Art

Each class, from grade K-8,  meets once a week in the Art Studio.   The curriculum varies depending on the grade level. 

Younger students develop motor skills through the manipulation of materials.  They learn basic art concepts and are able to create artwork that expresses ideas, feelings or seasonal events.  The students explore shapes and textures and create art inspired by stories and themes.

In the middle and upper grades, the students will be able to create the illusion of depth using overlapping, size variation, placement, foreground, middle ground and background.  They will learn to draw in one and two point perspective.  They will identify positive and negative space, patterns, symmetry and use greater detail in their work.

Students in all grades learn about different artists and their artistic styles. The students create their own artwork based on the artist’s style.

Lessons and topics integrate with the regular classroom curriculum whenever possible.

All students participate in a collaborative class piece of artwork that is auctioned at our annual Gala fundraising event.

Computer Technology

In Computer Technology students learn coding, typing, website design, navigation skills, app design, word processing programs, and presentation programs. 

Learning Lab

The Learning Lab is here to support students by reinforcing and strengthening reading, writing and math skills.  Learning Lab teachers collaborate with classroom teachers in order to support all students. 

Music

At Divine Wisdom, every Grade from Pre-k to Grade 8 receives a weekly Music Class. We spend that time learning songs for events such as our annual Christmas Show, we learn how to read music, we learn about famous musicians and we play songs on classroom instruments such as Xylophones. 

We also have an after-school band program run by the Paul Effman band company. Students can join starting in 3rd Grade and learn a band instrument such as trumpet, sax, flute, clarinet and violin. There is also a Ukulele class for 1st and 2nd Grade. In addition we also have a middle school Jazz Band that annually performs at the St. Francis Prep Jazz/Pop Concert. 

Divine Wisdom is also a NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) member. Any Musicians who take private lessons can register for the festival through us.

Physical Education

At Divine Wisdom, every student in the school from 3K to 8th grade receives a weekly Physical Education Class. Here at Divine Wisdom our Physical Education Program aims to encourage student-centered learning by incorporating functional knowledge, skill-based lessons, and authentic assessments that reinforce the importance of lifelong exercise, health and wellness. Students in grades 3K-8th grade participate in many different lifelong games and activities that strengthen the overall wellness of each unique student.

In grades 3K-3rd students focus on gross motor skills and non-locomotor, locomotor movements. At this grade level students will be introduced to the basic stage of gross motor skills and non-locomotor, locomotor skills. Many students will endure physiological changes that occur as a result of physical activity. In order to maintain a safe environment, as well as to hold productive classes, there is an increased emphasis on safety, spatial awareness, following directions and showing cooperation to all. 

In grades 4th-8th students focus on becoming lifelong learners about wellness and have comprehensive movement experiences that focus on fun, involvement, character, self-esteem, fitness, and total well being. The Physical Education Program involves the “whole child” and includes physical, mental, social, and emotional growth experiences. Students participate in many different cooperative games, lifelong activities and lifetime sports throughout the year. These include flag football, capture the flag, soccer, scooter ball/hockey, team handball, adventure education, Gaga ball, Towerball, volleyball, etc. 

Spanish

At Divine Wisdom Catholic Academy grades, K-3 have Spanish once per week, while grades 5-8 have Spanish twice per week.

In lower grades, students will be able to:

  • Greet someone and ask how they are doing.
  • Say their nationality, where they are from, and where they live.
  • Count from 0-100 (depending on the grade)
  • Express the time, day, and date.
  • Identify colors.
  • Body parts.
  • Family members.

Our classes start with a morning song that we use to review salutations, then we talk about our feelings and review the vocabulary from our previous class. Then we introduce the topic of the lesson with a story, short video, or song. The students learn the new vocabulary and pronunciation by repeating after the teacher. Afterward, we will start an activity during which we will put into practice what we learned during the class.

The students in the upper levels/middle school will work on the four skills necessary to learn a foreign language: listening, writing, reading, and speaking. Each unit will focus on one principal topic that will explore these four skills. For example, a favorite unit in 7th grade is food. The students are introduced to Spanish-speaking cultures by way of readings, videos, and audio recordings about traditions and customs, etc. We work on grammar in a fun way so that the students are motivated to learn. My ultimate objective for middle school is that at the end of the year the students know which countries speak Spanish, where they are located, and the customs of these countries; that they can have basic conversations in Spanish and that they can express themselves by writing and orally using present and past tenses, and the ability to eventually use the future tense. I want them to know that speaking a foreign language such as Spanish can open doors for them in the future and help them better understand the world and the people that live in it.

STEM

DWCA is committed to ensuring that EVERY student has the opportunity to explore and build an interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The strength of our nation depends on increasing all students’ involvement in STEM, especially those most under-represented in STEM, and in helping all students develop critical thinking, problem solving, and collaboration skills that are so important throughout life. While the percentage of careers that require advanced STEM education increases, an alarmingly high percentage of students lose interest in STEM subjects early in their development. If the U.S. is to maintain its competitive advantage in the global economy, we need to ensure that our entire population of young people are educated in STEM fields for the 21st century.