Kindergarten at Nativity
Where Young Learners Take Their First Brave Steps
Nativity School welcomes Kindergartners into a stimulating, nurturing environment that builds on students' natural inclination to investigate, explore, and create.
It begins to lay the foundation for later successes and challenges as they move through grade levels by fostering independent thinking and problem solving.
Lower School at Nativity
Where Young Minds Begin to Build Confidence, Curiosity, and Character
Nativity Elementary School welcomes Kindergartners into a stimulating, nurturing environment that begins to lay the foundation for later successes and challenges. The elementary curriculum sharpens the children's listening and direction following skills, and encourages independent thinking and problem solving.
Class activities celebrate each child's uniqueness and creativity and builds wholesome attitudes toward oneself. The children are taught that they are an important part of a larger community and are gently guided toward positive social and moral behaviors.
Academic and Personal Growth
Nativity’s primary grade students are singularly prepared for the rigorous challenges of middle school.
Students are taught invaluable communication skills necessary for problem solving and conflict resolution.
They gain respect for themselves as they find alternatives to problems and greater appreciation for the viewpoints of others. In all academic subjects, emphasis is placed on critical thinking and learning how making connections imparts a richer understanding of a concept or idea. The development of good, independent study habits is promoted.
Nativity Elementary School cultivates a life-long excitement and natural curiosity for learning in a positive, loving atmosphere of dedicated attention to each student’s needs.
Middle School at Nativity
Where Independence, Leadership, and Purpose Take Root
Nativity’s middle school students are taught to work rigorously to personally grow during this critical period of development. Students are encouraged to develop leadership skills and embrace the challenges of living in a 21st century globalized world.
Throughout their middle school years at Nativity, students will be led on how to become self advocating, active participants and independent workers who work collaboratively in their learning. Nativity promotes inquiry based thinking, Christ-centered giving, creativity, kindness, and inclusive learning that encourages each student to thrive.
Learning with Depth and Intention
Middle school students are expected to be active members in their learning and to fully engage in their own education.
They are taught to be positive contributors to the shared learning experience, while being respectful of the experiences, perspectives, and achievements of their teachers and peers. Students are encouraged to ask questions and search for answers; to share their ideas, opinions, and perspective; to think critically, creatively, and independently; and to discern with their hearts and minds.
Nativity’s middle school curriculum follows the curriculum guidelines of the Archdiocese of San Francisco and the California Common Core State Standards. It is designed to prepare students to succeed in any academic program in the future by providing building on the foundation established in their primary educational years; encouraging and exposing a variety of depths of study, and inspiring creativity and critical analysis.
Curriculum Overview
Math
Nativity uses Eureka Math in kindergarten through 8th grade. Math classes are split starting in 5th grade and students in middle school students may use Maneuvering the Middle, Khan Academy, or ALEKS in addition to Eureka Math to ensure that they are being challenged appropriately. Accelerated students in 8th grade may be given the opportunity to take a before-school Geometry class, concurrently with high school level Algebra 1.
Reading
Kindergarten through 4th grade uses HMH Into Reading to build their reading and writing skills. Our Middle Schoolers in grades 5 - 8 use Voyages in English for writing and grammar and Sadlier Vocabulary for vocabulary enrichment. Middle School students will also use novel studies to further explore fiction and nonfiction writing.
Handwriting
Nativity School uses Writing Our Catholic Faith in PreSchool through 8th grade so our students can build their penmanship, become fluent in cursive and practice their handwriting, all while exploring the Catholic faith.
Science
Kindergarten through 4th grade uses HMH to study Science. Middle School students use Teacher Curriculum Institute (TCI) to study science in 5th through 8th grade as well as participating in a yearly Science Fair.
History
Students in kindergarten through 8th grade use Teacher Curriculum Institute (TCI) Social Studies Alive and History Alive to study social studies and history close to home and across the world.
Religion
Students in Kindergarten through 8th grade explore the Catholic faith with Loyola Press’ Christ Our Life. Baptised Catholic students in 2nd grade will prepare to receive the sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion and those students will prepare to receive the sacrament of Confirmation in 8th grade. Non-Catholic students will undertake the same preparation. All students at Nativity School will attend weekly Mass led by our 8th graders, as well as a monthly full Mass led by a different class each month and celebrated with our Nativity Student Choir.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Students have multiple opportunities to experience their educational life outside the classroom through off-campus field trips. These field trips provide fun and exciting enrichment in adjunct to classroom instruction.
Classes have visited various theater productions, missions, art and science museums, NASA/Ames, the San Francisco Symphony, the zoo, a recycling plant, local farms, Walden West, Yosemite and more.