ACADEMICS: Disciplinary Benchmarks


The Articulation of Saint John's Standards Through Benchmarks 2000-2001

As we prepare the curriculum for the 21st century, the Saint John's Faculty and the Program of Studies Committee have established Disciplinary Benchmarks throughout the curriculum in order to challenge our students and to prepare them for their college education. The purpose of Benchmarks is to provide students with those stepping stones necessary to achieve their potential over the course of their four years of study. Below you will find Benchmarks by subject discipline. In this way both parents and students may have clear expectations of what is to be learned and achieved in each discipline. If responsibilities are clear, the goals will be more easily defined and attained.



Saint John's Program Standards by Department
English Studies Department
Students should be able to...
  • Read a wide range of printed texts and view non-printed texts to build an understanding of language, of themselves, and of the cultures of the United States and the world.
     
  • Acquire new information, prepare for college, respond to the needs and demands of society, and for personal fulfillment.
     
  • Read a wide range of literature from many periods in all genres to build an understanding of the dimensions of human experience.
     
  • Apply a wide range of strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate texts. They draw on prior experience, their interactions with other readers and writers, their knowledge of word meaning and of other texts, their word identification strategies, and their understanding of language.
     
  • Adjust their use of spoken and written language to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.
  • Apply knowledge of language structure, language conventions, media, figurative language, and genre to create, critique, and discuss print and nonprint texts.
     
  • Gather, evaluate, and synthesize data from a variety of technological and informational resources to create and communicate knowledge.
     
  • Participate as knowledgeable, reflective, creative, and critical members of a variety of literacy communities.
     
  • Use language to accomplish the purposes of learning, enjoyment, persuasion, and the exchange of information.

Mathematics Department
Students should be able to...
  • Demonstrate mathematical reasoning and apply mathematical principles to real world settings.
     
  • Articulate and explain mathematical principles both orally and in writing.
     
  • Solve real world problems.
     
  • Use technology appropriately.
     
  • Have confidence in their mathematical ability.
     
  • Work cooperatively with their peers and develop collaborative skills.
     
  • Seek and demonstrate connections between mathematics and other disciplines (biology, economics, etc.).
     
  • Approach novel situations and use mathematics to solve problems which they have never seen before.
     
  • Value the importance of mathematics in the real world.
     
  • Succeed in collegiate mathematics classes.
     
  • Assimilate mathematical ideas that are read or heard.
     
Religious Studies Department
Students should be able to...
  • Identify the principles of Catholic Christian decision-making and apply them to contemporary life issues in discussion and writing.
     
  • Acquire skills to enable them to understand and interpret Sacred Scripture in light of contemporary Catholic Biblical scholarship and be able to relate its inspiration to their own faith journey.
     
  • Explain the importance of the Paschal Mystery as the central truth of Christianity; relate it to their individual lives and contrast it with differing interpretations of the purpose and meaning of human existence.
     
  • Through oral, written and creative expression, demonstrate knowledge of the many forms of prayer with specific emphasis on the Mass as the central form of worship for Catholics.
     
  • Each student will be introduced to models of sainthood found throughout Church history and be able to relate their words and deeds to the Christian challenge to be the Body of Christ on earth.
     
  • Understand that the dignity of persons is rooted in the truth that humans are created in God's image and likeness and each is uniquely gifted with talents vital to building the Kingdom of God.
     
  • Understands that service is an integral response to the Gospel message and through loving action contributes to the building of the Kingdom of God.
     
  • To identify and explain the essential characteristics (creed, code and cult) of world religions; be able to identify those elements of truth that all people of faith share and contribute to an atmosphere that respects a variety of religious expressions.

Science and Health Studies Department
Students should be able to...
  • Demonstrate critical thinking by:
          A. Demonstrating the scientific method through the application of project-based activities and laboratory experimentation.
          B. Demonstrating the ability to test hypotheses - to experiment in a safe and responsible manner with the expectation of obtaining reasonable results.
          C. Organizing and manipulating data using appropriate statistical and mathematical methods.
     
  • Demonstrate a basic understanding of the inter-relationship of the three dimensions of health - physical, social, and mental - as they affect a person's holistic wellness.
     
  • Demonstrate competency in the use of laboratory apparatus.
     
  • Demonstrate an understanding of evolution.
     
  • Demonstrate an understanding of homeostasis.
     
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the environment, both internal and external (of the body), as well as the human impact on the environment.
     
  • Demonstrate the ability to participate, discuss, and question in a Christian atmosphere.
World Languages Department
A Saint John's student will be able to apply his knowledge of a target language in order to...
  • Develop listening and speaking skills that will allow him to interact with other students, his instructor and native speakers in order to achieve levels of performance consistent with National, State and ACTFL standards.
     
  • Read and interpret a variety of level appropriate authentic (and non-authentic) materials that will promote his understanding of the cultures, traditions, history, geography, politics, economy and arts of the target language and to appreciate their contributions to American society.
     
  • Understand the basic structures and functions of language in order to write about a wide variety of situations using various genres in keeping with National, State and ACTFL standards (dialogues, letters, compositions, projects, poetry, and research assignments).
     
  • Use the language to speak, read and write about other subject areas and to acquire and/or discuss knowledge of other disciplines.
     
  • Use media, technology, the printed word and the arts to gain knowledge that will allow the student to deepen his appreciation of other languages and cultures.
     
  • Recognize that learning is a life-long process by participating in cultural activities, foreign travel for pleasure or study, sporting events or community service projects to improve his communication skills and to gain real-life experiences that deepen his understanding of other peoples and cultures.
     
  • Grow in the values expressed in the Saint John's Mission Statement and the Purposes and Objectives by praying in the target language and by respecting the social, moral, ethical, or religious values shared by members of his community or those of the peoples whose language the student is studying.
     
  • Live the Gospel values by respecting the diversity of abilities and learning styles and by challenging his personal social and moral growth by participating in the creation of a learning atmosphere (within and without the classroom) in which the dignity of the individual is nurtured.
     
  • Ensure the development of his personal, academic and moral responsibility by participating in an environment grounded in honesty, integrity and trust that holds each individual accountable when he falls short of the ideal.
     
  • Develop his creativity, maturity, confidence, sensitivity, responsibility, poise and necessary leadership qualities to work in small groups, to participate in discussions and to present improvisational scenes and oral exposes.

Social Studies Department
A graduate of Saint John's should be able to...
  • Demonstrate research skills utilizing library, media, and electronic sources.
     
  • Write in a style consistent with historical models.
     
  • Read and analyze historical documents.
     
  • Understand the roles and responsibilities of good citizenship.
     
  • Understand and appreciate the diversity of cultures and the historical development of those cultures.
     
  • Understand the relationship between sociologic development and cultural expression.
     
  • Understand the relationship between physical environment and human culture.
     
  • Evaluate pertinent issues and offer critical solutions to problems.
     
  • Understand differences between various political and economic structures.
     
  • Present information and analysis by developing oral skills.
     
  • Formulate chronological sense of major historical events.
     
  • Recognize greatness in individuals and events.
     
  • Identify the components of critical turning points in history.
     
  • Interpret graphic material in the form of maps, charts, and other forms.