Meet the Teachers

Welcome to St. Finbar School’s Early Fives program!  The Early Fives is a full-time program, five days a week, from 7:50a.m. to 2:50p.m. The main objective of the Early Fives program is to prepare our students for Kindergarten.

We look forward to welcoming your family into our community and building a relationship with you and your child. We have many fun, educational lessons and activities planned, as your children develop into confident young learners.

The Early Fives program focusses on cognitive and social development, interpersonal dynamics, fine and gross motor skills, language development, physical and intellectual growth, and faith formation. The program provides an environment in which students explore and learn through tactile, manipulative, and dramatic play. Students develop tools that will enable them to:

• problem-solve
• learn self-regulation
• use abstract thinking
• use their imagination
• build self-confidence
• develop leadership skills

• Counting
• Shapes
• Sorting
• Numbers / Number of the Week
• Patterns
• More or Less
• Size and Measuring
• Time

• Identifying and Writing Name
• Alphabet/Letter of the Week
• Phonological Awareness
• Print Concepts
• Pre-Writing Skills

• Prayers
• The Holy Family
• Saint of the Week
• Attend Mass

• Colors
• Magnets
• Our Five Senses
• Weather
• Life Cycles
• Cooking

• Community Helpers
• Transportation
• Needs vs. Wants
• Holidays/Calendar
• Country and State
• The Pledge of Allegiance

• Art
• Music
• P.E.
• Dance

Most importantly, we give thanks to God, as He guides us through our day.  With Jesus in our hearts, we learn together, laugh together, and love one another.


 

Welcome to the awesome Kindergarten!  This year we will embark on a journey together to help your child grow academically as well as mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.  Kindergarten is a time of exploration, learning, growth, and of course, fun!

Our Kindergarten curriculum is developmentally appropriate and is aligned with the Los Angeles Archdiocesan, the California State, and the Common Core Standards.  Our curriculum consists of English Language Arts (ELA), Math, Religion, Science, and Social Studies.  We attend the Writing to Read Lab daily.  It is an ELA program that incorporates both early literacy skills and technology.  We also participate in enrichment classes once a week, such as Art, Music, P.E., and Library.

We play and incorporate center time in the classroom.  It is comprised of dramatic play, art, math, language, manipulatives, listening/reading, fine motor skills, and building.  Center time allows the students to use their imaginations and provides hands-on learning.  It also provides a time for peer interaction and time for learning problem solving.
We learn about Jesus and how to love and live like Jesus.  We attend mass once a month for our All School masses.  We participate in Morning Prayer Assemblies.  We learn our prayers, such as The Sign of the Cross, Our Father, Hail Mary, The Guardian Angel Prayer, The Glory Be, and the Prayer Before Meals.

We also explore the community outside our school by going on field trips.  We go to the pumpkin patch, fire station, police station, library, and zoo.  We also have fun days with marionette shows and the Tumble Bee Bus.

We will be developing into readers, writers, mathematicians, and more.  We will also have so much fun together! It will be a great year of learning and growing!

Mrs. Beth Shrode
Kindergarten Teacher Assistant

Kindergarten Welcome Letter

Enthusiastic, curious, serious thinkers, compassionate, light-hearted and truthful, is what fills the seats of a First Grade class. The curriculum for these young learners must be engaging, challenging, hands on, creative and inspiring.

First Grade curriculum combines academics with student participation to make the learning experience - one that will give them a strong base to build on throughout their primary and elementary years.

Our Language Arts has a strong foundation in phonics and writing. Daily, the students attend the English Language Arts Computer Lab. This ELA lab is equipped with over 25 computers, a listening center, writing center, work area with 10 headphones and MP3 players, poster size word banks, individual word banks and word wheels and story starters. These ELA tools change monthly with varying unit themes that coincide with First Grade themed units. The format of this lab follows Writing to Read Program. This program combines phonics with writing. The students spend 15 minutes at each center-computer, work journal, writing or typing, make words or the listening library. Students develop a solid base of "sounding out" words to become strong spellers. They begin to blend their spelling skills with “book spelling” and start self-editing their own spelling. In the Computer Lab students are encouraged to write creatively and independently allowing them the self-confidence they need. The ELA lab has other LA computer programs that continue to build on the LA skills. These are also available for the First graders to access.

