Enrichment

Toddler

• Art
• Music
• Movement-perceptual motor development

Lower School

French

The French Curriculum provides an entertaining enrichment for this age level. Simple vocabulary and expressions are used and repeated often to become part of the child's environment. The goal is simply to teach a variety of short subjects where the language remains uncomplicated. The child, in turn, feels curious to participate, and to enjoy the experience.

Music

Within a group setting the children respond to a variety of musical stimuli through song, instrument playing and body movement. Our curriculum accommodates the children's responses and allows class materials to evolve accordingly.

Art

Physical Education

Twice a week children meet for cooperative group games, and activities. The program's goal is for students to feel good about themselves while learning about health-building activities and their bodies. At this level, activities focus on motor development needed for running, hopping and the transfer of weight while building skills. Designed to promote self-esteem and positive cooperation with peers our program also focuses on building organizational and leadership skills.

Technology for Extended Day

Using various programs and repetitive exercises students become comfortable using the computer. Proper use includes mastering the art of using the mouse and focusing on eye/hand coordination. These exercises lay the groundwork for more complex exercises. Extended Day students are shown how to browse the Internet (in a carefully controlled environment using visual search engines), and are taken to various websites that tie in with their other lessons. Students who already have a strong background in computers are given the opportunity to explore other applications according to their interests and abilities.

Art for Extended Day

Cultural Program for Extended Day

Each year, the Cultural Program highlights one of the arts. Guest artists are brought in throughout the school year for both individual classroom activities and general school assemblies. The Cultural Program is interspersed with relevant academics and, conversely, academics that are drawn from the themes of the Cultural Program.

Lower Elementary

French

The target of the French Curriculum at this level is to encourage and train the student's ability to listen to all the words and expressions used during lessons.  This allows the child to imitate and reproduce the pronunciation, to guess and spot words or expressions through interactions in groups or paired exercises.  Children use a variety of materials during activities that include games, puppets, songs, skits, short poems, and videos that reinforce themes and foster curiosity and knowledge in the multi-French cultures seen around the world.  By allowing students ample time to understand lessons we avoid frustration and encourage their growing self-confidence.

Music

The Orff-Schulwerk philosophy is the foundation for elementary music classes.  Students build on the musical skills and experience musical concepts through singing, movement, speech, chanting rhymes and playing a wide variety of percussive instruments using Orff orchestrated musical pieces.  The use of the Orff instrumentarium helps to develop the student's skill, musicianship, and growing sense of musical aesthetics.  All children are encouraged to respect each other's efforts and learn to listen, observe, and evaluate their own efforts and musical growth.  The study of music is vital to the appreciation and understanding of our culture and the cultures of the world.  Through listening, performing, and composing, we create opportunities for our students to have a deeper understanding of music.

Our music lessons follow the 9 guidelines of National Standards for Music Education.

Physical Education

Twice a week students meet for cooperative group games, sports and activities.  The program’s goal is for students to feel good about themselves while learning about health-building activities and their bodies. It is designed to develop self-esteem, positive cooperation with peers and organizational and leadership skills.

Technology and Digital-Age Learning

The Information Technology Curriculum integrates seamlessly with classroom academics. Students acquire a progression of skills through teacher instruction, self-directed software programs and cooperative and independent learning. Students use age-appropriate learning programs, become competent in the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Publisher, FrontPage) and safely and effectively utilize the Internet.

The new standards identify several higher-order thinking skills and digital citizenship as critical for students to learn effectively for a lifetime and live productively in our emerging global society.  These areas include the ability to:

• Demonstrate creativity and innovation
• Communicate and collaborate
• Conduct research and use information
• Think critically, solve problems, and make decisions
• Use technology effectively and productively
• Cosmic Education

Visual Arts

Students make weekly visits to the art studio and experience the works of master and contemporary artists, as well as lesser-known artists from other cultures. Visual Arts students learn about techniques and styles in art through examples or reproductions. They are then encouraged to use the inspiration to create their own unique projects. This develops a true appreciation for the elements of art as well as the artists studied.

Students have countless opportunities in our art studio to explore materials, including the clay wheel, in both traditional and non-traditional ways.  Students are encouraged to experiment, encounter the concepts of balance, space, texture, form, color and line.

The Montessori philosophy allows for individual exploration in learning. Our art classes are set up to provide experiences that follow this philosophy. We also are mindful to follow the six National Standards for the Visual Arts.

