Our Curriculum
Student-to-Teacher Ratio
At this time, St. Patrick Cathedral School maintains a 12:1 ratio from 3k through 8th grade. The Kindergarten through 5th-grade classes are taught in self-contained classrooms, while 6th through 8th-grade classes are departmentalized and taught by subject area teachers.
Differentiated instruction is addressed by the classroom teachers in a variety of ways. Teachers use flexible groupings, cooperative learning, and project-based instruction techniques in addition to more traditional teaching methods. Best practice strategies are utilized in order to address the student's learning modalities (visual, kinesthetic, auditory). Instructional aides are employed in kindergarten through fifth grade to assist the teachers in meeting the students’ educational goals.
We administer two ITBS (IOWA Testing) formative assessments in grades 1st through 8th. The test results are used to identify areas of strength and weakness and are a measure for in-depth curriculum review and development. Though students in kindergarten through 2nd grade are not formally evaluated, these grade levels are able to utilize the same formative assessments to aid in increasing reading comprehension and math fluency.
Grade Level Descriptions
at St. Patrick Cathedral School
3K and 4K Pre-School:
Pre-Kindergarten is taught by Ms. Sarmiento for children aged three (3) and four (4) years of age and typically introduces the student to a formal school setting. Our St. Patrick Cathedral School program concentrates on the development of the whole child. We strive to build a strong foundation for academic success by encouraging each child’s natural curiosity about the world, which instinctively creates a desire to learn more! The class focuses on developing an appreciation of God’s world and the joy of being of God’s global community. The curriculum represents a hands-on approach to learning, which caters to each child’s individual needs in order to form the readiness skills necessary to begin his or her education. The student begins to learn the alphabet sounds, numbers, and shapes as each continues with developing motor skills. Our classroom setting assists as each student cultivates important social and emotional skills such as self-help skills, task commitment, and perseverance observing home and school rules and accepting correction, respecting others and their property, and a concept of self, family, God, and friends. They also participate in music, art, library, and physical education.
Kindergarten:
Our St. Patrick Cathedral School Kindergarten Program taught by Ms. Lezama meets the individual needs of each child and fosters cooperation with each other. Our students learn to become active Catholic Christians and to live what they learn in religion class. They begin to discover the gifts God gave them and to strive to do their very best. Students learn to think for themselves and to use their active imagination! The development and continued improvement of gross and fine motor skills are important factors in laying the foundation for academic success. The curriculum teaches and builds an array of skills many times throughout each day.
First Grade:
Along with a strong TEKS and diocesan-wide curriculum in academics and religion, the first-grade program taught by Ms. Pena-Rivera stresses organizational skills along with responsibility and accountability. This focus enhances each child’s self-awareness, self-esteem, and self-confidence. It requires a strong teacher, parent or guardian team effort as students grow in knowledge and love of God. Students learn to evangelize through actions and prayers! Our children learn to read and write compete sentences and develop independence and pride in themselves and in the work they do.
Second Grade:
The goal of the second-grade program shifts more to responsibility and ownership and is taught by Ms. Hernandez. Time management becomes a greater part of the students’ day, while they study concepts in greater depth. In teaching our Catholic faith and traditions to our children, along with our parents and guardians, we assist the students form a conscience. Students prepare for and take part on the Mass completely by receiving the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist during the spring.
Third Grade:
Our children are encouraged and led by example to live a Christ-like life which is taught by Mrs. Carreon. The program continues to build social skills and the ability to make good choices. Our students practice time management as they learn to accomplish the required tasks by the TEKS and diocesan-wide curriculum. As our children become independent in their work and study habits, they naturally develop strong organizational skills.
Fourth Grade:
Ms. Caldas teaches the fourth-grade curriculum which focuses on developing an increased sense of responsibility. Students learn to organize their time at school and at home. Honor Roll recognition begins, and every student participates and takes an active role in service projects incorporating the Corporal Works of Mercy.
Fifth Grade:
Beginning in fifth grade, students’ lives change at a rapid rate. Because they experience physical maturation and growth, their bodies seem new to them! As their minds continue to develop, completely new worlds of learning open up! They begin to grasp complex ideas and reach deep insights. Emotionally, our children have a depth and intensity of feeling which is new and which they must learn to express in appropriate ways. They are taken by surprise at their reactions to people and events around them. Because growth spurts differ among students, old friendships may end, and new ones begin. Mr. Sianez teaches the children as they develop more independent study skills and time management skills. Academic preparation focuses on the development on independent study skills to prepare them for middle school. They spend more time with one another and learn team building and cooperative skills, responsibility, and independence. They learn to waste nothing and share what they have, to take only what they need and to treasure the world in which we live.
