OUR CORE CURRICULUM

At Saint Anthony Catholic School, we provide the students with a rigorous yet attainable curriculum while instilling Catholic values. The goal of our curriculum is for the students to have the skills to be successful, motivated, and ready for the next stage of their lives. The curriculum meets the standards designated by the Archdiocese of Miami and provides experiences and opportunities which are the best fit for the development and learning of all students. Saint Anthony students learn to work with others, to respect others, and solve problems independently. There is an emphasis to meet the expected standards in all subject areas while differentiating instruction to meet the needs of all students. We have learning centers that allow the students to be differentiated by learning abilities and interests.

In addition, SACS is a certified STREAM school. The use of STREAM curriculum strives to seamlessly integrate Religion into the STEAM content areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics and is an effort that requires school-wide planning, support, communication, and development. We seek to draw from a wide range of academic and life experiences brought here by all school community members. We strive to build and design a unique learning community that addresses the needs of all students as they engage in Project & Problem based learning activities driven by the curriculum and standards of the ADOM, as well as the economic demands of the 21st Century. Our goal is to inspire and ― ignite the appreciation of the STREAM disciplines while fostering innovative thinking and to provide students with the Core knowledge and skill-sets necessary to explore potential professional opportunities in STREAM related fields.

At Saint Anthony Catholic School, our faith is at the core of everything we do. Faith is genuinely part of our school culture. Walk into any classroom or grade level, and you will see it is infused in our daily routines, procedures, academic lessons, and projects. Each day an academic period incorporates prayer, respect, and collaboration.  Every week our students join together to celebrate the Eucharist in a schoolwide mass. Students across grade levels participate and share the responsibility of forming the Liturgy Committee for the mass. This is a beautiful way to come together as a school community and celebrate what unites us--our faith. A Scripture Spark is highlighted monthly schoolwide. Students focus on that Gospel virtue and explore where that virtue is expressed and lived out in the Bible. By working together on the same Scripture Spark, we are encouraging ourselves and one another to practice virtue while becoming a better version of ourselves.  Throughout the school year, we focus not only on the many events of our school calendar but simultaneously, on the Liturgical seasons of the Catholic Church. Special devotion is given to feast days, celebrations of saints, Holy days of Obligation, and Scripture as it unfolds throughout the seasons. As our school gathers together for communal flag raising and prayer, we especially honor Mary and pray the rosary school-wide during the months of October and May.

The foundation of our Catholic faith is studied throughout all grade levels. Each grade has a specific focus on faith development and curriculum, but all incorporate spiritual, emotional, and foundational growth. Both the Bible and religion textbook serve as rich resources for religious education lessons across grade levels.

In addition, we recognize that as Catholics we are all called to serve. Students are provided several service opportunities that allow them to take part in both spiritual and corporal works of mercy. Students see the fruits of their service and how their efforts and compassion for others are needed in our local community. Our Youth Ministry program is a true witness to service and fellowship.

Our English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum encompass opportunities to enhance skills for all children in order to grow intellectually, socially, and emotionally in classrooms across the curriculum. With this in mind, it is the goal of our department to provide students with quality, rigorous instruction that encourages them to become critical and creative thinkers through experiences in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and viewing. Our ELA comprehensive curriculum exposes students to a wide range of reading and writing genres, including narrative and informational texts. This literature-rich environment gives students the opportunity to experience a variety of materials that meet their diverse developmental needs. We explore an array of literary genres including but not limited to: historical and scientific fiction and non-fiction, folk literature, poetry, short stories, plays, essays, and biographies/autobiographies.  The objectives will be fulfilled through a balanced use of textbook reading and activities, novel reading, and various technological mediums. Students are expected to be engaged in the curriculum reading as well as leisure novels (Accelerated Reader -AR program). Teaching strategies include differentiated instruction, cooperative learning (Project Based Learning), and authentic assessment. By the close of the school year, students should be able to effectively comprehend, analyze, and integrate knowledge and ideas related to the genres studied through all avenues of communication.

In this ever-changing society, our school is a 1:1 technology school. Students are issued an iPad at the beginning of the school year for academic use. Their iPad along with other tools of technology are used to prepare students for the demands of the 21st-century workplace through the use of multimedia programs. Teachers are dedicated to finding new ways to integrate technology into the curriculum in order to improve reading and writing skills and to enhance the process of conducting research. Technology is also used to assess student achievement in an effort to modify instruction.

Saint Anthony Catholic School is dedicated to all its students. We offer a few support resources to students in order to reach their full potential. These services are as follows:

School Guidance and Counseling Services are available to all Saint Anthony Catholic School Students in PreK-8th Grade.  The daily goal is to assist in the growth and development of every child’s Emotional Intelligence. Social-emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.

The Student Enrichment Team (SET) provides supplemental support to students, as well as speech and language services to eligible students, to help them meet their individual potentials.  The team works collaboratively with parents, teachers, and other licensed Specialists to provide appropriate support for students working above and below grade expectations. Diagnostic screenings and assessments can be administered to students to determine areas of strength and of the challenge to develop an individualized intervention plan to meet students’ needs.

Title 1 provides extra instructional services and activities beyond the regular classroom to those students who have demonstrated that extra assistance is needed. Our program is currently offered after school and specifically in the subject area of reading. Eligibility to participate in this afterschool program is based on your home address.