Special Subjects Curriculum

Our special subjects include Spanish, Guidance, Art, Music and Gym. Media and Technology are incorporated across all areas of daily instruction.

Spanish

Spanish is a fun and exciting language to learn. The curriculum incorporates a wide variety of topics: culture, spoken language, written language and reading the language.

Lower grades focus on the spoken language as well as culture. There are set themes implemented so that students learn a variety of topics; for example: animals, family, jobs, etc. Higher grades experience spoken, written and reading the language. The students learn vocabulary and then take it to the next level by reading and writing it.

An important part of the curriculum is religion. Students learn how to say the Hail Mary, Our Father, Sign of the Cross, and many other important prayers in Spanish. Students also learn about important religious figures and religious themes such as Our Lady of Guadalupe, La Navidad, Cinco de Mayo, Posadas etc.

Our goal at HCA is to provide a meaningful and exciting language experience so that our students continue their Spanish knowledge and learning for many years.

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Guidance - Living the Virtues

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Art

Our art curriculum aims to to provide a rich, comprehensive art program and adheres to national standards and diocesan benchmarks. The program involves a multi-faceted diocesan practice that consists of art media and processes, design and function, content and creative expression, art heritage, inquiry in the arts and inter-disciplinary study.

The art program at our school focuses on the elements of art: line, shape, color, value, texture, form and space. We experience these elements through drawing, painting, printmaking, collage and sculpture..

Our art program incorporates art from other cultures and inter-disciplinary studies such as science, science experiments with light and color, vocabulary and writing.

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Music

Our music program is developed around music history, reading and performing music. Music is based on the Nine National Standards:

• Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music
• Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music
• Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments
• Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines
• Reading and notating music
• Listening to, analyzing, and describing music
• Evaluating music and music performances
• Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts
• Understanding music in relation to history and culture

Student Performances
Students perform in our Christmas Nativity Pageant in December. A Spring Musical is an opportunity for students in Grades 4 - 8 to perform and is offered extra-curricularly.

Lower Grades Curriculum
Beginning in Kindergarten, students are introduced to music through call and response and movement to music in establishing a beat. As students mature musically, they learn to read notes on the staff and are able to sing songs using notes on the lines and sol fege syllables. Sight reading is used to enhance their note reading and their inner hearing. Music classes also include the creation of music beginning with quarter and eighth notes, then adding rests and additional notes. Students create their own music which is played either with body percussion or instruments.

Upper Grades Curriculum
Students learn about the early creation of music, and the progression of music throughout different eras. Projects are completed through the year to encourage the use of music through motions.  

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Gym

Our objective is to use physical activity to develop an awareness of the presence of God in an environment of respect in a manner consistent with Christian teaching.

Our Physical Education curriculum consists of activities/games including: basketball, soccer, cooperative team games, motor skill enhancement, coordination, fun and many more. Students enjoy the active environment and the class provides students with the opportunity see where their strengths are while exploring a variety of activities. Teamwork and fairness are qualities that are emphasized in every class.

Health is an important part of the curriculum. Nutrition and maintaining a healthy body are topics that are incorporated in every class.