The primary grades focus on developing eager learners through academics, virtuous followers of Christ through Catholic teachings, and responsible community members through service-learning. In kindergarten, first and second grade, teachers prioritize teaching the foundational skills for reading, writing, and number sense. In second grade, all receive preparation for two Sacraments of Initiation if they’ve been baptized: the First Reconciliation and the First Holy Communion. As a Leader in Me Lighthouse School, leadership skills are integrated with Catholic virtues to ensure lifelong success.

Third, fourth and fifth grade continues to push students to master the three fundamental skills of reading, writing, and number sense as well as service-learning. With the latter, students are asked to hone in on needs that exist within the city of Indianapolis and the state of Indiana. These grades differ greatly from the primary grades due to introduction of theology. In third grade, students receive their own Bibles as a rite of passage to encompass them in learning about the forefathers of faith and other profound individuals discussed in the Old Testament. In fourth grade, students begin learning about the life of Jesus Christ and his disciples in the New Testament.

In middle school, students shift from learning fundamental skills to higher-level academic competencies of literature, mathematics, science, social studies, and theology that incorporate the Cardinal Newman Society’s Catholic standards. The structure of middle school also promotes movement between classrooms to ensure that students are receiving a diverse range of academic instruction taught by teachers that are experts in their field.

The St. Joan of Arc Catholic School offers a resource program for kindergarten through eighth grade. Our program is designed to help meet the needs of students that have mild to moderate learning disabilities that are identified through a traditional testing process. In a public school setting, such would warrant an Individual Education Plan (IEP). In a private school setting, parents deny FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education) and accept services private schools can provide, typically known as an ISP (Individual Service Plan.)

Though cross-consultation is common, the program divides curricula into two sections between two teachers: kindergarten through fourth grade and fifth grade through eighth grade. The primary role of our resource teacher is to assist teachers in ensuring that all accommodations outlined in ISPs are being honored. To do this, resource teachers push-in classes to offer support, pull-out students who need extra support, and co-teach alongside other teachers as needed.