Academics
Goals
Holy Name of Jesus Catholic School educates and selects experiences to direct student learning in the following areas:
Academic Development Goals
To use a variety of educational methods to address learning styles in order to help all children reach their fullest potential.
To foster qualities that are essential to lifelong learning, including critical thinking and problem solving skills.
Physical Development Goals
To engage children in a variety of indoor and outdoor activities that will encourage physical fitness.
To provide a program of physical education and health awareness to motivate students to adopt a healthy lifestyle.
Personal Development Goals
To foster independence and motivate children to take responsibility for their actions.
To develop appreciation for the dignity of each individual and the need to respect and serve others.
Social Development Goals
To prepare students to meet the challenges of a global society by developing communication skills.
To teach and practice the Christian values of peace and social justice through exposure to cultural diversity.
Religious Education
All Holy Name of Jesus Catholic School students are required to attend formal classes in religion. It is expected that all students, regardless of beliefs, will participate fully in the religious and spiritual activities at the school, including Mass, liturgies and prayer services. Diocesan guidelines develop the curriculum plan for each grade and are centered on four major themes:
Doctrine and Scripture
Prayer and Liturgy
Faith Response/Morality
A Family Life Program
Sacramental Preparation
Sacraments are important spiritual events in the lives of Catholics and our parish collectively. The Director of Religious Education and the principal are the contacts for sacramental preparation. The school will facilitate communication between the Director of Faith Formation and our school families; however, the Church handles and schedules the dates of these events. Second grade students are prepared for First Communion and First Reconciliation. These sacramental preparations demand certain key prerequisites for their reception:
Parents must be involved in the student’s preparation and attend the required meetings.
In preparing for each sacrament, it is important to understand that Sacraments celebrate key spiritual events in our lives and help affirm the faith that is already being practiced.
It is important that parents and their children practice the faith, especially through regular attendance at Sunday Mass.
Community Service
The true mark of every Catholic/Christian is found in his/her love for others. The children of Holy Name of Jesus Catholic School demonstrate their faith in action through our Community Service Program and our special ministry programs during the school year. Students at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic School will provide a variety of service activities through their individual classes, collectively as a school, through the parish, and through our civic community.
Community service is a vital and integral part of the life of Holy Name of Jesus Catholic School and its students. Every student has an obligation and a responsibility to complete a certain number of community hours each year as part of his or her program. Community service means actual work done to benefit others without pay or other compensation. The school will provide some opportunities for service hours, as will parish, student activities, and neighborhood opportunities. This work is not to be done at home or as part of a student’s normal chores. Student graduation and/or promotion depend on fulfilling this critical obligation. Specific forms for properly documenting service hours are available from the homeroom/classroom teachers, and must be completed by the student, then signed by the person supervising his or her service work. These forms are turned into the classroom/homeroom teacher and class records are maintained by him or her. All middle school students are required to perform 20 hours of Community Service.
The following are the service hour amounts for students in grades K-5:
Grade 5: 14 hours
Grades 3-4: 10 hours
Grades K-2: 6 hours
Family Life Program
Students at Holy Name of Jesus School have the opportunity to participate in the Diocesan Family Life Program. The goals of this program, dealing with issues of family life and human sexuality, are to:
Assist parents in opening lines of communication with their children in this very important area of life
Provide the necessary, age-appropriate information to the students
Help in the formation of a Christian conscience in areas of a sexual nature
To achieve these goals, parents are encouraged to discuss the material with their children. Parents may review all instructional material prior to the start of the program. If, after such a review, parents do not wish their child(ren) to participate in the program, they may submit a written request to the principal to exempt their children from the program. In such a case, the child will leave the classroom during the instructional period.
Academic Information
The Diocese of Orlando, in fidelity to its mission to serve the Catholic community commits itself to work with parents to meet the academic needs of their children. The academic success of all students is a primary goal for our school. If the principal determines that it is not possible to adequately meet the academic needs of the student and it is not in the best educational interest of the student to remain in the school, the principal can ask the family to voluntarily withdraw the student. If the family, in this situation, does not voluntarily withdraw the student, the school reserves the right to exclude the student.
School Accreditation and Teacher Certification
Holy Name of Jesus Catholic School is a U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School of Excellence and a U.S. Department of Education “No Child Left Behind” Blue Ribbon School. The Early Learning Center (beginning at 12 months) through eighth grade is fully accredited by the Florida Catholic Conference, which is recognized by the Department of Education of the State of Florida. The school is also approved by the Department of Education of the State of Florida. Holy Name of Jesus successfully completed its re-accreditation process in the Spring of 2022 by the Florida Catholic Conference. All elementary classroom teachers hold degrees and are certified by the Florida State Department of Education. Certification for all teachers and accreditation for the school are required by policy of the Office of Schools of the Diocese of Orlando and the Florida Catholic Conference. Teacher certification must be maintained through regular, on-going, in-service education, and professional workshops and conferences.
Class Size
The Diocese of Orlando policy limits class size to a maximum of 35 students in grades 1-8. In Kindergarten, class size is limited to 30 students with a teacher and a full time instructional assistant. In Pre-K3 class size is limited to 20 students with a full time teacher and a full time assistant. Pre-K4 class size is limited to 20 students with a full time teacher and full time assistant. Generally, classes at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic School are much smaller than the numbers cited above, offering our students the best learning opportunity.
