We guide our students to develop the understanding and habits of mind needed to become independent learners who are able to transfer the skills and competencies learned to new and unfamiliar situations.
Grades One through Five provide a strong foundation for success in our Junior High School. Our vertically integrated curricular program starts here and is designed to lead seamlessly into MYP 1
A well-rounded education includes extensive exposure to art and music which allows children to make connections across disciplines, to develop interests and skills in a number of subjects and to build a rich, expansive world view through the arts. Faculty trained in art and music education provide an integrated, vertical curriculum and teach in spaces specifically designed for these subjects. The time and space given to these subjects reflects the high value we place on these subjects.
Health and Wellness classes provide a time for students to be active, to age-appropriately learn to problem solve, to collaborate and to develop motor and planning skills in the setting of traditional and nontraditional games. There is always an emphasis on having fun and learning about good sportsmanship.
A well-coordinated library program and well-stocked library supports all areas of the Lower School curriculum. While each class has its own classroom library, additional resources in the library ensure the Lower School has ample literature to support a wide range of interests and curriculum topics. The librarian introduces readers to new genres, unfamiliar authors, contemporary texts and works closely with teachers to match books to readers and writers. To meet the needs and interests of young readers, the library pays close attention to both fiction and non-fiction.
The Science curriculum is a vital part of the school curriculum. Instead of science experienced through a textbook, children in their classrooms investigate the natural world outside their classroom, generate questions and search for answers. Students begin to develop the skills and habits of minds to be active and engaged problem solvers in an increasingly complex world. As part of the science curriculum, the school garden is a resource for understanding and appreciating the natural world, as well as a concrete way to focus on sustainability.
The Social Studies curriculum is organized around “big ideas” that students encounter with increasing complexity as they move through the school. How communities allocate resources can guide a first grade study of houses and homes, and similarly focus a fourth grade study of World Peace Games. By organizing units around questions first and then skills and content, we communicate to students that learning about the past is inquiry-based: by asking and exploring good questions, we delve deeper into the topic.
There are specific technology skills at each grade level, and technology is embedded into all areas of the curriculum. Lower School students use technology in ways that support creativity, critical thinking, and promote the sharing of ideas in new and flexible ways. iPads and laptops are readily available for students, and SMART boards, as well as wireless classrooms, integrate the use of technology into all aspects of the classroom.
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