Sacred Heart School in Monroe launches new academic programs

Monroe — Sacred Heart School in Monroe launched two new academic programs this year: Spanish, beginning in kindergarten, and advanced math. The Spanish classes for the younger students focus on oral communication. The lesson engage students with songs, dialogues, puppets and games. The goal is get the children to communicate, connect and have fun while immersed in the Spanish language. Progressively reading and writing supplement the oral activities. From fifth grade on, the Spanish language classes follow the state Modern Language for Communication Syllabus at a checkpoint A level and emphasize interpersonal communication. They develop students’ abilities to read, write, listen and speak in a variety of situations. “Small children absorb language more easily than older students and can speak it with near native pronunciation,” said Spanish teacher Maria Henderson, herself a native speaker. “Learning a foreign language also improves their cognitive skills and academic performance, including a better understanding of their own language.” In addition to the Spanish program, the new advanced math program prepares 8th graders to take the math Regents exam, normally taken in 9th grade. The topics covered include algebra and geometry and tying the two together. “If the kids pass the math Regents exam, they will enter high school ready to take geometry which is typically a sophomore-level course,” said math teacher Nick Costa. This program puts students a year ahead, thus potentially enabling them to take college-level math courses before graduating from high school. The school is also working on an advanced science program. Essential information The Sacred Heart School will host an open house the week of Jan. 29. The hours are as follows: Sunday, Jan. 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 30, through Thursday, Feb. 2, from 9 a.m. to 32 p.m. On Mon., Jan. 30, there also will also be an evening open house at 7 p.m. For further information, contact the school at 845-783-0365, and visit the school web site at www.sacredheartmonroe.net. This article was submitted by Priscilla Van Aulen.