Our Purpose-Driven
& Life-Giving

Academic Philosophy and Curriculum

Motivational Mondays

Starting the Week Off Right

Each week at Pope Francis Global Academy begins with intention. Motivational Mondays set the tone for learning, leadership, and personal growth by helping students reflect on who they are becoming — not just what they are learning.

Through school-wide messages, classroom conversations, and moments of encouragement, students are reminded of their potential, their responsibility to others, and the values that guide our community. These weekly touchpoints help build confidence, resilience, and a growth mindset.

It’s a simple practice with powerful impact: students begin each week feeling supported, inspired, and ready to grow.

Math & Science Lab

High School-Level Exploration Begins Early

Not every Catholic school offers a dedicated, high-functioning Math and Science Lab — and ours is comparable to a high school lab environment.

Beginning in 3rd grade and continuing through junior high, students engage in hands-on, inquiry-based learning in a fully equipped lab space designed for real experimentation and discovery. This isn’t textbook-only science. Students apply concepts, test hypotheses, and work collaboratively in a structured lab setting that prepares them for advanced coursework in high school and beyond.

By introducing lab-based learning earlier, we give students the confidence and foundational skills they need to think critically, solve problems, and explore STEM pathways with curiosity and independence.

STEM Integration

Building Thinkers and Problem-Solvers

Pope Francis Global Academy is not a STEM-only school — and that’s intentional. We believe in educating the whole child. At the same time, we thoughtfully integrate STEM principles throughout our curriculum to help students develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills.

Beginning in elementary grades, students engage in hands-on math and science learning in our dedicated lab spaces. Lessons are inquiry-based, encouraging students to ask questions, test ideas, and explore real-world applications. As students progress into junior high, they deepen their understanding through structured lab experiences that mirror high school-level expectations.

STEM at PFGA is not about gadgets or trends. It’s about cultivating curiosity, resilience, collaboration, and logical reasoning — skills that prepare students for high school success and an increasingly complex world.

Music Residency

A Performance Experience Like No Other

At Pope Francis Global Academy, we don’t offer a traditional weekly music class. Instead, students participate in a structured Music Residency — 10 weeks in the fall and 10 weeks in the spring — designed to prepare them for a full-scale concert experience.

During each residency, students work intensively with a music director who prepares every class to perform two songs, including one bilingual (Spanish) selection. This focused format allows students to build real musical skills, confidence, and stage presence over time.

The residency culminates in an annual concert unlike a typical school performance. Families don’t just see children standing and singing — they experience a fully integrated production featuring live musicians, band accompaniment, choir participation, and coordinated class performances.

This immersive model builds discipline, teamwork, bilingual expression, and the confidence that comes from preparing for and performing in front of an audience.

K-8 Curriculum

(Courses and Descriptions are subject to change.)

PFGA follows the standards developed by the Office of Catholic Schools, which is aligned with the Common Core State Standards and the Next Generation Science Standards. More information about those standards can be found here.

Math

K-5th

Pope Francis Global Academy employs Eureka Math K-5th grade students. Eureka Math connects math to the real world in ways that takes the fear out of math and builds student confidence and understanding of mathematical concepts. The team of teachers and mathematicians who wrote Eureka Math took great care to present mathematics in a logical progression from Pre-K through Grade 12. Based on analysis of several math curricula as reported in EdReports, Eureka Math far surpassed the other curricula in terms of focus and coherence, rigor and usability. It was designed specifically for the common core.

PFGA teachers participated in a three-day workshop on the Eureka Math curriculum and instructional practices when it was first adopted by the school, and they continue ongoing professional development in the implementation of Eureka Math each year. Eureka Math also provides online support for parents including homework help and tip sheets. Great Minds Eureka Math.

To see how EdReports ranks Eureka Math against other popular math curriculum, click here.

