St. John Neumann Catholic School

Welcome to Saint John Neumann Catholic School!

Serve Others    Journey in Faith    Nurture Individual Excellence

2009-10 School Year

625 St. John Court, Knoxville TN 37934           865-777-0077

On This Site

 

ParentsWeb Resource

 

Resource Links

 

 

Link to SACS / CASI Website

 

Instructional Program at SJNCS

The instructional program at St. John Neumann Catholic School (SJNCS) is centered around the primary objectives of religious education and academic excellence. We are committed to the Vision Statement through our curriculum: St. John Neumann Catholic School will foster true discipleship of Christ by inspiring students to develop and utilize their gifts to the highest potential, forming responsible participants in an increasingly diverse world.

 

SJNCS follows the State of Tennessee Core Curriculum in addition to the Diocese of Knoxville’s School Curriculum Plan. Students in grades K-8 take Spanish, Art, Physical Education, Music, and Library Information every week, in addition to Religion, Language Arts, Literature, Grammar, Math, Science, and Social Studies. A complete technology lab is available to every student. All students attend Mass two days each week.

 

The school year is divided into four quarters. Mid-quarter, parents can access current grade reports on ParentsWeb, a web site specifically for sharing school information. The parents receive a written report card at the end of each quarter. Parent/teacher conferences are scheduled for the fall of each school year. Additionally, parents may request a conference at anytime. 

Reading/Language Arts

Grades K-5 use a comprehensive reading program including: shared reading, guided reading, independent reading, and whole group reading. Phonics and word attack strategies are integrated into the program. Spelling activities relate classroom reading and vocabulary. Middle School literature addresses techniques and terminology regarding many genres. Areas of study include reading strategies that focus on higher level thinking skills. Writing and language classes encompass writing and grammar. Writing is a cross curricular skill that is continually refined. According to the Tennessee Writing Standard, employed at SJNCS, students develop the structural and creative skills necessary to produce written language that can be read, presented to, and interpreted by various audiences. Each quarter writing samples from every student are assessed using developmentally appropriate rubrics/guidelines. Each student’s writing score is recorded and followed through subsequent grades. The Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) Writing Assessment is administered in fifth and eighth grades.

Mathematics

There are five strands necessary for mathematical proficiency: numbers and operations, measurement, geometry, data analysis and probability, and algebra. There are math technology programs available for every grade level. This technology offers re-teach lessons, daily lessons, practice lessons, intervention and enrichment lessons. Middle School students compete in the East Tennessee Math Bowl.

Social Studies

Classes study all facets of the world, past and present. At each grade level, the social studies curriculum involves class, group and individual projects. Technology is a vital component to our program. Grades K-8 use Scholastic magazine as tool for learning and understanding current events. SJNCS Middle School students participate annually in the National History Day Competition.

Science

Students actively participate in hands-on lessons using a variety of technology and manipulatives. SJNCS has a science lab for grades 6-8. SJNCS 3-5 grade students participate in a regional science fair. Middle School students participate in the Annual Southern Appalachian Science and Engineering Fair.

Religion

Students receive Catholic education through Scriptures, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, traditional prayers, and sacrament preparation. Religion is taught every day at every grade level. All students in grades 1-8 attend Mass twice a week while Kindergarten students attend once per week. The SJNCS “Sharing Jesus Now” Award is presented to students in grades 1-8 who have demonstrated their faith by “Sharing Jesus Now” in their daily lives.

Art

The basic concepts of visual art are taught in a sequenced skill-based format.  Grades K-3 have an emphasis on fine motor skills, correct use of tools, and following directions. Grades 4-8 are taught a skill, given an opportunity to practice and are then encouraged to bring personal expression and creativity to their assignments. The curriculum includes: color, shading, texture, perspective, landscape, print making, sewing and weaving, structure studies, figurative drawing, line and pattern, collage, composition, painting, 3D sculpture, and art history.

Music

All students in grades K-8 attend music class weekly. The basic elements of music-rhythm, melody, harmony, texture, form, and dynamic-are developed each year and performed in class assignments and school performances. Prior to the Christmas season, all K-5 students prepare a holiday school performance. Several times during the school year, liturgical music is reviewed and new songs are introduced. Instruction is given in unison, two part-singing, choral, duets, trios and solo arrangements.

 

Theater begins with an introductory class taught in 6th grade to all students. The 7th and 8th grade theater classes include the study of various dramatic presentations, technical direction using the school’s sound and light equipment, and set design. All theater classes emphasize communication skills, public speaking, creative thinking, group decision-making, problem solving, concentration, and listening.

Physical Education

Students are encouraged to challenge themselves and each other at every grade level. Each student is encouraged to develop an acceptable level of health-related fitness and to demonstrate knowledge, skill, and behaviors that promote physical fitness. Student in grades K-4 participate in physical education three times a week. Students in grades 5-8 attend physical education class twice a week. Extra curricular sports programs, as well as community sporting opportunities, enhance the physical education program.

Spanish

Spanish is taught in grades K-8. Students are expected to have knowledge of basic vocabulary and a beginning understanding of noun/adjective agreement and conjugation of regular AR verbs in the present tense by the completion of grade 5. Middle School students continue learning vocabulary, irregular verbs and stem changing verbs. Students are encouraged to learn to carry on simple conversations. Skits performed in Spanish in grades 7 and 8 will help students combine grammar and vocabulary in conversational form. 

Media/Library

Students may use the library on an individual basis throughout the school week. The library curriculum is integrated with classroom curriculum and students of all grade levels receive instruction in information skills and use of resource materials. 

Technology

All classroom computers are networked and have Internet access. During the summer of 2009, digital projectors were permanently installed in several classrooms. Over time, all classrooms will receive  similar equipment. 

SJNCS has a computer lab configured with 26 computers that have access to server- and Internet-based software. Every student has access to this lab for instruction in many content areas.

A second lab dedicated for upper grade use was upgraded during the summer of 2009 and is configured with 26 netbooks. They can be utilized for writing and Internet research. These netbooks are portable and can be utilized in other parts of the building as well. The Middle School math classroom has ten PCs used for individualized math instruction and tutorials. The K-5 classrooms have a minimum of three student computers.

The teachers and students also have access to: a portable interactive SmartBoard; digital cameras; portable digital projectors; and other interactive tools. 

 

ParentsWeb is an Internet-based communication tool and is the primary communication tool for school and student information.  Using a secure login, each family and faculty member can access ParentsWeb to acquire information including: classroom weekly letters; current grades; cafeteria menus; the school calendar; information relating to classroom work; and other detailed and privileged information not accessible to the general public. There is an email component to ParentsWeb which allows the faculty and staff to send information to the school community in a timely fashion. SJNCS has been using an online communications tool for a number of years and finds this form of communication to be quite effective.

Special Services Program

The goal of the Special Services Program is to assist parents and teachers in identifying and meeting the individual needs of students attending SJNCS. The special services teacher, in cooperation with grade level teacher assistants, will work with students individually, and in small or whole groups. This inclusive model has been adopted to give students and teachers the support needed to enable each child to experience success within the regular classroom.