Curriculum

Learn more about the education provided by St. Joseph School - Fullerton:

Preschool (PreK4)
Elementary (K–5th)
Middle School (6th–8th)

Each course of study fosters students' Catholic identity, shaping them to be models of Christian living for others. We provide students with a curriculum that is rigorous and rich in various disciplines. By continuing to implement challenging new standards, we work to fulfill the promise of quality Catholic education that educates the whole child: mind, body, and soul.

Operating under the auspices of the Archdiocese of Baltimore Department of Catholic Schools, St. Joseph School - Fullerton follows the Course of Study developed by this educational entity. This curriculum meets and exceeds the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) requirements. The Archdiocese of Baltimore periodically reviews and updates the curriculum. Please read the Archdiocesan Statement on Curriculum Revisions which explains the process and the value of these periodic updates.

It's our ministry as Catholic educators to embody our faith in everything we do. We model and teach children to form a personal relationship with Jesus and build a foundation for lifelong learning and discipleship.

Academic Subjects: Language Arts, Math, Religion, Science, Social Studies, and Spanish (grades 4-8)

Special Subjects: Art, Computer, Music, Physical Education, and STEM

Special Subjects Overview

Art:

  • In preschool up to 2nd grade, students participate in lessons and activities that will help them develop their fine motor skills, explore the different materials with which they can create art, and the Artistic Process, including elements of art and design and collaborative art.
  • Grades 3 to 5 will deepen their knowledge of Artistic Processes and the Elements of Art & Design, including color, line, texture, shape/form, and collaborative art.
  • Middle School students will further deepen their knowledge of Artistic Processes and expand their understanding of the Elements of Art & Design. Additionally, they will learn a bit of art history along the way, practice oral & written critiques, and increase their awareness of an artist's many possible career paths. 

Music:

  • All grade levels will experience performance through group and individual singing and on classroom instruments. All students will participate in the improvisation of musical ideas and experience sounds around us in our environment. Movement activities and topics on music theory and appreciation will also be included. Older students will critique and evaluate their and others' performances and determine relationships between music and other arts and disciplines.
  • Preschool to 2nd Grade: Singing, rhythm, vocal exploration, movement, listening, musical styles, artists, and composers.
  • 3rd to 5th Grades: Singing, beat & rhythm, body percussion, composition, listening, musical styles, artists, and composers.
  • 6th to 8th Grades: Singing, rhythm, body percussion, composition, listening, developing artistic voice, and examining personal tastes.

Physical Education:

  • All grade levels experience a variety of activities to help them improve gross motor skills and overall health. Games and activities are intended to improve students' cardiovascular fitness, hand-eye coordination, strength, balance, flexibility, and locomotor skills. 
  • Students participate in the following sports during class: cross country, running/walking, flag football, soccer, badminton, basketball, volleyball, team handball, disc golf, ultimate frisbee, lacrosse, and baseball/cricket. The students will play these games with the goal of honoring God, and sportsmanship will be stressed in each activity.
  • Preschool to 2nd Grade: Throwing, catching, striking, kicking, locomotor skills, agility, balance, flexibility, and sportsmanship.
  • 3rd to 5th Grades: The above-listed skills plus incorporating those skills into a game-like situation.
  • 6th to 8th Grades: Students will be skill-trained in a specific sport and then be able to display their talent in a game. An example is practicing a bounce pass in a basketball drill, then using that skill in a game.

Spanish:

  • Students in 4th and 5th Grades learn basic communication skills in Spanish. They develop an understanding of the language and culture through basic vocabulary words. By the end of fifth grade, students can comfortably piece together sentences to write a story.
  • Students in 6th through 8th Grades learn about the world around them through the use of the Spanish language. Each year, they complete one exploratory creative project to develop higher-level thinking skills and display their learning in an interesting and new way. By the end of eighth grade, students can comfortably write essays and converse in Spanish. Seventh and eighth grade students also complete a novel study in the target language.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math):

  • The STEM program is designed with the idea that students will be "doing." Students will engage in rigorous activities through problem-based learning that will challenge them and help grow their higher-order thinking skills. A focus is on hands-on activities, solving problems, working collaboratively, and conducting tests and experiments. Students learn about different roles that people play within a group and how this relates to the real world.
  • STEM will reinforce the skills used in students' content classes as much as possible. The curriculum covers a wide range of STEM and STEAM. It is derived from several different standards and practices. Some of these include Project Based Learning (PBL), Maker Spaces, Engineering Design Processes (EDP), Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and Maryland State STEM Standards.
  • Early Elementary Students: Engineer Design Process, collaborative work, LEGO, Snap Blocks, Plus-Plus Blocks, magnetic cubes, and some programming.
  • Intermediate: Engineer Design Process, Design Sprints, OzoBots, 3D printing, isometric drawing, 3D Doodler, Bloxels, Microbit, Rube Goldberg, LEGO, digital designs, flight, and more.
  • Middle School: Engineer Design Process, Design Sprints, OzoBots, 3D printing, isometric drawing & designing, Parrot Drones, Vex Robotics, programming, sustainability, medical investigations, digital design, architecture, Maker Space, Rube Goldberg, career connections, and STEM pathways for higher education.