Curriculum Information
Spiritual nurture of the Christian faith from the Lutheran perspective is highly valued. Activities include daily classroom devotions and Bible readings, prayers, a weekly school-wide worship service, and the encouragement to attend weekend worship and Sunday School classes.
God and Godly ideas permeate the curriculum just as God and godly ideas permeate the life of the Christian.
The curriculum is under constant evaluation with upgrading as is appropriate.
Preschool
The Good Shepherd Preschool is a developmental program which enhances the child's overall development. We are dedicated to the philosophy of building up children by creating a loving educational atmosphere in which children experience a nurturing of their Christian faith.
The preschool program for children ages three and four provides a mixture of direct teaching, group activities and individual hands-on projects to stimulate these young children to explore and expand their world.
Computers provide children with the opportunity to reinforce skills and information gained during their preschool experience.
Kindergarten through Grade 6
The full range of subjects includes religion, math, social studies, reading, English, science, handwriting, spelling, physical education, music, art, foreign languages, computer education, and current events.
Experiences in art and music are important parts of the school experience at Good Shepherd. Art and music classes are held weekly, three choirs and two bands provide individual and group experiences, and personal piano and violin lessons are available during and after the school day.
Children's cultural horizons are expanded through foreign language instruction which begins in kindergarten. With parental guidance, students may learn German or Spanish.
A Resource Room Teacher (special education) and School Counselor are available for children with special needs.
Physical education and health education are addressed through the curriculum and by extra-curricular activities for boys and girls.
In kindergarten and the elementary grades students are challenged to develop basic skills while expanding their base of general knowledge in science, health, and the social studies.
Computers are used to develop and reinforce what is taught during the school day, and students learn and develop keyboard skills.
The kindergarten program emphasizes phonics, reading readiness, developmental thinking, mathematical relationships, beginning science and social studies skills and concepts, and the overall development of a meaningful academic program for future formalized schooling.
Grades 7 & 8
The junior high years of grades 7 and 8 usher in academic opportunities which call on students to make use of the skills and knowledge gained in the early grades even as they continue to refine their skills and expand their knowledge of the world God has given them.
Students expand their computer skills as they are taught word processing, spread sheets, presentation software and develop their own homepages.
Education of children in the elementary and junior high levels is based on the need for a firm foundation of basic knowledge to insure the tools necessary for children to function successfully in the broadening scope of education.
All course work is presented in creative and meaningful ways. Each subject is approached from a distinctly Christian point-of-view.
