OLPA Scholar’s Daily Seven

1. to seek the truth and to love all that is good and beautiful -

2. To strive toward clarity of thought,  and purity of heart -

3. To pursue excellence in education with diligence, magnanimity, humility, patience, and sincerity -

4. To treat myself, my teachers and my classmates with dignity and respect-

5. To honor myself by giving my best effort daily-

6.  To honor God by developing the gifts He has given me to the best of my ability-

7.  To aspire to the wisdom of a life lived in faith, hope and charity, by always turning toward God -

Discovering the Good, True, and Beautiful Through Education

The curriculum at Our Lady of the Pillar Academy follows a Classical Liberal Arts approach, emphasizing a rich, well-rounded education that cultivates critical thinking, moral integrity, and a love for learning. This approach not only prepares students for post-secondary education but also equips them to live as faithful Christians, embodying the virtues of their faith in everyday life. By integrating faith and reason, our curriculum helps achieve our mission of forming young men and women who are prepared to succeed academically and lead with compassion and integrity. 

Classical liberal arts education is a philosophy that cultivates the entire student—mind, spirit, soul, and body. At Our Lady of the Pillar Academy, our pedagogy and curriculum open the hearts of our students to a real encounter with the world, with each other, and with God himself. It is a humane education, one focused on growing scholars into saints. 

At the center of our approach is teaching the ancient tradition of the classical liberal arts, preparing the ground of a student’s heart for the pursuit of wisdom throughout his life. These studies are grounded in living ideas, are integrated across the subjects, and seek to holistically engage the student. 

So our classrooms are different because our aims are much higher. We read lots of books, and we discuss them. We avoid electronics as much as possible; we go outside as much as possible. We spend time contemplating the most beautiful things ever written, ever thought, ever painted, ever sung. We look, not just at a student’s performance, but at his character growth; and we always make time to pray. For any questions, please feel free to contact the school administration.

TK - 5th Curriculum Overview

TK

Religion: 

• Survey of the Bible & Church Year

• Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Level 1 Atrium

Core:  

• Fairy Tales & Nursery Rhymes

English: 

• Orton-Gillingham-based Multi-Sensory Literacy Program: The Writing and Spelling Road to Reading and Thinking*

Math: 

• Singapore Mathematics*

Nature Studies:

• Weather, Human Body, Plants & Animals

* Our Orton-Gillingham-based Multi-Sensory Literacy Program is designed to support incoming first through fourth-grade students who are progressing toward grade-level expectations in reading, spelling, and writing. The program focuses on developing and reinforcing foundational literacy skills through structured, multi-sensory instruction that is sequential and research-based. Class sizes are intentionally kept small to provide individualized attention and targeted skill development. The program is designed to build confidence and literacy fluency through evidence-based strategies, ensuring that students leave with stronger foundational skills that support their ongoing academic journey.

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* Singapore math curriculum uses a Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract approach. CPA encourages students to understand mathematical concepts by progressing from concrete manipulatives to pictorial representations and then to abstract symbols. The Singapore math approach also places a strong emphasis on developing number sense and mental math skills. It is mastery based and encourages active learning and student engagement through hands-on activities and interactive discussions.

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Kindergarten

Religion: 

• Spirit of Truth: Jesus & the Holy Family

• Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Level 1 Atrium

Core: 

• Ancient Egypt & Mesopotamia

• Classic Fairy Tales & Children’s Literature, including The Tale of Peter Rabbit and Winnie the Pooh

English:

• Orton-Gillingham-based Multi-Sensory Literacy Program: The Writing and Spelling Road to Reading and Thinking

• Institute for Excellence in Writing

Math: 

• Singapore Mathematics

Nature Studies:

• Four Seasons, Living v. Nonliving, Physical Properties

* From Kindergarten into their Middle School years, OLPA students develop a recognition of the complementarity of faith and reason in the personal search for meaning and truth. In and out of the classroom, each student is encouraged to explore their beliefs in an atmosphere of awareness and compassion. Throughout the curriculum, students gain insight into how world religions and cultures around the world attempt to engage with the big questions, with a consistently referenced through-line of Catholic faith, values and spirituality. We confidently engage our Catholic heritage, encouraging dialogue and the expression of the many faith traditions represented by our students.

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1st Grade

Religion: 

• Spirit of Truth: God is Love

• Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Level 1 Atrium

Core: 

• Ancient Greece

• Humanities Interdisciplinary Literary Classics Collection I

English:

• Orton-Gillingham-based Multi-Sensory Literacy Program:  The Writing and Spelling Road to Reading and Thinking

• Institute for Excellence in Writing

Math: 

• Singapore Mathematics

Nature Studies:

• Plant Life Cycle, Matter, Fossils, Introduction to Geology

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2nd Grade

Religion: 

• Spirit of Truth: Our Life in Jesus

• Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Level 2 Atrium

Core: 

• Ancient Rome

• Humanities Interdisciplinary Literary Classics Collection II 

• Orton-Gillingham-based Multi-Sensory Literacy Program: The Writing and Spelling Road to Reading and Thinking

• Charlotte Mason & Institute for Excellence in Writing

Math: 

• Singapore Mathematics

Latin: 

• Prima Latina

Nature Studies:

• Solar System, Human Body, Force & Motion

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3rd Grade

Religion: 

