What Our Students Want to Learn This School Year
When we welcomed back our students on the first day of school in September, we were excited to take some time to speak to several of them. After an entire summer away from our Loudonville campus, classrooms and teachers, we came across students who were eager to learn, grow and achieve during the 2022-2023 school year.
Hear from our incredible students about why they love returning to Saint Gregory’s and what they were hoping/expecting to learn this school year.
“This year, I’m going to learn about math and a lot of new things that I probably haven’t done before.”
Charlotte was right! There have been plenty of new experiences for her and all of the first graders in our school. Some of the new things that Charlotte referred to are developing good spelling and penmanship, public speaking and listening skills. First graders are also given more independence and responsibility by being allowed to walk in the halls of our school alone and preparing for weekly spelling assignments on their own.
“I like seeing my friends and going to recess.”
Margot and her friends have had plenty of time to see each other throughout second grade in a year that expands on the ideas introduced in first grade. Second graders focus on vocabulary through writing complete stories from the beginning to end. Basic math, critical thinking, reading, writing and organizational skills are all a part of Saint Gregory’s curriculum. While students are growing academically, they are also becoming more mature socially and taking responsibility for their behavior and their own learning.
“I’m excited to learn about division this year.”
One of the more unexpected things to come out of a third graders mouth is their passion for division, unless that student is attending Saint Gregory’s. Third graders learn about more complex math problems like fractions, decimals, time, money, basic geometry, and lucky for Robert, division and multiplication. By the time our students make it to third grade, they begin to emerge as independent thinkers and leaders with dramatically different vernaculars from when they entered the lower school.
“I’m excited to learn about Latin. It will be a new language for me, which is so cool!”
Fifth grade is the first year of upper school at Saint Gregory’s, a change that students have been thoroughly prepared for. New uniforms, lockers, volunteering outside of school and chores within the school are introduced in the upper school. Learning Latin is another new challenge, but it is not the first time they have been introduced to a foreign language. Students of all ages in our school take Spanish class, from Pre-K all the way to 8th grade. Latin is another great way for students to expand their horizons within reading and language comprehension.
“I like that Saint Gregory’s is really small and you get more attention.”
Saint Gregory’s cares for each student in their own unique way, something we focus on in our small class sizes that feature a 6:1 student-to-teacher ratio. Sixth graders participate in sports teams with older students and participate in recess and chores that develop a closeness with younger students. While Saint Gregory’s may be small relative to many other schools, the connection that our students make with each other and their teachers is wide and long lasting. We have created a culture at Saint Gregory’s we are proud to not just sell as an ideal, but see in practice each day.
This attention to our students throughout their time at Saint Gregory’s gives them the tools to succeed, especially in their 6th grade year: a school year that brings increased academic workloads. For this reason, skills like time management, note-taking and organization are built out of necessity.
“I like the community at Saint Gregory’s. It’s nice to know everybody in the school, I’ve made a lot of friends here.”
By the time our students reach 8th grade, it’s not a matter of getting them ahead of the regular pace of a middle school learning curriculum, they already are prepared. Eighth grade is the time to further expand our students’ base of knowledge in their final year before moving on to high school.
During our graduation, it’s always a bittersweet moment for teachers and staff to say goodbye to our students. We will miss their company in our classrooms while knowing they will go onto do incredible things in high school, college and their professional careers. Our alumni network is strong and active in our community: donating generously to our school, returning to campus to spend time with current students and making Saint Gregory’s proud in the Albany area and far beyond. Our graduates finish at the top of their class in high school and regularly attend Ivy League schools in college, a path they have been prepared for since their first days at SGS.
Anyone close to Saint Gregory’s knows how special our school is. To have a reputation as the premiere educational opportunity for your child in the Albany and Saratoga area, there has to be something special happening. Our students love Saint Gregory’s, and we love them back.
Find out if Saint Gregory’s School is right for you and your child by scheduling a private tour of our beautiful 22-acre campus or touring the school virtually. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news and updates.
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