: throwing and catching, kicking and dribbling, t-ball, basketball skills. For the older children, volleyball, flag football, team building, floor hockey as others are included.
  • Music. Music at Santa Maria is built upon a foundation of active participation. Students discover music through singing, movement, dance, rhythmic chant and instrument play. The songs are often seasonal in nature and drawn from both American and World folk tradition. Students learn to accompany themselves on the xylophone, glockenspiel, a variety of percussion instruments and Boomwackers. For additional exploration into music literacy our 4th and 5th graders learn the recorder. Our 2nd and 3rd graders experience the orchestra a the Lake Forest Symphony, Peter and the Wolf, concert. The Christmas and Spring concerts offer opportunities for solo singing and special speaking parts. Grades 2 - 5 always look forward to the end of the year in class Talent Show. Music classes at Santa Maria focus on exploration and creation to bring out the musical self in each student.
  • Chapel: all students from K to 5; 1x per week

Each year, the faculty leverage their own talents and creativity, with the support of the administration, to append the curriculum in ways that help our children understand some of the issues that face ourcommunity and our world. Our new school year brings new opportunities for creativity and growth. Look for some of the outstanding examples this year:

  • Monthly All School Masses. These All School Masses are hosted by a designated class. Students from the various classes play integral parts during the Mass.
  • All School Science Fair. For 2008, the theme was: "Space." All classes participated with projects appropriately reflecting the work of our young children to the more experienced students.
  • Kindergarten. "Coins for Chicks" is supported by the Kindergarten class. The program highlights awareness for our younger children to support families in need of basic essentials. The children perform chores around the house and donate the coins earned to the program that provided food for families in need.
  • 1st Grade. A program to sponsorship a child overseas grows awareness of others around them. The children learn the value of giving and the impact that we as individuals can have on our global community.
  • 2nd Grade. In addition to preparing for Holy Communion, the second graders also focus on our government and society. September 11th is commemorated with a special "Hero" project and in February, each child prepares a written report and gives a presentation on a President. Two other programs are supported by the 2nd grade and include building a classroom library for a needy school (sponsored by Scholastic Book Clubs) and supporting a local family at Christmas (sponsored by St. Vincent DePaul)

Other grades participate in creative science activities including chick hatching and building a model city focusing on renewable energy. The older students continue to live out the value of service through community service activities.