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Academics at Notre Dame Academy - Buffalo Catholic School

Academics

Notre Dame Academy offers a high-quality education with a curriculum that adheres to both New York State and diocesan guidelines and offers excellence in Catholic education for children in grades pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.

The Diocesan curriculum guidelines, consistent with the State of New York are followed for the teaching of all subject areas. The entire curriculum for the Diocese of Buffalo is posted on the Diocesan website.

For Grades 3 to 5 students will rotate as the middle school does.  This will create a stronger learning environment for the students. The Homeroom teacher will teach scholastic and then they will have a different teacher for Math, Science and Social Studies.  

Notre Dame Academy offers students opportunities for growth in the following major subjects:

  • Religion - Curriculum focuses on the following areas; Creed, Sacred Scriptures, Sacraments, Liturgy, Christian Living, Prayer, Mysteries and Mission of the Catholic Church
     
  • Computer Literacy – Word Processing, Data Base, SpreadSheets, Power Point, Publisher, appropriate use of social media, electronic devices, and integration with curricular subjects.
     
  • Fine Arts – Music (vocal, instrumental and theory) Art, and Performing Arts.
     
  • Handwriting – Students in Grades 4 & 5 are expected to submit all handwritten work in cursive.
     
  • Literacy Program
    • Grades UPK-5th Grade Adopted Scholastic Literacy. All students will progress monitored utilizing Dibels, Scholastic Literacy, and IXL to ensure all students are performing at grade level. If students are not performing at Grade Level, academic interventions will be made to ensure students get the help they need to ensure all students are performing their best.
    • In Grades 6-8 Students have a Literature Anthology in addition each grade level will do two novel studies as a class. Students will be expected to participate in our Accelerated Reading program to monitor independent reading. In addition students will be progress monitored using IXL and if students are not performing at Grade Level, students will be given academic intervention support to ensure the learn and continue growing their math skills.
    • Grades 3 through 8 are prepared with the needed skills and take the New York State ELA Assessment.
       
  • Mathematics – Mathematics Curriculum based skills in PreK through Grade 8th will be using the Eureka Math Program. Students will also be progress monitored using IXL and Dibels to help support the students in academic excellence. If students are not performing at Grade Level, students will be given academic intervention support to ensure they learn and continue growing their math skills.
    • Grades 3 through 8 are prepared with the needed skills and take the New York State Math Assessment.
       
  • Physical Education – Physical fitness programs appropriate for each grade. PreK4 – 5th grade students receive 60 minutes of instruction and 60 minutes of recess time on a weekly basis. Grades 6-8 receive alternating days of PE and Health for minimum requirement.
     
  • Science – General Science and Laboratory Experiences. All grades use Savvas Curriculum with science experiments. We also use Science Spin through Scholastic that provides monthly magazines that aligned with the NYS Science Standards.
    • Students in 5th and 8th grade will take the NYS Science Assessment.
       
  • Social Studies – History, Geography, Economics, State History, and Current Events. Students in K-8 use Savvas My World Interactive Social Studies. Which is Textbook and Internet based and is directly aligned to the NYS Social Studies Standards.
     
  • Spanish - Students at Abbott Road are scheduled to take a Spanish class once a week. Students at Okell will participate in both Spanish and Arabic; splitting up the weeks to learn equal amounts of both during the year.