Students in our school are taught to think critically, logically, analytically, and ethically. They learn to apply techniques to real world situations and integrate learning into their everyday lives. All learning builds upon the students' prior knowledge and skills, which are repeated and reinforced. In all grades the classroom teachers teach in an environment that reflects Catholic values and beliefs. St. Cecilia School maintains a safe, welcoming, and secure environment for our students. The curriculum includes Religion, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies, as well as Foreign Language, Computer Instruction, Library Skills, Music, Art, and Physical Education.

The Pre-school program establishes Christian values, facilitates a healthy social adjustment and fosters a positive attitude toward education. St. Cecilia's Pre-K services three and four year old children by offering them experiences adapted to the growth needs of these age levels. It shares with the parents the responsibility for promoting sound growth in a period when growth is rapid and important.
The Pre-K classes have a planned program for learning that opens the door to new interests and enriches existing ones. The curriculum offers children opportunities to learn, when they show interest and readiness. It is based on the spontaneous interest of the children themselves and includes numerous opportunities for first hand experiences. The teacher's role is to help the children relate new experiences to what they already know and broaden their areas of learning. The curriculum includes language development, number and letter recognition, foreign language instruction, creative play, and motor skill development.
The Kindergarten program is a full day session. This program nurtures the spiritual, academic, social, and cognitive needs of each child. Students are given the opportunity to plan, discover, and gather information. They are taught how to solve problems, make decisions, and process information. Reading skills are introduced through a combination of methods including word recognition and whole language.
In the primary grades much is learned through the use of manipulatives, videos, computer programs and websites and actual concrete experiences. As a child advances greater emphasis is placed on subject content.
The Social Studies program follows a comprehensive progression of content and skills to ensure student success. The curriculum focuses on learning about families - home and world, types of communities, and an understanding of communities from the past, present, and the future.
Math skills encompass working on basic operations and computation along with problem solving skills. Students also are introduced to geometry, measurement and pattern recognition. This is accomplished through the use of calculators, computers, and cooperative learning in addition to a math textbook.
The Religion program guides the students in the knowledge of Jesus and his life and love for others. Students begin to realize that they are followers of Jesus, and they should celebrate and live their faith. Second grade students prepare to receive the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist. Students realize that they are members of the church and are called to be disciples of Jesus.
Our Language Arts program consists of a Reading series that encompasses grammar, phonics, spelling, literature and writing through the use of theme based units. The use of overhead transparencies, CD ROMs, and book based websites enhance the students understanding of the skills being taught. Recently the Reading series has provided an online text service for students as well as their families to review stories and skills at home.
Grades 1 through 3 follow the curriculum guidelines of the Paterson Diocese and the New Jersey Core Curriculum Standards. Students learn about Earth, Physical, Life and Environmental Science through a variety of methods. The use of textbooks, trade books, videos, computer programs and hands on activities are used to present the material. Grades 1 and 2 have the use of an online text for home viewing.
The Social Studies program for grades 1-3 encompasses themes such as Communities, Neighborhoods Past and Present, Rules and Laws and Citizenship. Geography and landforms are skills incorporated into the program. Textbooks, videos and hands-on projects help students to understand the concepts being presented.
Students in grades 4 and 5 follow both the Diocesan and New Jersey Core Curriculum Standards. They leave the self-contained classroom and slowly begin to make the transition of changing classes. These students change between the 4th and the 5th grade classrooms. The students become more responsible as they prepare for the changing of classes. At this grade level students are currently changing for English/Math and Social Studies/Science.
The Grade 4 and 5 Reading program follows the same series as the lower grades. The Language Arts is expanded through the use of a textbook that focuses on grammar and composition. Writing skills are strengthened through the use of vocabulary books, which build on their knowledge, understanding, and use of a broader, more challenging vocabulary.
Hands on science and math activities help to reinforce skills previously taught. Students in both the 4th and 5th grade review and practice map and geography skills as they learn about their state and the regions of the U.S. The fifth grade curriculum focus involves the interaction of Europeans and Native Americans, the ancient civilizations of the Maya, the Aztec, and the Inca, and the special features of the Western Hemisphere.
The Religion curriculum for the above grades focuses on the teaching of the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes.
The fifth grade students learn about the sacraments and the parts of the Mass.
The 6th through 8th grade classes switch classrooms for all subjects. Three teachers divide the subjects and each teacher is responsible for two of the curriculum subject areas.
The religion curriculum for grades six through eight concentrates on Scripture, the Church and Liturgical Year, the Commandments and Social Justice. A parish priest comes weekly to extend the understanding of concepts taught and to answer any questions the students may have.
The reading series for the above grades is a literature-based series. The students use a variety of techniques to learn various skills such as comparison of characters and themes between stories.
The math program expands on concepts taught in prior grades. Through the use of manipulative and hands on activities students reinforce their understanding of topics presented. By the end of the 7th grade students begin pre-algebra concepts. In 8th grade they continue with the pre-algebra concepts expanding their knowledge of them.
The Social Studies curriculum explores geography and culture of the Eastern Hemisphere and U.S. History to the present day. Students display their knowledge of important events throughout history by preparing research reports, class presentations and projects.
The Science curriculum focuses on earth science specifically on geology and meteorology, and health for sixth grade students. Earth science continues through the seventh grade encompassing the topics of astronomy and planet earth. Eighth grade students learn about life science with topics in biology, cells and genetics.
Through the use of computer-generated projects, experiments and projects, students are able to apply concepts taught in a meaningful and interesting way.
The students in Grades 6 through 8 use the same series for Grammar and Applied Writing as the 4th and 5th grade students. They acquire and develop language skills through grammatical techniques and conventions. Through their writing they develop the skills necessary to convey thoughts and feeling clearly and logically.
In our effort to provide an education that will meet the varying needs of all students, it is the policy of the school to assign homework beyond the regular school day. Students are expected to complete these assignments each night.
Properly designed homework, carefully planned and geared to the development of the student, meets a real need and has a definite place in the educational program. It is designed to help the student become more self-reliant, learn to work independently, reinforce the skills that have been taught, and complete worthwhile book assignments, projects or research.
Primary grades - Homework is assigned at a level in which most students can accomplish it independently. Assignments are given four times each week. These assignments should reasonably take 25-45 minutes.
Intermediate grades - Homework is assigned at the level where most students can accomplish it independently. Daily homework assignments should take about 1 to 1 ½ hours.
Homework is posted through the school's website on a daily basis for grades Kindergarten through eight. Kindergarten through second grade also provides a weekly homework sheet to all for those who choose not to access our website. Students in grades three through eight utilize homework assignment books where students copy assignments from the blackboard each day.