Niagara Association for Christian Education

Educational Program :

Primary Division - Junior Kindergarten to Grade Three

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BIBLE:

No book is more important to a Christian school than the Bible. It is the Divinely inspired Word that guides us in all our lives, and therefore has great importance for the Christian school.

In NACE schools, the Bible plays three roles:

1) The Bible provides the principles that guide and correct us in regards to the entire teaching-learning process. It gives us an understanding of human nature and relationships, of the world around us, and of the God who has created us and loves us. That means the Bible isn’t merely a subject "added on" to the areas of study you would encounter in any school. Instead it gives us wise counsel on how to understand the nature of our students and what approach to discipling is appropriate. It tells us something of the complexity of the world and what areas are appropriate for study. It helps us discern the effects of human rebellion from the products of God’s loving hand. It sheds light on what trends in the world of education are ill-founded and which are legitimate, positive developments.

2) It is the source for our devotional activities. Our Christian schools engage students in devotional activities daily. Likewise the staff and committees regularly participate in devotional activities. The Bible is central to all of these.

3) The Bible is also the object of guided study in our classrooms. It is important for students in Christian schools to be busy learning about the Bible, its history, contents and message. It is an essential subject in the curriculum of NACE schools.

In JK to Grade Three the emphasis is on Bible stories that engage young students in understanding God’s covenantal relationship with His people. Each year students follow the dramatic sweep of Biblical events from the Old Testament to the New Testament, and are encouraged to find their place in the grand story of God’s love for His world and His people.

FAMILY LIFE:

Our schools make use of a Family Life program that unfolds from the Kindergarten years through to Grade Eight. The overall program deals with a number of strands, including: Family Relationships, Friendship, Solid Foundations for Self-Worth, Human Growth and Development, and Sexuality as a Good Gift of God.

At the Primary Level, the program is integrated into the existing curriculum. The teachers use "teachable moments" throughout the year to introduce or reinforce the objectives of their particular level within the areas listed above.

MATHEMATICS:

In God’s good creation, He has included three principles that directly influence our study of Mathematics. First, God has created a consistent structure in His world, and therefore we can engage in Mathematics in the expectation that results are consistent and reflect the order of creation. Second, all of God’s creation has both a numerical and a spatial aspect. That means that Mathematics is involved in calculations and activities that are "built right into" God’s World and can reveal something of God’s nature and character. Finally, because Mathematics is a human endeavour it is as capable of being done obediently or disobediently, just like any other creaturely activity. This doesn’t refer to accurate or inaccurate calculations, but to the worldview out of which our culture engages in Mathematics, and the effect they hope to achieve by doing so. Done to achieve mastery over creation with exploitative motivations, or done in the belief that Math is the arena of objective, indisputable, "real" Truth in a philosophical sense, Mathematics can pull humans away from the Creator and His Will. Done with awe and revealing God’s amazing creativity and our dependence on Him, Mathematics can be a wonderful pursuit for Christian students.

At the Primary Level NACE’s programs are designed to have students achieve or exceed the Ontario Ministry of Education and Training’s expectations at each grade level while standing in awe of our Creator. This means students are involved in age appropriate activities in Data Management and Probabilities, Number Sense, Measurement and Patterning/Algebra, Geometry and more. The Ministry of Education’s expectations are noted at http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/document/curricul/curr97ma/curr97m.html

LANGUAGE ARTS:

The ability to communicate is a gift from God. Communication involves various skills such as speaking, listening, reading, and writing. It is the goal of our schools to further develop speaking and listening skills and to teach reading and writing skills effectively. If we are to have a shaping influence on God’s world, the ability to communicate well both orally and through the printed word, is important for all Christians.

In the Primary Division, the development of solid literacy skills is a key focus. Using the Four Block Approach to Literacy Development, our schools have been very successful in helping students meet or exceed the Ministry’s standards. Details on what the Ministry expects students to achieve at each grade level are available at: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/document/curricul/curr97l.html#achievement

Our Christian schools devote significant time to the teaching and learning of reading, phonics, grammar, penmanship, spelling and creative writing. In addition, teachers incorporate these skills in other subject areas, including presentations. Whether directly or indirectly, the student is taught to develop that human gift, communication, and to use it to God’s glory.

FRENCH:

Our schools are committed to the instruction of French. Teaching French is important because God has placed us in this bilingual and bi-cultural country: Canada. In equipping our students to obey the "Great Love Command" (Matt. 22:37-8) we acknowledge the importance of helping our students understand their neighbours in order to show them love. The teaching and learning of French also affirms the beauty of languages as created by God.

