At St. Robert School we utilize a variety of models of differentiated instruction to meet diverse learning needs within the context of the regular education classroom. Additionally, under the direction of a learning and development specialist, our academic support program provides direct services to students with special learning needs in an individualized format designed to provide a dynamic balance between correction and compensation. The specialist also provides consultation services to parents and classroom teachers and maintains collaborative relationships with community service providers, making referrals to outside agencies as warranted for diagnostic testing and/or therapeutic treatment. At the preschool level, support is focused on identification of learning differences and facilitation of healthy neurological development. Elementary school intervention is based on the regular graded classroom curriculums with accommodations to environment, teaching, materials, testing, homework, or grading implemented on an individualized basis as necessary. At the middle school level, support generally takes the form of accommodations and/or organizational and study skills coaching. St. Robert School is working to broaden access to Catholic education by extending inclusion to children with special learning needs. We take a holistic view in appraising the needs of each student in relation to the services we are able to provide. A fundamental goal of the academic support program is to identify and respect every child's unique learning style, and to nurture every child's gifts to fulfillment.

Music and Band

St. Robert is proud of the music program offered to all students. In K4 through sixth grade, students have music twice a week throughout the year. In sixth through eighth grade there are two 45 minute classes per week for one semester. Music classes use the Holt Music series and explore reading and writing music, singing, dancing, playing rhythm and mallet instruments, listening to great music of all styles, and playing music games. Students have the opportunity to perform in at least two concerts per year. Middle School students prepare and perform a junior version of a Broadway musical, including the back stage as well as on stage responsibilities. St. Robert is also proud of its growing band program for students in fourth through eighth grade. Students develop responsibility, dedication, cooperation, perseverance, critical thinking, self esteem and self expression skills. Individual and group lessons are available. In large group band rehearsals students not only work to effectively play the music, but also learn appreciation, understanding and the history of the music. No experience is necessary. Four concerts are performed each year. Private piano lessons are offered by an independent teacher.

Physical Education

The St. Robert Physical Education curriculum is based on many different types of activities at each grade level which become more sophisticated and challenging - building on skills and knowledge students have developed in their previous physical education classes and grades. In the primary grades they learn about space, bending & stretching, locomotor movements, throwing & catching, beanbags, scoops, simple games, jump ropes, tumbling, use of a parachute and fitness, to name a few. The intermediate grades expand their knowledge to team sports such as tag football, soccer, baseball, and floor hockey & scurry hockey. The middle school continues with team sports and adds to its curriculum lifetime activities which include social dance, bowling, badminton, shuffle board, table tennis, speedball, continuous fitness, and inventing games. After school athletic activities for both boys and girls include basketball and volleyball.

Art

The art curriculum at St. Robert is based on stimulating students to grow through self expression in order to communicate the unique individuals they are. The primary grades learn color identification, differences between still life, portrait and landscape, line positive and negative space and to identify patterns and shapes. Grades four and five expand this knowledge by learning about the principals and elements of art. Students in grades three, four and five participate in the Sequential Art Program at the Milwaukee Art Museum making three trips each year to explore different aspects of art, with the fifth grade graduating by becoming a docent for a piece of art work. In sixth grade students are exposed to multi-cultural arts in conjunction with their social studies curriculum. Seventh and eighth grade reinforces their knowledge of the principals and elements of art, pop art is introduced, and students explore various artists' techniques and become familiar with analyzing and critiquing their art work. Students are exposed to various art mediums and each year expands their knowledge of these mediums and art techniques.

World Languages

We at St. Robert believe that learning a foreign language involves the development of proficiency in speaking, listening, reading and writing. Foreign language learning necessitates the direct involvement of the student with other speakers including teachers and students enabling progress from limited to complex functioning in the language. Foreign language study begins with Spanish instruction in first and second grade. Then French in third and fourth grade. At the fifth grade level, students are given the option to study Spanish or French for their middle school years. Communication in the target language is personal and original rather than memorized phrases. The target language is used as much as possible in order to provide students with an abbreviated "immersion experience." Learning about the language and culture is linked to foreign language "realia." Multiple teaching strategies are used to address the many and varied needs of the students. The curriculum is based on the national as well as state foreign language standards. Teachers are members of and active participants in the Wisconsin Association of Foreign Language Teachers which is considered one of the leaders in foreign language pedagogy and implementation in the United States.

Technology

Students are exposed to a Scope & Sequence of Technology Skills to function competently in the use of technology resources in school and at home. Instruction is provided in the use of the St. Robert network, windows operating system, keyboarding, word processing, the internet, presentations programs, spreadsheets and charts, the paint program and photo editor. Students also learn to use the keyboard, mouse, CD-ROM drives, disk drives, printers, scanners, and digital cameras. Students reinforce the use of technology skills through the completion of curriculum skills projects which ideally come from classroom teachers.