Our Pre-K4 is a developmentally appropriate, project-based experience, combining learning with play, in a faith-filled environment. We have two full day Pre-K classes with qualified and caring teachers and assistants who prepare our students for Kindergarten. There is a maximum of 16 students in each class with a 1:8 teacher-to-student ratio.

• We value God’s gift of the natural world and spend as much time in nature as we can. We have a small garden we tend close to our classroom.
• We offer a Montessori-based program called the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, along with other resources, as our means of teaching the Catholic faith. CGS introduces young children to Jesus as the “Good Shepherd” through hands-on materials in a specially prepared space called the “Atrium.” There, we listen to the proclamations of the Good News, observe a presentation of the materials, and then engage in activities encouraging personal meditation and prayer. The life of the Atrium follows the liturgical year. 
• We use play-based learning, with brief mini-lessons in group settings which then break out into activity centers throughout the room.
• We emphasize solving problems for ourselves, using independent skills, and getting along with our peers to foster social competence.
• We utilize Orton-Gillingham phonics materials to introduce the children to the letters and sounds of the alphabet through the OG multisensory approach. We also use Handwriting without Tears to introduce proper letter formation.
• We are inspired by the Project Approach and through child-led hands-on projects, we foster all five of the learning domains:
   

Social emotional development
Social emotional learning includes self-help skills and self-control, as well as other executive function skills that will aid the child’s learning throughout their academic career.

Language development
Language learning includes a child’s receptive language (understanding what is being read or said to them) and expressive language (speech, as well as writing and drawing).

Cognitive development
Cognitive learning encompasses developmentally appropriate math skills, science and sensory explorations, and several social studies skills beyond those covered in social emotional learning.

Creative development
Creative learning includes a wide variety of art media, including paint (watercolor, tempera, and acrylic), clay, line drawing with pencil and pen, collage, weaving, beading, and others, as well as dramatic play, music, and dance.

Spiritual development
Spiritual learning encompasses the child’s growing understanding of Jesus and His relationship with them, as well as their membership in the Church family and Church traditions of prayer.

Additional information

• Full day, 8:00am – 3:15pm (2:30 on Wed.)
• Fully a part of STM’s current K-8 program: same school calendar, tuition, Specials (Art, Music, PE, Spanish, and Media/Library), and full use of campus facilities
• Includes time for snacks, lunch in the cafeteria, rest time, and 2 recesses
• Communication and learning summaries include weekly parent communication, conferences, and student portfolio reviews.
• On-campus extended care options available through Champions®, a division of KinderCare
• Curriculum – Based on Georgia Early Learning and Development Standards (GELDS), enriched by Catechesis of the Good Shepard
• Accredited (by Cognia) through the Archdiocese of Atlanta. 

CORE SUBJECT - English

Reading
The foundations of reading and understanding are introduced in our primary classrooms where students learn the mechanics needed to become great readers. As students progress to the intermediate grades, reading stamina and extracting information become the focus.  In middle school, teachers emphasize analysis and critical thought. Across grade levels, students study all genres incorporated within fiction and non-fiction texts.

Our teachers understand that children learn and develop at different paces and in a variety of ways. In Kindergarten through 2nd grade, literacy instruction is focused on the foundations of sounds through the Orton-Gillingham Approach which includes multisensory strategies. Our literacy teachers recognize the importance of delivering reading instruction to students in an individualized and systematic method that promotes all aspects of reading: accuracy, fluency, articulation, and comprehension.

Teachers use Guided Reading in their classrooms daily to reach all students at their reading level, as well as to provide opportunities to stretch students to their full potential. Using Fountas and Pinnell benchmark assessments, teachers are able to provide literature at each student's level to continue instruction along the continuum of literacy learning. Guided Reading is a research-based method of teaching which provides a range of literacy experiences to ensure all children receive instruction at their individual reading levels. 

Writing
Our students learn how to navigate through the writing process to create informational, persuasive, narrative, and poetry pieces. Students develop their writing by utilizing Lucy Calkins Units of Study.

Grammar, Spelling and Handwriting

• Spelling and Word Study
  Students learn about the way words sound and are spelled through the Orton-Gillingham Multisensory Approach. Children hear the words, see the words, and even touch the words all while learning the proper way to spell grade-level-appropriate words.
• Grammar
  Proper grammar is expected in all aspects of writing. Students incorporate appropriate grammar into daily writing activities. In addition to integrating grammar instruction within the writing process, our teachers also use direct grammar instruction such as Simple Solutions and daily grammar practice.

