Teachers: Amanda Martocello 

Advanced English A (Grades 5–6 | Online & In-Person)  
Prerequisites: None (besides grade requirement)
Content/description: This level focuses on making learning fun and engaging as students explore foundational grammar, expand their vocabulary, and dive into exciting literary analysis. From exploring stories that span mystery to comedy to reading poetry and tackling "The Hero's Journey" project, students prepare for future academic success in an interactive environment.

By the end of this level, students will be able to:

• Apply new academic vocabulary and grammar rules in their writing.
• Analyze classic narrative archetypes, poetry, and varied literary genres.
• Write clear, confident 5-paragraph essays.
  Build on your knowledge with a focus on advanced literary analysis, research and media literacy, MLA formatting, and grammar, while exploring diverse texts and enhancing your understanding of literary techniques. Engage in creative and non-fiction writing, major essays, and a research presentation, with opportunities to participate in the Scholastic Arts and Writing Competition, all in an interactive and supportive environment. Classes are interactive; all students are expected to participate. Homework is mandatory and will be posted on the SchoolNova website.

Advanced English B: (Grades 7–8 | Online & In-Person)

Prerequisites: Advanced English A or Grade Level
Content/description: This level focuses on deepening literary analysis and advanced grammar skills in a lively, interactive classroom. Students explore dynamic genres like short stories, poetry, mystery, and drama while building media literacy, research skills, and confidence across creative and academic writing.

By the end of this level, students will be able to:

• Compose major essays, creative writing pieces, and engaging presentations with confidence.
• Apply strong research skills and critical media literacy to assignments.
• Analyze complex genre conventions across drama, poetry, and short fiction.

Advanced English C: Content/description: This level focuses on building advanced literary analysis, grammar mastery, and research techniques in a supportive and collaborative environment. Students explore diverse texts, practice MLA formatting, and engage in both creative projects and rigorous non-fiction writing.

Teacher: Marleine Chiofalo

French Language Course Sequence at SchoolNova

French 0 – Beginners
Prerequisites: None, but the ability to read and write in any language is preferred.
Content/Description: This level focuses on introducing French through songs, stories, games, movement, and hands-on activities. Students develop listening and speaking skills while discovering the French language and Francophone cultures in a fun and supportive environment.
By the end of this level, students will be able to:
● Understand and respond to simple classroom expressions and greetings.
● Introduce themselves and use basic everyday vocabulary.
● Participate in simple songs, rhymes, and short conversations.

French 1 – Novice Low
Prerequisites: French 0 or teacher recommendation.
Content/Description: This level focuses on building confidence in basic communication. Students expand vocabulary, begin using simple sentence patterns, and explore French through interactive activities, music, stories, and cultural experiences.
By the end of this level, students will be able to:
● Exchange simple information about themselves and familiar topics.
● Ask and answer basic questions using memorized expressions.
● Read and write simple words and short sentences.

French 2 – Novice Mid
Prerequisites: French 1 or teacher recommendation.
Content/Description: This level focuses on developing communication in everyday situations. Students strengthen
listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills while expanding vocabulary, improving grammar, and discovering the diversity of the Francophone world.
By the end of this level, students will be able to:
● Communicate using simple sentences on familiar topics.
● Understand and create short spoken and written messages.
● Describe people, places, and daily activities with increasing confidence.

French 3 – Novice High
Prerequisites: French 2 or teacher recommendation.
Content/Description: This level focuses on increasing fluency and accuracy through meaningful communication. Students broaden their vocabulary, use a wider variety of sentence structures, and deepen their appreciation of Francophone cultures through authentic resources and projects.
By the end of this level, students will be able to:
● Participate in simple conversations using connected sentences.
● Read and write short paragraphs about familiar topics.
● Compare aspects of their own culture with those of the French-speaking world.

French 4 – Intermediate 
Prerequisites: French 3 or teacher recommendation.
Content/Description: This level focuses on expanding communication beyond everyday exchanges. Students engage in longer conversations, narrate events in multiple time frames, and explore authentic French-language texts, media, and cultural topics while developing greater independence in the language.
By the end of this level, students will be able to:
● Sustain conversations on familiar topics with increasing confidence.
● Read, interpret, and respond to authentic texts and media.
● Write organized paragraphs and short narratives using a variety of time frames.