Jr. High

Literacy

Our Approach and Resources

In a comprehensive approach to literacy development, teachers include instruction in reading comprehension, word study and phonics, writing and grammar, speaking and listening. Teachers utilize guided reading materials from Pioneer Valley Publishers, word study and spelling materials from Words Their Way®, Schoolwide Literacy Units for reading, writing and grammar fundamentals and Schoolwide’s new digital eBook library, Zing, which includes thousands of high-quality fiction and nonfiction texts. In addition, each classroom features a classroom library of 160-200 books at and above the students’ reading levels including the newest and most popular titles, series, and authors as well as tried and true classics, favorites, and award winners.

Primary Grades

All K-2 teachers were provided guided reading materials from Pioneer Valley Publishers. The materials include over 150 books and lessons for differentiated small group instruction. Each grade level set provides a wide range of high-quality leveled texts in a variety of genres. The lesson cards that accompany the books provide direction for teachers to include phonics and word study directly related to the texts the students will be reading thus reinforcing the application of phonics to the reading. The materials provide a teacher resource kit which includes professional books on Guided reading, CDs for example lessons, magnetic letters to actively involve students in the process of learning the alphabetic principle and alphabet cards to reinforce sound / symbol relationships. K-2 teachers also received phonics lessons for isolated phonics, sight words and word study (spelling).

Grades 3-5

Teachers have received Words Their Way® teacher resources to plan word study and spelling for grades 3 – 5. Words Their Way® is a hands-on, developmentally-driven approach to word study that illustrates how to integrate and teach children phonics, vocabulary, and spelling skills. Based on a pre-assessment, the lessons will be differentiated to address students’ developmental levels. Students will be involved in word sorting, word games, and exercises to determine and learn spelling patterns. Eventually students will study increasingly complex patterns, word parts (prefixes and suffixes) and derivational spelling.

School-wide Literacy Units for Grades 1-8

Reading Fundamentals

Units of Study provide teachers with mentor text to support teachers as they teach reading comprehension strategies and skills, shared texts for the gradual release of responsibility, and suggestions for students to apply the skills and strategies to books they read (at an appropriate level) in small groups and independently. The materials are aligned to the CCSS and improve students’ ability to identify key ideas, themes, and important information, to read closely and to draw evidence from literacy or informational texts to support and justify interpretation.

Writing Fundamentals

Grammar Fundamentals

Schoolwide

Ebooks - Zing Grades K-8

Zing is Schoolwide’s dynamic new digital eBook library featuring thousands of high-quality fiction and nonfiction texts. Highlights and key features are:

Unlimited, simultaneous access to thousands of authentic eBooks and short digital texts
Embedded eLearning teaching points
eLearning assessments (multiple choice, reading response, and constructed response)
eReader tools (note taking/annotating, highlighting, bookmarks, and an interactive dictionary
Audio eBooks and audio eLearning
Access to student reading logs and reading progress monitoring
Web-based access

Classroom Libraries Grades 3-8

Each classroom has a classroom library of anywhere from 160 – 200 books. Based on recommendations from the CCSS, the classroom libraries provide a true balance of literary (50 %) and informational (50%) texts. The collections include the newest and most popular titles, series, and authors as well as tried and true classics, favorites, and award winners. The libraries include texts at students’ reading levels and texts with complexity levels that challenge and motivate students. Students will use the books to apply the comprehension and vocabulary strategies from the Schoolwide Fundamentals Units of Study for Reading.

Social Studies

TCI History Alive

PFGA utilizes the TCI History Alive Social Studies program for grades 5-8. This program will ensure the delivery of important content while addressing ELA common core standards for reading, writing, speaking and listening. The TCI programs transform social studies class into a multi-faceted learning experience. TCI lessons start with a big idea — Essential Question — and incorporate graphic note-taking, group work, and step-by-step discovery. Students are the center of instruction that taps a variety of learning styles, allowing students of all abilities to learn and succeed. The grade level areas of study include:

Students will not just be reading textbooks and answering questions, they will discover information for themselves. through simulations, they will feel the emotions of historical figures, reason through problems and debate complex issues. In TCI activities, students interact in pairs and groups so they are engaged in their own learning. The interactive approach provides students with a variety of ways to experience content that helps them retain and recall key information. TCI's programs have been effective in raising student achievement and test scores, while inspiring students and educators alike with a passion for learning. Online resources are provided for teachers. The grade level areas of study include:

Grade 5 – America’s Past
Grade 6 – The Ancient Past
Grade 7 – The Medieval World and Beyond
Grade 8 - The United States Through Industrialization

TCI Digital Resources

An online student text in addition to a print version is available.
The Interactive Student Notebook challenges students with writing and drawing activities based on the Common Core standards.
Game-like Reading Challenges motivate students to learn.
Older students learn to solve investigations with primary sources.
An interactive learning environment includes audio tools, rich images, on-line vocabulary, Spanish, and more.

