Curriculum

Gwynedd-Mercy Academy provides a quality education through a comprehensive and challenging curriculum that is aligned with Pennsylvania and Archdiocesan standards. Students are actively engaged in learning and continually challenged to apply higher order thinking skills as they compose, create, experiment, and discover.

Religion

The religious curriculum is centered on spiritual and faith development to enable children to learn and live their faith. As children study about God and creation, prayers, sacraments and service to others, they learn how to integrate Mercy values and attitudes into their daily lives. The Community of Caring program supports the curriculum through class meeting discussions that center on acceptance and appreciation of differences.

Sacramental Preparation

The child's religious growth is highlighted through his/her preparation and reception of the sacraments. Children are prepared for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, First Eucharist and Confirmation. Reconciliation and Eucharist are received within our school community and Confirmation is received in the child's parish setting. The sacramental preparation program includes classroom lessons, special prayer experiences and parental involvement. The child's reception of these initial sacraments is the foundation of our religion program. Our hope is that the students of Gwynedd-Mercy Academy, through their learning and their experience, come to know and realize God's great love for them and strive to live out Jesus' commandment "to love God and to love one another as God loves us."

Reading/Language Arts

The reading program promotes the development, encouragement, and enhancement of fluent readers, articulate writers and speakers, discerning listeners, and savvy researchers, through an integrated approach. To meet the needs of emerging readers and writers, instruction in phonemic awareness, fluency, decoding, and word recognition builds the foundation for critical reading and quality writing. Spelling, vocabulary, grammar, and research skills are integrated throughout the curriculum, including library, speech, and computer classes. As students progress into independent, critical readers in the middle grades, numerous opportunities are provided for students to utilize metacognitive strategies to read and respond, listen and share ideas, analyze and interpret, using authentic literature complemented by trade books, Internet research material, and other genre. Cross-curricular experiences, supported by technology enhancements, encourage students to transfer critical thinking and reading skills to develop complex knowledge in all disciplines. Teachers provide differentiated instruction and assessment, both formal and informal, at all grade levels to support the varied learning needs and interests of students and to monitor each student's progress. All aspects of the reading program, including participation in Reading Olympics, challenge our students to become life-long readers and communicators.

Speech

A course of interpersonal communication and public speaking is offered as part of the curriculum in grades 5 through 8. The speech program consists of classroom dramatic exercises and everyday speaking techniques which enable students to express themselves with confidence.

Mathematics

The mathematics program focuses on developing a strong number sense through a systematic and sequential approach. Students learn to apply rules, solve word problems, and reason, using analytical and critical thinking skills, as they progress to solving quantitative problems. A systematic and sequential approach is used in our mathematics program so students in kindergarten through 8th grade develop, learn, and implement solid skills and concepts. The focus on problem solving and reasoning strategies provides opportunities for students to demonstrate and apply their mathematical understanding. The primary grades utilize a program which offers hands-on, practical activities so students develop a strong mathematical background. Customized learning strategies help teachers to differentiate the instruction in order to offer a program based on students' learning styles and learning needs at each grade level. Building on this developmental approach, students in the upper grades focus on application, problem solving, and reasoning, offering students a solid mathematical basis which will promote success during their high school education. Through differentiating instruction at this level, students are challenged to learn complex mathematical problems, to broaden their knowledge base, and to apply these skills in life context. The mathematics program is designed in alignment with the new Principles and Standards for School Mathematics from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and to the Pennsylvania State Mathematical Standards.

Social Studies

The social studies curriculum opens students to the world and its people while learning about communities, geography, the history of America and countries of the past and present. In the primary grades, the student's understanding about school and family life is highlighted by discovering his/her role within these social settings. The social studies curriculum in grades 3 and 4 reviews various neighborhood communities and Pennsylvania state history. In grades 5 and 6, the emphasis is on the Western and Eastern hemispheres, its history, culture, and regions, and expanding the horizons of our students. Throughout 7th and 8th grades, students are given a firm grounding in American history. Participation in National History Day at the middle school level, broadens knowledge and helps students gain perspective of the role of a responsible citizen in this multicultural, interdependent world. Our social studies program incorporates current events along with the importance of becoming a responsible, informed, and moral citizen in order "to meet the challenges of Christian leadership and membership in a pluralistic society."

Science

The science curriculum encourages students to observe, hypothesize, identify, and relate information about the wonders of the world, fostering environmental responsibility and respect for life in all forms. A combination lab and lecture approach supports the development of laboratory procedures and scientific inquiry. In grades K-5, students are encouraged to observe, identify and relate information about the wonders of the world. For each grade there is a unit on plants, animals, people, human systems and nature study. Students in 6th grade are taught physical science, 7th grade focuses on life science and earth science is taught in 8th grade. Eighth grade students create individual projects for competition in local, state and national contests.