The students have a Reader, Language, Speller, Phonics and Printing book that are also used in class. Grammar rules and parts of speech are incorporated in these subjects. They learn how to write a story with a beginning, middle, and an ending. We read and discuss stories to help develop reading concepts such as comprehension, cause and effect, critical thinking, context clues, etc. The concepts and skills mastered here are combined with their writing skills in the Computer Lab. Vowels, consonants, digraphs and blends help develop their skills for decoding words and “word attack”. To assist with those students that need improvement in reading fluency, two volunteers come and read daily with this group.

Mathematics is combined with everyday Math concepts. Every morning a student leads the class in everyday Math activities-calendar, telling time, counting money, the number line, tallies, place value sticks, measuring, temperature, etc. They keep a Math journal, where daily, they solve a few problems.

In Math, we cover addition and subtraction facts to twenty, turnarounds, family of facts, data and graphing, money, word problems, etc. We have interactive lessons to emphasize certain Math concepts with role-playing for word problems, and Math songs to remember the vital steps. Math manipulates, and individual white boards are used for quick assessments and to assist the visual learners. Every Friday, a timed test is given on basic addition and subtraction facts.

Religion is a major part of our First Grade curriculum and daily life. The children learn that faith is not just a subject, but relates to every aspect of their lives. They learn daily prayers, the Rosary, Bible stories, the true meaning of Advent and Lent, various lives of saints, and other major religious holy days. They are taught to act like Jesus would when they are on the playground, interacting with friends, and respect for adults and each other. First graders also take part in presenting prayer services for the school. The class presents Stations of the Cross that is an age appropriate version for the entire school community. Included during the year, is a field trip to the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels where they learn about their faith and faith traditions.

Another important aspect of our Catholic Faith is to teach the children how to become good Disciples of Christ by helping others. In October, we have them participate in the Crib Project during Respect Life Month. They collect baby items and send positive notes to the mothers-to-be. In November, the class participates in the school food drive. They also make Thanksgiving placemats for the parish’s annual Thanksgiving dinner. In December, the class Christmas carols at a nearby retirement home and make Christmas cards. During Lent we participate in the Rice Bowl project and Soup Nights.

Social Studies and Science are included in the curriculum. In Social Studies, we study communities and neighborhoods, customs of our diverse cultures, national holidays, famous leaders of our country, and current affairs. We use various supplemental texts including the weekly Scholastic News. In Science, we learn about plant and animal life, animal habitats, weather and seasons, the Earth, recycling and how to take care of the environment. A variety of non-fiction books and supplemental text are applied. Projects such as diorama of an animal habitat coincide with the lesson.

There are many opportunities and places where children can learn outside the classroom. Field trips are important to the curriculum. We visit a working farm for our unit on plants and the Aquarium of the Pacific as a hands-on lesson for our unit on animal habitats.

Included also in our studies is Health and Safety. We learn about eating nutritious foods, good hygiene, and staying healthy through good habits. “Manners Matter” teaches manners, politeness and good etiquette. We study Safety Rules to follow, and what to do in case of a fire or earthquake. We have a firefighter demonstrate Fire Safety for us. Often, police officers come and teach the children about safety and the dangers of strangers.

The First Grade has an aide assigned to the class. She assists with classroom management and when any students are in need of extra instruction.

The Resource teacher assists in the Computer Lab with First Grade daily. She also tutors once a week for an hour, to any First grader below grade level in Reading or Math.
 

Second grade is a very important year for many different reasons. First and foremost, this is the year students will receive two special sacraments, that of First Reconciliation and their First Eucharist. In addition, it is one of the last critical years for instruction in reading fluency and the foundations of Language Arts.  The differences in skill levels between students can be quite large, so we use various resources, including technology, to meet the needs of each student, whether they are advanced or in need of extra help.

Language Arts
The Language Arts curriculum is centered on a Scott Foresman basal, which includes materials covering phonics, sight word recognition, grammar, spelling, and writing across the curriculum. Several additional programs are also used to supplement the Foresman program. In the beginning of the year, each student is tested in order to determine their independent reading levels. Also, an internet-based, individualized reading program called Ticket to Read is used both at school and at home. This program is accessed by student several times during the week in the primary computer lab and on mobile devices and laptops used in the classroom.Writing is taught by specifically addressing the writing standards. Students engage in writing activities each week and follow the writing process. The first trimester is spent writing personal narratives, with the main focus on writing clear and complete sentences in an order that makes sense to the reader. During the second trimester, we introduce the friendly letter and start writing informational and persuasive paragraphs.

