1st Grade

Mission Basilica’s First Grade enriches the children as they continue on their journey of academic achievement and spiritual growth.  The first grade staff is skilled in technology and pedagogy in order to address the rigor of the Common Core Standards in a manner that is meaningful and engaging.

Our focus is educating each child at his/her stage of development through small group and differentiated instruction.  Academic instruction in language arts, math, social studies, and science includes hands-on experimentation and manipulatives.  Scholastic News is used to enhance our social studies and science curriculum, and build vocabulary and critical thinking skills. Our curriculum also includes physical education, art, music, Spanish and technology. 

Our students grow closer and stronger in their faith during this year.  We celebrate weekly Mass in the Basilica with our school family.  We worship, pray, and embrace the liturgical life and traditions of the Catholic Church.  The children learn about our faith through Blest Are We and the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd curriculum.  During the Lenten season, the children create beautiful hand-painted crucifixes.  The children and their families gather during the Easter season for a blessing of these crosses.

We live the gospel message of social justice through Christian service.  The First Grade collects pop tabs to be given to the Orange County Ronald McDonald House for recycling. The money earned goes to offset the costs of running the Orange County Ronald McDonald House which provides a comfortable and affordable home away from home for families shouldering the burden of a child being treated at a Children’s Hospital of Orange County.