Elementary School

The Elementary School consists of Kindergarten through Grade 5.  There is an assessment exam and documents needed to become enrolled at HFCS.

Kindergarten

Mrs. Denise Pulido, Teacher

  • Montessori Teaching Certification 
  • BA, History, UTA 
  • 19 years of teaching experience 
  • Catechist Certification
  • Nolan Catholic High School Alumni 

Philosophy: Mrs. Pulido is a product of Catholic Education and she strives to bring her faith and love of teaching into the Kindergarten classroom every day.

Kindergarten Curriculum

Language

  • Know all consonant and short vowel sounds
  • Know how to combine 3 letter words to create words with short vowels
  • Will know 70-80 sight words by the end of the year
  • In October, begin short beginning readers:  BOB books and books from Starfall
  • Write sentences from board to lined paper
  • Take dictated sentences using sight words
  • Use capital letters, spacing between words and ending sentence punctuation
  • Reading and language will consist of poetry, songs and traditional and bible stories

Religion

  • Sign of the cross
  • Prayers:  Our Father and Hail Mary
  • Bible stories:  Jonah, Noah, Moses and the Ten Commandments, Easter, Christmas
  • Service projects
  • Learn to live the Way of Christ and make good choices

Math

  • Recognize and write numbers from 0-100
  • Count by 2's, 5's and 10's
  • Odd and even numbers
  • Sort and graph by size, color and shape
  • Patterns and sequencing
  • Time to the hour (1st semester); to the half hour (2nd semester)
  • Money:  pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters
  • Number stories, number pictures and number problems
  • Addition and subtraction (doubles, +1, +2, +0)
  • Geometric shapes:  cone, cylinder, sphere and cube
  • Measuring using standard and non-standard items
  • Divide objects into halfs, fourths and thirds

Social Studies and Science

  • Weather/Seasons
  • 5 senses
  • Animals and their habitats
  • The 7 continents
  • Texas, our state
  • Celebrate America
  • Manners
  • Health/fitness/good eating habits
  • Fire Safety
  • Living and non-living things
  • Directions - left and right
  • Directions - North/South/East/West
  • Community Workers
  • Magnets and Simple Machines
  • Conservation/Ecology

Special Projects and Activities During The Year

  • Visits throughout the year to Broadway at Westover Retirement Center 
  • Storybook Parade  
  • Caroling  
  • Valentine Cookie Decorating

Awesome field trips to:  

  • Casa Manana, Bass Hall 
  • FW Symphony Kinder Music
  • Pumpkin Patch
  • End of the year Zoo trip

Mrs. Mindy Abshire, Kindergarten Aide

  • 5th year in this capacity
  •  Previously served 2 years as Development Director        
  •  Development Assistant/Hospitality for 5 years

 Philosophy: I strongly believe in the whole education of the child.  Our Kindergarten classroom is my garden where I continually see Jesus’ gift of a child to be nurtured and encouraged to grow in His image.

Teach:

  • Parts of computer
  • How to operate
  • Keyboarding
  • Grouping
  • Incorporate Reading skills and Math skills
  • Type sight words in word program
  • Change font size, single space, double space, print, etc.
  • Log on different programs and use the Internet

Objectives:

  • Identify computer as a machine that helps people work and play
  • Use correct technology language:  mouse, monitor, keyboard, etc.
  • Treat computer with respect and use correctly

First Grade

Mrs. Suanne Monroe, Teacher

  • Certification in Elementary Education, Special Education 
  • BS Mississippi State University 1976 
  • TCU - 1983 - 84 
  • Schools Attuned 
  • Catechist Certification 
  • Teacher of the Year 2003

Philosophy:  Catholic education is important because here we are able to instill Catholic Christian moral values into our future leaders.  This insures that our children will be followers of Christ throughout their lives.

