Classroom & Curriculum
At Holy Family Parish School, students receive a high-quality education in a faith-filled environment that prepares them for success in a changing and challenging world. HFK provides a learning environment that is inclusive, supportive, and stimulating. At every grade level, students are taught to think critically, solve problems creatively, collaborate and communicate with others, and use technology effectively. At HFK, our focus is on the whole child. We teach social-emotional skills so students can achieve at their highest potential, and we foster the development of leadership skills as students become independent and responsible learners.
PreK
Holy Family Parish Preschool was founded in 1986 and is sponsored by Holy Family Parish. Our curriculum dovetails into the Holy Family Parish School (grades K-8) curriculum to ensure the highest level of preparedness for a successful transition into elementary school and in particular to Holy Family Parish School.
At HFK, preschool is all about providing each child with an enjoyable, positive, and nurturing learning experience while achieving appropriate levels of kindergarten academic and social readiness skills. At HFK we strive to inspire creativity and an interest in science, social studies, art, music, reading, and math, with an emphasis on individual social and emotional development.
HFK Preschool…where creativity makes learning fun!
Stephanie Riley
Preschool Director, Pre-K
Colleen Hauck
Pre-K
Tania Chatterjee
Pre-K IA
Shwetha Kumar
Pre-K IA
Pre-Kindergarten Curriculum
Our HFK Pre-Kindergarten class for 4- and 5-year-olds is designed to encourage and expand a child’s intellectual, spiritual, creative, motor, and social skills in a nurturing environment. Special emphasis is placed on the development of social responsibility and spiritual growth. Open exploration as well as teacher-directed activities include opportunities for whole group, small group, and individualized learning. Different learning styles are addressed and the development of a child’s strengths is encouraged while instilling confidence. A daily variety of opportunities encourages the development of kindergarten readiness skills including pre-reading, mathematics, whole language, art, science, social studies, and motor development. Children will have the opportunity to expand their knowledge and gain a longer attention span, helping prepare them for success in the more formalized school environment of kindergarten.
Specialist Classes
Interaction with Holy Family’s K-8 Parish School includes:
- Visits to the school library and library time with school librarian
- Music with the school music teacher
- Science with the school science teacher and 7th grade science ambassadors
- PE in the school gym
- Art with school art buddies as well as story reading with school reading buddies
Special Events
Kindergarten
There is no one on campus happier or more motivated than our youngest students! The kindergarten year at Holy Family is one filled with wonder, cooperation, and a whole lot of learning. Some favorites of our kindergarteners are Super Bee, the gingerbread hunt, 5th grade buddies, kindergarten soccer, field trips to the pumpkin patch, Seattle Children’s Theatre, and Seattle Aquarium, the Halloween parade, performing in the Advent program, and participating in an all-school Mass each month.
Holy Family kindergarten provides a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment while fostering the development of the whole child and a commitment to faith and academic excellence. From the moment they walk through the door, our kindergarteners feel at home.
Denise Farthing
Kindergarten Teacher
Tanya Feldman
Kindergarten Teacher
Indy Behrman
Kindergarten IA
Elsa Walters
Kindergarten IA
Curriculum
Reading: Focus is on rhyming, syllables, building phonemic awareness, fluency, and comprehension. Reading instruction includes sessions with the HFK reading specialist and frequent assessments by both their teacher and the reading specialist. Textbooks: Journeys (Houghton Mifflin), Zoo-Phonics, A-Z Reading
Writing: Focus is on writing stamina, proper character formation, and three types of writing: opinion, informational, and narrative. Textbook: Handwriting Without Tears
Math: Includes manipulatives and problem solving and teaches basic math skills including addition, subtraction, 2D and 3D shapes, calendaring and graphing, number sense, measurements and weight, and patterns. Textbook: My Math (McGraw-Hill)
Religion: Focus is on God’s creation, God’s love for you and your love for others, the story of Jesus, and the study of saints. Textbook: We Believe (Sadlier Religion)
Science: Scaffolded curriculum following the Next Generation Science Standards. Hands-on program designed to bring science to life.
Social Studies: Textbook: Social Studies (Harcourt)
Social-Emotional Skills: Second Step Curriculum; SEL class is taught weekly, and lessons provide social-emotional support and encouragement to students, helping them to thrive.
Specialist Classes
Religion, Service & Leadership
Our kindergarteners participate in many schoolwide service projects, including visits to local retirement centers, the Thanksgiving Food Drive, Candy Cane & Cocoa to support One Equal Heart, New Bethlehem Center Coat Drive, Catholic Schools Week Kid-to-Kid Campaign Toy Drive, Lenten CRS Rice Bowl, Jump Rope for Heart, and other student-led projects.
