Curriculum & Overview
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SCHOOL-WIDE LEARNING EXPECTATIONS
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1. Students Strive to be Faith-filled, active Catholics by:
A. Celebrating the message of the Gospel
B. Understanding the teachings of the Catholic faith
C. Building a strong moral conscience2. Students Aspire to be Life-long learners by:
A. Setting realistic goals
B. Utilizing technology competently and responsibly
C. Developing critical thinking skills3. Students Model Effective Communication by:
A. Articulating ideas clearly
B. Listening actively
C. Expressing opinions respectfully
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Curriculum
SAM's curriculum is infused with the message of the Gospel and meets California State Standards and the Standards of the Diocese of Orange in our core subject areas of religion, mathematics, English/language arts, social studies, and science. Our dedicated faculty goes above and beyond to ensure that students are engaged and challenged as they achieve academic excellence through the discovery of each student’s gifts and talents. In addition to our core curriculum, students enjoy specialized classes in Spanish, music, art, physical education, STEM, library, and social-emotional learning.
Learning Support & Enrichment
At St. Angela Merici Parish School, we understand that our students come with a variety of learning styles and needs. We strive to achieve academic excellence through the discovery of each student’s unique gifts and talents. We utilize a variety of resouces and teaching methods to help each child meet his/her potential, including:- Full-time learning support teacher
- Advanced tracks for math (6th-8th grade)
- Differentiated instruction within each classroom
- Diagnostic testing to provide personalized learning data for each student
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grade-level highlights
- Transitional Kindergarten
- Kindergarten
- 1st Grade
- 2nd Grade
- 3rd Grade
- 4th Grade
- 5th Grade
- 6th Grade
- 7th Grade
- 8th Grade
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TK highlights
Meet the Teacher
Mrs. Felix
"Always Remember to PRAY! God wants to be your best friend."Special Activities and Projects
Hosting school-wide Mass • Thanksgiving feast • Monthly early childhood activities with kindergarten students
Additional Subjects
Physical Education • Music • Friendzy Social-Emotional Learning
On Campus Presentations
- Puppet Show (on-campus performance)
- Bubbleology (on-campus presentation)
*Activities, projects, and field trips may vary by year.
Visit our Early Childhood Program page to learn more!
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Kindergarten Highlights
Meet the Teacher
Mrs. Santana
"There is more than one solution to a problem."Special Activities and Projects
Hosting school-wide Mass • Hands-on science experiments and demonstrations • Monthly early childhood activities with kindergarten students • Learning enrichment and support
Additional Subjects
Spanish • Physical Education • Music • Art • STEM • Friendzy Social-Emotional Learning
Field Trips
- Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch
- La Habra Children's Museum
- Puppet show (on-campus experience)
*Activities, projects, and field trips may vary by year.
Visit our Early Childhood Program page to learn more!
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1st grade highlights
Meet the Teacher
Mrs. Mcmackin
"One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world." -Malala YousafzaiSpecial Activities and Projects
Hosting school-wide Mass • Hosting The Blessing of the Animals/Feast of Saint Francis • Baptism Report and Presentation • Grade-level retreat • Accelerated Reader
Additional Subjects
Spanish • Physical Education • Music • Art • STEM • Library • Friendzy Social-Emotional Learning
Field Trips
- Tanaka Farms
- Santa Ana Zoo
- Sacred Heart of Jesus Retreat Center
*Activities, projects, and field trips may vary by year.
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2nd grade highlights
Meet the Teacher
Miss Beltran
"You can't win if you don't race!" - MaterSpecial Activities and Projects
Preparation for first reconciliation and first Communion • Eucharstic preparation retreat • Hosting Mass for the feasts of All Saints and All Souls • Saint report and presentation • Participating in the living rosary for May Crowning • Heritiage report, presentation, and potluck • Ocean animals group research project and poster • Accelerated Reader
Additional Subjects
Spanish • Physical Education • Music • Art • STEM • Library • Friendzy Social-Emotional Learning
Field Trips
- Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach
- Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Santa Ana
- Eucharistic Preparation Retreat, Heart of Jesus Retreat Center
*Activities, projects, and field trips may vary by year.
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3rd grade highlights
Meet the Teacher
Ms. lane
"The future of the world is in my classroom."Special Activities and Projects
Saints research activities • Advent lap books • Grade-level retreat • BFG novel study • Accelerated Reader • Introduction to cursive • Timed multiplication facts fluency • Native American interactive notebook • Totem poles
Additional Subjects
Spanish • Physical Education • Music • Art • STEM • Library • Friendzy Social-Emotional Learning
Field Trips
- Bowers Museum
- Heart of Jesus Retreat Center
- Shipley Nature Walk
- Honda Center First Flight
*Activities, projects, and field trips may vary by year.
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4th GRADE HIGHLIGHTS
Meet the Teacher
Ms. jaime
"Expect nothing, appreciate everything. Celebrate every win, no matter how small."Special Activities and Projects
Hosting school-wide Mass • Leading school-wide Stations of the Cross • Vocations Retreat, Heart of Jesus Retreat Center • Mystery book report • Biography book report • Accelerated Reader • California mission project • eLearning course, California Native Peoples and Missions (Saint Mary's Press) • Walk Through California • Departmenalized science twice per week • Lab experiment/investigation during each unit • Group science project (completed in class)
Additional Subjects
Spanish • Physical Education • Music • Art • STEM • Library • Friendzy Social-Emotional Learning
Field Trips
(Field trips vary by year. The following is a list of recent field trip experiences.)- Mission San Juan Capistrano
- Vocations Retreat, Heart of Jesus Retreat Center
- Walk Through California (On-Campus Experience)
- Honda Center First Flight
- Irvine Park Railroad California History Education Program
*Activities, projects, and field trips may vary by year.