Handwriting
Beginning in kindergarten, students learn to form letters properly with proper pencil grasp, formation, and legibility.  Handwriting instruction is integrated with phonics instruction, leading to positive outcomes for overall literacy development.  Teachers utilize Writing Our Catholic Faith workbooks to reinforce proper handwriting skills while also reinforcing students’ faith. Cursive instruction begins in second grade.

CORE SUBJECT - MATH

Mathematical instruction at Saint Thomas More Catholic School incorporates number sense, computation fluency, use of manipulatives for application of mathematical concepts, comprehension, and problem-solving. Beginning in kindergarten, teachers use Dreambox Learning to help students become efficient problem solvers with critical thinking, reasoning, and communication skills to master 21st-century challenges. Dreambox is an interactive software which custom delivers supplemental math instruction on an individual level to accelerate their progress.

Students in Kindergarten through 2nd grade learn specific mathematical practices to develop strong number sense, concrete attachment to the abstraction number, and problem-solving skills. Teachers utilize a variety of materials to ensure mathematical success for all students. Students work through the Sadler series Progress in Mathematics, while at the same time utilizing hands-on manipulatives and other resources to ensure all students are progressing through the Archdiocesan standards successfully.

CORE SUBJECT - SCIENCE

Beginning in Kindergarten and continuing through 8th grade, students at Saint Thomas More Catholic School receive a quality science education, based on Archdiocesan standards, rich in content and practice, aligned with national curricula, and solid in pedagogy utilizing lectures, labs, and cooperative learning.

Students at Saint Thomas More Catholic School participate in a multitude of STREAM activities integrating Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Art, and Math. Our goal is to instill in our students an authentic love for all five branches of science and to teach them the knowledge and skills required to solve tough problems, gather and evaluate evidence, and make sense of information in the world that surrounds them. We strive to prepare our students for an ever-changing world of possibilities.

CORE SUBJECT - SOCIAL STUDIES

From Kindergarten through 8th grade, students at Saint Thomas More Catholic School learn to be active and engaged participants in public life. Beginning in kindergarten, students use Nystrom’s supplemental, web-based map and atlas program StrataLogica to actively develop geographic thinking and visual literacy of the world around them.

Our teachers incorporate a variety of materials, including Pearson’s resources, beginning with early U.S. history through present day, as well as world geography from ancient to modern eras. Our social sciences incorporate history, geography, basic economics, civics, current event coverage, biographies, and much more to engage all students as they learn about the 10 themes of social studies education:

1. Culture
2. Time, Continuity, and Change
3. People, Places, and Environments
4. Individual Development and Identity
5. Individuals, Groups, and Institutions
6. Power, Authority, and Governance
7. Production, Distribution, and Consumption
8. Science, Technology, and Society
9. Global Connections
10. Civic Ideals and Practices

In addition to acquiring the skills it takes to become dedicated and committed to the ideas and values of democracy, our students learn how to incorporate their Catholic faith and social justice into their daily life, allowing them to truly become models of Christ in the everyday world.

CORE SUBJECT - RELIGION

Our one guiding mission lies at the very heart of Saint Thomas More Catholic School. We teach children to reach out to the world as the hands of Christ. As a school in the Jesuit tradition, being the hands and feet of Christ is expressed through Catholic social teaching. We focus on Ignatian spirituality, highlighted by our daily Examen prayer, which is “finding God in all things.” Our goal is for every student to develop a personal relationship with God.

Beginning in Pre-K, students learn about God’s love through Catholic prayers, Catholic practice, and Catholic tradition. Instruction begins by learning basic and fundamental biblical stories and progresses throughout their grade school experience by spending time understanding the Beatitudes, vocations, and the Seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church.

Our 2nd graders spend the majority of their school year learning about and preparing for their First Reconciliation and First Holy Eucharist. Our teachers prepare the students in many meaningful ways so when the time comes to participate in this special sacrament, the students fully understand the beautiful gift in which they are about to partake.

Students participate in youth activities, student-led weekly Mass, monthly rosaries, and monthly school-wide prayer services with the hopes of creating a deep and profound relationship with Jesus, while at the same time, teaching them to understand fully the rich teachings and traditions of the Holy Catholic Church.

Learn More about our Faith and Service

Specials

Students in kindergarten through second grade rotate within six Specials classes - Art, Media/Library, Music, Physical Education, Spanish, and STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Art, and Math).  In each course, students gain an introduction to skills and information to each subject, enriching the students to the world beyond the core subject areas. Sparking interests, these courses broaden the scope of learning and help students see life through different creative, active, and cultural lenses.

