FIRST GRADE

Explore our Catholic First Grade program at St. Peter Catholic School in Greenville, NC!

WHAT TO EXPECT IN

FIRST GRADE AT SPCS

In first grade, we build off of the basics started in kindergarten and continue to round out student development as they become accustomed to grade school. But don’t worry — we still have lots of fun, too!

First Grade at Saint Peter Catholic School has two homeroom classes, each with a lead teacher and an assistant. We have a maximum of 25 students in each class, creating a student-teacher ratio of 12.5:1. That way your child has all the benefits of individualized attention while also learning to work in groups — and make lots of friends!

FIRST GRADE CURRICULUM

BUILDING ON THE

FOUNDATIONS

In First Grade, our core subjects are Math, Reading, Spelling, Religion, and Science. Our students also have weekly classes in Art, Computer, Library, Music, and PE.

FIRST GRADE READING AND WRITING

First grade continues to build on the reading fundamentals that began in PreK and Kindergarten. Using centers, students will work through multiple exercises in reading and writing a day, including guided reading groups, word work, reading to self and a writing center. Weekly spelling tests help ensure students are understanding what they’ve learned.

Parents are provided with tips to help students strengthen reading skills while at home, and all children are encouraged to read 20 minutes a day, either alone or with a family member.

Students are also welcome to check out books from our school library, which has more than 17,000 titles!

FIRST GRADE MATH

Students in Kindergarten through Fifth Grade learn math using Savvas Experience Math.

FIRST GRADE RELIGION

Celebrating our faith is integrated into everything we do at Saint Peter Catholic School. Students in First Grade participate in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program, a Montessori-type approach to religious education.

We have a weekly all-school Mass at Saint Peter Catholic Church. Students sit with their prayer partners — kindergartners are paired with sixth grade students.

Children are also encouraged to bring a canned good to school each Friday. The cans are donated to the St. Vincent DePaul Society Food Pantry at Saint Peter Catholic Church.

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

Students in First Grade have outdoor recess each morning and afternoon. We also supplement learning through special projects and field trips. The fall field trip is to A Time for Science in Grifton. In the spring, we take a tour of Simply Natural Creamery in Ayden along with a visit to the Aurora Fossil Museum and a ferry ride to Bath.

Each homeroom has a class pet — Lucky the Lion and Prayer Bear. These pets take turns going home with each student. Students also get to take turns being Student of the Week, sharing information about them that their classmates might otherwise not know.

We also have several celebrations through the year, including a Christmas party, Valentine’s Day Party, and End of the Year Party. Other activities the students get to enjoy include service projects, the Scholastic Book Fair in the fall and spring, Grandparents and Special Friends Day, Catholic Schools Week, Spirit Week in February, and Field Day in May.