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5th Grade highlights
Meet the Teacher
Ms. Melodia
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. (1 Peter 4:10)
Special Activities and Projects
Hosting school-wide Mass • Leading school-wide Stations of the Cross • Grade-level retreat • Accelerated Reader • Departmentalized science • Lab experiment/investigation during each unit • Walk Through American Revolution
Additional Subjects
Spanish • Physical Education • Music • Art • STEM • Library • Friendzy Social-Emotional LearningField Trips
- The Dana Point Revolutionary Voyage
- Class Retreat at Heart of Jesus Center
- Walk Through American Revolution (On-Campus Experience)
*Activities, projects, and field trips may vary by year.
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6th grade highlights
Meet the Teacher
Mrs. Mcconnell
*Middle school classes are departmentalized for math, language arts, social studies, and science.
"I am a little pencil in God's hands." - mother teresaSpecial Activities and Projects
Hosting school-wide Mass • Leading school-wide Stations of the Cross • Grade-level retreat • Accelerated Reader • Lab experiment/investigation during each science unit • Group science project (completed in class) • Advanced and traditional tracks available for math
Additional Subjects
Spanish • Physical Education • Music • Art • STEM • Library • Friendzy Social-Emotional Learning
Field Trips
- Santiago Retreat Center
- Heart of Jesus Retreat Center
- Astro Camp
*Activities, projects, and field trips may vary by year.
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7th grade highlights
Meet the Teacher
Mrs. wilkinson
*Middle school classes are departmentalized for math, language arts, social studies, and science.Special Activities and Projects
Hosting school-wide Mass • Leading school-wide Stations of the Cross • Grade-level retreat • Accelerated Reader • Lab experiment/investigation during each science unit • Group science project (completed in class) • Advanced and traditional tracks available for math.
Additional Subjects
Spanish • Physical Education • Music • Art • STEM • Library • Friendzy Social-Emotional Learning
Field Trips
(Field trips vary by year. The following is a list of recent field trip experiences.)- Catalina Island
- Religious Retreats
*Activities, projects, and field trips may vary by year.
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8th grade highlights
Meet the Teacher
Mrs. Valencia
*Middle school classes are departmentalized for math, language arts, social studies, and science.
"Teaching inspires me every day. Working with students brings me closer to the Lord."Special Activities and Projects
Hosting school-wide Mass • Leading school-wide Stations of the Cross • Grade-level retreat • Participating in the living rosary for May Crowning • Accelerated Reader • Lead student council and most assemblies • Maintain class garden • Active in local charities and monthly service projects • Participate in school wide faith families and big/little buddy program • Lab experiment/investigation during each science unit • Advanced and traditional tracks available for math
Additional Subjects
Spanish • Physical Education • Music • Art • STEM • Library • Friendzy Social-Emotional Learning
Field Trips
- Washington, DC
- Servite Theater
- Religious Retreats
*Activities, projects, and field trips may vary by year.
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parent communication
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St. Angela Merici Parish School recognizes the role of parents as the primary educators of their children, and we are honored to be your partners in education. We take this commitment seriously and encourage open and frequent communication between parents and faculty utilizing the following methods:
Cougar News Weekly School Newsletter
Courgar News is a weekly e-newsletter and is the main point of communication for school-wide events and activities. A short mid-week edition gives updates and important reminders. Occasional text message reminders are sent for time-sensitive announcements.
Weekly Classroom Newsletter
Each classroom and special-subject teacher sends a weekly e-newsletter with classroom announcements and a summary of topics to be covered in the upcoming week. Pictures are often included as well!
Communication Folder
Teachers send home a weekly communication folder with students' graded schoolwork and any news from the teacher and front office.Office Hours
Each teacher holds regular office hours as a time for parents and students to ask questions and address any concerns. Teachers are also available to communicate through email and phone, and by appointment.
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Parent/teacher conferences are held in November to discuss student progress and go over initial standardized testing data, if applicable. Beginning in 4th grade, conferences follow a student-led format. The student, parents, and teacher meet as a group to discuss the student's progress and goals for the year. Students spend time in class preparing for the conference which serves as a wonderful process of self-evaluation. This process also teaches students to set realistic goals and create plans to meet them.
FACTS Family Portal
Each family has access to FACTS Family Portal to access student grades for core subjects and special classes. Parents and students can access overall grades, scores for individual assignments, and a list of any missing assignments.
Report Cards
St. Angela Merici Parish School operates on a trimester system. Report cards are issued three times per year and are securely emailed directly to parents.Parent Meetings
Parents are required to attend two mandatory meetings per year. Topics at these meetings include the overall health of the school, changes to volunteer requirements and tuition, and an overview of student achievement, including generalized STAR testing results.
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STAR ASSESSMENTS
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Star Assessments are short tests that provide teachers with personalized learning data for each student. Star Assessments are computer adaptive, which means they adjust in difficulty based on each answer the student provides. This helps teachers get the best data to help students in the shortest amount of testing time (about one-third of the time other tests require).
SAM students take a Star Assessment for math and reading. Teachers analyze the data they receive to learn what students already know and what they are ready to learn next, to monitor student growth, and to identify students who may need additional help. Star Assessments are research-based and scientifically proven to help teachers guide each student on their unique path to proficiency.
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