Learn more about our specials Classes

CORE SUBJECT - ENGLISH

Reading
The foundations of reading and understanding are introduced in our primary classrooms where students are learning to read. As students graduate to the intermediate grades, reading to learn becomes the focus. Across grade levels, students study all genres incorporated within fiction and non-fiction texts.

Our teachers understand that children learn and develop at different paces and in a variety of ways. Our literacy teachers recognize the importance of delivering reading instruction to students in an individualized and systematic method that promotes all aspects of reading: accuracy, fluency, articulation, and comprehension.

Teachers use Guided Reading in their classrooms daily to reach all students at their reading level, as well as to provide opportunities to stretch students to their full potential. Guided Reading is a research-based method of teaching which provides a range of literacy experiences to ensure all children receive instruction at their individual reading levels.

Writing
Our students learn how to navigate through the writing process to create informational, persuasive, narrative, and poetry pieces. Students develop their writing by utilizing 6+1 Traits of Writing developed by Ruth Culham.

Grammar, Spelling and Handwriting

• Spelling and Word Study
  Students learn about the way words sound and are spelled through the Orton-Gillingham Multisensory Approach (through 3rd grade). Children hear the words, see the words, and even touch the words all while learning the proper way to spell grade-level-appropriate words. In 4th grade, students transition from Orton-Gillingham to word study which includes Greek and Latin roots, vocabulary, and spelling.
• Grammar
  Proper grammar is expected in all aspects of writing. Students incorporate appropriate grammar into daily writing activities. In addition to integrating grammar instruction within the writing process, our teachers also use direct grammar instruction such as Grammar Workshop by Sadlier and Daily Grammar Practice (DGP).
• Handwriting
  In 3rd grade, teachers utilize Writing Our Catholic Faith workbooks to reinforce proper handwriting skills while also reinforcing students’ faith. 

CORE SUBJECT - MATH

Mathematical instruction at Saint Thomas More Catholic School incorporates number sense, computation fluency, use of manipulatives for application of mathematical concepts, comprehension, and problem-solving. In all grades, teachers use math Exemplars to help students become efficient problem solvers with critical thinking, reasoning, and communication skills to master 21st-century challenges. Additionally, kindergarten through 5th grade teachers use Dreambox Learning as a supplemental online math program to individualize instruction for each student's level of comprehension and learning style. This interactive software custom delivers supplemental math instruction on an individual level to accelerate their progress.

Students learn specific mathematical practices to develop a strong number sense, concrete attachment to the abstract numbers, and problem-solving skills. Teachers utilize a variety of materials to ensure mathematical success for all students. Students work through the Sadlier's Progress in Mathematics, as well as Simple Solutions, while at the same time utilizing hands-on manipulatives and other resources to ensure all students are progressing through the Archdiocesan standards successfully. To help develop quick recall of basic math facts, students use the online math fact fluency program XtraMath. A strong foundation of basic math facts helps our students as they move on to more advanced math, like fractions or algebra.

CORE SUBJECT - SCIENCE

Beginning in Kindergarten and continuing through 8th grade, students at Saint Thomas More Catholic School receive a quality science education, based on Archdiocesan standards, rich in content and practice, aligned with national curricula, and solid in pedagogy utilizing lectures, labs, and cooperative learning.

Our elementary students engage in observing and understanding how the world works around them through TCI’s Bring Science Alive! program.

Students at Saint Thomas More Catholic School participate in a multitude of STREAM activities integrating Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Art, and Math. Our goal is to instill in our students an authentic love for all five branches of science and to teach them the knowledge and skills required to solve tough problems, gather and evaluate evidence, and make sense of information in the world that surrounds them. We strive to prepare our students for an ever-changing world of possibilities.

CORE SUBJECT - SOCIAL STUDIES

From Kindergarten through 8th grade, students at Saint Thomas More Catholic School learn to be active and engaged participants in public life. Beginning in kindergarten, students use Nystrom’s supplemental, web-based map and atlas program StrataLogica to actively develop geographic thinking and visual literacy of the world around them.

