Five Day PreKindergarten Program

The goal of our Pre-K curriculum is to meet the needs of the whole child with learning opportunities for social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development.  Students that attend our all day Pre-K are well prepared for the transition to Kindergarten.  The curriculum introduces basic reading, math, science, and social studies concepts in an age appropriate manner.  We also have an extended care program to accommodate working parents. In addition to classroom learning, students attend special classes such as Music, PE, STEAM, Art and Library. 

Classroom Teachers:
Ms. Julie Escobar
email: jescobar@stcecilia.net
Ms. Sarah Mateljan
email: smateljan@stcecilia.net

Kindergarten – Grade 2 

Our primary grades offer a comprehensive, self-contained curriculum that fosters academic and spiritual growth. Students receive instruction in:

• Core Subjects: Religion, Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, and Science

• Language Arts: A phonics-based approach to reading, writing, spelling, and grammar.

• Math: A focus on problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

• Religion: Weekly Mass, paraliturgies, and service learning opportunities.

In addition to core subjects, our primary students enjoy specialized instruction in:

• Art

• Physical Education

• Computer Science / Technology

• Music

• Library

To assess student progress and identify areas for support, we administer the STAR Reading and Math assessments.

Classroom Teachers:
Kindergarten - Jan Zimmer: email: jzimmer@stcecilia.net and Maddison Swanson: email: maddi.swanson@stcecilia.net
1st Grade - Maureen Monson - 1st Grade: email: mmonson@stcecilia.net and Molly Neuman; email: mneuman@stcecilia.net
2nd Grade - Crystal Gerken - 2nd Grade: email: cgerken@stcecilia.net and Yahaira Sanchez: email: ysanchez@stcecilia.net

Grades 3 – 5

Our intermediate grades offer a rigorous curriculum aligned with Archdiocesan and state standards in:

• Core Subjects: English, Reading, Spelling, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, and Religion

Specialized Instruction:

• Art

• Physical Education

• Music

• Library/Media

• Technology

Technology Integration: As a 1:1 school, 4th and 5th-grade students are equipped with Chromebooks. They have access to a variety of educational tools, including Little Bits, Code.org, Sora, IXL, Epic, and Mystery Science.

Enrichment Opportunities:

• Service Learning: Students participate in annual service projects.

• Performing Arts: All students participate in the annual Operetta and Songfest. Our 4th graders learn to play the recorder, and 5th graders have the option to join the band program.

• Experiential Learning: Field trips and guest speakers enhance learning experiences.

Classroom Teachers:
3rd Grade: Mrs. Laura Powley: email: lpowley@stcecilia.net
4th Grade - Ms. Emily Guinn: email: eguinn@stcecilia.net and Mrs. Becky Petersen: email: bpetersen@stcecilia.net
5th Grade - Mrs. Molly Humpal: email: mhumpal@stcecilia.net and Mrs. Tammy Mateljan: email: tmateljan@stcecilia.net

Grades 6 - 8

St. Cecilia Middle School curriculum includes the following daily: Religion, English Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Students also have weekly specials classes: Art, Music, Physical Education and Library / Technology.

Technology: St. Cecilia is a 1:1 school and each middle school student is supplied with a Chromebook. Some of the programs used are Google Classroom, IXL, Code.org, Mystery Science and Sora.

Duchesne Advanced Math: St. Cecilia and Duchesne Academy have developed a partnership that allows some of our middle school students to participate in advanced math courses at Duchesne. We are so proud of the hard work this pilot group is doing and how they are paving the way for upcoming students.

Career and Technical Education Course: The CTE program is a comprehensive and forward-thinking initiative designed to equip students with essential skills and knowledge for future success. This program seamlessly integrates academic and technical content, offering students a well-rounded education that extends beyond traditional classroom learning. The program places a strong emphasis on fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork. This provides students with practical skills but also instills a sense of confidence and purpose as they transition to higher levels of education and ultimately enter the workforce.

Field Trips: Throughout the year, Middle School students have the opportunity to experience learning outside the classroom to enhance their curriculum.

Service Projects: Every grade participates in an annual service project.

Classroom Teachers:
6th Grade: Ms. Kylie Geer (Religion) emaiil: kgeer@stcecilia.net and Mrs. Anne Fangman (Science) email: afangman@stcecilia.net
7th Grade: Mr. Omar Dela Merced (CTE) email: odelamerced@stcecilia.net and Mrs. Debbie Rosenberg (Math) email: drosenberg@stcecilia.net
8th Grade: Ms. Karol Arensberg (ELA) email: karensberg@stcecilia.net and Mr. Brian Lindley (Social Studies) email: blindley@stcecilia.net

ART

Learning Goals: To have fun learning about as many different kinds of art, artists, and mediums. To think creatively, flexibly, and critically allowing students to solve problems in a safe place where they can make mistakes.

The art curriculum is based upon the elements of art and the principles of design. We study various artists and time periods of art. We also look at current events through the lens of the art world and raise cultural awareness as well. In KG -  2nd grade, a lot of the stories and beginning activities that we do in art class help to build character and reach the social emotional learning of the student.  Students do a lot of exploring and learn how to use materials. Students in grades 3 – 5 spend time working on technique. In middle school, students take what they’ve learned so far and develop their own artistic style. Students are encouraged to express themselves in positive ways through their art.

At St. Cecilia we are fortunate to have an art gallery on campus so we are able to have artists come in and work with our students.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Learning Goals: To have a positive relationship with physical activity that carries over outside of the classroom.

In the primary grades we focus on gross motor movements such as running and jumping, throwing, kicking and other basic skills. In the intermediate grades and middle school, the focus is on the introduction of new activities and having the students try new things. We also look at the social aspects of activity such as teamwork skills, strategies, sportsmanship, and overall enjoyment of physical activity.

MUSIC

Learning Goals

Music Literacy  -

1. Be able to listen to a piece of music and talk about it using music vocabulary

2. Be able to create and perform music using instruments and/or singing

3. Be able to read music notation

Music and Society -

1. Understand the role of music in our culture and cultures around the world

2. Understand the importance of music in history and have a general understanding of the history of Western music

3. Experience a wide variety of musical styles, exploring the ideas of expression and musical preference

4. Explore social-emotional and STEAM concepts through music

TECHNOLOGY

St. Cecilia is a 1:1 school, providing each student (PreK-8) with a device to enhance learning. Weekly technology classes are integrated into the curriculum to support personalized learning and develop essential digital skills.

STEAM EDUCATION

Our fully integrated STEAM program fosters creativity and innovation in all classrooms. Students in grades K-8 learn computer programming and engage in hands-on projects that encourage:

• Design thinking

• Critical thinking

• Problem-solving

• A growth mindset

LIBRARY / MEDIA

At St. Cecilia’s the goal of the library is to instill a love of reading by introducing students to books in all genres (both fiction and nonfiction) so they can cultivate their individual interests while reading for personal and academic success. We are committed to providing a wide variety of diverse books and resources that enhance and support the academic and Social Emotional Learning curriculum used by our teachers. Students are also given the necessary skills and tools to search and locate books using our database and to use this information to ensure that they are effective and responsible users of information and ideas.

Social Emotional Learning

We seek to develop the whole child, who is equipped with social skills to be caring, confident, and capable to have reverence for life and respect for all of God’s children. St. Cecilia is one of many Catholic schools in Omaha to offer a school-wide social-emotional (SEL) program.