Elementary School

List of 10 items.

• Arts

  Students explore Dance and Drama to understand their bodies in action; practice improvisation and character development; strengthen the mind/body connection; and enhance social skills. The music curriculum is based on the Orff-Schulwerk process and includes options in chorus, strings, wind instruments and band. Through the visual arts program, students build basic techniques in clay work, painting, printmaking, drawing, sculpture and collage.

• Language Arts

  Our literacy program enables students to become independent, flexible and resilient readers and writers. Children read a range of fiction and nonfiction representing our diverse city and world. They develop strong phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension, and understand that a text’s meaning is derived through an interchange between the reader and the text. Instruction is scaffolded so that students gradually learn to read increasingly complex texts. Writing is taught as an explicit skill and with ample time for independent practice. Students create authentic pieces of writing intended for specific audiences and learn how to generate writing ideas across topics and genres.

• Library

  In our Elementary Library program, students embark on an exciting (really!) journey to discover how the library is organized using the Dewey Decimal System. Through engaging lessons, they learn to navigate both online databases and our extensive collection of books. Topics explored include various genres like mythology, fairy tales and dystopia, as well as influential figures throughout history. This program not only enhances their research skills but also fosters a love for reading and inquiry,

• Life Skills

  The Life Skills program helps students develop strong bonds with their instructors and with each other, building self-confidence, resilience and empathy. Beginning in kindergarten, students learn to speak from the heart and listen attentively through Council, with a special Birthday Council held for each child. At each grade level, conflict resolution is taught and practiced. Children learn to understand and articulate the point of view of another, and to arrive at a mutually agreeable solution to the conflict. Social awareness and respect require understanding one’s own identity as well as differences among people; specific lessons and curated literature selections focus on respecting differences.

• Math

  The math curriculum is conceptual, challenging and grounded in best practices. We also strive to make it fun! Students learn how to reason and communicate using models, numbers and words; form mathematical arguments and respectfully critique the reasoning of others; choose appropriate tools to explore and make meaning; persevere in solving problems; attend to efficiency and accuracy in solutions; and demonstrate computational fluency. Math instruction is differentiated to support a range of learners, with grade-level benchmarks as guideposts.

• Physical Education and Athletics

  The Physical Education program emphasizes teamwork and sportsmanship; physical fitness and mind/body awareness; skill development; and respect for oneself and others.
  
  The Elementary School Athletics program, offered to fifth graders, emphasizes safety, fair play, participation, self-confidence, skill development and fun. Fifth-grade athletics takes place after school; players practice together and play games against other schools. There are three “seasons” for fifth-grade sports:
  

  • Fall: Coed Flag Football and Girls Basketball
  • Winter: Boys Basketball, Girls Volleyball and Coed Swimming
  • Spring: Coed Soccer and Boys Volleyball

• Science

  Students experience a world of hands-on science exploration and discovery; gain an appreciation of scientific inquiry; and develop scientific literacy. Our young scientists are introduced to a broad range of disciplines and content—including biology, engineering, design thinking, physics, chemistry and robotics—while continuously working to develop their skills in, and understanding of, scientific processes. The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are referenced to help design classroom learning experiences that are relevant and stimulate students’ interests in science; help them find a passion in the field; promote confidence for the subject; and foster a curiosity and will to learn. The fourth and fifth grade science curricula are enhanced by overnight trips through the Experiential and Outdoor Educational program to study astronomy and marine biology.

• Social Studies and Service Learning

  Through the social studies curriculum, students explore the world around them, making meaningful connections between the past and present and gaining an understanding of their place in the world. In kindergarten, students begin with an introspective look at their own identities, gradually expanding their perspective to include different kinds of families and members of their school community. As students get older, they explore topics related to social justice and activism; local geography and climate; understanding the lives of those from different backgrounds; and the various civil rights movements that have formed modern-day American democracy. Students engage in service learning projects including conservation; working with the elderly; contributing to local food banks; and advocating for those marginalized in our society and communities.

• Spanish

  In the early grades, children hear the sounds of the language through songs and stories. They focus on diction and pronunciation, learning the differences between the English and Spanish language. Students learn to engage with Spanish through role-playing, project-based learning, interactive games and activities. Every year, students showcase their growing language skills by working collaboratively and creating a project. Children engage in conversations about culture, traditions, heritage, immigration and migration, and many other topics related to social justice. Students learn about the Latinx diaspora; through their newly acquired language skills, they learn to see the world through a different lens.

• Technology

  The Elementary School offers an Innovation Lab that integrates Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM). Students have weekly opportunities in the makerspace where they learn to think like engineers using the Design Thinking Process—from building empathy and defining the problem to prototyping and testing ideas. Students enjoy hands-on experience in areas including coding, animation, robotics, circuitry, digital art, and digital communication. They also have opportunities to participate in design challenges and makerspace days. Our program nurtures students’ abilities to create innovative solutions and supports their growth as digital creators, builders and responsible digital citizens.