Our teachers incorporate a variety of materials, including Pearson’s resources, beginning with early U.S. history through present day, as well as world geography from ancient to modern eras. Our social sciences incorporate history, geography, basic economics, civics, current event coverage, biographies, and much more to engage all students as they learn about the 10 themes of social studies education:

Culture
Time, Continuity, and Change
People, Places, and Environments
Individual Development and Identity
Individuals, Groups, and Institutions
Power, Authority, and Governance
Production, Distribution, and Consumption
Science, Technology, and Society
Global Connections
Civic Ideals and Practices

In addition to acquiring the skills it takes to become dedicated and committed to the ideas and values of democracy, our students learn how to incorporate their Catholic faith and social justice into their daily life, allowing them to truly become models of Christ in the everyday world.

CORE SUBJECT - RELIGION

Our one guiding mission lies at the very heart of Saint Thomas More Catholic School: We teach children to reach out to the world as the hands of Christ. As a school in the Jesuit tradition, being the hands and feet of Christ is expressed through Catholic social teaching. We focus on Ignatian spirituality, highlighted by our daily Examen prayer, which is finding God in all things. Our goal is for every student to develop a personal relationship with God.

Students learn about God’s love through Catholic prayers, Catholic practice, and Catholic tradition. Instruction begins by learning basic and fundamental biblical stories and progresses throughout their grade school experience by spending time understanding the Beatitudes, vocations, and the Seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church. In Intermediate grades, teachers use the Christ Our Life faith formation textbooks to help students recognize God’s presence in their lives and respond to his call, as well as the Ruah Woods Theology of the Body texts which help them gain an understanding of who God is, who they are as image-bearers of God, male or female, and how they fit into the world.

Students participate in school-wide retreats, youth activities, rosaries, school-wide prayer services, and student-led weekly Mass, with the hopes of creating a deep and profound relationship with Jesus, while at the same time, teaching them to understand fully the rich teachings and traditions of the Holy Catholic Church.

Learn More about our Faith and Service

SPECIALs

Students in third through fifth grades rotate within six Specials classes - Art, Media/Library, Music, Physical Education, Spanish, and STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Art, and Math).  In each course, students gain an introduction to skills and information on each subject, enriching the students to the world beyond the core subject areas. Sparking interests, these courses broaden the scope of learning and help students see life through different creative, active, and cultural lenses.

Learn more about our Specials Classes

CORE SUBJECT - ENGLISH

Reading
The foundations of reading and understanding are introduced in our primary classrooms where students are learning to read. As students graduate to the intermediate grades, reading to learn becomes the focus. Across grade levels, students study all genres incorporated within fiction and non-fiction texts. In middle school, our teachers frequently incorporate document-based inquiry utilizing primary sources and current events articles along with novel studies, literature circles, poetry units, and short stories.

Our teachers understand that children learn and develop at different paces and in a variety of ways. Our literacy teachers recognize the importance of delivering reading instruction to students in an individualized and systematic method that promotes all aspects of reading: accuracy, fluency, articulation, and comprehension.

Teachers use Guided Reading in their classrooms daily to reach all students at their reading level, as well as to provide opportunities to stretch students to their full potential. Guided Reading is a research-based method of teaching which provides a range of literacy experiences to ensure all children receive instruction at their individual reading levels.

Writing
Our students learn how to navigate through the writing process to create informational, persuasive, narrative, and poetry pieces. Students develop their writing by utilizing 6+1 Traits of Writing developed by Ruth Culham.

Grammar and Spelling

Spelling and Word Study
Students learn about the way words sound and are spelled through the Orton-Gillingham Multisensory Approach (through 3rd grade). Beginning in 4th grade, students transition from Orton-Gillingham to word study which includes Greek and Latin roots, vocabulary, and spelling.
Grammar
Proper grammar is expected in all aspects of writing. Students incorporate appropriate grammar into daily writing activities. In addition to integrating grammar instruction within the writing process, our teachers also use direct grammar instruction such as Simple Solutions, Grammar Workshop by Sadlier, and Daily Grammar Practice (DGP).
 

CORE SUBJECT - MATH

Mathematical instruction at Saint Thomas More Catholic School incorporates number sense, computation fluency, use of manipulatives for application of mathematical concepts, comprehension, and problem-solving. In all grades, teachers use math Exemplars to help students become efficient problem solvers with critical thinking, reasoning, and communication skills to master 21st-century challenges. Additionally, beginning in kindergarten, all students participate in iLearn Math which custom delivers supplemental math instruction on an individual level to accelerate their progress. iLearn is a diagnostic program utilized for assessment and to provide extension and remediation in all grade levels.

