Special Programs/Activities
Art: The art curriculum for primary and middle school grades is the introduction to various media and artistic styles used to create art. This course is designed to enrich the lives of its participants through discovery and creative problem solving. As our students progress a goal is the development of awareness, appreciation of art, the visual experience and limitless creative paths in which art contributes to society.
Music: Music class at St. Raphael School is for students in Pre-Kinder through Fifth grades. We spend part of every class learning songs for Mass or for Student Programs. The remainder of the time is spent on learning basic musical concepts on a level appropriate to each age. These concepts include beat, rhythm, pitch, melody, mood, tone color, dynamics, form, style, tonality, and harmony. We listen to musical selections to illustrate each concept, and also learn to identify the instruments we hear. We learn to sing many folk songs from around the world with which students can practice each concept. We perform a lot of movements with our songs, and several times during the year we play rhythm instruments with them. Fifth graders spend much of their time in music class learning to play the recorder, a simple flute-like instrument. They learn to play and read familiar folk songs on the treble staff. We have an enjoyable time in music class learning how to praise our God and how to better express ourselves through song.
Spanish Language Program: Currently in our classes, we are going through vocabulary, conversational exercises, as well as phrases according to the student’s grade. In addition we have touched briefly on traditions, history and cultural information primarily of Mexico. We strive to give students a general and basic understanding of what the Spanish language is all about.