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Art
 The art curriculum at St. Gabriel is based upon the North Carolina Standard Course of Study for Art. The curriculum builds and expands each year as each student progresses from kindergarten through fifth grade. The art curriculum is based on art elements (color, value, line, shape, and texture) and art principles (repetition, proportion, rhythm, and emphasis). Students learn to use many media. The program strives to foster each student’s creativity and originality. Kindergarten through third grade classes meet once a week for 45 minutes; fourth grade and fifth grade classes meet once a week for one hour.
Computer Program
. At St. Gabriel Catholic School we feel that an essential part of a child’s education involves the understanding and effective use of modern technology to enhance learning and build lifelong skills. Grades K through 5 are allotted a schedulded time every week to spend in our state of the art computer lab. Our lab is equipped with thirty-one Gateway workstations, providing each child his or her own machine. The lab at St. Gabriel is also equipped with one of our many SMARTBoard Interactive Whiteboards.
In the lab, students are involved in a number of activities that help to prepare for life in a technologically driven society. All grades are taught the physical parts of a computer as well as proper terminology. Software that we use in the class includes keyboarding games, math games and language arts games.
Students in grades 3-5 are more involved in the use of productivity software with Microsoft Office. One the most popular activities in these grades is construction and presentation in Power Point. Other projects involve working with Excel and Word.
A fundamental part of the computer program involves accessing the internet. Parents must sign a consent form to enable their child to have the privilege of going on the internet. For safety purposes, internet access on our network is fire-walled and content-screened in order to protect the students from stumbling on content that is not appropriate. Students use the internet for research as well as a variety of online games such as typing and brain teasers.
Software Used at St. Gabriel School:
Type to Learn Jr.- Typing exercise for grades k to 2
Type to Learn 3- Typing exercise for grades 3-5
Kidpix- Creativity and design software
Kidspiration
Word Munchers
Math Arena
Successmaker
Accelerated Reader
Toy Store
Microsoft Office
Websites Frequented:
Cool Math 4 Kids
Funbrain
Funschool
Starfall
Library/Media Center
 The St. Gabriel School Library/ Media Center provides students in kindergarten through fifth grade with a multi-purpose educational and research environment that encourages the enjoyment of reading and develops the skills necessary to be successful in the academic programs offered at the school. Concurrently, state and regional standardized testing and accreditation requirements are met.
The library is divided into three sections. The “Story Time” area contains the picture book collection and provides a bright and pleasant section of the library where the librarian, her assistant, and parent volunteers can read and introduce the joys of reading to students in the lower grades.
The classroom area is driven by SMARTBoard technology that facilitates the librarian’s ability to provide students with the information literacy skills that adhere to North Carolina State guidelines and allows for the development of independent learning. The librarian, an ALA and North Carolina State certified librarian, collaborates with the classroom teachers so that the lessons provided in the library enhance and reinforce the classroom curriculum. In addition to curriculum enrichment, research, reference and report writing skills are also taught.
The St. Gabriel Library/Media Center also houses a fourteen thousand volume collection of up-to-date early elementary, biography, reference, and extensive fiction and non-fiction titles, including classic works of children’s authors. Student periodicals are available along with an online subscription to World Book Web. The Accelerated Reader program is also offered at St. Gabriel’s, and “AR” quizzes are available on all six of the Library/Media Center’s computers.
Each kindergarten through fifth grade class at St. Gabriel’s receives at least one period of instruction in the library per week. When story time and instruction are completed the students are encouraged to browse the book collection and borrow books to take home. The library is fully automated, and the electronic card catalog allows the students to browse the collection independently, or receive help and encouragement from the librarian and her assistant who are always available for support.
Music
Music class at St. Gabriel Catholic School allows the students to experience the performance, creation and skills that make up music in general. Our school, as a whole community, comes together for Mass many times throughout the school year, and in doing so, we praise God through the gift of music. The students learn songs and learn concepts through singing liturgical, and secular music. The students learn songs in at least three languages: English, Spanish, and Latin. Our curriculum is based on the Diocesan guidelines in accordance with the State scope and sequence. Please refer to the website for specific information at http://www.learnnc.org/scos/. Grades K-3 meet once a week for 45 minutes and grades 4-5 meet once a week for 60 minutes. We have a school choir which consists of 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students. All students in those grades are eligible to participate. Special performances are scheduled by grade:
- Kindergarten - Piggy Opera
- 1st Grade - Little Red Hen
- 3rd Grade - Fine Arts Gala
Physical Education
 The students of St. Gabriel School have Physical Education (PE) twice a week. Kindergarten – 3rd grade come for 45 minutes twice a week and the 4th and 5th grade classes come for 1 hour twice a week. The K-2 program concentrates on basic movement and eye-hand, eye-foot coordination. Skipping, hopping, throwing and kicking are some of the locomotor skills that are worked on in PE. Body and space awareness, manipulative skills, rhythms and creative activities are also incorporated into the program. Social interaction, following directions, sportsmanship, teamwork and fitness are taught using low organizational games. Square dancing, hockey, bowling, T-ball, and soccer are some of the sports that are introduced.
The 3rd-5th grade program both individual and team sports are covered and modified games are played. Some of those sports are basketball, soccer, hockey, Tseg Ball, Tchuck Ball, badminton, flag football, volleyball, square dancing and Ultimate Frisbee. Physical fitness is also stressed as the Presidential Physical Fitness Test is administered twice a year.
Spanish
 Bienvenidos to Spanish class at St. Gabriel School. The Spanish curriculum provides once a week exposure to a foreign language for all grades from kindergarten through fifth grade.
The curriculum is based on vocabulary, cultural awareness, speaking, reading, and writing skills at each grade level taking into consideration the different levels of competency among the students. Kindergarten through third grade classes meet once a week for 45 minutes; fourth grade and fifth grade classes meet once a week for one hour.
Activities such as games, songs, dances, and instructional media are used to keep the students interested. The Spanish program also exposes the students to bilingual reading books and stories, as well as providing Spanish/English books in the library for students to check out.
In keeping with Catholic religious tradition at St. Gabriel School, the Spanish class incorporates Catholic prayers, feast days, holidays, and traditions as part of the Spanish class activities.
Our Lady of Guadalupe feast day, December 12, is celebrated every year with a bilingual school mass where third, fourth, and fifth graders help with active participation during the Mass. The students participate in the readings, the parade of flags from Spanish speaking countries, and the retelling of the story of Saint Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe. The entire school sings Spanish songs to honor the Patroness of Mexico and the Americas.
Hispanic American awareness is highlighted during the Hispanic American month every year from mid-September to mid-October. At Christmas, students learn about similar as well as different traditions. Students study the “carnival” season which precedes Lent or “cuaresma”. And of course, the students enjoy Cinco de Mayo, or the battle of Puebla, which marks the Mexican defeat of the French Army.
Spanish is fun! There is always a “fiesta” waiting to happen!
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