- Our Lady of Mercy School
- Overview
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Igniting Curiosity.
Lower school fosters curiosity in a nurturing environment creating a solid foundation that cultivates a lifelong love of learning. In the lower school, the flame begins as a slow flicker where students begin their faith-filled spiritual and academic journey. By middle school, students are ready for rigorous academic challenges and are active participants in the learning process.
Core Curriculum
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Building on foundational skiills and knowledge, the curriculum develops skills through small group collaboration and practical math applications. Teachers focus on developing students' critical thinking and problem solving skills.
ADW Math Curriculum Standards
Kindergarten
Grade 1
Grade 2
Grade 3
Grade 4 -
Cultivate literacy skills and establish a growth mindset immersing students in grammar, vocabulary and writing development through the years. Catholic educators place special emphasis on handwriting skills and cursive a unique footnote to Catholic based education.
ADW Curriculum Standards
Kindergarten
Grade 1
Grade 2
Grade 3
Grade 4 -
The Social Studies curriculum begins with a focus on "Myself and Others" learning the basic concepts of fairness and respect for the rights and opinions of others. This foundation is expanded to the theme of "Families", "Neighborhoods", "Communities Near and Far", and finally to "Maryland Studies" in Grade 4. Catholic social teachings are integral to each theme.
ADW Curriculum Standards
Kindergarten
Grade 1
Grade 2
Grade 3
Grade 4 -
The curriculum creates a strong foundation that preps students for more advanced science exploration. In lower school, students will develop experiments and record data to support hypotheses through evidence based experimentation that meets national science standards.
ADW Curriculum Standards
Kindergarten
Grade 1
Grade 2
Grade 3
Grade 4 -
Parents will find the teaching of the faith at Mercy is robust. Students have a combination of classroom lessons that impart knowledge about the faith, with many and varied opportunities to practice the faith. Students will have anywhere from 3 to 5 explicit religion classes per week, where they will study the content for the religion standards for their grade, as indicated by the links below. In addition, all students will enjoy participating in weekly Mass on Wednesday mornings at 8:30 am. In 2022, Cardinal Gregory asked all schools to have a special focus on the Eucharist, as the summit and source of our faith. Faculty will receive in-servicing on this topic, along with a review of each of the standards below.
The experiential aspects of the faith include but are not limited to all of the following:
- Morning prayers
- Benediction
- Weekly Mass
- Classroom prayer services
- Rosary with parish community
- Advent ceremony
- Lenten practices
- Stations of the Cross
- Sacramental preparation
- May Crowning
- Christmas pageant
ADW Religion Curriculum & Standards
Kindergarten
Grade 1
Grade 2
Grade 3
Grade 4