Sixth Grade at Santa Clara Elementary School (SCES) is the gateway to our three-year Junior High program. Sixth Graders experience Homeroom to begin and conclude each departmentalized school day: it provides the students time to get organized, ask questions, build peer relationships, and join together in prayer as a class. SCES Sixth Grade academic subjects are aligned with California State Common Core Standards and Los Angeles Archdiocesan Religion Standards. The students are challenged by our overall program designed to promote excellence in Catholic education.
Students transition to the SCES Junior High departmentalized program in Sixth Grade, which involves students moving among several classrooms/teachers in the Junior High section of the "upper building" for each academic subject. The SCES Sixth Grade teachers work together as a team for the benefit of our students, and to provide them with a networked and structured Junior High program. Our credentialed and experienced Sixth Grade Homeroom teacher, who teaches Religion and Social Studies to the Junior High, holds a Bachelor's Degree from Franciscan University of Steubenville and received his Teaching Credential from California Lutheran University.
SCES believes in educating the "whole child", therefore our Sixth Graders participate in an extensive variety of SCES Enrichment Classes: Spanish, Art, Music, STEM, and Physical Education. Our Junior High program is designed to encourage success in each student now, and later in high school and beyond. Santa Clara Elementary School strives to create excellence in faith, academics and service.
A highlight of Sixth Grade is attending Camp Whittier Outdoor School near Santa Barbara, for three nights and four days in the Fall. SCES is unique in that the total cost of Outdoor School is included in tuition for Sixth Grade. The SCES Sixth Grade attends Outdoor School with students from four other local Catholic schools. While there our students learn about plants, animals, geology, and the Chumash Indians: they also participate in various hikes and activities.