Enrichment Classes

- Art
  
  St. John School’s art program is geared toward fostering a love of art, as well as unlocking the creative potential that exists in every child. Students are taught about form, color, shape, and perspective, and learn an enormous variety of artistic techniques with everything from paper to paint, clay to glass, wire to wood. They learn about major art movements, art in historical and cultural contexts, and they are introduced to the works of a multitude of celebrated artists. And, of course, they produce their own works, giving them the freedom to experiment and express themselves in a way that is hard to duplicate in any other academic pursuit, and exercising their reasoning skills, intuition, and imagination in the process. The program culminates each year with our spring Art Show, which serves as a spectacular showcase for the tremendous talents that our students develop through their artistic creations all year long.
- Music
  
  Too often these days, music education in schools is falling by the wayside, subject to time constraints and budget cuts. But music is so very important—not only is it one of the purest expressions of human emotion and creativity, but it provides a means of connection with other people and experiences and has been shown to enhance the study of almost every other academic subject, from reading to history to math. At St. John School, we are proud to have a thriving music program to enrich our students’ curriculum! SJS students learn to appreciate all kinds of music, whether classical, folk, popular, or liturgical, by experiencing it in class. Our program emphasizes instrumental and vocal music, teaching the fundamentals of rhythm, melody, dynamics, tempo, meter, and time signature. Music class spills over into the weekly school mass as students help select and prepare the music that is an integral part of our worship there, and other highlights of our program include a Christmas Concert and a children’s choir that performs at select Sunday masses.
- Spanish
  
  Recognizing that we are part of a global community in which citizens speak a multitude of languages besides English, St. John School sees great value in introducing a foreign language to our students at a very young age. Beginning in Kindergarten, students receive instruction in Spanish, taking advantage of that early window of time in child development in which a second language is easily absorbed and building on it throughout their time at SJS. Students progress steadily through Spanish vocabulary and grammar, learning both to speak and to write the language, and enjoy lessons in the customs and cultures of Spanish-speaking countries, as well. By the time they graduate from middle school, many students are prepared to bypass entry level Spanish classes in high school.
- Technology
  
  Proficiency with technology isn’t something that’s just useful in the world today, it’s an absolute necessity. St. John School has responded to the call for tech-savvy students with a dedicated technology class for Kindergarten through 8^th grade. Young students learn mouse skills, how to manage passwords and accounts, and develop simple projects in creative, art-based programs, and older students progress through age appropriate projects that utilize increasingly more advanced programs (word-processing, spreadsheets, slide presentations). There is a strong emphasis on proper keyboarding technique as well as learning to use online resources safely and responsibly. Middle school students are also introduced to elementary computer coding, setting a foundation for further computer programming classes at the high school level. Technology is an essential part of the modern world and there’s no end in sight to its advancements. Thankfully, St. John students are prepared to advance right along with it!
- Physical Education
  
  St. John School’s Physical Education program is focused on activity and wellness. Students engage in basic movement, active games, and structured sports in order to promote a healthy lifestyle and physical fitness. They also learn lessons in fairness and sportsmanship, how to play by a set of prescribed rules, and most of all, they have fun!