Curriculum

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Seton Catholic School is a Catholic Christian community dedicated to a total educational program. We believe that every facet of life is important: spiritual, physical, intellectual and emotional. We strive to instill Christian values so that each student becomes a force of good in God's world. Concurrently, our educational program leads, encourages and aids each student to develop his/her intellect to its full potential. We respect the unique attributes of each student. Thus, by providing the atmosphere of living and learning in the light of faith, we encourage each individual to become a whole person - his/her own person.

Vision
It is our firm conviction that parents are the primary educators of their children. Parents that send their children to Seton Catholic School have chosen to offer Seton the privilege of working with parents in carrying out this God-given responsibility. Seton Catholic School gladly accepts the challenge to work with parents in providing quality Catholic education for these children and all the children of Moline.

  • Parental involvement and support are a tradition upon which Seton Catholic School was founded.

  • Parental cooperation, concern and awareness of the Seton philosophy and goals are essential to the success of our efforts.

  • No student shall be refused admission to Catholic schools on the basis of race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin.

  • Students of religious denominations other than Catholic may be admitted according to local policy.

  • Let us pray for the guidance to know how best to help our children grow in the Lord.

Sacramental Program

Reconciliation - 2nd Grade
In second grade our students prepare for two sacraments, Reconciliation and the Eucharist. The entire second quarter is spent learning about and preparing for the sacrament of Reconciliation. Teachers instruct the children using the text, videos, and a presentation by one of the parish priests. Parents help in the preparation by reviewing each chapter with their child as it is completed. There are parent meetings and follow-up activities in each parish. Each child receives the sacrament of Reconciliation at a communal penance service in their own parish in either February or March.

First Communion - 2nd Grade
Preparation for the sacrament of the Eucharist begins in January and continues through the end of the school year. Teachers use the text, supplemented with videos and a Mass booklet, helping the students to learn about the Eucharist and the parts of the Mass as well. Parents help by reviewing each chapter with their children. The classes have a special bread-baking session just before the children receive their First Holy Communion. Parent meetings are held to explain the details involved in each parish's First Communion celebration. All First Communion celebrations are held in late April or early May. Seton has a special school Mass in honor of our First Communicants later in May.

Confirmation - 8th Grade
In eighth grade our students prepare for and receive the sacrament of Confirmation. In this sacrament they are given the opportunity to seal the gift of faith given to them by their families at Baptism. They are instructed using a supplemental text, videos, and discussion. One of our goals is to help the students take ownership of their faith. Another is to realize the responsibility they have as Christians to serve as Jesus did. Therefore service hours are part of the Confirmation program. Many opportunities for service to the church and community are presented to the students to choose from. Parent meetings are held to inform parents and students regarding the details of the Confirmation ceremony in their own parish.

Language Arts Curriculum

The Seton language arts curriculum is aligned with Illinois Learning Standards Incorporating the Common Core for Language Arts. Teachers use a variety of resources to implement these standards. In grades kindergarten through 6th, students use textbooks from the Houghton Mifflin Reading and English Series. In 7th and 8th grades, students use textbooks from the Glencoe Literature Series and Voyages English Series.

Seton Catholic School's language arts program integrates the five components of a balanced literacy program into reading and writing. Teachers begin in our preschool, prekindergarten, and kindergarten programs to lay the foundation of the components, which include phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. As the student continues through their academic career, emphasis is placed on engaging the learner in independent reading for both purpose and pleasure. These reading skills and strategies are taught in formats such as whole and small group instruction, read-alouds, guided reading, shared reading, independent reading, spelling, and word study.

Teachers use language arts formative assessment regularly in order to monitor individual student's progress. This allows the teacher to identify the language arts strengths and weaknesses of each individual student. The teacher can ascertain the student's needs and focus on providing instructional strategies to help the student in the growth process and in attaining their goals.

Teachers use a variety of language arts resources and programs to enhance the language arts curriculum. Students use interactive programs Accelerated Reader 360, Raz-Kids, Vocababulary.com, and Flocabulary depending on their class.  