• Spirit of Truth: The Kingdom of God and the Church

• Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Level 2 Atrium

Core: 

• The Middle Ages

• Humanities Interdisciplinary Literature Collection III [i.e., Robin Hood; Saint Benedict: Hero of the Hills; and St. George and the Dragon]

English:

• Orton-Gillingham-based Multi-Sensory Literacy Program: Riggs Institute, The Writing and Spelling Road to Reading and Thinking

• Charlotte Mason & Institute for Excellence in Writing

• All About Spelling

Math: 

• Singapore Mathematics

Latin:

• Latina Christiana

Nature Studies:

• Solar System, Geology, Magnetism, Electricity

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4th Grade

[4th grade website link]

Religion: 

• Spirit of Truth: Jesus Teaches Us How to Live

Core: 

• The Age of Exploration & California History

• Junior Good Books I Literature, i.e., The Chronicles of Narnia I,  Brendan the Navigator, Eric the Red and Leif the Lucky, Journal of Christopher Columbus, Mary of the Americas, , Ships, Sailors & Seas, In Their Own Words: Lewis and Clark.

English:

• Orton-Gillingham-based Multi-Sensory Literacy Program: Riggs Institute, The Writing and Spelling Road to Reading and Thinking

• Charlotte Mason & Institute for Excellence in Writing

• All About Spelling, Greek & Latin Roots I & Vocabulary From Classical Roots

Math: 

• Singapore Mathematics

Latin: 

• Latina Christiana

Nature Studies: 

• Water Cycle, Ecosystems, Ecology, Atoms & Molecules

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5th Grade

Religion: 

• Spirit of Truth: The Sacraments

Core: 

• US History from Founding to the Civil War

• Junior Good Books II Literature, i.e., The Chronicles of Narnia II, Johnny Tremain, Story of a Soul, Evangeline, Fortune Amos: Freeman, Franklin: Writings, Narrative, The Life of Frederick Douglass, Americana poetry, the Psalms; primary sources related to the Founding documents: Smith, Payne, Washington.

English:

• Orton-Gillingham: Riggs Institute, The Writing and Spelling Road to Reading and Thinking*

• All About Spelling, Greek & Latin Roots I & Vocabulary From Classical Roots

• Charlotte Mason &  Institute for Excellence in Writing

Math: 

• Singapore Mathematics

Latin: 

• First Form Latin

Nature Studies: 

• Weather & Atmosphere, Energy, Organ Systems & Cells

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6th-8th Curriculum Overview

6th Grade

Trivium

Religion: 

• Spirit of Truth: Sacred Scripture

Core Integrated Humanities: 

• The Ancient World

• All Ye Lands from Catholic Textbook Project

• Junior Good Books III Literature, i.e., The Chronicles of Narnia III, Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold, Tirzah, Hittite Warrior, Victory on the Walls: A Story of NehemiahThe Children’s Homer, and The Bronze Bow, Selected scenes from Greek plays, Caesar’s Gallic War, Biblical texts.

• Charlotte Mason & Institute for Excellence in Writing

• All About Spelling, Greek & Latin Roots II & Vocabulary From Classical Roots

Latin:

• Second Form Latin 

Quadrivium

Mathematics:

• 6th Grade Math & Pre-Algebra A

Nature Studies: 

• Novare’s Earth Science

Music:

• Gregorian Chant, Early Polyphony, Essentials of Music Theory, Mass Chants & Folk Music

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7th Grade

Trivium

Religion: 

• Spirit of Truth: Living as a Disciple of Christ

Core Integrated Humanities: 

• The Medieval & Renaissance Worlds

• Light to the Nations Part 1: The History of Christian Civilization from Catholic Textbook Project

• Junior Good Books IV Literature, i.e., Selected poetry & sonnets: Dante, Michelangelo, Chaucer, Gawain, Norwich, Augustine, Bonaventure, Aquinas, Shakespeare, Moliere; Sister Wendy's Story of Painting, Didache:History of the Church, Logues of St. Bendan & Columbus, Winston Churchill: The Birth of Britian & The New World. 

• Charlotte Mason & Institute for Excellence in Writing

• All About Spelling, Greek & Latin Roots III & Vocabulary From Classical Roots

Latin:

• Third Form Latin

Quadrivium

Mathematics:

• Pre-Algebra B

Nature Studies: 

• Novare’s Life Science

Music:

• Gregorian Chant, Early Polyphony, Essentials of Music Theory, Mass Chants & Folk Music

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8th Grade

Trivium

Religion: 

• Spirit of Truth: The Communion of the Faithful

Core Integrated Humanities: 

• The American Civilization

• The American Venture from Catholic Textbook Project

• Junior Good Books V Literature, i.e., Selected poetry: Wheatley, Longfellow, Poe, Dickinson, Key; Uncle Tom’s Cabin, The Red Badge of Courage, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Grapes of Wrath, The Grapes of Wrath, Papa Married a Mormon, The Great Gatsby.

• Charlotte Mason & Institute for Excellence in Writing

• Vocabulary From Classical Roots

Latin:

• Fourth Form Lain 

Quadrivium

Mathematics:

• Algebra 1

Nature Studies: 

• Novare’s Physical Science

Music:

• Gregorian Chant, Early Polyphony, Essentials of Music Theory, Mass Chants & Folk Music