Specials for Pre-K through Grade 8

Special classes at the Academy of Notre Dame include offerings in art, music, world languages (grades Kindergarten-8), library and physical education. We believe that the specialist courses allow students to discover their gifts and talents in unique disciplines, while connecting scientific and artistic talents to academic coursework.

In order to achieve this, the academic excellence and spiritual formation of the Academy curriculum is strengthened by its extracurricular, or “specials” curriculum. Our students in kindergarten through grade 8 have the opportunity to participate in a variety of specialist courses.

Physical fitness is a high priority at the Academy, with weekly physical education classes and extensive intramural and competitive athletic opportunities. Students in grades 4 - 8 can participate on school athletic teams. Academy students are also eligible to participate fully in Tyngsboro town teams, both recreational and travel.

Use the tabs below to read grade overview descriptions of each special.

Art

Students partake in weekly 45-minute art classes beginning in Pre-K4 through grade 8. Projects based on age- level are showcased on Fine Arts Night in May. The emphasis for art class for students in Pre-K4 through second grade is on developing observation and fine motor skills. Compositions of animals and figures are created using simple geometric shapes.

Students in grades 3-4 are taught fundamentals and principles of art such as design, color and space. Assignments encourage more independent thinking for expression using these new skills.

Older students in grades 5-8 explore acrylic painting and 3D sculpture. In fifth grade, students make animal masks and study portraiture; sixth graders create 3D animal sculptures; and seventh graders study still life and landscapes with acrylics. As a final project, eighth grade students sand, design and paint a piece of furniture that remains in the school.

Library

The Library Learning Commons serves the entire school population. Students regularly visit the library to develop a love of literature, research skills and reading for life. All students, families, faculty and staff are encouraged to visit and borrow books from NDA's library. Teachers may also arrange to visit the Learning Commons with students for research and instructional purposes. Upper School students are also encouraged to use the Library Learning Commons to do independent research. Learn more about NDA's Library Learning Commons' resources here

Music

Music is offered to all Lower School grades once a week. Fourth graders learn to play the recorder.

Fourth and sixth graders get familiar with the symphony orchestra learning the families of instruments, names of instruments and sound of each instrument. Classes are introduced to Gustav Holst’s The Planets and students guess which planet Holst was trying to represent in sound. They do this by listening for musical clues including tempo, dynamics and instrumentation.

Seventh grade students listen to excerpts from many Broadway musicals as they explore groundbreaking shows by Rodgers and Hammerstein and Stephen Sondheim like Carousel and Into the Woods.

Finally, eighth graders finish an introduction to classical music. Students compare musical styles in each period from several great composers including Bach, Beethoven and Brahms.

In Physical Education (PE) class, all students in Pre-K3 through grade 8 learn to maintain a healthy lifestyle through physical activity. Students participate in 45 minutes of physical education per week in addition to mid-morning and lunchtime recess periods during which physical activity is encouraged. At the Pre-K3 through Grade 1 level, students focus on the basic loco-motor skills (running, jumping , skipping, etc.) and manipulative skills (throwing, catching, dribbling, kicking, etc.) through various small group activities. In grades 2 through 5, students incorporate their learned skills into modified sport activities. In grades 6 through 8, students are focused on sport related activities and learn more about game strategies and rules of the game.

At each grade level, students are working with partners and small and large groups to encourage communicating, working together, and supporting one another. Most importantly, we stress to all students that PE class is supposed to be fun!

STEM

STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. This class teaches how to integrate all four of these disciplines to solve problems and create innovative projects the same way everyday scientists and engineers do in our modern era. Students are taught STEM concepts through an inquiry-based teaching method where they work collaboratively to solve real-world problems. STEM concepts are also integrated into all courses.

Older students participate in experimental labs, play interactive computer games and do coding, and they work in groups to create models of real life solutions to problems which are STEAM related. They learn the design process for engineering, as well as develop a deeper understanding of what technology means (not just computers and computerized toys). Lower grades, for example, build bridges and archways and towers using simple materials like straws, tinfoil, pipe cleaners and raw spaghetti. Higher grades build mechanical arms that can pick up a cup, windmills that raise a miniature car ten inches, and ziplines for ping pong balls.

NDA is a 1:1 device school starting in Grade 3. Students in Grades 3-5 daily log onto their NDA issued Chromebook to do their classroom work. Students in grades 6-8 are assigned Chromebooks at the start of the school year and are expected to take responsibility for their device, including having it charged daily to be ready to learn.

World Languages

The principal aim of the World Language program is to provide students with the skills needed to communicate in a second language and to develop strong fundamentals skills in oral communication (listening and speaking), reading, and writing.

From Kindergarten to grade 5 Spanish and French are offered as a special that meets once a week transitioning from one language to the other after the second trimester.

In Grade 6, French or Spanish is chosen and followed throughout the entire year. From that point forward, classes meet five days a week and are part of the regular academic requirements. The 7th and 8th grade level curriculum is designed to follow a first year high school curriculum, divided in two years. Upon completion of the program, students should be eligible to enter Spanish/French 2 or a corresponding Honors Level Program at the freshman level in high school.

The program adopts a broad spectrum of communication skills utilizing the five C’s of essential foreign language education: Communication, Culture, Connections, Comparisons and Community. Additionally, elements of the Catholic faith tradition are integrated in the target language curriculum in order to provide a meaningful language and cultural experience within the context of the Catholic faith. The program follows the guidelines of an immersion program where the language of choice is taught for a minimum of 50% of the total instructional time at every grade level of study.

We extend an invitation for you to visit us in person. Please contact the Admissions Office via email at [email protected] or by calling 978-649-7611, Ext 337 to arrange a tour. We’d love the opportunity to meet you and your child.