Lower School

The Duchesne Pre-K3 program introduces a wide variety of topics that allow children to learn by hands-on experiences and through play. Social and emotional development is crucial for flourishing in our program. These skills allow children to develop positive relationships with others. The language arts and math programs allow children the opportunity to become actively engaged in their lessons and in learning fundamental skills.

The Duchesne Pre-K4 program begins the girl’s learning experience by building the foundational skills of reading, such as phonemic awareness and phonics, mathematics, science, social studies, problem-solving, and social growth with fun, engaging, and integrated units that are designed to make important, real-world connections. Technology enhances the Pre-K4 classrooms with the girls visiting the computer lab to expand their learning opportunities. The skills taught in Pre-K4 provide practice and exposure to prepare students for Kindergarten and will be a vital part of their years to come at Duchesne.

The Duchesne Kindergarten program provides an environment in which each student is encouraged to explore and discover her individual, dynamic learning style while applying her knowledge and meeting her own best expectation of herself. Education at the Kindergarten level provides interrelated, cross-curricular activities which advance the girls in reading skills, such as phonics, vocabulary, and fluency, as well as math, science, and social studies, and expressive and written language. Students in Kindergarten continue to learn through hands-on experiences and problem-solving strategies. 

First Grade is a transition year from early education to elementary education at Duchesne. The curriculum becomes more independent and self-directed. Daily routines reinforce the skills and responsibilities the girls will carry throughout their education. First graders become independent readers, apply their reading skills throughout all areas of the curriculum, and begin to see themselves as published authors. The math curriculum uses a hands-on approach with manipulatives and spirals throughout the year to build on foundational numeric skills, which will impact their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities in the future. 

The Second Grade program at Duchesne Academy strives for educational excellence for each student. Second graders continue to develop their reading skills as they learn to decode more complex words and read longer, more dense texts in a variety of genres including fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. The girls also develop their reading comprehension skills as they discuss what they read and use the information to develop and present further ideas. Second graders will refine and expand their writing and grow as writers as they begin to compose more detailed and longer texts. Technology is an important part of second grade, as students begin to integrate it across the curriculum. Students in second grade continue to use manipulatives to understand the value of a number, practice addition and subtraction skills, and eventually learn to solve problems mentally. Additionally, the girls begin to learn concepts that lay the foundation for multiplication and division and a deeper understanding of math concepts.

Our departmentalized Third Grade program provides a transition toward becoming more independent and emphasizing responsibility for the students’ own learning and actions. The girls employ applied mathematics and show their problem-solving through a variety of ways. Technology is now integrated frequently and effectively throughout the curriculum. Now established readers and writers, the students face more challenging material and topics, such as the Elizabethan Era and the American Revolution. Writing is a vital part of Third Grade, as girls write in multiple subject areas and learn specific writing skills for each genre throughout our writing curriculum. Students continue to learn science through experiential and project-based learning.

In Fourth Grade, Duchesne Academy emphasizes study skills and student responsibility, which prepares them for Middle School the following year. Our departmentalized curriculum focuses on listening attentively, time management, test-taking skills, maintaining accurate homework assignments, and building organizational expertise. The Fourth Grade program is one-to-one and students are provided their own laptops to use throughout the year. As leaders of Lower School, the fourth grade students grow in self-knowledge and develop self-confidence with their leadership skills as they learn to advocate for themselves and address their gifts and limitations.

The Duchesne Lower School art program fosters an appreciation of the fine arts at all grade levels. Each student expresses ideas through activities that enable each student to express ideas through art making at an appropriate developmental level. The girls learn the elements and principles of art using a variety of media and processes. Discussion and viewing art cultivates an understanding of art history and culture. Art activities are vertically aligned with core subjects to enrich teaching and offer a holistic approach to learning.

The French language is an important part of the cultural heritage of Sacred Heart Schools. The Lower School French program focuses on communication and aims to present the language in real-world contexts, and class is conducted in French. French instruction begins in Pre-K3. At the Pre-K4 and Kindergarten levels, the focus is on learning and practicing the language orally through games, songs, drills, and coloring. In First through Fourth Grade, students begin reading and writing in French while continuing to build on their oral communication skills. French history and culture are part of the Third and Fourth Grade curriculum.

The Sister Lamy Lower School Library provides a collection of print and electronic resources to meet our students' academic and recreational needs. Students learn how to use the library through a hands-on, curriculum-driven approach. We wish to foster a love of books and reading and produce lifelong readers. Our goal is for students to use the library confidently and efficiently so they become information literate.

Our music program seeks to foster an appreciation and love for music in each child. Students learn music through sequential instruction that integrates Kodaly, Orff, and Dalcroze-type movement as core methods of instruction. Through a vocal approach, the girls learn the concepts of expressive qualities, timbre, duration, pitch, form, texture, and style. Performance is an outgrowth of the curriculum.

The Physical Education curriculum has been developed to help each student build a solid foundation in motor skills and physical fitness. PE activities are designed to promote gross motor skill development, body awareness, and coordination. Students learn to use their bodies more efficiently and knowledgeably through a wide variety of fundamental and sports-related movement skills. Good sportsmanship and team spirit are important components of the program.

The Technology Program develops a sense of computer literacy in each student. Students perform various computer operations, experience new technologies, and learn to use that knowledge in a responsible and independent manner. The use of technology is integrated in other subject areas of the curriculum. Beginning in Fourth Grade, the girls are provided a school laptop that is used daily for classwork and homework. 

iPads in the Classroom

Students will use the iPads to:

• Reinforce skills in other subject areas
• Learn new programs
• Research information and explore new ideas
• Create projects through word processing and other programs

Computer Lab

Students will go to the computer lab to:

• Increase computer literacy
• Learn proper keyboarding techniques
• Learn word processing and other programs used in classroom-generated projects
• Learn to use the Internet correctly and safely
• Learn to create multimedia projects
• Explore coding and robotics