Mathematics
Mathematics is taught using a Houghton Mifflin core program, although many different resources are used throughout the curriculum. Manipulatives are used often, especially when introducing a new concept. Various centers give students the opportunity to practice skills in a fun way. Mathletics, an online program, is accessible to students at home and in the classroom on devices and laptops. Students use Mathletics to practice all types of skills, as well as to learn new skills using the tutorials provided.The year begins with a review of the addition and subtraction facts that have been introduced in first grade. A major focus now is committing them to memory, which we assess with short, timed facts tests given weekly. From there we move through place value to adding and subtracting with regrouping, analyzing data with graphs and charts, and using money. Finally, students are introduced to fractions, multiplication, and division.

Social Studies
Social Studies is a very exciting topic in second grade. Many of our field trips and special projects have root in this area of study. We read about many people who have made a difference in our nation and our world. Students use a variety of sources to observe how different our lives are now from those of students many years ago. .They talk to family members about the past and create an illustrated family tree that is presented to the class. Students also create a timeline of their own lives.Recognizing how important knowledge of geography is, students learn the names and locations of the seven continents and oceans. They label a map from memory. North America is studied in even greater detail. A unit on our national government concluded the  year, and includes mini-projects on several landmarks, including Mt. Rushmore and the Statue of Liberty.
ScienceFinally, our science class studies a range of topics covering the physical, life, and earth sciences. We learn about magnets and simple machines, the different parts and functions of a plant, and the lifecycles of animals. We study rocks and minerals, and have even toured the mineral vault at the Natural History museum.

Second Grade Supplyl List

Welcome to 3rd grade! For most students, this will be a year marked by transitions across the board: in academic and behavioral expectations, as well as spiritual growth. The curriculum will no doubt demand more from them than they’ve been accustomed to up to this point, but the goal is that, through the fun hands-on learning activities and whole-class participation and collaboration that will be employed this year, these students will develop their natural curiosity about the world around them, exercise their independent problem-solving skills, and end the year more self-assured, enthusiastic, and capable learners than when they began.
           
While their education in the Primary grades focused more on building a strong foundation in the core subjects – familiarity with addition and subtraction facts, for example, and mastery of coherent sentence construction – as well as receiving two significant sacraments of initiation, First Reconciliation and the Eucharist, the 3rd grade curriculum will give students the opportunity to apply these important foundational skills and concepts in ways that are meaningful to their lives, and to the world around them.

MATHEMATICS
            The beginning of the first trimester is devoted to reviewing the students’ memorization of addition and subtraction facts, then slowly scaffolding upon those same skills. Part of the students’ daily “Morning Work” agenda will include a Fast Math worksheet, which will “drill” the students with simple math problems that will increase in difficulty throughout the year – addition and subtraction of increasingly large numbers, then later multiplication and division. These daily drills, which culminate in a Fast Math quiz at the end of each week, are meant to hone the basics learned in the Primary grades as they continue to encounter higher-level standards within the main math curriculum. This curriculum will include dealing with measurements and conversions, fractions and decimals, multi-step word problems, and an introduction to geometric concepts. Just like in 1st and 2nd grade, manipulatives (shape blocks, counters, plastic money, etc.) will continue to play a large role to appeal to both visual and tactile learners. Technology will also be a significant part of the lessons. The website www.play.prodigygame.com is an excellent math resource that will be utilized primarily in the classroom and in Computer Class (though it is also accessible from home). This site, under the guise of a safe, teacher-monitored and teacher-tailored role-playing game, provides a fun way for students to exercise the same math concepts learned in the classroom.
 
LANGUAGE ARTS
            The core subject that we will focus on the most this year will be Language Arts, specifically writing. Last year, students learned the acronym “P.I.E.” when discussing the three purposes an author might have when writing a specific work: to persuade, to inform, or to entertain. This year, students, acting as authors, audience, and editors, will gain a greater proficiency in creating works with each of these purposes in mind, while also gaining a greater appreciation for the writing process as a whole. They will learn how to construct a strong paragraph with an introduction, three details, and a concluding a sentence, particularly when dealing with personal narratives and persuasive writing. They will search for elements such as metaphors, similes, and sensory details within our weekly reading material, experiment with utilizing them in their own creative writing. Finally, they will have the opportunity to connect writing with both Religion and Social Studies in each of the three research projects they will have throughout the year: the Saint Project for Religion, and the Native American Tribe and Personal Hero projects for Social Studies. In these projects, students will learn how to use one of the preapproved, kid-friendly websites to record information relevant to their topic, compile the information along with visual aids, present their findings to the class, and conduct a question-and-answer portion to illustrate their understanding.
 
