Our Philosophy
Pope John XXIII School is a Catholic school, preschool to eighth grade, committed to the development of each student as a whole person with unique abilities and needs. The principle role of the school is based on the understanding and education of the whole nature of each person. Through a diversity of programs, we encourage the development of the unique qualities of each child. To find information about the curriculum, return to the home page, click on Office of Catholic Schools. Once you are on that page, on the left side under Resources, click Curriculum to view it.
Strong Academics
- Our TERRA NOVA scores are above the Archidiocesan average for all subjects
- Our TERRA NOVA scores are above the Vicariate average
- Our TERRA NOVA scores for the past 10 years have been in the top 10% nationally
- We have ability grouping for students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade-- with grade level ability track and honors/accelerated ability group track
- Most graduates going to Evanston Township High School are placed in honors classes
- Eighth graders are routinely accepted to highly selective schools
- Alumni are very successful
- Our alumni are on honor roll lists from their high schools and receive many awards
- Alumni are successful at the collegiate level: acceptance into the Naval Academy, National Merit winners, early admission to Ivy League schools, and scholarships winners
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Our early childhood curriculum stems from the Montessori Methodology and is influenced by the work of Gardner, Piaget and Vygotsky. Maria Montessori states that, "Play is a child's work." Our preschool emphasizes the importance of self-expression and the significance of play in the young child's life. We strive to help each child develop at his or her own pace. Our developmental curriculum is age-appropriate and focuses on the following areas: * Gross and Fine Motor Skills |
Our program takes into account current research findings on brain development, which stress the importance of stimulating childhood experiences. We provide a balanced program that includes developmentally appropriate academic teacher-directed instruction and child-directed discovery in two stimulating learning centers. Self-Constructed Knowledge: The child interacts independently with materials in the environment. Joint-Constructed Knowledge: The child interacts with peers/adults by sharing, discussing, cooperating and negotiating. Direct-Instruction: The child learns from teacher planned and directed lessons. All of this occurs in the context of play. Vygotsky's research shows that play facilitates development. In play a child always behaves beyond his average age, above his daily behavior. In play it is as though he were a head taller than himself. Our educational experience is one in which each child learns in a variety of ways based on Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences. Music, art, and movement are an integral part of each day. Interdisciplinary units based on weekly themes incorporate skills and concepts in the way brain research shows children learn best. |
