Elementary School

The Elementary Program
The Elementary Program (Grades Kindergarten through six) is designed to nourish the student’s joy of discovery and passion for learning, giving attention to the mastery of skills and concepts that are necessary for all future learning.

Integrated Curriculum
In an integrated curriculum, content from various disciplines, such as language arts, math, science, or social studies, is integrated through themes, projects, plays, and other learning experiences. By integrating curriculum, students develop an understanding of concepts and make connections across disciplines. A topic of study serves as a guideline, or umbrella, under which different developmental and content areas are integrated. Integrated studies reflect Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligences and the belief that students learn holistically as well as acknowledge John Dewey’s insistence that opportunities be provided for concrete experiences.

”All genuine education comes about through experience.” -John Dewey

Structured Classes and Multiage Classrooms
Classrooms are designed for multiage groupings in grades kindergarten through five. Grade six is a self-contained classroom preparing students for middle school. The multiage experience provides a natural extension of holistic approach to learning celebrating diversity and valuing the richness of different perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences. Students learn in different ways and at different rates, and they learn from each other. Multiage groupings are developmentally appropriate, child-centered and support continued learning.

Classes are structured to the environment, the time, and the learning experiences that will help the children develop knowledge and skills in all five main areas of the curriculum: Religion, Inquiry, Communication, Creative Arts, and Physical Development. Integrated studies based on carefully chosen topics from academic disciplines and availability of hands-on experiences will be implemented throughout the school year and last for weeks or even months. Although activities may focus on one or two specific disciplines, the learning that takes place inevitably overlaps across all content areas. Through their investigation of meaningful topics, the students develop skills across all areas of the curriculum.

Foreign Languages
The Study of Spanish is offered from kindergarten to graduation. In the 2011-2012 academic year, Chinese will be introduced into the K/1 curriculum. In the following year, 2012-2013, all students will choose the foreign language they want to learn resulting in the mastery of either Chinese or Spanish. Once at the high school level, students may opt to study another language or continue with either Chinese or Spanish. Those who become proficient in speaking, writing and understanding Spanish may choose to complete their study at the Advanced Placement (AP) level of Spanish.