Students in kindergarten through 8th grade are using the Accelerated Reader 360 online program. Highly popular and successful for over 25 years, Accelerated Reader 360 is a powerful tool for monitoring and managing independent reading practice. Accelerated Reader 360 monitors the progress of each student's reading level, suggests titles of books at that level, and then assesses the student's reading comprehension. To learn the specifics about Accelerated Reader 360, please see link: Accelerated Reader.

An emphasis on writing is also incorporated into our language arts framework, which includes teaching the processes, the skills of writing, the traits of effective writing, the characteristics of the different writing genres, and eventually, independent writing. Teachers instruct our students using the 6+1 Writing Traits model. This is a specific framework for teaching writing at all levels, beginning in kindergarten and continuing through 8th grade. The teachers allow time regularly each week for both formal and free writing. 

It is important to remember that reading and writing develop along parallel paths. Because of this, integration of reading and writing into all other subject areas is possible.

A reading resource teacher on staff is available to provide reading intervention services as needed.

Seton also offers the English Language Learner (ELL) program for children whose first language is not English. These students acquire practical academic vocabulary and comprehension skills with emphasis on reading and writing. To learn the specifics about the English Language Learner (ELL) program, please see link: English Language Learner Program (ELL)

Seton is currently following the Illinois Learning Standards Incorporating the Common Core for Language Arts and we are achieving the goal of each student's reading and writing skills improving. We feel the language arts curriculum and programs help improve the student's reading and writing performance, and aid them using these skills in daily activities. The Seton language arts curriculum and programs are an opportunity for all our students to succeed in reading and writing at Seton and in our world.

Technology Curriculum

The Seton technology curriculum is aligned with the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and the Peoria Diocese Technology Curriculum. Teachers use a variety of resources to implement these standards. In grades kindergarten through 5th, students use Apple iMac computers in the elementary computer lab. In 6th, 7th, and 8th grades, students operate Windows based Dell computers in the middle school computer lab. 

All grade level classrooms are equipped with interactive SmartBoards that are used by teachers and students. Educational software, office applications, creativity and multimedia resources are used appropriately at each grade level. Seton uses mobile devices (Apple iPads and Chromebooks) that bring digital education in to the classroom. The mobile devices are used with the wireless network and contain many educational apps from curricular areas to enhance the students' learning. Middle School students use Google Suite for Education technology tools to produce, publish and collaborate on their work.

The Seton technology curriculum provides a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations. Students use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity. A variety of media and formats are used by students to communicate information and ideas effectively to various audiences. Students apply technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources. Technology resources are used for solving problems and making informed decisions to real world problems. Students develop an understanding of ethical, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and its safe use.

Technology has forever changed not only what we need to learn, but the way we learn. Simply being able to use technology is no longer enough. Today's students need to be able to use technology to analyze, learn, and explore. Digital age skills are vital for preparing students for high school, college, workforce training, and life in a technological society.

Math Curriculum

The Seton math curriculum is aligned with Illinois Learning Standards Incorporating the Common Core for Mathematics. Teachers use a variety of resources to implement these standards. In grades kindergarten through 6th, students use textbooks from the Sadlier-Oxford Math Series. In 7th and 8th grades, students use textbooks from the Glencoe Math Series.

To help our students improve their ability to efficiently solve problems using basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, Seton has implemented several practices in addition to our regular math curriculum.

Teachers are using a common vocabulary in regard to math computation in kindergarten through 8th grade. Teachers are using grade-level computation expectations for students to meet. All math teachers do one minute computation exercises called Math Minutes with the students. Teachers of math meet on a regular basis to discuss the students' progress and improvement in computation skills.

Teachers use a variety of math resources and programs to enhance the math curriculum. Students may use interactive programs Mathletics, Khan Academy, Front Row Math, and Flocabulary depending on their class.  To see more about the Mathletics program, go to our Mathletics information link: Mathletics Program.

