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First grade is a year of tremendous growth, a time when teachers emphasize and promote independent learning and academics reflect a more formal quality. Academics pinpoint reading comprehension, building vocabulary, and recognizing number relationships and patterns. As students become more adept and confident, teachers begin introducing more complex problem solving and advanced creative expression techniques. As students are refining their critical thinking and processing skills, they are emerging as busy, deliberate, and self-directed learners who are interacting in positive and constructive ways. There are two enrollment options for first grade: the Classic program or Spanish Immersion. Foreign language immersion is an educational methodology that involves teaching traditional, conventional academic subjects such as math, science, social studies, and language arts, in a non-native language. This system uses the rich palette and nuanced expressions of language to embellish and extend the dimension of the learning environment and to ensure students attain fluency in a second language. At St. Peter’s, Spanish is the conduit through which students are academically advancing. St. Peter’s offers a Spanish immersion option to Preschool-3 up to fourth grade students. Teachers instruct and interact with students speaking only Spanish in the classroom. “First Grade is a dynamic environment. The teachers value the imagination and independent thinking of their students, and they interact with them with respect and kindness. Also 1st Grade has a reputation for designing unique learning experiences. The faculty and students collaborate on hands-on projects such as building an enormous solar system that extends outside the classroom and into the hallway." Jennifer and Jeramie Hoff |