The Art curriculum, guided by the standards set forth by the Diocese of Trenton, aims to nurture each student’s God-given creative talents while fostering spiritual, emotional, and intellectual growth. The curriculum is designed to recognize every student as an artist, encouraging creative expression and personal discovery through a variety of artistic mediums. The goal is not only to develop technical skills but also to help students understand the role of art in the world, reflecting on its deep connection to God's creation.

     - Key Components of the Arts Curriculum:
     - Drawing
     - Painting
     - Photography
     - Mixed Media
     - Pastel
     - Sculpture

The music program at St. Catharine School is designed for students in PreK4 through 8th grade, and is centered around integrating music education with spiritual growth.   The key areas of focus include:
     - Learn songs using sign language
     - Learn how to read music
     - Music history
     - Mass and service preparation
     - Hands on instruments using bells, xylophones, stickers and triangles

All students participate in the Christmas Show and the Spring Concert.

PreK-4 through 3rd Grade 
Students in primary and early elementary grades become familiar with phonetic sounds, greetings, and religious vocabulary and prayers.  As the years of instruction progress, students will be able to read with relative fluency for two to three syllable words, construct grammatically correct sentences, and have cultural awareness of Spanish speaking countries.

• PreK-4 and Kindergarten:  Students will get familiar with the particular phonetic sounds in Spanish, short greetings, and religious vocabulary.  Most of the learning is being taught in context.  
  

• First Grade:  At the end of the school year, students will be able to say, read, write different combinations of two syllable words, greet and introduce themselves and others using the correct personal pronouns.  Religious prayers will be recited during class.  Most of the learning will require using new vocabulary in three or more word sentences.
  

• Second Grade. At the end of the school year, students will be able to say, read and write three syllable words with combinations of R’s, and L’s.  They will be able to introduce themselves and others.  Religious vocabulary will be learned in context,  cultural  acknowledgement of  similarities and differences  of other countries that speak Spanish.

• Third Grade:  At the end of the school year, students should be able to read with relative fluency three syllable words.  Construct grammatically correct sentences using personal pronouns, verbs to be SER and adjectives.  Religious vocabulary will be taught in context. Cultural awareness of Spanish speaking countries.
  
  
  

4th through 8th Grade

Classes begin with a morning or afternoon greeting followed by prayer and intentions all in Spanish. Thanking God for all the graces that he has given us.  Lesson plans are varied and include:

• Introduction to Spanish alphabet and correct sounds with a lot of verbal repetition.

• Introduction to Spanish vocabulary using flashcards and simple sentences.
  

• Learn how to work with proper pronunciation and vocabulary using phonetic
  sounds and the Spanish alphabet.
  

• Learn the translation of words from Spanish to English.
  

• Have the students focus on listening skills, proper pronunciation as we
  practice in repetition drills.
  

• Students learn how to create sentences using their vocabulary words
  and eventually create a short-written paragraph and be able to read them
  verbally.
  

• Students listen to dictated structured sentences and then write it correctly.
  

• Students engage in group conversation in Spanish based on a given topic. 
  

• The ultimate goal is for students students feel relatively comfortable carrying on Spanish conversations with each other and introduce more cultural awareness about
  other Hispanic / Spanish speaking countries as well.

Technology class is designed to spark curiosity and inspire students to explore the interconnected fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through hands-on, inquiry-based learning. 

PreK-4 & Kindergarten: Structure and Function: Exploring Design
Students are introduced to a design problem through story and begin to explore the elements of structure. Through hands-on learning, students take on the roles of engineers and scientists, identifying products around them and designing their own prototypes. Students develop the confidence and skills necessary to build and reflect on designs they create.  

1st Grade: Animal Adaptations 
Students explore animal adaptations for protection, camouflage, food obtainment, and locomotion. Students learn what it means for an organism to be adapted to its environment and how different adaptations can be categorized. After learning about animal adaptations in winter,  students are challenged to design the ideal hotel for our hibernating friends.

2nd Grade: Materials Science, Properties of Matter
In this module, students investigate and classify different kinds of materials by their observable properties, including color and texture, and heat conduction. Students learn about states of matter and properties of materials. They investigate which materials are good insulators and which are good conductors. After building their knowledge and skills throughout the module, students determine the best materials to use as they design a prototype to keep an ice pop frozen for at least 30 minutes.

3rd Grade: The Engineering Process
Students follow the fictitious characters, Emma and Jeremy, as they face many challenges to design and construct a robot strong enough to win a classroom battle. As the story unfolds, students are introduced to the engineering process and will practice that process throughout the year, planning, building, and testing structures of their own.  

4th Grade: The Tallest Tower
Students investigate the structure and properties of matter as they work through the engineering process to collaboratively build the tallest tower with a variety of materials. As they go through the steps of imagination to final design, students discover technology as a thought process, resulting in solutions to problems.  

5th Grade: Technology and Our Environment
Students explore the ways that technology impacts our coastal environment through introduction to technological developments that help fight pollution, stop beach erosion, and keep marine life safe.   Through hands-on activities and experiential learning, students gain an understanding of the complex nature of technology, often contributing to environmental problems as well as providing solutions. 

Intermediate School, 6th - 8th Grade
In Kid Spark’s, 6th - 8th Grade STEM Program, students explore challenging STEM concepts from their everyday world, linking technology to their everyday lives and various occupations. Students are challenged to re-think technology as a process used to create solutions for the betterment of society.  Students explore concepts in structural & mechanical engineering, marine science, rapid prototyping & 3D printing, computer science, and robotics.