Adult French – Personalized Learning
Prerequisites: None. Placement or teacher recommendation may be suggested for learners with prior French experience.
Content/Description: This course focuses on meeting the individual goals and interests of adult learners. Whether learning French for travel, business, personal enrichment, or conversation, instruction is tailored to students' needs with an emphasis on practical communication, cultural understanding, and real-life situations.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
● Communicate more confidently in everyday, travel, or professional situations.
● Improve speaking, listening, reading, and/or writing skills based on personal goals.
● Use practical vocabulary and expressions in authentic contexts while gaining a deeper appreciation of Francophone cultures.

Teacher: Carmen Genao 

Spanish classes:

• Spanish A: Ability to read and write in English.

Content/description

This level provides a structured introduction to Spanish language fundamentals through developmentally appropriate instructional methods. Students engage in interactive learning activities, including games, songs, and Total Physical Response exercises that support natural language acquisition. Core vocabulary—colors, shapes, numbers, seasons, and introductory conversational expressions—is presented alongside foundational grammatical concepts such as noun gender and simple sentence structure. Instruction is reinforced through pictorial materials, short poems, and guided practice designed to build linguistic confidence and cultural awareness.

By the end of this level, students will be able to:

• Introduce themselves in Spanish
• Use vocabulary for colors, shapes, numbers, and seasons
• Ask for help or directions using simple phrases
• Understand and apply noun gender
• Form simple Spanish sentences
• Participate confidently in beginner‑level games, songs, and movement activities

• Spanish B: Students should have prior exposure to introductory Spanish content.

Content/description

This level focuses on strengthening students’ foundational Spanish skills through structured review and progressive skill‑building. Learners revisit the basic rules of reading and writing in Spanish and expand their understanding of essential grammar, including fundamental present‑tense verbs. Vocabulary development is emphasized through thematic units covering colors, foods, months, and seasons. Students learn to ask and answer basic questions about themselves, their school environment, and their families. Instruction is supported by songs, as well as curated video and audio educational materials that reinforce comprehension and pronunciation.

By the end of this level, students will be able to:

• Apply the basic rules of Spanish reading and writing with increasing accuracy
• Use and conjugate fundamental present‑tense verbs in simple sentences
• Identify and use vocabulary related to colors, foods, months, and seasons
• Ask and answer introductory questions about themselves, school, and family
• Form coherent basic sentences using familiar vocabulary and present‑tense verbs
• Engage confidently with Spanish songs, video clips, and audio materials to support listening comprehension and pronunciation

• Spanish C: Students should have completed prior introductory Spanish coursework or possess equivalent foundational knowledge.

Content/description

• This level focuses on expanding students’ communicative abilities in Spanish through structured practice, cultural exploration, and interactive activities. Learners continue developing polite conversational expressions, refine their ability to talk about themselves, and strengthen social language skills. Instruction emphasizes expressing feelings and capabilities, as well as describing people and objects using increasingly detailed vocabulary.

• Students also explore selected cultural aspects of the Spanish‑speaking world, including common greetings, traditions, celebrations, and everyday social norms. Learning is reinforced through enjoyable activities such as games and songs in Spanish, which support comprehension, pronunciation, and cultural appreciation.

By the end of this level, students will be able to:

• Use a range of polite expressions in everyday interactions
• Talk about themselves and socialize using appropriate conversational language
• Express basic feelings and abilities
• Describe people and things with simple descriptive vocabulary
• Demonstrate introductory understanding of Spanish‑speaking cultural practices such as greetings, celebrations, and social norms
• Participate confidently in Spanish‑language games and songs that reinforce communication skills and cultural awareness

• Spanish D: Students should have completed prior levels of introductory Spanish study (or possess equivalent foundational knowledge), including familiarity with present‑tense verbs and basic conversational skills.

Content/description

This level focuses on consolidating students’ foundational Spanish skills while preparing them for more advanced and detailed language study. Learners strengthen their understanding of Spanish reading rules and develop a basic working knowledge of verb conjugation in both the present and past tenses. Instruction emphasizes asking and answering questions about daily life, school, and family using both present‑ and past‑tense structures. Throughout the year, students engage in activities that build confidence and linguistic accuracy while gradually preparing them for more complex grammar, vocabulary, and cultural study in subsequent levels.

