All
students in grades 1-8 at Mt. Carmel-Holy
Rosary are on an extended day schedule.
This means that regular dismissal
time on Monday-Thursday is 4:00pm.
On Fridays students are dismissed
at 2:45 PM, and teachers participate
in staff development workshops. Extended
Day increases student-teacher interaction
and allows for more in depth lessons.
It also decreases students' unsupervised
free time after school.
Here is what our teachers
have to say about Extended Day:
"I like the Extended Day Program
because I have more time to help my
students prepare for the NYS ELA,
Math, and Science exams." 4th
Grade Teacher
"I have more time to reinforce
reading comprehension and vocabulary
skills." 6th Grade Teacher
Reading
is a top priority at MCHR. We participate
in the Accelerated Reader Program
which helps students choose books
that fit their reading abilities.
Students read books within their level
and are given a quiz assessing their
retention and comprehension skills.
By reading books and scoring well
on tests, students move up levels
to more advanced books.
Mt. Carmel-Holy Rosary also participates
in the Library Connections Program.
Through this four year program Mt.
Carmel-Holy Rosary has been provided
with $150,000 in library resources
and teacher training. Our library is equipped with more than 6,500 books. Our full time library teacher integrates
our library with classroom assignments
and lessons. For instance, a curriculum
unit on global warming used library,
classroom and computer room resources.
Through books, the internet, the movies
“Happy Feet” and “March
of the Penguins,” and a National
Geographic website, students mastered
the concept of global warming and
vowed to give up hairspray and styrofoam
cups. They read, wrote and made posters
and dioramas on the topic.
Mt. Carmel-Holy Rosary is equipped
with an up-to-date computer lab. MCHR
staff realizes the importance of technology
in the modern world and in the curriculum.
Each classroom has one to three computers. Computer education is applied to everyday
coursework in a meaningful and realistic
manner.
Education Through Music makes comprehensive
and sequential music education a reality
for students at Mt. Carmel-Holy Rosary.
All students participate in vocal music and/or violin classes twice a week. These classes teach students
the basics of musical performance
while integrating music into the academic
curriculum. Students give concerts twice a year for family and friends and perform at school and community benefits.
In Mad Hot Ballroom, the 2005 documentary, New York City schoolchildren are shown mastering the rumba, fox trot and tango through a unique in-classroom program. Mt. Carmel-Holy Rosary School has partnered with Pierre Dulaine’s American Ballroom Theater, and the 4th,5th, and 8th graders are learning the same dance steps featured in the famous movie.
Twice a week, professional dance instructors teach the students the many complicated steps of the merengue, tango, salsa, foxtrot, rumba and swing. As in the documentary, all students in the program have the opportunity to advance to a citywide competition. In 2007 the students of MCHR won the gold ribbon at the first competition!
The class not only teaches children physical grace as they learn new dances, but it also refines the participants’ communication, cooperation, and team-building skills. In addition, cross-cultural studies of music, language, and art are integrated into the Dancing Classrooms curriculum.
| Creative
Classrooms Visual Arts Program |
Creative Classrooms is a visual arts
program for all grades. A professional
artist/instructor works with each
class once a week and students express
themselves through art projects varying
from pastels of their daily commute
to black watercolor silhouettes of
their fellow classmates. Their artwork
has been displayed at various community
organizations, such as the Metropolitan Hospital.
