St. Stephen's School Curriculum

At St. Stephen's School our goal is to provide a positive, nurturing environment, essential to a child's academic growth. These are not goals than can be measured by tests, but on which we are all measured daily as responsible human beings.

Curriculum Overview

Curricular Outcome
Students learn best when they are challenged by and engaged in their education.  Small classes, excellent teachers, a safe environment, and a commitment to a rigorous liberal arts education produce students ready for future academic success. Through exposure to a variety of experiential and community service activities students grow emotionally, socially, and an appreciation of diversity.

Language Arts
The Language Arts curriculum is in many ways the centerpiece of our entire program. The curriculum is designed to create students who can read, write and speak articulately, thoughtfully and confidently. We develop students who understand and use writing mechanics and style to express themselves clearly and concisely.  Our students develop an appreciation and understanding of literature so students can read for pleasure, context, and synthesis. Students are exposed to a variety of age appropriate literature and writing genres. Students are encouraged to speak publicly in oral presentations in the classrooms, chapel and assemblies.  The language arts are celebrated by a school wide love of reading week and participation in Santa Clara County Young Author’s Month.

Social Science
The Social Science curriculum complements the Language Arts program by challenging students to think critically and carefully about their society and the world that surrounds them. Students are encouraged to explore their role as citizens in society.  In grades kindergarten through three, students focus on learning about themselves, their families, their neighborhood, church, school, and communities; in fourth grade students study California history; in fifth grade students study U.S. history. In Middle School, the sixth grade students begin a two year course study of World History, and in 8th grade student’s return to a more analytical study of US History, post Civil War.

Mathematics
The mathematics program encourages students to be disciplined, logical thinkers.  Appropriate grade level mathematical skills and concepts are practiced daily with an emphasis on computational procedures, real life application, and problem solving.  Students are encouraged to use both the oral and written language of mathematics to communicate information clearly and precisely.

Science
The science curriculum is designed to promote students’ curiosity and knowledge about the world of nature through a systematic understanding of the scientific process.  In grades one through five, students study units of life, physical and earth sciences.  Health units are introduced each year as well.  In sixth grade students study earth science, in seventh they study life science, and in eighth they focus on physical science.  Lab units and hands-on learning are implemented at all grade levels and foster an understanding of the scientific method and clear reasoning.

Technology
St Stephen’s curriculum for computer education for grades one through eight promotes student learning and supports balanced literacy. Students focus on using a computer as a tool for developing strategies that will support and enhance their curriculum studies and serve as an extension of their current areas of study. They use educationally approved software for acceleration of core curriculum level as well as review of basic required skills. Students are instructed in Internet acceptable use policies. Resource, discovery and communication skills are developed through computer class projects. Students are challenged to develop additional higher level thinking skills (i.e. analysis, synthesis, application, evaluation). Students explore graphics, programming, research strategies, searching techniques, technology systems awareness, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and digital photography with computer enhancement.  Students learn proper keyboarding skills.

Fine Arts
Both music and art are taught by specialists to all students. The visual arts program while encouraging creative potential provides students with the basic skills necessary to grow in aesthetic awareness, critical thinking, and knowledge of the creative arts past and present. Creating music and art is apparently inherent to every culture and to every human being. Therefore, comfort and joy in these endeavors will be fostered in all grades levels. All fine arts classes will be used 1) to develop skills in music and art; 2) to augment various subjects being studied in classes; 3) to explore music and art history as appropriate to grade level; 4) to explore at least one composer or artist in depth as appropriate to grade level. Music in K-8 will follow curriculum guidelines based on a Kodaly Method and Orff Instrument programs. Students display their art and musical talents at the annual spring Fine Arts Expo and perform many different types of music at the Holiday Concert in December.

Physical Education
The program is designed to enhance each child's physical, social and emotional growth and development. Sportsmanship, fair play, teamwork, cooperation, respect and competition are stressed. In the lower school, body awareness, space, force, flow, time and direction are employed in the activities chosen. In the upper school, students begin to study specialized skills and rules through instruction, practice and participation. Students in grades five through eight are required to wear assigned physical education uniforms.

Foreign Languages
Spanish:  Spanish is taught to all students beginning with four year olds. PK4- grade 3 students are introduced to the language and culture though a variety of methods including singing, use of puppets, songs, dances, and holiday celebrations. Grades 4 -5 continue building vocabulary, writing and speaking skills, and; students in 6 - 8 are made aware of grammar similarities and differences with English as they improve their verbal and written skills and increase their speaking vocabulary. Many of our students are ready for Spanish 2 in high school upon graduation from eighth grade. Cultural awareness is highlighted in the curriculum and celebrated by school wide events such as Dia de los Muertos and Las Posada.

Religion
St. Stephen’s is proud of its connection with the Episcopal faith and those values guide our community.  As a member of the National Association of Episcopal Schools, we welcome and honor students of all faiths and backgrounds.   Our goal as an Episcopal School is to nurture the moral, religious, and spiritual development of each child. We invite all who attend and work in the school — Episcopalians and non-Episcopalians, Christians and non-Christians, people of no faith tradition — to seek clarity about their own beliefs and religions and to honor those traditions more fully and faithfully in their own lives.

Our Episcopal values are expressed in four areas.  Children attend child appropriate chapel service once or twice a week for 20 minutes.  A varied chapel format is followed, including liturgical prayer, hymns, and student or faculty presentations.  We explore specific virtues each month such as respect or courage and ask how God would want to live out that virtue as an individual, as a member of a group,
and as a citizen of the world.  Beginning in first grade, all students take a religious education course taught by a specialist one period a week.  A third pillar of our identity is a commitment to serving others.  All students engage in a variety of community service projects during the year.  Finally, the priority we place on our collective community life is the fourth pillar of our Episcopal identity.

Enrichment Activities
Our academic curriculum is enhanced by a number of experiential activities. We schedule a number of annual and one-time school events. Traditional events include a Grandparents Day, Canned Food Drive, Las Posadas and a Love of Reading Week. More academically oriented programs such as Spelling and Geography Bees provide positive competitive experience. Local musicians, artists, storytellers and dancers are also invited for assemblies. Field trips into the community are encouraged to make use of a variety of our vast local resources including museums and natural settings. The field trip experience culminates in the eighth grade where students make an annual six day trip to Washington, D.C. The parents of St. Stephen’s and the Student Council also provide a number of activities for students and parents during the year. A number of after school activities such as chess, martial arts and ballet are offered as well.