By the end of this level, students will be able to:

• Apply stable Spanish reading rules with accuracy
• Conjugate and use present‑tense and past‑tense verbs in simple sentences
• Ask and answer questions about daily life, school, and family in both present and past tenses
• Form coherent sentences that describe past events and present routines
• Demonstrate readiness for more advanced and detailed study of Spanish grammar, vocabulary, and cultural topics

• Spanish Advanced: Students should have completed all prior levels of Spanish study (or possess equivalent proficiency), including familiarity with present‑ and past‑tense verb forms and basic conversational skills.

Content/description

This level focuses on advancing students’ communicative competence and preparing them for higher‑level fluency. Building on previously acquired fundamentals, learners develop the ability to share ideas and opinions, express feelings, and discuss everyday life and current events with increasing detail and confidence. Instruction includes deeper study of the different past tenses and their appropriate uses, enabling students to communicate more precisely about past experiences and narratives. Activities emphasize structured conversation, guided practice, and cultural awareness to support continued linguistic growth.

By the end of this level, students will be able to:

• Share personal ideas, opinions, and viewpoints in Spanish using appropriate vocabulary and structures
• Express a wide range of feelings and describe everyday experiences
• Discuss daily life and current events with greater detail and accuracy
• Use and differentiate among the various past tenses in meaningful communication
• Ask and answer questions in both present and past tenses with increased fluency
• Demonstrate readiness for advanced, structured study of Spanish grammar, vocabulary, and cultural topics

Spanish for adults - beginners: No prior knowledge of Spanish is required.

Content/description

This introductory course emphasizes practical communication in Spanish and builds a strong foundation for adult learners. Students review essential basic concepts and progressively expand their skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Instruction focuses on everyday vocabulary, basic grammar rules, and simple conversational structures that support real‑world communication. Learners practice expressing personal information, navigating common social interactions, and reading and writing brief passages. Cultural appreciation is integrated throughout the course, offering insight into Spanish‑speaking countries and their traditions.

By the end of this level, students will be able to:

• Converse on a variety of common everyday topics in Spanish
• Read and write brief passages using foundational vocabulary and grammar
• Apply basic grammar rules, including simple verb forms and sentence structure
• Use introductory conversational expressions for social and practical communication
• Demonstrate an appreciation for Spanish‑speaking cultures

Teachers: Tatiana Weakley, Nadezhda Shavarina, Ksenia Kayran. 

Welcome to the SchoolNova Heritage Russian Program! We are delighted that you are considering joining our community. 

Growing up outside a predominantly Russian-speaking environment offers a wonderful opportunity to become bilingual, but it also poses unique challenges. While many children naturally learn to understand and speak Russian at home, developing strong reading, writing, and communication skills requires systematic instruction, regular practice, and support from both family and teachers. Our goal is to help every student read, write, and speak Russian with confidence while discovering the rich culture, literature, and traditions of the Russian-speaking world. 

Russian for Heritage Speakers: 

Heritage speakers are children who have been exposed to Russian at home while growing up in an English-dominant environment. These classes help students strengthen Russian literacy, grammar, vocabulary, and confidence so they can use the language comfortably in school, at home, and in everyday life. 

Russian A (formerly R0)

Prerequisites: None 

Content and description:
Russian A is an introductory class for heritage speakers who are beginning to build their Russian literacy skills. Students develop early reading skills, learn the foundations of Russian grammar, and grow more confident using Russian through speaking, listening, reading, and writing activities. 

The course creates a strong foundation for continued study and helps children begin using Russian in a wider range of situations. 

Russian B (former R1)

Prerequisites:
Ability to read at least 10 words per minute and write all letters in print.

Content and description:
This level focuses on automating reading skills and introducing cursive handwriting. Students will deepen their understanding of phonetics (vowels/consonants, syllables, and stress) while exploring basic parts of speech, sentence types, plural forms, and antonyms. We will expand vocabulary through engaging topics such as insects, sea life, space, nutrition, and music. Lessons incorporate tongue twisters, poems, songs, short stories, and games. 