Additional Religion Supplements: Virtue of the Month: Virtues in Practice, Talking About Touching.
Enrichment
Special Events
HFK Fun Run, birthday celebrations, lost tooth song and chart, gingerbread hunt, Johnny Appleseed’s birthday, Halloween party, Thanksgiving activity stations, Advent Program, Christmas Around the World party, 100th Day celebration, Valentine’s Day party, Read Across America events to celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday, school spirit days such as Storybook Character Day or Sports Day, St. Patrick’s Day activity stations, Mother’s Day celebration, Father’s Day celebration, field day, end of the year celebration, and others.
Grades 1-2
The primary years are critical ones to cement the basics not only in reading, writing, and mathematics, but also in faith. Holy Family Parish School integrates faith-filled lessons into all of our subjects, not just our dedicated religion classes. Every child’s learning style is supported with frequent assessments and small group work in reading, writing, and math to ensure they are well prepared for future learning.
Take a walk down our hallway and browse the beautiful and touching illustrations and writings of our students. We think you’ll be as amazed as we are at these works of wonder and God’s presence in our students’ lives.
Danielle Peterson
1st Grade Teacher
Karen Madden
2nd Grade Teacher
Kara Carr
1st Grade IA
- Grade 1 Curriculum
- Grade 2 Curriculum
- Specialist Classes
- Religion, Service & Leadership
- Enrichment
- Special Events
Grade 1 Curriculum
Reading: Focuses on the foundation skills of phonics, spelling, and grammar. Reading instruction includes sessions with the HFK reading specialist and frequent assessments by both their teacher and the reading specialist. Textbook: Journeys (Houghton Mifflin)
Writing: Focuses on the steps of the writing process and types of writing. Textbook: Zaner Bloser Handwriting
Math: Includes addition and subtraction, whole number relationships and place value, linear measurement, and geometric shapes. Textbook: Eureka Math
Religion: Focus is on God’s love, the Church, being followers of Jesus, and living our faith. Textbook: We Believe (Sadlier Religion)
Science: Spiral curriculum that is integrated across curricula. Begins with the scientific process and studies physical science, life science, and earth science. Textbook: InspireScience (McGraw Hill Education)
Social Studies: Focus is on a comprehensive curriculum designed to engage and motivate students with stories of intriguing people, places, and events that make history relevant to their lives. Textbook: Social Studies (Harcourt)
Social-Emotional Skills: Second Step Curriculum; SEL class is taught weekly, and lessons provide social-emotional support and encouragement to students, helping them to thrive.
Grade 2 Curriculum
Reading: Focuses on developing an instant-recognition vocabulary in addition to a strong phonetic foundation with students furthering comprehension skills. Reading instruction includes sessions with the HFK reading specialist and frequent assessments by both their teacher and the reading specialist. Textbooks: Journeys (Houghton Mifflin)
Writing: Focuses on becoming familiar with parts of speech and writing complete sentences and interesting paragraphs. Textbook: Zaner Bloser Handwriting
Math: Includes extending students’ understanding of base-ten notation, building fluency with addition and subtraction, standard units of measure, and shapes. Textbook: Eureka Math
Religion: Focus is on developing a strong relationship with Jesus and preparing for the sacraments of Reconciliation and First Eucharist. Textbook: We Believe (Sadlier Religion)
Science: Spiral curriculum that is integrated across curricula. Focus is on matter, earth’s surface, living things and their habitats, and plants. Textbook: InspireScience (McGraw Hill Education)
Social Studies: Focus is on a comprehensive curriculum designed to engage and motivate students with stories of intriguing people, places, and events that make history relevant to their lives. Textbook: Social Studies (Harcourt)
Social-Emotional Skills: Second Step Curriculum; SEL class is taught weekly, and lessons provide social-emotional support and encouragement to students, helping them to thrive.
Specialist Classes
Religion, Service & Leadership
Our 1st and 2nd graders participate in many schoolwide service projects including the Thanksgiving Food Drive, Candy Cane & Cocoa to support One Equal Heart, New Bethlehem Center Coat Drive, Catholic Schools Week Kid-to-Kid Campaign Toy Drive, Lenten CRS Rice Bowl, Jump Rope for Heart, and other student-led projects.