Science

Inquiry-Based Approach

PFGA students are engaged in interactive science investigations using an inquiry-based approach. The curriculum includes a coherent progression of content in life science, physical science, earth science, space science, and engineering. The science curriculum is designed to connect with the ELA and Math lessons to support the concepts covered in those subjects and improve the students’ metacognitive skills.

Currently, publishers are working to align resources to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). These materials will be available in the future. Pope Francis Global Academy teachers have developed a scope and sequence for the junior high science curriculum that reflects the NGSS.

Our science lab is stocked with the tools necessary for students to gain the hands-on experiences that will excite and inspire their learning. Self-direction, as well as both individual and team-based problem solving are foundational within our junior high science classes.

Religous Education

Service, Mass, and Research-Based Approach

Religious education takes place in the classroom, providing students the opportunity to grow in their faith and learn what it means to live as a Catholic in today’s world. Service projects, established to reinforce the path that Pope Francis has called us to follow, will nurture our students’ sense of respect and responsibility. Students in grades K-8 participate in weekly and holiday Mass. Pre-K students attend Mass only on Holy days of Obligation and all-school Masses on special occasions.

Our religious program is rooted in the rich and diverse tradition of the Catholic faith and provides an excellent foundation for a lifetime of faith, teaching students what it means to live as a Catholic in today’s world. Our program invites students to begin their journey of faith through an exploration of Scripture and Tradition using researched-based educational strategies and age-appropriate techniques in the classroom. Our program helps form the whole student with cross-curriculum activities and inquiry-based learning so each student is encouraged to encounter Christ, serve the Church, and become disciples in our digital age.

The goal for the religion curriculum is to instill in students an enthusiasm for living the Christian faith, while providing an in-depth religious education, including experiences in prayer, the sacraments, and service. Religion is integrated throughout the curriculum. Service projects, established to reinforce the path that Pope Francis has called us to follow, nurture our students’ sense of respect and responsibility.

Each child shall be instructed in the truths of the Catholic faith according to guidelines set down by the Archdiocesan Religious Education Program. Through this instruction, the school makes known to the students, the person and the message of Christ, as well as an understanding of the Catholic Church.

Sacramental Preparation is in keeping with the most recent recommendations of the Archdiocesan Office of Religious Education. Sacraments are made at the home church of the student in coordination with the school.

Preparation for Reconciliation and the reception of Eucharist takes place in second grade. Confirmation preparation and reception take place in eighth grade. Students from our four founding schools receive sacraments at their home parish. Sacramental guidelines are given at parent meetings.

Practical Fine Arts & Physical Education

Art, Music and Physical Education classes are an integral part of the curriculum at Pope Francis Global Academy. Students Pre-K-8 participate weekly in music and fine arts classone time per week. Grades K-5 have gym twice per week. Grades 6-8 have gym once per week. Pre-K students go to the gym or auditorium two times per week to work on gross motor Skills/gym taught by their classroom teachers.

World Language

In addition to the rigorous core curriculum, religious education, physical education and arts our students receive, they have an opportunity to develop competence in the Spanish language and an understanding of various Spanish-speaking cultures.

Spanish language classes are provided weekly for students in grades K-4th grade and twice a week for grades 5-8. During this current year Pre-K students have Spanish with the Spanish teacher, however some years the Pre-K have Spanish with their classroom teacher.

Additional Support

Title I Services

State funding is provided for Title 1 services to those students who qualify and can benefit from the additional support in math and/or reading. We have a dedicated Title teacher provided through CPS who pulls students during the resource period and throughout the day to reinforce math and reading skills which are taught in the classroom.

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