Teachers in kindergarten through 8th grade are using the Mastering Math Facts Program. This program is a research based system of practicing math facts four days per week and testing once each week. Individual record keeping is done for each student so their progress can be charted throughout the year. Each student's record of progress is kept in a "math portfolio" that is passed on from year to year to inform the current year teacher. The practice pattern for this program is consistent across all grade levels and has been shown to be effective in improving the automaticity needed with basic facts to enable students to solve more complex problems with ease.

Seton is currently following the Illinois Learning Standards Incorporating the Common Core for Mathematics and we are achieving the goal of each student's math skills improving as well as attaining automaticity with basic facts. We feel the math curriculum and these mathematic programs help improve the student's math performance, and help them to be able to use math in daily activities. The Seton math curriculum and these math programs are an opportunity for all our students to succeed in math at Seton and in our world.

Service Learning Program

“Let us ask you: when you help others, do you look them in the eye? Do you embrace them without being afraid to touch them? Do you embrace them with tenderness? Think about this: how do you help? From a distance or with tenderness, with closeness?” (Pope Francis, 2/15/15, Angelus)

In the spirit of the gospels and the witness of Jesus Christ, Christian service is an integral part of a Seton education. Students in grades kindergarten through eight will participate in minimally two community service projects each year. These will typically be carried out during the seasons of Advent and Lent. In grades Kindergarten through three, students will reflect on their service through class discussion. Students in grades four through eight will aim their service projects/work on the needs of the community and the interests of the students and carry out one service project each quarter. Each grade level is encouraged to establish a relationship with a specific organization(s) to support their service work on an ongoing basis.

Eighth Grade Student Community Service Program
As part of our religion class requirements, eighth grade students must complete a total of 25 hours of community service by the end of the 3rd quarter. All 25 hours may be completed ahead of time if a student prefers (either during the summer or in the first two weeks of school.) If a student chooses to complete his/her community service during their 8th grade year, then at least ten hours must be done during the 1st quarter, at least ten hours during the 2nd quarter and the remaining hours necessary to complete 25 hours must be done during the 3rd quarter. Students will receive a form to record their service hours at the end of their 7th grade year and at the beginning of their 8th grade year as well. Dates will be posted quarterly regarding turn in times throughout the year. Service hours earned over the summer months and early in the school year must be turned in within the first two weeks of school.

The total service hours completed by each student need to include time spent on two types of community service:

  • School, church or community based service – ten hours

  • Hands on service to the poor, elderly or handicapped – ten hours

The remaining five hours can be spent on either of the two service options listed above.

Science Curriculum

The Seton science curriculum is aligned with the Illinois Learning Standards for Science. Teachers use a variety of resources to implement these standards. In grades kindergarten through 6th, students use textbooks from the Harcourt Science Series. In 6th, 7th, and 8th grades, students use textbooks from the Glencoe Science Series. The content includes physical, earth, and life sciences. Our middle school houses two science labs for experiments and a computer lab for analysis of data, research, and communication.

The Seton science curriculum offers students an opportunity to explore a variety of science topics through scientific inquiry, hands-on experiences, use of technology, and other exciting activities. These methods help students develop science process skills such as the ability to ask questions, make detailed observations and connections, and draw conclusions. Through the use of appropriate instruments, electronic equipment, computers and networks, students are able to perform experiments, analyze data, and communicate results. These skills help students connect what they learn to the real world and encourage them to explore the curiosities around them using an active problem solving approach.

Middle School students have the opportunity to join Seton's "Lego League" - a robotics program designed to get children excited about science and technology and teach them valuable employment and life skills.

Physical Education

The Physical Education program at Seton Catholic School is developed for optimum growth. Through psychomotor, cognitive, and effective learning domains we have developed an instructional program that helps student achieve optimum development. Skill development, social development, positive self-concept, personal values, physical fitness, and recreational activities are all a part of the overall program. Grading of Physical Education is based on sportsmanship, behavior, participation and skill tests.


Presidential Physical Fitness Test

In the Fall and Spring, students in grades second through fifth will complete the Presidential Physical Fitness Test. Students in sixth through eighth will complete the test in the spring. Students who score above the 85th percentile on all five tests receive the Presidential Physical Fitness Award.