Additional Religion Supplements: Virtue of the Month: Virtues in Practice
Enrichment
1st graders have the opportunity to attend a play at the Seattle Children’s Theatre, tour the Parish Center and learn about volunteer opportunities in our community, and visit a local farmer’s market and/or farm. 2nd graders visit St. James Cathedral and attend a play at the Seattle Children’s Theatre.
Special Events
HFK Fun Run, Birthdays, Halloween Party, 100th Day celebration, Advent Program, 100th day celebration, Valentine’s Day party, Read Across America events to celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday, Spirit Days such as Storybook Character Day or Sports Day, St. Patrick’s Day, field day, end of the year celebration, and others.
Grades 3-5
During the intermediate years, students progress along the path to becoming lifelong learners, taking on more independence and responsibility for their learning. Critical-thinking skills increase, and students become more aware of the greater global community and their place in it. Every student’s learning style is supported with frequent assessments and small group work in reading, writing, and math to ensure they are well prepared for the upcoming rigors of middle school. Leadership is fostered through participating in weekly school Masses, sponsoring fundraisers to benefit charities, and assisting with assemblies.
Macaire Podell
3rd Grade Teacher
Amy Lenihan
4th Grade Teacher
William McKinnon
5th Grade Teacher
Analea Araneta
3rd Grade IA
Daisy Abrenica
4th Grade IA
- Grade 3 Curriculum
- Grade 4 Curriculum
- Grade 5 Curriculum
- Specialist Classes
- Religion, Service & Leadership
- Enrichment
- Special Events
Grade 3 Curriculum
Literacy & Writing: Focus is on grammar instruction, novel studies, exploring different genres, and enhancing reading skills. Students receive frequent assessments by their teacher and the reading specialist. Novels include The Mouse and the Motorcycle and Ramona Quimby, Age 8. Textbook: Journeys (Houghton Mifflin), Cursive: Zander Blosner
Math: Focus is on base ten, numbers and operations, fractions, and geometry. Math instruction includes sessions with the HFK math specialist each week. Textbook: Eureka
Religion: Focuses on the Church, how the Church leads us to worship, and the seasons of the Church. Textbook: We Believe, We Are the Church (Sadlier Religion)
Science: Spiral curriculum that is integrated across curricula. Focus is on force and motion, genetics, weather and climate, and adaptations and behaviors. Textbook: InspireScience (McGraw Hill Education)
Social Studies: Focus is on local and global communities and local, state, and federal governments. Textbook: Our Communities (Harcourt)
Social-Emotional Skills: Second Step Curriculum; SEL class is taught weekly, and lessons provide social-emotional support and encouragement to students, helping them to thrive.
Grade 4 Curriculum
Literacy & Writing: Focus is on grammar instruction, novel studies, exploring different genres, and enhancing reading skills. Stories and novels include The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. Textbooks: Journeys (Houghton Mifflin)
Math: Focus is on refining multiplication fluency, place value, geometry, decimals, rounding, fractions, and units of measurement. Math instruction includes sessions with the HFK math specialist each week. Textbook: Eureka
Religion: Focus is on sin, penance, the Ten Commandments, and growing in holiness. Textbook: We Believe (Sadlier Religion)
Science: Spiral curriculum that is integrated across curricula. Focus is on energy, waves and transfer, Earth’s place within the universe, systems, and human activity. Textbook: InspireScience (McGraw Hill Education)
Social Studies: Focus centers on the creation of Washington as a state: the Native American communities, Lewis and Clark, fur trading, geographic features of the state, and more. Textbook: Washington, Our Home. (Gibbs-Smith Education)
Social-Emotional Skills: Second Step Curriculum; SEL class is taught weekly, and lessons provide social-emotional support and encouragement to students, helping them to thrive.
Grade 5 Curriculum
Literacy & Writing: Focus is on expanding ability to decode, understand writers’ messages, and incorporate reading into writing. Writing involves crossing subjects and building on personal and learned experiences. Various novels across genres are read. Textbooks: Journeys (Houghton Mifflin)
Math: Focus is on multiplication and division of decimals, base ten number system, concepts of volume, and classification of quadrilaterals. Math instruction includes sessions with the HFK math specialist. Textbook: Eureka
Religion: Focus is on teaching the importance of sacramental life, prayer life, and the seasons of the Church. Textbook: We Believe (Sadlier Religion)
Science: Spiral curriculum that is integrated across curricula. Focus is on investigation, modeling, and research to study plant and animal systems, properties of matter, and forces in the world which we cannot see. Textbook: InspireScience (McGraw Hill Education)
Social Studies: Focuses on the way early Americans have developed and used the land, established relationships with each other, colonized and claimed the land, and established governments and societies. Textbook: Social Studies (Harcourt)
Social-Emotional Skills: Second Step Curriculum; SEL class is taught weekly, and lessons provide social-emotional support and encouragement to students, helping them to thrive.
