Academics
Our faculty is committed to guiding our students as they build fundamental academic skills. Every student is viewed as a competent protagonist and initiator, full of potential and capable of achieving academic success while working to make our world a better place.
The Infant + Toddler Program provides a caring and warm environment for young children to transition into a school routine. Daily hands-on experiences help students safely and joyously explore their worlds. We encourage the use of sensory materials, literature and vocabulary exposure, time outside, music, art, and unstructured play. Students participate in Spanish lessons and cultural immersion activities each week. Teachers focus on introducing academics but also on life skills including self-feeding, communication, gross motor development and potty training.
At St. Michael’s, our Early Childhood programs spark imagination, nurture curiosity, and turn everyday wonder into meaningful learning. Inspired by the questions children naturally ask, our teachers design dynamic, hands-on projects that evolve each year to match the unique interests of every group. Through these explorations, students build foundational skills in math, science, social studies, and language arts—all woven seamlessly into their discoveries. Alongside classroom learning, our youngest students enjoy rich experiences in Spanish, studio art, music, and physical education, helping them grow as confident, joyful, and well-rounded learners.
Our Primary Program (Kindergarten–2nd Grade) builds on the natural curiosity and joy of discovery fostered in our Early Childhood classrooms. Through a dynamic workshop model—featuring mini-lessons, independent work, small-group collaboration, and reflective debriefing—students don’t just learn reading, writing, math, science, and social studies; they learn how to learn. Each day is filled with opportunities to think deeply, ask big questions, and make meaningful connections. With a curriculum designed to ignite wonder and build confidence, our young learners continue their journey as curious, capable, and compassionate explorers of the world around them.
In our Elementary Program (Grades 3–6), students build on their early foundations of wonder, inquiry, and exploration—deepening both their curiosity and the academic skills they’ll need for future success. With growing independence, our older learners tackle more complex ideas and projects, guided by teachers who continue to center student questions and interests. Rooted in a place-based approach, our Learning Journeys take students beyond the classroom and into the wider community, where they investigate real-world connections to their studies. Whether exploring a local watershed, exploring original documents at a local historical archive, or analyzing art in a museum, students are empowered to ask thoughtful questions, think critically, and engage meaningfully with the world around them.