At the Primary Level we are committed to the introduction of some of the basics of the French language. In these years students will become familiar with some of the "everyday" French terms . The study of French will be integrated into the units taught at this level.

SOCIAL STUDIES:

In this subject area our Christian schools operate out of the Biblical perspective that humans are always to be understood in relationship to God, their neighbours, and to the world around them.

In the Primary Division, social studies is descriptive, informing the student of the relationships present in communities and in nature, and involving them in age appropriate investigations and reflections on these relationships. The key themes that students are to be exposed to according to the Ministry of Education are:

Grade 1: Relationships, Rules, and Responsibilities
Grade 2: Traditions and Celebrations
Grade 3: Pioneer Life

The names of these themes alone suggest what a difference a Christian perspective can have on a student’s experience of these topics! In NACE schools the students study units on Trees, Mapping, Pioneers, Christmas, Thanksgiving, My Community, among others.

SCIENCE:

In science, the focus of study is God's creation. Our schools teach science in a way that acknowledges that everything that exists has been created by God. This story, recounted in Genesis 1 and 2, shows us that the world and universe are the handiwork of the Lord! We also see here that humans are a special creation of a loving Creator, and not the product of chance mutations. Because God loves His creation and has sacrificed greatly to redeem it (John 3:16), we know it is worthy of study.

At the Primary Level students learn these basic truths through guided investigations. The recent development of the Ontario Alliance of Christian Schools’ Creation Studies is a wonderful resource that will play a shaping influence on the classrooms of NACE, as our students explore topics like "Magnets and Magnetism", "Solids, Liquids and Gasses", "Matter and Material", "God Shows Us How to Build", "God made us to be Engineers", "God Shows us How to Move", "The Heaven Declare" (Climate and Weather - gr 1), "The Earth Declares", "The Sky Declares" (Astronomy - grade 3) in a way that constantly keeps the Creator and His amazing acts before the students. For more information on this new resource, visit the OACS website at www.oacs.org

THE ARTS:

Our schools recognize the aesthetic or artistic dimension of humans as a gift of God. We recognize that the arts are an important area of a student’s potential that needs the opportunity to be developed. Therefore, students are encouraged to express themselves in drama, music, and art. They are encouraged to develop their talents as well as become aware of the talents of others.

In the Primary Division, training in music and the visual arts takes place, for the most part, within the regular classroom. Classroom teachers use a recently revised art curriculum to challenge students to develop their abilities in drawing, compiling, and structuring, while learning some of the elements of design and other basic artistic concepts. In music, the Primary classes get together for group singing, and the individual classes learn about the world of music with an emphasis on participation and joy.

COMPUTERS:

Computers have become an integral part of our society. In the Christian school we seek to use this gift of God as a tool to enhance learning across the curriculum. To facilitate this, students are introduced to keyboarding, word processing, and other educational software in our computer labs and as another tool within the classroom.

At the Primary Level, introduction to the computers is done to reinforce and expand on the existing curriculum. "Computer buddies" from older classes work with younger students to create works of art, or students will use software for math drills, reinforcing language instruction or creative writing. Software used includes Reader Rabbit, Math Blaster, Kid Pix, and more.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION and HEALTH:

The area of physical education is also an important facet of the education of a child. God cares about our bodies (The Apostles Creed). That is why our schools seek to develop co-ordination and conditioning in our pupils. In addition, the development of Biblical attitudes towards our bodies are taught. Various games are played so that the pupils develop sound bodies, exhibit sportsmanship in group situations, and are exposed to alternatives for the active use of leisure time.

At the Primary Level, we look at the following topics in age appropriate ways as we foster gross and fine motor skill development: Healthy living, which includes healthy eating, growth and development, personal safety and injury prevention, and substance use and abuse; Fundamental movement skills, which includes locomotion/traveling, manipulation, and stability; Active participation which includes physical activity, physical fitness, living skills, and safety.

RESOURCE PROGRAM:

We are blessed to be able to offer a strong resource program to our students. For those students that experience areas of special challenge, our resource instructors are trained to diagnose weaknesses and to implement programs for overcoming academic difficulties. Further, when time and resources permit, we offer enrichment activities for students that will benefit from these opportunities.

Our schools have put in place a procedure for entrance into the resource programs which involves prior agreement of the parents, teacher and principal. The resource teacher sets forth the goals of the program for that child which are then pursued by the resource teacher in conjunction with the classroom teacher. Regular reports are made to the parents to keep them informed of the progress of their child.