Middle School (Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Grades):
Our middle school students are taught by a number of teachers in math, algebra, science, English, Spanish, speech/public speaking, history, religion, music, art and physical education. Our children learn and practice leadership skills throughout each day. Students are encouraged to avoid cliques and to appreciate diversity both in themselves and others. They learn appropriate ways to interact with friends and to value and protect their sexuality.
Departmentalized classes help prepare our students for high school as they take ownership and responsibility for their work and be organized. At this time students are introduced to the concept of long-range projects, requiring time to plan their time and to do more complex tasks in a methodical manner.
Prayers for 3K through Eighth Grade Students
3K, 4K and Kindergarten:
To Be Learned:
Sign of the Cross
The Lord’s Prayer
Hail Mary
Grace Before Meals
First Grade:
To Be Learned: To Be Reinforced:
Glory Be Sign of the Cross
A Morning Offering The Lord’s Prayer
Hail Mary
Grace Before Meals
Second Grade:
To Be Learned: To Be Reinforced:
An Act of Contrition
Sign of the Cross
The Lord’s Prayer
Hail Mary
Grace Before Meals
Glory Be
A Morning Offering
Third Grade:
To Be Learned: To Be Reinforced:
Grace After Meals Sign of the Cross
Apostles’ Creed The Lord’s Prayer
Mysteries of the Rosary Hail Mary
Grace Before Meals
Glory Be
A Morning Offering
An Act of Contrition
Fourth Grade:
To Be Learned: To Be Reinforced:
Prayer of the Holy Spirit Sign of the Cross
Prayer of St. Francis The Lord’s Prayer
Act of Faith Hail Mary
Act of Hope Grace Before Meals
Act of Love Glory Be
A Morning Offering
An Act of Contrition
Grace After Meals
Apostles’ Creed
Mysteries of the Rosary
Fifth Grade:
To Be Learned: To Be Reinforced:
Hail Holy Queen Sign of the Cross
The Lord’s Prayer
Hail Mary
Grace Before Meals
Glory Be
A Morning Offering
An Act of Contrition
Grace After Meals
Apostles’ Creed
Mysteries of the Rosary
Prayer of the Holy Spirit
Prayer of St. Francis
Act of Faith
Act of Hope
Act of Love
Sixth Grade:
To Be Learned: To Be Reinforced:
Memorare The Lord’s Prayer
Stations of the Cross Sign of the Cross
Hail Mary
Grace Before Meals
Glory Be
A Morning Offering
An Act of Contrition
Grace After Meals
Apostles’ Creed
Mysteries of the Rosary
Prayer of the Holy Spirit
Prayer of St. Francis
Act of Faith
Act of Hope
Act of Love
Hail Holy Queen
Seventh Grade:
To Be Learned: To Be Reinforced:
Nicene Creed Sign of the Cross
The Lord’s Prayer
Hail Mary
Grace Before Meals
Glory Be
A Morning Offering
An Act of Contrition
Grace After Meals
Apostles’ Creed
Mysteries of the Rosary
Prayer of the Holy Spirit
Prayer of St. Francis
Act of Faith
Act of Hope
Act of Love
Hail Holy Queen
Memorare
Eighth Grade:
To Be Learned: To Be Reinforced
Confiteor Sign of the Cross
Angelus The Lord’s Prayer
Hail Mary
Grace Before Meals
Glory Be
A Morning Offering
An Act of Contrition
Grace After Meals
Apostles’ Creed
Mysteries of the Rosary
Prayer of the Holy Spirit
Prayer of St. Francis
Act of Faith
Act of Hope
Act of Love
Hail Holy Queen
Memorare
Stations of the Cross
Nicene Creed
Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy name: Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen
Hail Mary
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Glory Be to the Father
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen.
Grace Before Meals
Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
Prayer Before Snack
We fold our hands We bow our heads We thank you God for daily bread. Amen.
Grace After Meals
We give you thanks, Almighty God, for these and all the gifts which we have received from your goodness, through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
A Morning Offering (Option A)
My God, I offer you today all that I think and do and say, uniting it with what was done on earth by Jesus Christ, your Son. Amen.
A Morning Offering (Option B)
God in Heaven, Morning has come and we are together again. Thank You for bringing us safely through the night. Our hearts are filled with love for You. Guide us today as we try to walk in Your way. Help us live in love and peace with each other. Strengthen our faith so that we may truly be children of light Jesus, our Savior, You gave Your life for us. We will try to live our lives for You. We offer You this day our prayers and our work. We will do our best because we love You. Amen.
