The Reading and English Language Arts curriculum at St. Eugene School prepares students to live a life of witness to the call of Jesus. Language allows us to articulate the inner moving of the spirit and share ideas with others, and that expression is cultivated and encouraged in the classroom.

Teachers in our Lower School deliver highly intentional, focused instruction to small groups and individuals while the rest of the class is engaged in truly authentic reading and writing. We use the Daily 5 framework to structure our literacy block. Our classes are structured so that students engage in the act of reading and writing for extended periods of time, receive focused instruction on building and maintaining stamina and independence, and receive differentiated instruction to meet their individual needs. 

We believe that cultivating enthusiasm for mathematics is an important component of a successful mathematics curriculum, and we do that through proper motivation and consistent teaching in a positive atmosphere. Specifically, the math program focuses on three components: conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, and problem-solving. 

Teachers in our Lower School use the Math Daily 3 framework for structuring math time so students develop deep conceptual understanding and mathematical proficiency.  Students select from three choices, working independently toward personalized goals, while the teacher meets individual needs through whole-group and small-group instruction, as well as one-on-one conferring.

Our science program educates students to use inquiry as a tool to understand scientific concepts and master the skills to appreciate and embrace the ever-expanding body of scientific knowledge.
 
Consistent with the philosophy and requirements of the New York State Science Standards, our curriculum urges active learning in which students:

• Describe objects and events
• Ask questions
• Acquire knowledge
• Construct explanations of natural phenomena
• Test those explanations in many different ways, and
• Communicate their ideas to others

We believe there is a strong coherence between religion and science in grasping the mechanics of nature. We teach students that a strong Catholic faith does not exclude one from seeking scientific knowledge, and that science can help humans better understand and appreciate the wonder of God’s creation. We incorporate church teaching and doctrine into discussions of scientific ethics and moral decision-making as it relates to being good stewards of the earth

Our social studies instruction reflects the competencies and concepts embedded in the New York State Standards for Social Studies. The five specific content areas are:

• History of the United States and New York
• World history
• Geography
• Economics
• Civics, citizenship and government

We expand on the state standards to provide each student with the knowledge, skills, understanding and disposition toward democratic values that are necessary to participate in a culturally diverse American society and an interdependent world.

We add the dimension of Catholic values to help children connect the message of the Gospel, the teachings of the Catholic Church and its impact on world history, and the role of Catholics in America to the other aspects of the curriculum.