The administration, faculty, and staff of Holy Name of Jesus School believe the spiritual, intellectual, and emotional growth of each child is a priority.

Religion

            The Religion curriculum carefully blends child development with faith and moral development and promotes continuing growth in religious literacy, understanding, and practice.  The Pre-Kindergarten students begin their Catholic education with I am Special.   We Believe provides the basis of formation and instruction from K-7.  Knowing Our Faith from Loyola Press program draws middle school students into a relationship with Jesus Christ and continues with the study of New Testament, Liturgy and Morality in mini-courses by Sadlier.

Math

            The Saxon K-4 series is a hands-on, success-oriented program that emphasizes manipulatives and mental math.  This primary basal program is designed for a multisensory approach to teaching, enabling the students to develop a solid foundation in the language and basic concepts of math.  The Saxon 4-7 series builds upon the hands-on, activity centered approach and shifts the focus gradually from the use of concrete objects to mathematical modeling and problem solving using pencil and paper.  Saxon math is based upon incremental development, continual practice, and review, and cumulative assessments at regular intervals.  The program concludes with Algebra 1/2. 

Language Arts

            Open Court reading is a research-based curriculum grounded in systematic, explicit, instruction of phonemic awareness, phonics and word knowledge, comprehension skills and strategies, inquiry skills and strategies, and writing and language arts skills and strategies.  Reading fine literature is one of the founding principles of Open Court reading.  As the children read classic and contemporary literature, they discover the importance of clarity of thought and word. Middle school students explore classic and contemporary literature in many genres, including the novel.  Prentice Hall Literature is the foundation of the literature program. Holy Name also uses Houghton-Mifflin English, a writing and grammar series for grades 1-7 providing the instruction, practice and reinforcement needed for students to master crucial writing and grammar skills.

Science

            The Harcourt Science Series is a standards-based content program that a provides a research based approach in teaching science.  Research indicates that students learn science best from direct experience in which they describe, sort and organize observations about objects and organisms. 

Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten and First Grade use a series of activity books that correlate to our skills based report card.

 Second Grade includes units on:

• A World of Living Things

• Homes for Living Things

• Our Earth

• Weather and Space

• Exploring Matter

• Energy in Motion

Third Grade concentrates on:

• Living Things Interact

• The Earth’s Land

• Weather and Space

Fourth Grade focuses on:

• A World of Living Things

• Looking at Ecosystems

• Matter and Energy

• Forces and Motion

Prentice Hall Science Explorer a middle school (grades 5-7) hands-on, content rich program which enables the teacher to lead students through exploration of specific concepts within Life, Earth, and Physical Science.

Social Studies

            The social studies curriculum using Macmillan's The World around Us takes our students from the study of neighborhood and community to the study of cities and states to the study of the world through history and geography.  Students have a variety of learning experiences that develop the knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes necessary for full participation as citizens in a culturally diverse, global society.  The middle school uses the Prentice Hall World Explorer series, which balances history, geography and culture of the regions studied. 

Spanish

            All students participate in the Spanish program.  The lower school (K-4) students have Spanish once a week and middle school (5-7) students attend Spanish for one nine week period.

 Physical Education

            All students participate in physical education at least once a week.  Pre-Kindergarten through first grade students have P.E. once a week.  Second, third and fourth graders have P.E. twice a week and middle school (5-7) students have P.E. every day.

Art

            Lower school (PreK-4) students attend these classes once a week.  Middle school (5-7) students attend for one complete quarter.  This allows more continuity in the learning process.

Computer

            Lower school (K-4) students attend computer classes once a week. Middle school (5-7) students attend computer for one complete quarter.

Music

            Early childhood (PreK- 1) students attend music class twice a week. Second, third and fourth grades attend music once a week.

Study Skills

            Students in fourth grade have study skills once a week.

Library

            All students and faculty utilize our library, which contains over 12,000 volumes including fiction, nonfiction, and reference books.  The card catalog is fully automated and can be accessed from four computers in the library.  An extensive video library enhances and enriches our curriculum.  An online database is subscribed to annually and may be accessed from any computer on the school network. The Accelerated Reader program encourages a love of reading; the program involves each student taking an initial reading assessment and then choosing reading material based on their specific reading level.  After finishing each book, the student takes a web-based test to determine comprehension.

Extracurricular Programs

            Extracurricular activities include Altar Servers, Beta Club, Boy Scouts, Brownies, Cheerleading, Chess Club, Choir, Cub Scouts, Drama, Library Club, Mission Club, School Newspaper, Technology Team and Quiz Bowl. 

Athletics

            Holy Name is a member of the Metro Middle School League of New Orleans.  Students are eligible to participate in the following sports:  Flag Football, Volleyball, Swimming, Basketball, Soccer, Cross Country, Tennis, Baseball, and Golf.

            Third and fourth graders play intramural flag football, volleyball, and basketball during their P.E. period.

After-School Care

            Our after-school care program, "Later Gators", operates from dismissal until 6:00 p.m. 

Technology

            Holy Name of Jesus is technology rich with a ratio of 1 computer to every 2.5 students.  All classrooms have at least one computer and printer. All reading classrooms have access to Neo 2 Mobile Labs for word processing and Accelerated Reader quizzes.

            The primary computer lab is equipped with 54 computers, digital cameras, and interactive white board and projection systems. This year all classes will also be furnished with projection systems, interactive “walk and talk” boards, visualizers and student response systems.  The weather station on the roof is connected to computers and digital display units around the school and to a worldwide network of similar stations. Graphing calculators, microscopes, sensors and probeware enhance the use of technology in the Math and science curriculum. Laptops are available for student use in all middle school classrooms.  Internet access is available at all work stations throughout the school.  Internet security and filtering are provided through the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

            The auditorium is equipped with Internet access, a computer and projection system for student projects and large group programs. The lobby area on the first floor of the building is also equipped with a projection system and computer for student projects and small group programs.

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