A Morning Offering (Option C)
O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, Works, joys and sufferings of this day in unión with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, throughout the world. I offer them for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart; the salvation of souls, reparation for sin, the reunión of all Christians. I offer them for the intentions of our Bishops and, in particular, for those recommended by our Holy Father this month. Amen
An Act of Contrition (Option A)
My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my Heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against You whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with Your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In His name, my God, have Mercy. Amen.
An Act of Contrition (Option B)
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell. But most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to sin no more and to avoid all occasions of sin. Amen.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit, Fill the hearts of your faithful. And kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit, O Lord, and they shall be created. And you shall renew the face of the earth. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
The Mysteries of the Rosary
The Joyful Mysteries (recited Monday and Saturday)
The Annunciation
The Visitation
The Nativity
The Presentation
The Finding in the Temple
The Mysteries of Light (recited Thursday)
The Baptism of Jesus
The Wedding Feast of Cana
The Proclamation of the Kingdom, with the call to Conversion
The Transfiguration
The Institution of the Eucharist
The Sorrowful Mysteries (recited Tuesday and Friday)
The Agony in the Garden
The Scourging at the Pillar
The Crowning with Thorns
The Carrying of the Cross
The Crucifixion
The Glorious Mysteries (recited Wednesday and Sunday)
The Resurrection
The Ascension
The Descent of the Holy Spirit
The Assumption
The Coronation of Mary Queen of Heaven and Earth
Hail, Holy Queen
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears Turn then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us, and after this exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Amen.
Act of Faith
O my God, I firmly believe that you are one God in three divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I believe that your divine Son became man and died for our sins and that he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches because you have revealed them who are eternal truth and wisdom, who can neither deceive nor be deceived. In this faith I intend to live and die. Amen.
Act of Hope
O Lord God, I hope by your grace for the pardon of all my sins and after life here to gain eternal happiness because you have promised it who are infinitely powerful, faithful, kind, and merciful. In this hope I intend to live and die. Amen.
Act of Love
O Lord God, I love you above all things and I love my neighbor for your sake because you are the highest, infinite and perfect good, worthy of all my love. In this love I intend to live and die. Amen.
Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
Confiteor
I confess to Almighty God And to you, my brothers and sisters. That I have greatly sinned, In my thoughts and in my words, In what I have done and in what I have failed to do, Through my fault, through my fault, Through my most grevious fault. Therefore, I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God. Amen.
Prayer of St. Francis (A Prayer for Peace)
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; Where there is hatred, let me sow love: Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; And where there is sadness, joy. Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; To be understood as to understand; To be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive, It is in pardoning that we are pardoned, And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen
Stations of the Cross
The First Station: Jesus is Condemned to Death
The Second Station: Jesus Carries His Cross
The Third Station: Jesus Falls the First Time
The Fourth Station: Jesus Meets His Mother
The Fifth Station: Simon Helps Jesus Carry His Cross
The Sixth Station: Veronica Wipes Jesus’ Face
The Seventh Station: Jesus Falls the Second Time
The Eighth Station: Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem
The Ninth Station: Jesus Falls the Third Time
The Tenth Station: Jesus is Stripped
The Eleventh Station: Jesus is Nailed to the Cross
The Twelfth Station: Jesus Dies on the Cross
The Thirteenth Station: Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross
The Fourteenth Station: Jesus is Laid in the Tomb
Nicene Creed
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. And one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen
Angelus V.
- The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
- And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail, Mary ...
- Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
- Be it done unto me according to thy word.
Hail Mary…
- And the Word was made flesh.
- And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary…
- Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
- That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray;
Pour forth, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ, thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by his Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of his Resurrection. Through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Glory Be ...
To the Families of St. Patrick Cathedral School:
The foundation of our prayer life as Catholics comes through our formal prayers. Our prayer life begins in the home and our Catholic Schools and Faith Formation programs throughout the Catholic Diocese of El Paso. We encourage and urge our parents and guardians to embrace their call as the first teachers of their children in the faith by working with their children to learn these formal prayers.
Diocesan Speech Festival
|
Diocese of El Paso Kindergarten through 6th Grade Students consistently shine in the annual Speech Festival held at Most Holy Trinity Catholic School. St. Patrick Cathedral School students practice and compete in the following: Storytelling Oratory Poetry Pantomime Choral reading Prose Original Monologue Duet and Group Acting Impromptu Speaking
|