Curriculum
Holy Name of Jesus School offers its students opportunities for growth in the following major subjects:
Religion (also see Spiritual Life)
Religious instruction in the Christian faith, as lived out in the Catholic tradition, forms the basis for the total development of the student. All students are required to participate in all regular church services during school time. The Religion curriculum from the Diocese of Orlando forms the nucleus of Religious instruction. Liturgical Services are held weekly and on Holy Days for the entire student body and staff. Parents and family are welcome.
Language Arts
Reading and writing skills form the basic literary tools for gaining knowledge and understanding in all subject areas, including the spiritual and the academic experiences of life. Emphasis is placed on Language Arts as a foundation for all learning, with remediation and enrichment opportunities provided. Students are introduced to fine literature, from the classics to modern works. The Superkids Reading Program is used in Kindergaten through second grade. Writing is taught across the curriculum.
Mathematics
The math program is designed to help each student learn the basic mathematical structures, language, and principles in order to develop skill in computation, to use vocabulary and symbols in reading, to interpret data, and to measure and solve problems. The STAR Math program is used three times a year to assess student gains in grades Kindergarten to eighth grade. A full year in Algebra I for High School credit is offered in seventh and eighth grade to students who qualify for this academically challenging course. Students may also take classes through Florida Virtual School in Geometry, if qualified. The grades earned in the high school level courses are “Honors” or enrichment coursework for any middle school student. These courses do not affect the GPA of the student for their high school career, but simply allow the student to take advanced math, or additional courses to prepare for college. (At the end of the year the Diocesan Algebra I final must be taken and passed in order for the course to be counted as a completed high school course for a Diocesan Catholic high school.)
Physical Education/Health
The Physical fitness program provides students with the opportunity to exercise and acquire lifelong skills to maintain a healthy body and attitude. The program includes competitive athletics, with an emphasis on learning skills and having fun. Health classes are also included in the physical education program.
Spanish
The purpose of the Spanish program is to familiarize students with a basic knowledge of Spanish vocabulary, grammar, and conversational skills. Students taking Spanish I in grade 8 may qualify for high school credit. Successful completion of this class will not affect the student’s high school GPA, but will allow additional course offerings during their high school career.
Social Studies
This program is designed to develop give students a well-rounded foundation in world, national, and state history. It also provides students with the knowledge, understanding, skills, and attitudes necessary for becoming good citizens.
Science
The purpose of the Science program is to promote a genuine interest in all facets of Science education and to provide the skills necessary to achieve scientific literacy appropriate to grade level. Students are given the opportunity to participate in Science Fairs, STREAM curriculum and hands on experiments.
STREAM Lab
Each class from Pre-K 3 to 8th are given the opportunity to experience a hands-on science activities that follows and extends their weekly science lesson.
Fine Arts
The purpose of the Fine Arts program is to provide students with the opportunity to experience and appreciate the fine arts and to develop basic skills in music (choir, recorders, keyboards, and other instruments), drama, and art. Students also participate in a county wide Fine Art Show for Brevard County Catholic Schools.
Computer Literacy
Computers are utilized in the classroom and lab setting as tools to enrich the curriculum in the classroom. Keyboarding skills, ethical use of technology and the internet, and general computer skills are taught, with a goal of integration of those skills into the learning process of the student.
Coding programs, Google Classroom, Microsoft Office, and Ipads are also used throughout a student’s academic experience at HNJ.
Middle School students each receive a school Chromebook. It is the responsibility of the student/family to make sure the Chromebook is at school and in good condition each day. Upon graduation from Holy Name of Jesus Catholic School in grade 8, the student may keep his/her Chromebook.
The School also has:
One to one IPads, in Kindergarten through 2nd Grade
One to one Chromebooks, in Grades 3rd through 5th
Newline interactive touch screens are available in all classrooms
A lab is supplied with Chromebooks and IPads for collaborative work
MakerSpace
Students are given the opportunity to solve real world problems using everyday items, test theories, and expand their understanding of how things are produced/work. This program incorporates engineering, math, art, science and cooperative learning.
Co-Curricular Activities
A number of opportunities for enrichment and reinforcement of skills and knowledge are integrated into our curriculum. These include contests, tournaments, and organizations intended to allow students to excel academically as well as in leadership roles.
Guidance
Our teachers are interested in the physical, academic, spiritual, and emotional well-being of our children. We have a moral obligation to work as partners with the parents to guide the students to be healthy, productive citizens of our community and world. The more the teacher knows about the environment of each child, the better he/she is able to guide him/her through these important years of development. For this reason parents are encouraged to consult with the teachers and the principal when there are problems at home which could result in a child’s experiencing some emotional or physical difficulties.
A guidance counselor will implement programs to encourage appropriate social interactions, prevent bullying, ensure a drug and violence free environment, and consult with students, parents and teachers as needed. The Guidance counselor will support the student body through weekly class lessons, individual, and small group interaction. Faculty and staff support are also offered along with Student Emotional Learning.