Additionally, each week will begin with a Journal topic as part of their Morning Work, for which students will write “free-form” responses in their personal composition books, and to which they will receive same-day, written teacher feedback. These journal topics will be creative and casual in nature (the only requirement is that they be at least five sentences long) and serve to get students more comfortable with writing as a way of expressing themselves and creating a dialogue between themselves and their readers. In the middle of the week, we will have writing workshops. The topics for these assignments will relate to the Journal topics, using the latter as a form of brainstorming. In these workshops, students will learn how to use a graphic organizer to structure their thoughts, write a rough draft, give and receive constructive criticism in small peer editing groups, and then write a polished final draft for “publication” – all of which will be compiled into personal writing portfolios to monitor their progress and growth throughout the year.
 
CHRISTIAN LIFE
            In many respects, Religion will be taught just like any subject, complete with a workbook containing lessons on which students will be tested periodically. However, the goal is that students not view this subject as a History class – simply a list of biblical events or liturgical practices to be learned by heart – but rather as an Art class. In other words, students will be expected to focus less on rote memorization, and more on developing the skills necessary to see, feel, and experience God working all around them, within them, and with them. Ideally, students will truly see themselves as Christ’s hands and feet here on Earth, extensions of His spirit, carefully created for the sole purpose to bear His love and His light to the world. It is essential that they understand that being a Child of God is a fulltime job, one that makes the world so much bigger and more magical than they may have previously imagined. Therefore, to aid in this understanding, Religion will not only be taught during its scheduled period, but all throughout the day, reminders of the lesson inserted into every subject. This will feature most strongly in behavior and classroom conduct. The Golden Rule urges us to love God above all else, and our neighbors as ourselves. With these words in mind, success within the classroom will be more collectivistic rather than individualistic, with students working together as a team to achieve a common “class prize” rather than each one competing against one another. Furthermore, a percentage of their Religion grades will be affected by their Behavior grades. This way, students will learn that love and respect for themselves and for others, and collaboration with one’s neighbors to create a better environment, mirrors the ideal Christian love of Christ’s teachings.
 
FIELD TRIPS
            There are several fun field trips throughout the school year chosen to supplement student learning in most areas, but specifically geared toward Social Studies and Science topics. The Valley Trails Ranch field trip will allow students to step into the life of a precolonial Chumash Native American through fun, hands-on activities. The trip to the Gene Autry museum will expose students to historical figures and artifacts from California’s early history. Finally, the trip to the planetarium at Glendale Community College provides an immersive viewing experience of the solar system, connecting with the students’ Science standards.

Third Grade Supply List

Welcome to Saint Finbar School, fourth graders! As you embark on this exciting new chapter, we want you to know that you are joining a community deeply rooted in Catholic education values. Here at Saint Finbar, we pride ourselves on fostering a family-oriented environment where each student is cherished and supported.

 Our school is a place where your faith can grow alongside your academic skills. We hold high expectations for all our students, believing firmly that you can achieve great things through hard work, dedication, and prayer. We are excited to see the wonderful achievements you will accomplish and the good you will contribute to our community. Welcome aboard, and let's make this year incredible together!

Hello and welcome to the fabulous Fifth Grade! This year is full of a variety of educational adventures that enhance the social and spiritual growth of each student. Our rigorous curriculum guarantees that each day is filled with a wide range of learning activities. From book tastings, to escape rooms, to virtual field trips, children become invested in their own academic success and spiritual enlightenment.
 
We have a very strong emphasis on Language Arts this year to prepare students for junior high studies. Students are exposed to an array of literature including The Indian in the Cupboard, The Westing Game, Anne Frank and much more. Through analysis and discussion, we delve into the meaning of theme, genre, character development and story structure. Writing is also an integral part of our curriculum. Each student participates in the Nanowrimo Novel Writing Challenge for the month of November along with writing College Research Reports, personal autobiographies, and completing their own original graphic novels.
 
Our Social Studies units focus on early U.S. History and culminates with a fun-filled final project, Walk Through the American Revolution, where students explore the famous events, historical figures, and relevant vocabulary of this pivotal point in America’s history. Through dramatic activities, students “become” famous men and women of the American Revolution. Flags, maps, re-enactments, music, and games help students explore and understand the importance of American liberty and patriotism.
 
The Fifth Grade class participates in many field trips that coincide with our studies including the LaBrea Tar Pits, The Museum of Tolerance, and The Nutcracker play. Our biggest trip occurs in January when we take a 3 day overnight trip to Astrocamp in the mountains of Idyllwild. AstroCamp’s expert instructors guide students through an exploration of the universe with astronomy labs, physical science labs, field exercises, and team-building activities. AstroCamp is designed to stimulate minds, build character, develop social skills, and most importantly, create excitement about science.
 