Specialist Classes
Religion, Service & Leadership
Grades 3-5 participate in many schoolwide service projects including the Thanksgiving Food Drive, Candy Cane & Cocoa to support One Equal Heart, New Bethlehem Center Coat Drive, Catholic Schools Week Kid-to-Kid Campaign Toy Drive, Lenten CRS Rice Bowl, Jump Rope for Heart, visits to local retirement centers, and other student-led projects. They also are responsible for leading an all-school Mass once every five weeks and leading Stations of the Cross during Lent.
Additional Religion Supplements: Virtue of the Month: Virtues in Practice
Enrichment
Each year our 3rd grade class attends a performance at the Seattle Children’s Theatre. Grade 4 travels to Biztown, Pioneer Farms, and UW Engineering Discovery Days. Grade 5 has field trips to BizTown, Inspire Science Science Fair, Mercer Slough, and UW Engineering Discovery Days. Grades 4 and 5 also participate in the National Geographic Bee.
Special Events
HFK Fun Run, Birthdays, Halloween Party, Advent Program, Valentine’s Day Party, Read Across America events to celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday, Spirit Days such as Storybook Character Day or Sports Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Field Day, End of the Year Celebration, and others. In addition, grade 3 has Family History, Washington State, and Native American projects; grade 4 Washington state cities and autobiography projects; and grade 5 Native American, Important Figures in History Wax Museum, and U.S. State projects.
Grades 6-8
Our middle schoolers are unique on campus not only because of their khaki and navy uniforms and how they move from teacher to teacher for all subjects, but also because of their dedication to service and leadership. Students are encouraged to develop and devise ways in which to serve their school and the greater community, and they do so enthusiastically!
Besides attending their daily classes, middle schoolers integrate with the younger grades, guiding them in conflict resolution, faith lessons, and school spirit. In addition to a top-notch education, Holy Family Parish School provides every student with the leadership and decision-making skills necessary for success in high school, college, and beyond.
Andrew Sprute
Grade 6 Homeroom
Grade 6 Humanities, Theater Arts and Speech
Andrew Morgan
Grade 7 Homeroom, Religion
Eileen Olson
Grade 8 Homeroom
MS Humanities
Judy Barrere
MS Science, MS Coordinator
Lupita Serrano
Spanish
Whitney McKelvey
PE, Technology
Maria Radtke
Math Resource Specialist
Megan D'Ambrosio
Library
Trish White
Art
Shannon Benson
Counselor, Inclusion Head
Kal Heathe
Student Support Specialist
- Grade 6 Curriculum
- Grade 7 Curriculum
- Grade 8 Curriculum
- Specialist Classes
- Religion, Service & Leadership
- Enrichment
- Special Events
Grade 6 Curriculum
Humanities: Focus is on the exploration the people, cultures, and legacies of ancient civilizations. Through this focus, they develop critical reading and writing skills, build language fluency, and learn to think critically about the world around them. Novels include Boy of the Painted Cave by Justin Denzel, Homeless Bird by Gloria Whelan, and A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park. Textbooks: Ancient Civilizations (Harcourt), Invitation to Literacy (Houghton Mifflin Quest), Vocabulary Workshop Enriched Edition (Sadlier)
Math: Focus is on long division, the four operations with decimals and fractions, simple algebraic manipulation, understanding ratios for problem solving, area of polygons, and some statistics concepts. Middle school math is a multiple path math program. Math paths are not set, rather they are dependent on student mastery of the concepts and assessment. Math is also integrated with science and technology for a true STEM curriculum. Textbook: Go Math (Harcourt)
Religion: Focus is on the Old Testament and the promise that God makes to his people in the form of the Covenant. Learning about topics such as the Sacraments, Liturgical Seasons, prayer, and church teachings is all done through this lens.
Science: Focus is on learning how to observe, investigate, and think like a scientist, with studies of ecosystems, cycles of the earth’s materials, weather, climates, and space exploration. Science is also integrated with math and technology for a true STEM curriculum. Reference Textbook: McGraw Hill
Technology: Middle school technology classes introduce our students to a wide range of 21st century literacy skills. These range from proficiency with typing and Office products to basic coding skills and work with robotics. There is an added focus on cutting-edge technology topics.
Social-Emotional Skills: Second Step Curriculum; SEL class is taught weekly, and lessons provide social-emotional support and encouragement to students, helping them to thrive.
