Welcome to St. Eleanor Library!

All
the students from kindergarden through eighth grade attend classes on a
weekly basis not only to emphasize the enjoyment of reading but also to
develop library and research skills.

Library
lessons are coordinated with other teachers and our integrated language
arts program, according to the diocesean guidelines.

Storytime is always fun in Kindergarden and emphasis is placed on exposing the children to different types of books, authors and medium.

As the child enters First grade
he or she is taught fiction vs. nonfiction, comprehension and listening
skills,and parts of the book. They will also gain an understanding what
an author or illustrator does and how they earn certain awards such as
the Newbury and Caldecott.

In Second grade children
will compare and contrast stories, be able to identify fiction and
nonfiction and begin to understand the basic arrangement of the
library.

Third grade
is a forty five minute class period. This program incorporates the
"hands" on use of reference materials. They will use
dictionaries,thesauri, and encyclopedias in their research projects
during class. Children's atlases are also used during this time period.
We also delve into different types of folklore and differentiate
between fables, legends, fairy tales, pourquoi stories and trickster
tales. The students also learn how to do a general bibliography.

By Fourth grade the
children will fully understand where to find books and reference
materials in any library. Their use of the computerized card catalog
system becomes commonplace and they will understand how fiction and
nonfiction books are organized in the library, so that they can find
books for themselves. I am always there to assist, but it is exciting
for them to have this sense of accomplishment!

Books and computerized research is coordinated to in order to add depth to research projects and strengthen bibliographies.

Fifth grade is
introduced to Mr. Melvin Dewey and how he devised his system of
organization for the library. I use a program called Dewey and the
Decimals in order to enhance this concept. Reasearch skills also
increase in complexity with the use of almanacs, thesauri,
dictionaries, atlases.

Creativity
is emphasised in research. For example they will create a newspaper
article using the thesaurus to enhance vocabulary.

Students attend Computer class beginning in Kindergarten. Curriculum is based on the Archdiocese Guidelines.

Kindergarten students attend Computer class for ½ hour each week. Students learn basic keyboarding, Word Processing, and Multimedia skills.

First grade attends computer class for 30 minutes each week. Their class is split in two groups between computer and library. Grades 2 thru 4 attend Computer class for 45 minutes each week. Third Grade classes are split between Art and Computer. Students build upon previous learned keyboarding, Word Processing and Multimedia skills while learning basic Internet knowledge.

Grades 5 thru 8 attend Computer class for 45 - 55 minutes each week. Students build upon previous skills in Keyboarding, Word Processing, Multimedia and Research. Spreadsheets are introduced in 5^th grade. Skills are enhanced each year.

Current Programs used: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, KidPix, Microsoft PowerPoint, Internet Explorer and Microsoft Publisher.

Mr. McCauley graduated from Albright College with a degree in Business Administration. He is currently attending Delaware Valley College.

Grades K-2

Curriculum focuses on students' ability fo follow directions in an athletic atmoshere. Curriculum is kept to encouraging basic improvement of motor skills(running, kicking a ball, throwing a ball, etc.). Students are taught good sportsmanship, teamwork and the value of physical fitness.

Grades 3-5

Curriculum focuses on providing students with a positive atmosphere to encourage them to maintain a lifelong pursuit of physical fitness. Understanding of the rules and concepts of athletic sports are highly emphasized. Students are expected to follow good sportsmanship, team work and show a continuing interest in physical fitness.

Grades 6-8

Curriculum focuses on keeping students aware of the benefits of physical activity. Focus of lesson plans is to incorporate as many athletic programs and sports, in the hopes that these introductions will encourage future pursuits of these activities.

Stacy Mauer is a graduate of Gwynedd Mercy Academy and Temple University. She was the physical education teacher at Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School from 1981 to 1991. While there she was varsity field hockey and lacrosse coach. After leaving the high school she went onto teach and do athletic administration work at Gwynedd Mercy College from 1991 to 1995. She began teaching the physical education classes at St. Eleanors in the fall of 1995.

The goal of the Archdiocesan Honors Math Program is to accelerate students in mathematics to a level at least one year beyond the student's chronological grade equivalent. Students are admitted to the program in the fourth or fifth grades. Honors Math students complete a full year of Algebra I in eighth grade and are eligible to continue participation in an advanced placement program in an Archdiocesan secondary school.The Archdiocesan criteria for admittance to the program are listed on page 4 of the St. Eleanor School Parent/Student Handbook.

My name is Jennifer Hitchner and I am the Honors Math Teacher at St. Eleanor School. I graduated in 1983 from East Stroudsburg University with a B.S. in Elementary Education. In the 1980's, most districts were closing elementary schools due to decreased enrollment. I was able to utilize my minor in Mathematics, working from 1983 until 1994 as a computer programmer at General Electric/Lockheed Martin in King of Prussia. Ready for a change, I pursued my Secondary Mathematics Teaching Certification at Gwynedd Mercy College. I accepted a position teaching Computer/Honors Math at St. Eleanor School in 1994. With the growth of the Honors Math program to five class periods, I became the fulltime Honors Math Teacher in 1996.