Primary School

Students in the primary grades, Kindergarten through Grade 3,  are provided with a minimum of 80 minutes of daily, uninterrupted reading and language arts instruction. Grade level teachers introduce and reinforce skills using large and small group instruction, learning stations, guided questioning, leveled readers and websites. Lessons are organized into activities which require students to demonstrate their learning using multiple modalities. The curriculum follows the Archdiocese of Newark curriculum mapping which aligns with state standards.

A strong literacy foundation is a priority at St. Bartholomew Academy. We stand behind our commitment by providing our students with updated curriculum and enrichment learning experiences. Our reading specialist joins our grade level teacher one to two times a week to provide specialized small group lessons on decoding and reading strategies during the language arts class. These learning opportunities are integrated into the daily instruction via small group learning stations, assuring that all students benefit from the instruction from the two teachers in the classroom. Besides the classroom instruction, students in first and second grade receive two additional, 40-minute enrichment special classes a week to strengthen their language skills through participation in Book Club: Literature Circle (Gr. K through Gr. 3)  and Phonics (Gr. 1 &  Gr. 2) classes. 

Adequately preparing our students for careers of the future requires exposing them to STEM opportunities (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), at an early age. St. Bartholomew Academy offers primary students one additional period a week of STEM, besides their regular grade-level science instruction. During this enrichment, students explore science concepts by engaging them with hands-on, discovery activities. The goal of St. Bartholomew Academy 's STEM class is to foster curiosity and encourage students to think like engineers, solving problems using trial and error and the engineering design "thinking" processes. Grade level mathematics instruction follows the Archdiocese of Newark mathematics curriculum mapping and state content standards.

Other components of the Primary Grade Program includes 30-minute special classes once a week. Students participate in Art, Music, Physical Education and Health, Computer Literacy, and Library Science.