In the Toronto Catholic District School Board, all schools have adopted a literacy program called “Comprehensive Literacy” There are four learning strands for language: Writing, Reading, Oral and Visual Communication, and Media Literacy. We have writing and reading workshops each day for a total of 60 minutes of language. Language is integrated throughout the curriculum as well. Also consult the "Language" tab on this website to see what we are learning about in class.
Mathematics
The math program includes all five strands seen on the report card: Number Sense and Numeration, Geometry and Spatial Sense, Measurement, Patterning and Algebra, and Data Management and Probability. Nelson Math is one of the programs that is used in various schools across Ontario. It is approved by the Ontario Ministry. The Nelson website also includes many supplementary activities that your child can use to consolidate their skills. I use many resources to teach our math curriculum, and not just the Nelson text. It all depends on the ability of my students. The curriculum guides me.
Science
There are four strands of Science that your child will be learning throughout the year: Understanding Life Systems: Growth and Changes in Plants; Understanding Structures and Mechanisms: Strong and Stable Structures; Understanding Matter and Energy: Forces Causing Movement; Understanding Earth and Space Systems: Soils in the Environment . I use the Ontario Educational Resource Bank, as well as a variety of other on-line resources for most of the information your child will be learning.
Social Studies
In the Toronto Catholic District School Board, we use a resource entitled “Many Gifts”. It integrates the two social studies strands of the curriculum entitled Heritage and Identity: Communities in Canada, 1780–1850and People and Environments: Living and Working in Ontario with the religious expectations of a Catholic School. I also use various on line resources to supplement their learning.
Physical Education
The Ontario Physical Education Association of Ontario has put out a binder with many lessons for Physical Education that teachers use all across Ontario. The three strands for Physical Education are Healthy Living, Fundamental Movement Skills, and Active Participation. The government has also mandated that children participate in 20 minutes of Daily Physical Activity (DPA).. Mr. Wong will be teaching the health and physical education curriculum this year! We are requesting that children always wear their runners each day in order to participate in DPA.
The Arts
Teachers use various resources to teach The Arts to children. The three strands of The Arts include Drama and Dance,Visual Arts, and Music. We have a vocal music teacher (Mr.s. Lynde) that comes into our school and teaches 30 minutes of music to the children each week.
The Languages
Students at St. Paschal Baylon receive 30 minutes of French instruction per day. They also receive 30 minutes of Italian instruction per day.
Religious Education
The Ontario Ministry of Education has recently developed a Religious Education Curriculum Document for teachers to follow. Teachers across the Toronto Catholic District School Board use a resource called "Growing in Faith” to teach religious education to the students. For family studies, we use a resource entitled “Fully Alive”.
We do try to integrate the curriculum areas wherever possible to make learning more exciting for your child. Please take an interest in what your child brings home. Ask them what they are doing in school. You will be surprised at how much your child will know!