St. Nicholas School, Jersey City

All areas of the child's development are permeated within an atmosphere of Christianity. Teamwork is accentuated, resulting in a well-rounded, well-adjusted learner. Report cards are given out every trimester, and Parent/Teacher Conferences are held biannually. Progress reports are given throughout marking periods.

All classrooms are equipped with computers, internet connection, and Smart Boards. This allows for both individual, as well as full class instruction, using modern technology to reinforce or enhance basic skills and provide interactive enrichment. Cable television is also available in multiple rooms including the Library.

Pre-Kindergarten
The Pre-Kindergarten offers a full day program for three and four year olds that provide academics, with hands-on experiences within a Christian atmosphere. Emphasis is placed upon social, emotional, and educational development. The age-appropriate setting involves the Houghton Mifflin Pre-K Curriculum, which allows each child to develop and flourish at his or her own individual pace and promotes self-worth and self-esteem. 

Kindergarten
The Kindergarten offers a full day program which introduces the structure of formal learning. The program is well balanced between the utilization of hands-on experiences and the use of academic foundations such as mathematics, art, social studies, science and physical education. Kindergarten uses the Reading Street Series from Scott Foresman, which sets the foundation resulting in early stages of Reading.

Grades 1 - 8
Various teaching techniques are used to facilitate learning. Cooperative learning, hands-on manipulatives, use of technology, critical and logical thinking skills are among the basic approaches used to reinforce the individual student’s learning style.

Mathematics
The Mathematics curriculum emphasizes basic math facts, word problems, and computational skills in the primary grades, and these, in turn, increase in difficulty and complexity as the students progress through the grades culminating with pre-algebra and algebra in the upper grades.

Language Arts/Reading
The Integrated Language Arts approach is used at St. Nicholas School. There exists a sequential and creative development of reading comprehension, vocabulary, phonics, proper grammar usage, spelling, creative writing, oral speaking skills, listening, and handwriting.

Science
The guidelines from the Archdiocese of Newark are the foundation of the science curriculum. All three themes of Life Science, Earth Science, and Physical Science are taught. A Science Lab is available to the students.

Social Studies
The Social Studies curriculum aims to develop in students an appreciation of family, neighborhood, community, nation, and the world at large. History, geography, map-reading skills and interpretation of various graphics are presented in a sequential manner.

Music, Art, Physical Education, Library
Music, art, and physical education classes are taught weekly. The school library is equipped to meet the needs of students and books may be taken out on a weekly basis.

Computer
Today's digital learners have the opportunity to go to one of two Internet accessible Computer Labs. Each lab has 31 computers, enough for every student to get that hands on learning experience. Both labs are equipped with internet connection, printers, and scanner. Following the Technology curriculum standards, students from Pre-K to 8th grade are taught different terminology, parts, and uses of the computer, keyboarding, proper internet use and safety, online research, digital projects, and how to use computer programs such as MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher), Inspiration, Kidspiration, Kid Pix, and Type-to-Learn. They even learn another language (Spanish) through the Rosetta Stone program.