First grade profile

 Language Arts - Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Journeys reading series

  •         phonics
  •         Comprehension strategies and skills
  •         Vocabulary
  •        Sight words
  •         Writing process and skills
  •         Parts of speech and punctuation
  •        Spelling strategies

 Math -  Saxon math level 2

  •        Addition/Subtraction/Multiplication
  •       Geometry
  •       Fractions
  •       Patterns
  •    Time
  •         Money
  •        Measurement

 Religion -    Christ Our Life series

  •         Love of God and others
  •         Basic prayers
  •         Mass order and etiquette
  •        Scripture
  •        Church celebrations
  •       Trinity
  •         Baptism
  •         Salvation

 Science - Discovery works series

  •         Kinds of living things
  •        Magnets
  •         Energy, motion, mass
  •        Earth, sun, moon
  •       Keeping fit and healthy

 Social Studies -      Silver Burdett Living in Families Series

  •         Transportation
  •         Family units
  •         Needs and wants
  •         Goods and services
  •         Neighborhoods and communities
  •        Our Country’s symbols and holidays
  •         Historical people
  •         Safety

  •       Maps and globes

 

Second Grade

Mrs. Nancy Shields, Teacher

  • Certifications:  ESL, Kindergarten, Early Childhood
  • Handicapped PK-6
  • Generic Special Education PK-12, 
  • Catechist Certification
  • BA, Elementary Education, Trinity University
  • Who’s Who in American Education
  • 25+ years of teaching experience

Philosophy:  Mrs. Shields believes that all children have the potential to learn.    She feels that Catholic education helps students strive to be God-centered and helps them to recognize and use the gifts God has given them.

Special Projects and Activities During The Year

In second grade, we focus on receiving First Reconciliation and First Eucharist. We are also pet-sitting Oreo and Tiger, and writing about their adventures in second grade.

Third Grade

Mrs. Ellen Muffett, Teacher

  • Certified in Elementary Education
  • BA, Purdue University
  • Catechist Certification
  • 19 years teaching experience

Philosophy:  Teaching at a Catholic school is important to me because it allows me to be a part of the academic and  the spiritual growth of my students.

 

Fourth Grade

Mrs. Wanda Styrsky, Teacher

  • Teacher Certification – UT – under Master’s Guidelines
  • Certificate in Biblical Scholarship – University of Dallas – Catholic Biblical School
  • Catechist Certification
  • Schools Attuned Certification
  • School Liturgist
  • Diocesan Educator since 1997
  • Reading Certified
  • Registered Nurse - BSN - University of St. Thomas 

Philosophy - My role as a Catholic educator is to form a classroom that assist students in discovering through their learning how God is present in each of them and seeing for them that Jesus is present in all of us.  Through this they will be able to take God's message to others.

Special Projects and Activities During The Year

  • Religion focus on The Ten Commandments and The Beatitudes.
  • Pioneer Day

 

Fifth Grade

Mrs. Cyndi Clark, Teacher

  • Texas Certified Grades 1-6
  • BA, History and Sociology, Lake Superior State University
  • 10 years teaching experience

Philosophy: I believe that I can make a difference in the lives of the students that enter my classroom. A Catholic School environment gives me every available tool to educate a child spiritually, educationally, and personally.

Special Projects and Activities During The Year

  • Social Studies - Our United States history explores from how early Native Americans arrived to recent events.  The areas of the American Revolution, Civil War, and World War II are expanded.
  • Science - 5th grade science covers everything from cells and body systems to our universe and light.  Several field trips expanding the study of our solar system are integrated.
  • Math - Much of 5th grade math expands the understanding of fractions and decimals.  Basic algebra is utilized and expanded.
  • English - Reinforcing the groundwork for grammar and writing is expanded.  

Ms. Jean Tocco, 5th grade Religion

Religion Philosophy:  As parents we are the primary educators of our children and of passing on our faith. Fifth grade Religion focuses on the important practices of our Catholic faith in the Liturgy and through the Sacraments.