Applied problem-solving and communicating effectively are incorporated into a curriculum that focuses on numbers and operations, effective measurements, applied geometry, data analysis and probability, and algebra. Students use the latest Sadlier Math series of electronic textbooks, as well as a variety of enrichment applications.

Based on the Archdiocesan qualifications for math placement, students in 7th grade are placed in either a general 7th-grade math or pre-Algebra class, and 8th-grade students are placed in either an Advanced Pre-Algebra or Algebra 1 class. Advanced Pre-Algebra students are well prepared for success in Algebra 1 in high school. Algebra 1 students are prepared for placement in either Geometry or Algebra 2 in 9th grade. All students are well prepared for rigorous, college-preparatory high schools.

CORE SUBJECT - SCIENCE

Beginning in Kindergarten and continuing through 8th grade, students at Saint Thomas More Catholic School receive a quality science education, based on Archdiocesan standards, rich in content and practice, aligned with national curricula, and solid in pedagogy utilizing lectures, labs, and cooperative learning.

In middle school, students utilize Explore Learning’s Gizmos, an inquiry-based approach to learning, in an effective way to build a conceptual understanding of science. Students progress through the basics of Physical Science, Earth Science, Chemistry, Biology, and Physics.

Students at Saint Thomas More Catholic School participate in a multitude of STREAM activities integrating Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Art, and Math. Our goal is to instill in our students an authentic love for all five branches of science and to teach them the knowledge and skills required to solve tough problems, gather and evaluate evidence, and make sense of information in the world that surrounds them. We strive to prepare our students for an ever-changing world of possibilities.

CORE SUBJECT - SOCIAL STUDIES

From Kindergarten through 8th grade, students at Saint Thomas More Catholic School learn to be active and engaged participants in public life. Beginning in kindergarten, students use Nystrom’s supplemental, web-based map and atlas program StrataLogica to actively develop geographic thinking and visual literacy of the world around them.

Our teachers incorporate a variety of materials, including Pearson’s resources, beginning with early U.S. history through present day, as well as world geography from ancient to modern eras. Our social sciences incorporate history, geography, basic economics, civics, current event coverage, biographies, and much more to engage all students as they learn about the 10 themes of social studies education:

1. Culture
2. Time, Continuity, and Change
3. People, Places, and Environments
4. Individual Development and Identity
5. Individuals, Groups, and Institutions
6. Power, Authority, and Governance
7. Production, Distribution, and Consumption
8. Science, Technology, and Society
9. Global Connections
10. Civic Ideals and Practices

In addition to acquiring the skills it takes to become dedicated and committed to the ideas and values of democracy, our students learn how to incorporate their Catholic faith and social justice into their daily life, allowing them to truly become models of Christ in the everyday world.

CORE SUBJECT - RELIGION

Our one guiding mission lies at the very heart of Saint Thomas More Catholic School. We teach children to reach out to the world as the hands of Christ. As a school in the Jesuit tradition, being the hands and feet of Christ is expressed through Catholic social teaching. We focus on Ignatian spirituality, highlighted by our daily Examen prayer, which is finding God in all things. Our goal is for every student to develop a personal relationship with God.

Students learn about God’s love through Catholic prayers, Catholic practice, and Catholic tradition. Instruction begins by learning basic and fundamental biblical stories and progresses throughout their grade school experience by spending time understanding the Beatitudes, vocations, and the Seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church.

All of our students participate in grade-level retreats, youth activities, student-led monthly Mass, monthly rosaries, and weekly school-wide prayer services with the hopes of creating a deep and profound relationship with Jesus, while at the same time, teaching them to understand fully the rich teachings and traditions of the Holy Catholic Church.

Learn More about our Faith and Service

Specials Classes

Students in Middle School rotate within six Specials classes - Art, Media/Library, Music, Physical Education, Spanish, and STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Art, and Math).  In each course, students gain an introduction to skills and information on each subject, enriching the students to the world beyond the core subject areas. Sparking interests, these courses broaden the scope of learning and help students see life through different creative, active, and cultural lenses.

Learn more about our Specials Classes

Academic Enrichment (AE)

STM’s Academic Enrichment (AE) program is a powerful and fun way we extend our Middle School students’ learning through new experiences and opportunities. Three days a week, our Middle School and Specials teachers offer AE courses about a topic about which they’re passionate. AE provides a low-stress environment where they are encouraged to learn and explore without having to prepare for evaluation and allows them to connect with their teachers in a unique way. The AE offerings change each quarter, so the depth and breadth of subjects varies over the year.