Study Skills

Students in the primary and intermediate grades are taught study skills within the framework of the reading/language arts program and content-area subjects. Study skill classes are offered to students in grades 6 - 8 in a more formalized way to help develop strong study habits and test-taking techniques. Strong emphasis is placed on organization, interpretation, and retention skills. Outlining and scanning information, along with a variety of individualized study techniques are also included in this program.

World Languages

The world language program encompasses the teaching of ½ year of French and ½ year of Spanish for students in grades K-5. As students enter sixth grade, they begin a more in-depth study of a language and continue to study that language through grade 8. The emphasis in the beginning years is audio-lingual. In 6th, 7th and 8th grades, students use a standard text and begin to work in depth in the study of the culture as well as the structure and use of the language. The goals of the program emphasize the ability to converse in a world language and appreciate its culture.

Library

At all grade levels, the library serves as a reading, research, and resource center. Students and teachers may access the latest information through materials and technology to support and integrate the curriculum. In the primary grades, small group story telling is offered along with instruction in library skills. In the upper grades, instruction is given for information literacy including research skills, source evaluation, and literature appreciation. The library is open from 8 AM to 4PM to allow students to use this facility both before and after school.

Technology

The technology curriculum places emphasis on the development of technological literacy to support skills and application necessary for the Information Age. Integration and cross-curricular activities, as well as Internet access developed in the lab and classrooms, promote independent and collaborative lifelong learning. Based on Academic Standards for Science and Technology Standards, the curriculum incorporates computer applications and operations, interactive experiences, and ethics. Beginning in kindergarten, students receive instruction in computer classes on the various component functions of the computer, with a strong emphasis on keyboarding, utilizing programs such as Kid Keys and Read and Write and Type. Ongoing instruction builds on the development of skills and exploration as students utilize Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Publisher to support comprehension and build learning. Technology helps to support differentiated learning , as students develop spreadsheets in math, incorporate Resume Wizard for an ILA assignment, create a slideshow for science, or explore other electronic searches. Students are educated on Internet safety and are challenged to recognize their ethical responsibility as a user. In support of this, each student and faculty member signs the Acceptable Use Policy.

Music Program

All students participate in classroom music using singing, speech, movement, recorder, Orff instruments and hand bells to support grade level curriculum. The students are given the opportunity to share their music through Liturgical services, a school choir, as well as recital and musical presentations.

Private Music and Voice Lessons

Individual piano lessons are available to students beginning in 2nd grade, band instruments beginning in 4th grade and voice lessons beginning in 6th grade. Individual piano, band and voice lessons are taught on a rotating schedule throughout the school day. Recitals are performed by the children at the end of the school year. Fees are in addition to the tuition.

Art Program

The art curriculum introduces children to the history of art with a wide variety of media. Exploration of ideas and media supports creativity and individuality, while strengthening motor skills. A world map and the Western time line are utilized to incorporate art history at every grade level: kindergarten studies prehistoric art, 1st studies Egyptian, 2nd studies Greek, 3rd studies the Middle Ages, 4th coordinates with Social Studies and incorporates the art of Pennsylvania, 5th studies Renaissance, 6th studies Impressionism, 7th studies African art which helps them in 8th to understand Picasso and Modern Art. The philosophy of this program is to promote a good self image in each child through positive reinforcement of principles and concepts, learned and applied.

Physical Education and Health

Physical education classes are co-educational with emphasis on physical fitness, skill development and movement. In the upper grades, group activities are stressed with emphasis on fitness, skill development, rules interpretation, and spontaneity through lead-up activities as well as other group activities. Health classes are incorporated in religion and science classes throughout the grades; students in grades 6-8 attend a scheduled health class.

Dance Program

Dance classes are provided for girls in grades K-8 rotating with physical education classes. The grace and talent of the students are displayed in musical presentations throughout the year. Private after-school dance lessons are available for girls beginning in kindergarten.

Challenge Center

The Challenge Center, a program for academically gifted students, is provided for students who qualify from grades 4 through 8. Its purpose is to demonstrate the most effective and innovative concepts and techniques for appropriately meeting the extended and educational needs of academically gifted children. Admission is based on the total points earned within an identification matrix: intelligence quotient of 130 or above, consistently strong reading, math, and language arts scores on Terra Nova Standardized tests, a superior group IQ such as the Cognitive Skills Index, teacher recommendations, as well as a superior classroom profile of the student. The program places strong emphasis on the higher mental processes, which allow the students to develop their creativity and to practice the skills of problem solving.

Creative Thinking Skills

Knowing that our children will benefit from exposure to higher level thinking, a Creative Thinking Skills class is taught to all students in grades 1 through 3 by the Challenge Center teacher. Complementing this program, critical thinking skills are integrated throughout our curriculum by the individual classroom teacher. Through differentiated instruction, we are able to meet the needs of our students and to support them in becoming analytical thinkers.

Special Services

Remedial reading, counseling, and speech therapy are services provided for students through the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit. Children are evaluated to determine need, and parental permission is required.