Curriculum
Talents Unlimited
St. Mary School is a "Talents Unlimited School." What does that mean? Each of our teachers is specially trained to teach students the "process" of learning and thinking through an education method called "Talents Unlimited."
Educators using research on how to tap the "multiple talents" born in every child developed "Talents," as we call it, more than 20 years ago. The Talents teaching prompts students to continuously improve skills of productive thinking, communication, forecasting, decision-making and planning within the context of every academic subject. The goal is for students to understand and apply the thinking skills practiced in the classroom to their own real life situations, for the rest of their lives.
The Talents approach emerges from four assumptions about people and learning:
- Each individual has innate thought-process strengths or "talents" in a variety of areas including productive/creative thinking, forecasting, communication, decision-making and planning.
- These talent processes can be integrated into any academic content area.
- Training in the use of these thinking skills will build capacity and foster positive self-concept for the learner.
- These five thinking skills are linked to success in the world of work.
Our teachers use Talents Unlimited in all grades and in all subjects. In fact, Talents is so well integrated throughout our curriculum that since 1993 St. Mary has served as a National Demonstration School for Talents Unlimited. To qualify for this honor a school must have a certified trainer on staff, all teachers must receive extensive training in the use of the model and the school must use Talents Unlimited in all grade levels for a three-year period. St. Mary is one of 15 schools in the country (and the only Catholic school) where educators and researchers can observe the successful implementation of this critical and creative thinking skills program. The National Association for Gifted Children used St. Mary as an "action lab" during their last conference in Cincinnati and educators from across the nation visited to see Talents "in-action."
The Talents Unlimited model allows teachers to weave into their regular curriculum opportunities for children to develop divergent thinking. The five talents of this model always come directly from the core academic material and include:
- Productive Thinking
- Communication
- Forecasting
- Decision Making
- Planning
"Talents" is the defining teaching method of a St. Mary education. It is how we teach every child. Each year we hold a workshop to familiarize parents with the tools and terminology of Talents.
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Fine Arts
We are committed to the Fine Arts through full-time music and art specialists. Students attend music and art classes twice weekly.
St. Mary School has received Ohio Arts Council grants to host artists in residence. In 2006 we welcome Artist-in-Residence Baba Jubal Harris who will provide a 2 week in-depth study of ethnic music emphasizing African drumming. The fifth grade will integrate Mr. Harris' expertise with their Social Studies unit on Africa.
St. Mary School Art Teacher Janet Gorman received WCET's Art Teacher of the Year Award in 2005 for integrating Art throughout the curriculum.
The "St. Mary Players" (Grade 6-8 drama club) present a full-scale musical drama each spring in addition to performances by individual classes and the Choir during the school year. "Junior Theater" is available for students in Grade 2-5 with an annual production in March.
Children are encouraged to express themselves through visual art in a wide range of media. Students learn basic principles of art and art appreciation, as well as create projects using printmaking, three-dimensional design, sculpture, paint, pen and ink, and pastels. Our art "studio" is equipped with a kiln for pottery making. Each year St. Mary students are among the winners in the Hyde Park Square Art Show competition. Grade 7 and 8 students participate in our Fine Arts Elective Program.
Professional performers (e.g. Playhouse in the Park, Cincinnati Opera and Cincinnati Ballet) visit throughout the year. Fine Arts Week each spring is a highlight of the academic year involving all students. Members of the P.T.O. offer Fine Arts Family Night and the "Picture Lady" program.
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Spanish
Spanish classes are held during the school day for students in grades K-8. Grades K-6 meet 1 day per week and grades 7-8 meet 3 days/week with the option of earning a high school credit. St. Mary School Spanish program allows students to develop an appreciation for foreign language and cultural diversity.
Communication and connectedness with Spanish speaking regions is emphasized. Kindergarten-Grade 5 builds vocabulary and common phrases to gain confidence and familiarity. Junior High students build verbal communication skills and develop writing competency.
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Science
Students are encouraged to learn through hands-on experiments as well as school assemblies and community field trips.
Two science teachers and our science lab enhance the Junior High program (Grades 6, 7, 8) focusing on Life, Earth, and Physical Science.
Parents are strong assets contributing to the science department through the SMASH (St. Mary Association of Science Helpers) program. Among the science education opportunities available to our students: laptop technology, an outdoor education experience, yearly participation in regional/state science competition, access to science resources on the Internet as well as at universities, museums and COSI in Columbus, Ohio.
There is a school-wide commitment to integrate science throughout the curriculum.
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Math
Our math program features a wide variety of manipulatives and problem solving, with an emphasis on the vocabulary of math. Students in grades 1-5 with an accelerated talent in math may participate in math enrichment classes and a high school algebra course is offered in grade 8. Junior high has an expanded math curriculum offering multi-level math classes providing opportunities for all levels of learning.
The Algebra I class offered to academically qualified 8th grade students is an actual high school course allowing students to move into Algebra II or Geometry as freshman in high school.
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Technology
Use of computers, the Internet, video production and other electronic technology are integrated throughout the curriculum at St. Mary. Our state-of-the-art computer lab accommodates a full class at a time and a portable cart of 32 wireless laptop computers extends Internet access throughout the school.
Every student has two scheduled periods per week in the computer lab.
Students use computer technology in nearly every subject area from Kindergarten through Grade 8. Word processing, database, e-mail, Internet research, digital photography, Web page creation, graphic presentations, desktop publishing and online learning – are among the skills students develop through computer use.
Each student is introduced to computer skills with access to computer programs in math and language instruction as well as critical thinking, and deductive reasoning practice.
In addition to the Internet Lab, every classroom has computers making it possible for students and the teacher to work individually or use video equipment for a class lesson. Our students are computer confident when they leave St. Mary School and have a strong technology foundation for high school.
We have a full-time Technology Teacher/Coordinator and two technology assistants. Our Technology Program makes enrichment possible for all subjects by expanding the curriculum through specialized project-based learning. Most often these projects involve the entire class and at times only a small group of students. A strong link exists between our enrichment and technology programs.
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Religion
Children of all faiths are welcome at St. Mary School. Christian/Catholic values and service to others are an integral part of the total school program. Each student participates daily in the formal religious education program that stresses both formation and information. Roman Catholic students are prepared through instruction, prayer and community service projects for reception of the sacraments of First Holy Communion, the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Confirmation. All students are encouraged to participate in both weekly and special school liturgies as well as prayer services.
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Language Arts
Reading, English, SpellingWe want children to learn not only how to read, but to love to read! A balance between the wonderful literature of whole language and the important skills of language and reading comprise the basis of our language program. Process writing is a vital part of our instruction. Students are encouraged to write daily using the Six Traits of writing to understand and strengthen their skills.
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Social Studies
Children grow in awareness of geography and the global community, which stresses our interdependence with others, as well as knowledge and appreciation of the history and cultures of the people around us. A special emphasis is placed on current events so that students realize the importance of the present and its effect on the future.
Our involvement each year in the International School to School Experience (ISSE) program translates some of these lessons into personal experiences. Our students form friendships with exchange students here and our students who travel abroad have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sample life in another nation.
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Health/Physical Education
The Physical Education department at St. Mary is one of the respected elementary programs in the city of Cincinnati. Each year 94% of our students can successfully pass the physical fitness test that only 15% of the nation's youth can pass. Students' success is attributed to the fine P.E. classes during the school day and the extensive extracurricular sports program. We hope students will develop a positive attitude toward physical well-being that will carry over to the future.
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