All of these activities empower students to become lifelong learners and meaningful contributors to the community around them!
 

First Grade Supply List

The sixth-grade class has a rigorous schedule that include the following subjects:

• Literature
• English/Language
• Vocabulary
• Math
• Science - Earth-Science
• Social Studies - World History and Geography: Ancient Civilizations
• Religion
• Art
• Music
• Foreign Language
• Physical Education
• Computer


The Sixth Grade goes on field trips to further expand their knowledge of history, science and vocabulary. Each year the class goes to the following places: The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles. The museum has a tremendous amount of information regarding U.S. History, dinosaurs, prehistoric animals, rain forests, Native Americans, rocks and gems, and many ancient cultures. The class also goes to the California Science Center of Los Angeles. The California Science Center has many exhibits, including: earthquakes and earthquake safety, how sound travels through the air, how basic waves travel through various media, the heart, the digestive system, animal reproduction, and many other exhibits that change from month to month, and year to year. The children also take a trip to the IMAX Theater twice a year. The theater shows various educational movies that enhance both history and science knowledge. The students also go to the zoo each year in order to reinforce their knowledge about animals and ecosystems. Along with these trips, the Sixth Graders may go to some of the following places: La Brea Tar Pits, Griffith Observatory, Fort Tejon, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and other places that will help the students better understand and appreciate history and science.

Junior High Grade Supply List

The 7th grade is part of the Jr. High Curriculum which is departmentalized. Not only is the 7th-grade curriculum challenging, but responsibility, accountability and maturing are an important part of being a 7th grader.  The curriculum includes the following subjects:

• Religion – The primary focus in seventh grade is the New Testament.  In addition to the standard fundraisers, the seventh grade also participates the Christmas themed pancake breakfast inDecember.
• Science - Life Science - centers on the body systems and organisms.
• Social Studies - Medieval and Early Modern Times
• Literature / English / Language: daily use of acer notebooks.
• Vocabulary - focus is upon the new common core standards.
• Math – Pre-Algebra
• Art
• Music
• Foreign Language – rudimentary exposure to Spanish and French languages and culture
• Physical Education
• Computer
• Elective class - varies by trimester 

• History Comes Alive Series at Forest Lawn (live Michelangelo and Da Vinci presentation)
• Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels - Missionary Childhood Association - Youth Day (Oct)  
• Holyland Exhibition Tour (spring)
• Seventh grade retreat / Day of Prayer
• End-of-year service hour reward trip to Knotts Berry Farm (June)

Junior High Grade Supply List

Eighth grade marks the final “leg” of the St. Finbar journey.  We are excited that several of our students have been with us since Early Fives and have welcomed new classmates along the way. The main focus for all eighth graders is to get accepted into the high school of their choice AND to leave St. Finbar well-prepared for the next step in their academic path.
     
Eighth graders continue the strong academic curriculum with Algebra being the required Math course.  The Religion curriculum is not limited to the classroom.  Eighth graders are responsible for the planning of our “Welcome” Mass in September, performing Live Stations on the last Friday of Lent, planning the May Crowning ceremony to honor Our Blessed Mother Mary, and attending an annual retreat which prepares them for high school.  The students are also called upon to lead the rosary, altar serve and lector at weekday Masses throughout the school year.

Eighth grade students are asked to live their faith by serving as role models, mentors and friends to their second graders as part of the Guardian Angel Program that began in seventh grade.  They continue to serve as Jesus did by completing a minimum of 25 community service hours during their final year at St. Finbar.  These service opportunities allow students to donate to the animal shelter, assist the mentally handicapped in bowling and tennis, socialize with the elderly in a retirement center, help in various community events, and provide services to their parish and neighborhood. 

Enrichment classes in the curriculum include  Art, PE, hip-hop dance, music,  computer education, and Foreign Language.  The nice thing about Foreign Language is that the students continue their exploration into Spanish and French.  This allows students to make a well-informed decision about which language they would like to pursue in high school. 

I believe that when our Eighth graders graduate, the entire school community feels pride and confidence knowing that the students are well-prepared to be contributing members to the community.  We truly believe that these students have achieved all our SLEs and are ready to continue their academic journey using the strong morals and values they have acquired at St. Finbar as a foundation for success!

Junior High Grade Supply List