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School
Program and Curriculum
 Certified,
Christian, professional teachers teach a full Junior Kindergarten
through Grade 8 program at Trinity. Our administration and staff
set high academic standards. The academic content is comparable to
the course of studies suggested by the Ontario Ministry of Education,
but differs substantially in interpretation. The curriculum consists
of language arts, Bible instruction, science, social studies, mathematics,
physical education & health, music and fine arts. Staff members
seek to unify all educational activities with the central thrust
of the school’s vision for life.
BIBLE
The purpose of teaching Bible is to impart knowledge of the Bible
to the children, to open up ways for children to know and love their
Lord and to move children to a deeper faith. The overall theme is
God’s covenantal relationship with His people. Memorization
of Scripture is expected regularly; passages selected are relevant
to the course of study.
LANGUAGE ARTS
The primary language arts program involves listening, speaking, reading
and writing to build foundational skills. Grades 1-3 emphasize a
healthy blend of phonics and ‘whole language’. Junior
and intermediate language arts continue with a sequential, skill
building program that includes development of comprehension, vocabulary,
inferential skills, word analysis, sentence structure and a critical
appreciation of how man responds literarily in creation.
MATHEMATICS
Our math series emphasizes teaching math from a ‘problem solving’ point
of view. Concepts are introduced and reviewed sequentially from grade
to grade. As students learn new skills they are expected to engage
in practical and logical applications of those skills, in their problem
solving work.
SCIENCE
Some of our science units include ‘Man and His Health’ – a
study of who we are and how we care for ourselves and a study of
the human body; ‘Animals, Plants and Ecosystems’ – a
study of animals, plants and their interactions with the physical
things; ‘The Earth, Man’s Home’ – the solar
system and the universe, the earth’s crust, the atmosphere,
water; ‘Matter, Energy and Technology’ – matter
and energy, mechanics and technology, light and sound, magnetism,
electricity and heat. In all of our Science units students are encouraged
to reflect on, and wonder at God’s magnificence.
SOCIAL STUDIES
In the primary grades we begin with a foundational study of people – families,
friends and neighborhoods. In the junior grades there is a continuation
in the study of people, lands and landforms around us. In the senior
grades specific cultures of Western civilization are studied and
a growing awareness of Canadian culture is provided. History and
geography are taught in the senior grades.
COMPUTER
Computer literacy is a goal of our program. Technology is used for
subject integration and publishing, as well as developing the technical
skills of keyboarding, word processing, database management and communication.
MUSIC & BAND
Since all of us have been created with one of the finest musical
instruments, the human voice, music is an important part of our curriculum.
In the primary grades we concentrate on singing, rhythm and beat.
In the junior grades recorder playing and the teaching of theory
enhances music skills. Our junior choir develops choral singing as
well as the joy of performance. The Musicanada program is a curriculum
resource throughout the grades. Students in Grades 7 and 8 receive
instruction in the use of a variety of musical instruments and form
our two senior bands.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
The primary and junior grades emphasize the development of motor
co-ordination, muscle tone and creative movement, as well as early
sports skills. The intermediate grades continue to develop these
skills and focus more on team sports skills such as baseball, soccer,
volleyball and basketball. School teams and intramural sports are
available as well.
ART
The study of art enables children to recognize, explore and develop
their creative talents. They learn to use various media skillfully
to understand as well as apply concepts of line, colour, shape, form,
space and value.
FRENCH
French is taught formally to the students in Grades 1 to 8, with
regular exposure to the language beginning in Kindergarten. Our purpose
is to learn to speak and understand a second language and to learn
to appreciate another culture. Our formal program provides maximum
opportunity to hear and speak French. French is taught primarily
through a conversational method. Vocabulary, pronunciation and grammatical
structures are developed through situation dialogues.
HEALTH
Responsible stewardship includes taking care of one’s self.
Our health curriculum is called “Healthy Living.” This
is a comprehensive health education curriculum. The program addresses
the physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual aspects of
health. It helps students take responsibility for their health as
individuals and as members of families and communities. It gives
them the opportunity to develop basic life skills – such as
communicating, decision making and resolving conflicts – in
order to prepare them to meet the challenges of daily living. Its
Christian perspective leads students to recognize that a healthy
lifestyle is a lifestyle of obedience to God.
SPECIAL EDUCATION
As a Christian school, we take into account and accommodate all needs
that may not be fully met within the regular classroom setting, seeking
to develop each student’s God given potential.
The resource room takes a supportive role in identifying and planning
for those students who are considered to be at risk in the primary
grades. The resource teacher works alongside the classroom teacher
with students who need support throughout their elementary education.
Students remain in the classroom with their peers but receive help
on a withdrawal basis.
Though the student may be referred for resource support initially
by the parents or teachers, parental permission is required before
the child enters the program. Informal and formal testing may be
done as is deemed necessary, and an individual educational plan may
be prepared. Regular communication with parents is maintained through
conferences and progress reports which are issued after each term.
The resource room also supports teachers by identifying and developing
programs for those students who are intellectually gifted and need
to be challenged to engage in higher level thinking skills, strategies,
problem solving and independent study.
The Bible instructs us to care for one another and so students are
often encouraged to act as buddies or peer tutors to those in the
regular classroom who can benefit from this help.
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