First grade at St. Joseph Catholic STEM School provides a well-rounded, faith-based learning experience that nurtures students academically, socially, and spiritually. Catholic values are woven throughout the day through prayer, community worship, service opportunities, and lessons centered on Scripture, the lives of the Saints, and social justice. Students are guided by daily expectations to be kind, safe, and responsible members of the school community.
Students engage in hands-on STEM learning through science investigations and inquiry-based activities. They explore plants, animals, and the world around them while studying earth, physical, and life science, often using the school garden as an outdoor classroom to deepen real-world understanding.
In math, students develop strong number sense and problem-solving skills through interactive lessons, hands-on activities, and differentiated instruction designed to support all learners.
Language arts instruction focuses on building foundational literacy skills, including reading, writing, spelling, grammar, and communication. A structured phonics-based approach, combined with comprehension strategies and consistent reading practice at school and at home, helps students grow into confident readers and writers.