Elementary Student Life Milestones at OHCS
Kindergarten
Kindergarten is a time when children encounter novel challenges and events that excite and stretch them as learners. Kindergarten students flourish under gentle guidance, succinct boundaries, inspired challenges, along with intentional grace and compassion. Students should be ready for first grade; equipped with the tools, courage, and motivation to engage more independently in their academics and in life-skills.
As reading abilities progress, a student's vocabulary will increase. They learn to write legibly in print and become capable of crafting complete sentences. Peer relationships deepen as they practice empathy and appropriate communication. Teachers model and encourage the acquisition of good character traits like self-control, honesty, service, and caring.
As reading abilities progress, a student's vocabulary will increase. They learn to write legibly in print and become capable of crafting complete sentences. Peer relationships deepen as they practice empathy and appropriate communication. Teachers model and encourage the acquisition of good character traits like self-control, honesty, service, and caring.
1st Grade
First grade students excel with gentle guidance, nurturing, and a tremendous amount of love and assurance, even as they are called to greater amounts of diligence, stewardship, and thoughtfulness than previously required. They learn to work and collaborate in groups and to follow multi-step instructions.
First Grade students are equipped to grow as independent learners. Students engage in academic content mastery and independent application of specific academic and social skills that are essential for development and paramount for future success in school and life.
First Grade students are equipped to grow as independent learners. Students engage in academic content mastery and independent application of specific academic and social skills that are essential for development and paramount for future success in school and life.
2nd Grade
Second grade is where children grow in their understanding of the world, both externally (what they can observe) and internally (what they can process). They learn things like the give-and-take of conversation, to count money and tell the time. They learn to recognize their own emotions and those of others around them more keenly. They learn appropriate ways to express those emotions and react to the emotions of others. Additionally, they are learning what it means to be a good friend, practicing friendship skills like being kind, supportive, trustworthy, and a good listener.
Essential at this stage of growth is learning about personal responsibility. We encourage families to help students embrace more personal responsibility by inspiring your children to get themselves ready for school, taking care of their belongings, helping with specific household chores, or giving them chances to be a helper at church or in their community!
Essential at this stage of growth is learning about personal responsibility. We encourage families to help students embrace more personal responsibility by inspiring your children to get themselves ready for school, taking care of their belongings, helping with specific household chores, or giving them chances to be a helper at church or in their community!
3rd Grade
Third grade is a year of transition. Students enter third grade having mastered the phonograms and skills needed to decode, read and spell most English words. While continuing formal spelling instruction, students transition from learning how to read, to reading to learn. Strengthening comprehension skills and learning to read expository texts is an integral part of the third-grade curriculum and continues to be vital for students as they proceed to fourth grade.
At this stage students take on more personal responsibility especially in owning their own learning process. They learn to work responsibly in groups and organize their own materials. In addition to learning new facts and ideas in class, students learn to use their academic and social skills on their own helping them to mature and be successful in their studies later on.
At this stage students take on more personal responsibility especially in owning their own learning process. They learn to work responsibly in groups and organize their own materials. In addition to learning new facts and ideas in class, students learn to use their academic and social skills on their own helping them to mature and be successful in their studies later on.
4th Grade
Fourth grade students enter school eager to learn and please those charged with their care. Students continue to memorize and absorb information quickly and grow in their ability to read for themselves. With novels (chapter books) within their grasp, students leave fourth grade with a deeper understanding of content matter. They learn to do research and how to put that skill together with what they have learned about writing an essay or report.
At this stage many students gain newfound confidence and independence, something we should support and help develop in a healthy way. Students are guided to set goals and to learn how to manage time wisely.
At this stage many students gain newfound confidence and independence, something we should support and help develop in a healthy way. Students are guided to set goals and to learn how to manage time wisely.
5th Grade
Fifth grade is a year of great transition for many students. They not only grow physically, but also demonstrate great growth academically, cognitively, and spiritually. Students seem to mature faster and transition from semi- dependent to fully independent learners. They're transitioning from reading to analyzing for deeper meaning, from whole numbers to fractions, from being followers to becoming role models and leaders for younger students.
With fifth graders, it is our main goal to prepare them for middle school. At this stage, students are growing the necessary tools and skills to be successful in the school of logic. Teachers focus on building skills in critical thinking, self-directed learning, and applying knowledge. The logic school will further nurture their own gifts through discussion, debate, and reasoned thinking.
Grasping these academic and life skills helps fifth graders move to middle school ready to thrive there and beyond. Qualities like diligence, organization, and accountability become central in our aim to equip students' growth in faith and service toward others.
With fifth graders, it is our main goal to prepare them for middle school. At this stage, students are growing the necessary tools and skills to be successful in the school of logic. Teachers focus on building skills in critical thinking, self-directed learning, and applying knowledge. The logic school will further nurture their own gifts through discussion, debate, and reasoned thinking.
Grasping these academic and life skills helps fifth graders move to middle school ready to thrive there and beyond. Qualities like diligence, organization, and accountability become central in our aim to equip students' growth in faith and service toward others.