Grade 7 Curriculum
Humanities: Focus is on historical fiction and nonfiction text, geography, and current events, students learn about the history of Washington State, the Golden Age of Islam, Medieval China and Japan, and Medieval Europe. Novels include Refugee by Alan Gratz, The Ghost in the Tokaido Inn by Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler, and Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford.
Math: Focus is on the four operations with all positive and negative numbers, integer exponents, solving basic equations and inequalities, two- and three-dimensional geometry formulas, probability and statistics, and an introduction to transformations in the coordinate plane. Middle school math is a multiple path math program. Students may advance through either Algebra or Geometry by the conclusion of 8th grade. Math paths are not set, rather they are dependent on student mastery of the concepts and assessment. Math is also integrated with science and technology for a true STEM curriculum. Textbook: Go Math Accelerated (Harcourt), Algebra (Pearson)
Religion: Focus is on the person of Jesus. Students study the gospels closely, which requires them to consider the historical context and build on their 6th grade knowledge of the Old Testament. By the end of 7th grade, students will have considered the radical compassion of Jesus and his challenge to us to bring his love to all, especially those in need.
Science: Focus is on Life Sciences, including classification and characteristics of life, microscope investigations, biotechnology activities, systems of the human body, botany concepts, and genetics and heredity. Science is also integrated with math and technology for a true STEM curriculum. Reference Textbook: McGraw Hill
Technology: Middle school technology classes introduce our students to a wide range of 21st century literacy skills. These range from proficiency with typing and Office products to basic coding skills and work with robotics. There is an added focus on cutting-edge technology topics.
Social-Emotional Skills: Second Step Curriculum; SEL class is taught weekly, and lessons provide social-emotional support and encouragement to students, helping them to thrive.
Grade 8 Curriculum
Humanities: Focus is on exploring the fascinating world of American history and literature from colonization to World War I. Additionally, 8th grade receives Holocaust education. Novels include Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and Our Town by Thorton Wilder.
Math: Focus is on rational exponents, solving one- and two- variable equations, graphing linear and quadratic equations in the coordinate plane, an introduction to exponential relationships, manipulating polynomials, solving quadratic equations by factoring, and the quadratic formula. Middle school math is a multiple path math program. Students may advance through either Algebra or Geometry by the conclusion of 8th grade. Math paths are not set, rather they are dependent on student mastery of the concepts and assessment. Math is also integrated with science and technology for a true STEM curriculum. Textbook: Algebra (Pearson), Geometry (Pearson)
Religion: Focus is on exploring, professing, and reflecting on their Catholic faith, which is found in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. The students are taught to recognize the presence of Christ and enter into communion with Him through active, full, and conscious participation in the liturgical celebrations and sacraments of the Church
Science: Focus is on Physical Science studies including chemistry concepts, investigations, and activities. They also study nanotechnology, materials science, force and motion laws, space explorations, and engineering wonders. Science is also integrated with math and technology for a true STEM curriculum. Reference Textbook: McGraw Hill
Technology: Middle school technology classes introduce our students to a wide range of 21st century literacy skills. These range from proficiency with typing and Office products to basic coding skills and work with robotics. There is an added focus on cutting-edge technology topics.
Social-Emotional Skills: Second Step Curriculum; SEL class is taught weekly, and lessons provide social-emotional support and encouragement to students, helping them to thrive.
Specialist Classes
Religion, Service & Leadership
Our middle schoolers participate in a service and leadership based advisory program. Advisories meet weekly to build community and devise ways to serve our school and greater world communities. They lead and participate in many schoolwide service projects including the Thanksgiving Food Drive, Candy Cane & Cocoa to support One Equal Heart, New Bethlehem Center Coat Drive, Catholic Schools Week Kid-to-Kid Campaign Toy Drive, Lenten CRS Rice Bowl, Jump Rope for Heart, and other projects. Grade 7 serves at the 8th grade graduation. Grades 7 and 8 are eligible to enter the Respect Life Essay Contest each year. Grade 8 students plan and lead HFK Spirit Days and act as Religion Buddies for the younger grades.
Additional Religion Supplements: Virtue of the Month: Virtues in Practice
Enrichment
Special Events
Grade 7 Jousting Tournament, Advisory Sorting Ceremony, Fun Fridays, HFK Fun Run, birthdays, Middle School Holiday Socials, Advent Program, lead Read Across America events to celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday, lead Spirit Days such as Storybook Character Day or Sports Day, lead Field Day (grade 7), end of the year celebration, Graduation (grade 8), and others.