Cogito Program, silhouette of St. Peter's

Cogito Academy (NEW)

What is Cogito Academy?




Guiding Principles 


The Three Pillars of Cogito Academy

 

Structure

  • Description: A structured, organized environment emphasizing academic order.
  • Program Delivery: Structured classroom settings, teacher-led instruction, regular homework, recitation, and practice exercises.

Commitment

  • Description: A commitment from both students and parents to maintain the program’s high academic standards through focused effort and support.
  • Parent Role: Parents actively support learning at home by monitoring homework and encouraging study habits that align with program goals.
  • Student Role: Students demonstrate dedication through self-discipline, diligence, and active participation.

Behaviour

  • Description: Expectations for behavior that align with the program’s rigorous standards.
  • Program Delivery: Emphasis on work ethic, study habits, and a respectful, focused classroom environment.

 

Goals

  • Achieve excellent academic results.
  • Cultivate diligence and self-discipline in all students.

 

Benefits

  • Enhanced reading, writing, and math skills.
  • Strong critical-thinking, study habits, and organizational skills.
  • Preparation for future academic, professional, and skilled employment opportunities.

 

The Cogito Academy Approach

 

                                  Description                                    Indicators                       s                             

 

Academic

Excellence

Cogito Academy offers a faith-based curriculum that weaves Catholic values throughout its academic program. The program establishes clear achievement standards for each grade, creating a strong foundation.

  • Academic rigor is expected and maintained.
  • Students are set up to do their best as they access academic material and develop transferable knowledge-based skills. 
  • Achievement standards are clearly
    defined for each grade level.

Orderly

Environment

This academy cultivates a focused learning environment through structured routines, clear academic and behavioural expectations, and minimal disruptions. 

  • Orderly learning environment with structured routines.
  • Standard dress for students.

    (School uniform requirements.)

  • Minimal disruptions to learning.
  • Group work is purposeful and students remain on-task.

Emphasis on

Literacy and Numeracy

Cogito Academy provides a solid foundation for literacy and numeracy, as well as other fundamental academic skills. French Language acquisition begins in Grade 1 Choral instruction.

  • Foundational literacy skills, with explicit sequential phonics instruction.
  • Explicit grammar instruction.
  • Automaticity in foundational math skills.
  • Critical mathematical thinking.
  • Access to French as an additional language beginning in Grade 1 OR  Choral instruction beginning  Grade 1.

Learning Extensions

Cogito Academy learning extensions provide opportunity for students to build confidence in their skill set as

a learner.

  • Emphasis on printing and cursive writing.
  • Recitiations. 
  • Second language development and/or choral acquisitions.
  • Access to French as an additional language beginning in Grade 1 OR Choral instruction beginning  Grade 1.

Regular 

Homework

Cogito Academy challenges students to consistently produce their best work through homework assignments that reinforce classroom concepts. Daily homework is an expectation.

  • Students are challenged to consistently produce their best work.
  • Homework is meaningful, often extenuating from the school day. 
  • Students consistently complete homework.
  • Homework is communicated clearly and presented in a structured format.

 

Timely

Reporting of

Student

Progress

Cogito Academy provides clear and
timely reporting of student learning in

relation to the provincial curriculum, as well as the approved Cogito Academy curriculum. Student marks are reported as levels of achievement.

  • Reporting is a clear and timely representation of student achievement.
  • Two Evidence of Learning portfolios (sent home prior to three way conferences).
  • Three way conferences in November and March.
  • Two Report Cards: February and June.
  • Students are assessed on Alberta Education Learner Outcomes, using the district achievement scale (4, 3, 2, 1).

Maximizing Learning Time and Student Engagement

Student attendance, strong work ethic, and academic success build confidence, motivation, and engagement. 

  • Structured classrooms promote active participation, effort, and achievement to boost self-esteem.
  • Focused learning environment where students stay engaged, work hard on tasks.
  • Maximize learning time with minimal disruptions.

Whole Group

Direct

Instruction

Cogito Academy emphasizes whole
Group, teacher-directed instruction with 

gradual release of responsibility

to the student (I do, we do, you do).

  • Whole group, teacher-directed 

     instruction.

  • High expectations for student learning.
  • Group work is focused and on-task.
  • Steps provided as scaffolding learning.
  • Modelling and narrative demonstrations (think aloud).
  • Higher level questioning.
  • Immediate corrective feedback.
  • Teacher walking around the room, monitoring student progress.

Parents as

Valued

Partners

Cogito Academy recognizes parents as valuable partners in their child’s education.

  • Parents act as valued partners in their child’s education.
  • Consistent communication is an essential component of engaging parents.
  • Teachers and school administration foster the active involvement of parents.



Eligibility

Students who are attending the above schools are eligible for COGITO Academy and will go through an assessment process to qualify prior to registration. In order to begin the assessment process or to learn more about COGITO Academy, please fill out this brief form:

COGITO Academy Interest Form

What are the goals and benefits of Cogito?

Goals

  • Sequenced knowledge content, with emphasis on mastery learning
  • Focus on attention and increased concentration
  • Strong work ethic

Benefits

  • Emphasis on reading and writing skills
  • Emphasis on math and critical-thinking skills
  • Explicit spelling and grammar instruction
  • Strong mental and written math skill development that emphasizes computational and problem solving skills
  • Improved work ethic, study habits and organizational skills
  • Preparation for a wide range of future academic, professional and skilled employment opportunities

Program Delivery

  • Teacher-led, whole group instruction that focuses on students learning and progressing through the curriculum together
  • Structured classroom environment
  • Regular homework
  • Recitation, memorization and practice exercises to improve learning
  • Early reading instruction in phonics--understanding letters, sounds and syllables
  • Second language instruction or Choral introduced in Grade 1
  • Additional opportunities to study core subjects in-depth
  • Uniforms or a dress code requirement
  • A high level of parental support and commitment

Who is Cogito for?

Cogito programming is designed for students willing to work to achieve high academic excellence in an environment that emphasizes structure and order. This program appeals to dedicated students who learn well through rote delivery of course material and value consistency. Students experience direct instruction and participate in daily homework.

There is an emphasis on memorization and automaticity of skills as a precursor to mastery and application. There is no academic entrance requirement for this program, and all families who feel this is a good fit for their child(ren) are welcome to register; however, there is an expectation that parents/legal guardians meet with the school administration before being accepted into the program. 

This is not a program designed specifically for gifted students.  A variety of students will benefit from study in the Cogito Academy.

 

What are the Fees?

There are no additional program fees for Cogito. The program may have some student attire requirements, which are at the expense of the family. (Decision on attire - pending consultation with parent community.)

 

Register Now

Families new to Elk Island Catholic Schools who are interested in any of our programming, including Cogito, should go to our Registration Page.