Co-curriculars

St. Paul employs a strong partnership between homeroom and co-curricular classrooms, as we believe a child’s education extends beyond the foundational pieces of reading, writing, and mathematics. Our strong co-curricular program includes fine arts, music, physical education, library, and STEAM programming, allowing children to expand their horizons and discover specific areas where they thrive.

Co-curricular Opportunities

Art

In visual art classes, students participate in creative activities that explore the elements of art and principles of design. Children learn lifelong creative skills and techniques, combined with references to art history and influential artists. In the younger grades, art is literature-based. Students read books and create coordinating projects that reflect reading comprehension, learned art techniques, and creative skills. Overall, we strive to build an environment where students appreciate art and practice creative expression.

Library

Because we believe that reading is the foundation for a child’s academic development, St. Paul’s library program is of paramount importance in a student’s journey. Our goal is for children to love and enjoy reading, in addition to understanding the resources of our C.S. Lewis Library.

Lower school library time is designed to foster a lifelong love of reading by exposing them to different genres of literature during read-aloud story time. With faculty assistance, students become more independent each year in selecting books from the library that ignite their interests in reading while fostering curiosity and confidence.

As students progress to the upper school, we believe it’s important for students to have time to enjoy independent reading and take advantage of the library’s resources. As a result, we intentionally create space in their schedule to introduce new genres and encourage them to develop and pursue their literary interests. The library also serves as a place for students to study and find books to aid in homeroom research projects.

Music

At St. Paul, students enjoy weekly music classes to sing, play instruments, read music, explore different genres, and incorporate motions. Children study the history and language of music while simultaneously applying their knowledge to performances. New skills are introduced in different grade levels as children mature. At the end of the semester, they have the opportunity to perform in the Christmas Program and Grandparents' and Special Friends' Day performance.

Physical Education

St. Paul acknowledges the strong correlation between physical activity and increased brain development, so all students participate in physical education (PE) classes every day. Our goal is to help children learn balance, coordination, agility, and overall body control to benefit them in all areas of life. We want every child to be confident in their physical abilities and have a positive body image.

While instructors stress the importance of movement, they also emphasize teamwork, resiliency, sportsmanship, and leadership development. Teachers understand that every student is different, and rather than comparing students with one another, they gauge individual progress and celebrate personal accomplishments.

Spanish

Spanish is introduced to the curriculum in fifth grade to spark an interest in learning a new language. For many students, this will be their first experience with a foreign language aside from what they may have picked up from media, vacations, or brief encounters with native speakers. We want our 5th and 6th graders to move to their next-level schools excited and confident about studying a new language, Spanish or otherwise.

Our Spanish courses include much more than memorizing vocabulary and grammar charts. We focus on functional Spanish that empowers students to express meaningful and common ideas relevant to their lives. We explore the various countries and distinct cultural identities represented by Spanish-speaking regions throughout the world.

While mastery of the rules of Spanish grammar is beyond our current scope, students will amass a cache of useful phrases and vocabulary that will stick with them for a lifetime. Our introduction to the Spanish language will set students up for success as they move on to study Latin, French, Mandarin, or any other foreign language at their next-level schools.

STEAM

Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM) is an interdisciplinary approach to learning designed to prepare students for successful careers in the modern workforce. When each of the five disciplines is taught in an integrated way, students can better appreciate how each part is necessary for the success of any complex, real-world project.

STEAM education teaches students to be creative, innovative, and critical thinkers, all skills necessary for adapting to change. Students engage in project-based learning, where teams work together to seek multiple solutions to engineering challenges. They learn that failure is part of the process, and it is important to try again to improve upon ideas. Ultimately, STEAM education equips students with the creative critical-thinking skills necessary to become future innovators and leaders.

Sixth Grade Electives

To prepare for the transition to middle school, St. Paul sixth-graders do not attend the full slate of co-curricular classes throughout the year. Instead, students are asked to rank their choice of electives and are assigned to one elective class per quarter, with the exception of Spanish and Strings, which are both semester-long courses. All students are required to take a leadership course one quarter, and P.E. and Library are still part of the core rotations.

3D Design

Choir

Coding

Creative Movement

Leadership

Through this required leadership course, our sixth graders grow in their knowledge and understanding of what it means to be a leader in our world today. We explore different leadership styles and the impact of leaders throughout history as well as current leaders. Each class has opportunities to serve on campus and lead school-wide service projects as part of the servant-leadership emphasis. By the end of the quarter, each student will gain a deeper understanding of their God-given strengths and how they can use them to impact the world in which they live.

Library

In sixth grade, library is no longer a required class, but instead used as a place for reading, homework, and research. Because we believe that reading is the foundation for a child’s academic development, St. Paul’s library program is of paramount importance in a student’s journey. Our goal is for children to love and enjoy reading, in addition to understanding the resources of our C.S. Lewis Library. As students progress to the upper school, we believe it’s important for students to have time to enjoy independent reading and take advantage of the library’s resources. As a result, we intentionally create space in their schedule to introduce new genres and encourage them to develop and pursue their literary interests. The library also serves as a place for students to study and find books to aid in homeroom research projects.

Painting

Physical Education

Most sixth graders compete in after-school athletics throughout the school year, but St. Paul acknowledges the strong correlation between physical activity and increased brain development, so all students participate in physical education (PE) classes every day. Our goal is to help children learn balance, coordination, agility, and overall body control to benefit them in all areas of life. We want every child to be confident in their physical abilities and have a positive body image.

Sculpture

Spanish

Spanish class in sixth grade is a semester-long course building on the foundational skills from fifth grade. The goal of this elective is to spark an interest in learning a new language, focus on functional Spanish that will empower the students to express meaningful and common ideas relevant to their lives. We explore the various countries and distinct cultural identities represented by Spanish-speaking regions throughout the world.

While mastery of the rules of Spanish grammar is beyond the scope of a semester-long class, students will leave this elective with a cache of useful phrases and vocabulary that very well might stick with them for a lifetime. This elective will set students up for success as they move on to study Latin, French, Mandarin, or any other foreign language at their next-level schools.

Violin

This semester-long class offers instruction on violin and is designated primarily for beginners who are curious about music and the violin, but who may have little to no prior musical experience. In this class, students learn fundamental aspects of the art of playing violin and develop necessary skills for long-term success.

Regarding the violin technique, topics include proper posture and playing position, coordination, intonation and tone production, left-hand technique (holding the instrument, placement of the fingers and the wrist), bow technique (holding the bow with the right hand, physical motions, basic and specific strokes, and string crossing). Students also develop aural skills, note reading, review essential repertoire, and learn the art of ensemble playing.

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Co-curriculars

Co-curricular Opportunities

Art

Library

Music

Physical Education

Spanish

STEAM

Sixth Grade Electives

3D Design

Choir

Coding

Creative Movement

Leadership

Library

Painting

Physical Education

Sculpture

Spanish

Violin

Photography

Video Making

Robotics