Curriculum @ SSESH

St. Stephen’s Episcopal School – Houston embraces a continuum of education, where each developmental stage of the student is nurtured. Students ages 15 months through 8th grade are guided through the Montessori philosophy and pedagogy, as accredited by the American Montessori Society. 

The Montessori principles and methods, which sit at the very heart of the school’s educational philosophy, align seamlessly with the advantages a child will enjoy when immersed in an interconnected and balanced curriculum. Subject specialisms in the arts, sciences, wellness and athletics, engineering, languages, mathematics, and literature are celebrated in our school. As our students progress, we deliver authentic project-based learning experiences in which academic excellence, collaboration, and community impact are at the forefront. 

Our multi-age levels are as follows. 

• Orientation: 15 months – 3 years
• Primary: 3 – 6 years
• Lower Elementary: 1st – 3rd grade
• Upper Elementary: 4th – 6th grade
• Middle Years: 7th and 8th grade

Our Orientation program celebrates the child and their first steps into the classroom, where the indoor and outdoor environments are prepared to facilitate child-centered learning and develop intrinsic motivation and independence. Here, the child will learn academic skills such as left-to-right work order, fine motor skills for writing, vocabulary, and math skills. They will also build community and a sense of wonder and curiosity that will guide the child’s educational journey at St. Stephen’s and beyond. Three-year-olds move to Primary, having experienced their first opportunities to lead in the classroom. 

Mentored by caring teachers and teacher assistants, children will explore:

• Art
• Language Arts
• Math
• Music
• Physical Movement and Wellness
• Practical Life Skills, including toilet learning
• Sensorial Lessons

In our Primary program, learning becomes intentionally curricular, supporting the development of reasoning and perception. Experienced teachers gently employ the Montessori Method to instill responsibility for student-centered learning and inquiry. Working independently or with a friend, students arrive at a clear understanding of abstract concepts through the use of carefully planned, progressive, hands-on materials. Kindergarteners graduate from the Primary program as confident readers, emerging writers, and mathematicians who understand the “why” behind simple operations.

The academic program in Primary is diverse, including lessons in:

• Culture
• Geography
• Language Arts (reading, writing)
• Math (addition, subtraction, skip-counting)
• Music
• P.E.
• Practical Life
• Science
• Sensorial Exploration
• Spanish
• Visual Arts

In Lower Elementary, students create and execute their own work plans in collaboration with their Montessori-trained teachers. The Lower Elementary student gains competency and confidence in math, language arts, science, history, and geography. Broad concepts are first explored, and then specific details are examined in depth. Students are introduced to the process of research and frequently work in small groups to discover additional information. Engaged in project-based learning, students learn how to delve deeper, work together, and take turns in leadership roles. Through daily class meetings focused on issues of general concern and centered on kindness and respect, Lower Elementary students build their classroom community. 

The Lower Elementary curriculum includes:

• Culture
• Geography
• History
• Language Arts (reading comprehension, writing, grammar)
• Math (addition, subtraction, division, multiplication, geometry)
• Music
• P.E. 
• Science
• Spanish
• STEM in the da Vinci Lab
• Visual Arts

In Upper Elementary, increased emphasis is placed on self-management and research skills. Students are given weeklong assignments and are responsible for planning and organizing their work and time. Teachers and students are empowered to explore the curriculum, leveraging an individually paced curriculum and robust courses in STEM, language arts, humanities, and fine arts. As members of a tight-knit community of learners, new and incoming students are encouraged to take academic risks and advocate for themselves.  Upper Elementary students thrive in the stretch zone of learning, utilizing higher-level thinking skills, including analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.

Academic exploration in Upper Elementary includes:

• Culture
• Film
• Geography
• History
• Language Arts (reading and writing workshops, literature, grammar)
• Math (geometry to pre-algebra)
• Music
• P.E.
  
• Robotics
• Science
• Spanish
• STEM in the da Vinci Lab
• Visual Arts

The Montessori Middle Years program at St. Stephen’s supports the developmental needs of our students, including opportunities for self-reflection and formulating opinions. We create an environment where students feel safe as they go through the profound physical and emotional changes that are an integral part of adolescence. 

In Middle Years, students learn from an elevated curriculum that sparks curiosity and inspires them to reach their academic potential. The Montessori Middle Years curriculum includes:

• Advanced Math, Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Geometry
• Physics, Chemistry, Physical Geography, Biology, Ecology
• US History, World History, Government, World Religions, Human Geography, Economics
• Advanced Language Arts
• Health, Wellness, Study Skills, High School Readiness
• Film, Music, P.E., Robotics, Spanish, STEM in the da Vinci Lab, Visual Arts
• Micro Economy
• Daily Student-Led Community Meetings

Project-based learning, innovation, and STEM combine in the da Vinci Lab for Creative Arts & Sciences. The diverse curriculum in the da Vinci Lab (after school) and the da Vinci Classroom (during the school day for Elementary and Middle Years students) includes core computing skills such as typing, internet safety, and basic coding; electronics, including motors, circuits, wearables, sensors, and coding; sewing featuring fabric design, cutting, and stitching; ceramics construction and finishing methods; 3D design, including slicing models and creating designs for 3D printing, 3D scanning, Mesh Mixer, and TinkerCad. Capstone projects include invention fairs, innovation projects, and the Future City competition. The da Vinci Lab is also home to St. Stephen’s Robotics program, which fosters engineering and design, creativity, computer programming skills, and teamwork. 

The Fine Arts Program is fully integrated with the core curriculum; our students enjoy creative outlets to express their learning in culture, literature, history, math, and science. Through music, film, and visual arts, including photography, St. Stephen’s students give life and form to their creative ideas and share their talents in pop-up art shows, performances, and other special events. 

Our Spanish Program begins in Orientation with an informal introduction to the language guided by bilingual teachers and assistant teachers. The Spanish curriculum begins in Primary and builds a strong foundation of language and culture. Spanish classes include puppets, props, storytelling, pictures, movement, songs, poems, fables, and rhymes. The Spanish curriculum emphasizes listening and comprehension in Primary and incorporates additional speaking opportunities in Lower Elementary. The Upper Elementary and Middle Years curriculum balances listening, speaking, reading, and writing. This comprehensive curriculum is designed to prepare students to excel in the Spanish National Exam and be well-rounded global citizens.

St. Stephen’s Athletics and Wellness Program encourages integrity and fair play. To this end, emphasis is placed on the experience of spirited competition and the development of healthy minds and bodies. 

The Bulldog 360 after-school program is supplemental learning, vibrant classes, and fun community building — all happening after school hours. Read more on our Bulldog 360 webpage.