By the end of this level, students will be able to:

• Speaking: Recite tongue twisters, poems, and songs clearly; talk about themselves; answer and ask simple questions; describe pictures; retell stories.
• Reading: Read at least 6 contextual units per minute (approximately 30 words per minute).
• Writing: Write all letters in cursive; compose simple sentences.
• Phonetics: Identify vowels/consonants, voiced/voiceless consonants, syllables, and stress.
• Grammar: Understand plural forms, basic parts of speech, sentence types, antonyms, and use of capital letters.
• Vocabulary: Days of the week, months, family, vacation, the world around us, food, music, etc.

Russian C (former R2–R3)

Prerequisites:
Ability to read at least 6 contextual units per minute (approximately 30 words per minute) and write all letters in cursive.

Content and description:
This level focuses on mastering reading fluency and developing confident cursive writing. Students will deepen their knowledge of phonetics (hard/soft consonants, silent letters, and word-final devoicing). We will introduce new parts of speech (prepositions, numerals, conjunctions), synonyms, root/ending of the word, basic orthography rules, and past tense verbs. Vocabulary expands through topics like my town, celebrations around the world, professions, history, and folktales. Lessons include tongue twisters, poems, short stories, games, creative tasks, and independent projects.

By the end of this level, students will be able to:

• Speaking: Recite poems and stories with expression; share details about their family; participate in dynamic Q&A; create stories.
• Reading: Read at least 15 contextual units per minute (approximately 50 words per minute).
• Writing: Write confidently in cursive; compose a coherent simple paragraph with a main idea and supporting details.
• Phonetics: Master vowels/consonants, voiced/voiceless consonants, hard/soft consonants, syllables, and stress.
• Grammar: Apply new parts of speech, word roots and endings, synonyms, past tense, and core orthography rules, including stressless vowels in the root.
• Vocabulary: Vacations, town/community, celebrations around the world, professions, history, folktales, etc.

Russian D (formerly R4–R5)

Prerequisites:
Students can read approximately 50 words per minute and write in cursive.

Content and description:
Russian D is an interactive course that strengthens reading comprehension, writing, speaking, listening, and text analysis. Reading is a central part of the program and includes at-home reading assignments, classroom discussions, and spelling practice.

Grammar is taught in meaningful contexts through topics such as shopping and gifts, calendars and holidays, weather and climate, school subjects, and schedules. Students practice through dialogues, group discussions, and individual oral and written projects.

By the end of this level, students will be able to:

• Read approximately 120 words per minute with understanding.
• Identify a text’s main idea and supporting details, outline its plot or structure, and draw conclusions.
• Participate in spontaneous conversations and give detailed answers using more complex sentences.
• Use Russian cases in practical contexts, as well as numerals and adverbs.
• Recognize and use word roots, endings, prefixes, and suffixes.
• Build complex sentences using clauses that express cause, result, manner, and time.
• Add approximately 250–300 new words to their active vocabulary.

Russian E (former R6–R8)

Prerequisites:
Students should be able to read 35–40 lexical units per minute. They should be able to comprehend 80–85% of the text and complete True-False or multiple-choice questions based on the contents of the text. Successful applicants will be able to identify words of the same root and utilize identical morphemes in new word formations. Students should be able to produce a short paragraph, orally or in written form, on one of the following topics: Description of the Person, Seasonal Changes in Nature, My Favorite Holiday, My Favorite Recipe, Places We Travel, etc.

Content and description:
Russian E is the Advanced course for students who completed Level D or passed the requirement interview with excellence. This course focuses on reading comprehension, listening comprehension, and writing skills. As at Level D, the curriculum will include Reading as one of the essential parts of the course. Students will be introduced to different genres of texts: short story, novel, article, interview, scientific paper, etc.

Based on paragraph writing practices acquired at Level D, students will practice and expand their writing skills in the forms of different types of essays: Process, Cause and Effect, Problem-Solution, etc. Students will further progress in their understanding of Grammar rules (Verb Aspect, Conjugation, Participles, etc.), as well as Complex Syntactic constructions. In addition to the main corpus of language learning, lessons will include cross puzzles, word charades, and spelling competitions.

By the end of this level, students will be able to:

• Create oral and written pieces of 150–250-word units of different genres.
• Identify, outline, and describe the main idea, supporting details, and conclusion in writing.
• Enrich their vocabulary by 300–500 words.
• Come to a better understanding of word formation and syntactic structures.