Cultural Program

Each year, the Cultural Program highlights one of the arts.  Guest artists are brought in throughout the school year for both individual classroom activities and general school assemblies. The Cultural Program is interspersed with relevant academics and, conversely, academics that are drawn from the themes of the Cultural Program.

Students stage their own production—an activity many consider to be the highlight of the school year.  For the annual performance, students participate in all aspects of production. Roles range from actors/singers/dancers to set/costume/lighting designers to performance directors.  To help foster independence, students are encouraged to work out their own solutions as a group.

The Cultural Program cycle includes:

• Dance
• Opera
• Folktales, Myths and Legends
• Art and Performance
• Shakespeare
• Classical Music
• Musical Theater
• Cosmic Education

Upper Elementary

French

The curriculum for Fourth Year students is to review and solidify their knowledge of the previous years. The usage of language is still quite simple, however, verbs and conjugations are introduced. Children practice their pronunciation at their own rhythm. Small texts are presented and students can expect to read, translate, and write dialogues.

The Fifth Year students begin a new textbook that provides a new set of multicultural activities covering reading, listening, speaking, and writing in the French language. Grammar, verbs, and conjugation are quite important at this point.

Music

The Orff-Schulwerk philosophy is the foundation for elementary music classes. Students build on the musical skills and experience musical concepts through singing, movement, speech, chanting rhymes and playing a wide variety of percussive instruments using Orff orchestrated musical pieces. The use of the Orff instrumentarium helps to develop the student's skill, musicianship, and growing sense of musical aesthetics. All children are encouraged to respect each other's efforts and learn to listen, observe, and evaluate their own efforts and musical growth. The study of music is vital to the appreciation and understanding of our culture and the cultures of the world. Through listening, performing, and composing, we create opportunities for our students to have a deeper understanding of music.

Our music lessons follow the 9 guidelines of National Standards for Music Education.

Physical Education

The Upper Elementary students meet twice a week for 45 minutes. The curriculum for the Upper El has an emphasis on developing an awareness of team sports, rules, spatial and positional awareness. At this level the students are introduced to a mildly competitive after-school sports program in which they play against other small private schools in the area. The sports include soccer, basketball and softball.

The focus of class is to encourage and develop respect and awareness of others during individual and group cooperative activities. All students are encouraged to develop leadership skills through the cooperative games and team-building activities. Good sportsmanship and the development of a healthy approach to competition are stressed throughout the curriculum.

Students participate in annual physical fitness tests which measure flexibility, strength and endurance. Through these tests they learn how to improve their physique and overall fitness through proper diet and regular exercise.

Technology and Digital-Age Learning

The Information Technology Curriculum integrates seamlessly with classroom academics. Students acquire a progression of skills through teacher instruction, self-directed software programs and cooperative and independent learning. Students use age-appropriate learning programs, become competent in the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Publisher, FrontPage) and safely and effectively utilize the Internet.

The new standards identify several higher-order thinking skills and digital citizenship as critical for students to learn effectively for a lifetime and live productively in our emerging global society.

Visual Arts

Students make weekly visits to the art studio and experience the works of master and contemporary artists, as well as lesser-known artists from other cultures. Visual Arts students learn about techniques and styles in art through examples or reproductions. They are then encouraged to use the inspiration to create their own unique projects. This develops a true appreciation for the elements of art as well as the artists studied.

Students have countless opportunities in our art studio to explore materials, including the clay wheel, in both traditional and non-traditional ways. Students are encouraged to experiment, encounter the concepts of balance, space, texture, form, color and line.

The Montessori philosophy allows for individual exploration in learning. Our art classes are set up to provide experiences that follow this philosophy. We also are mindful to follow the six National Standards for the Visual Arts.

Cultural Program

Each year, the Cultural Program highlights one of the arts. Guest artists are brought in throughout the school year for both individual classroom activities and general school assemblies. The Cultural Program is interspersed with relevant academics and, conversely, academics that are drawn from the themes of the Cultural Program.

Students stage their own production—an activity many consider to be the highlight of the school year. For the annual performance, students participate in all aspects of production. Roles range from actors/singers/dancers to set/costume/lighting designers to performance directors. To help foster independence, students are encouraged to work out their own solutions as a group.

The Cultural Program cycle includes:

• Dance
• Opera
• Folktales, Myths and Legends
• Art and Performance
• Shakespeare
• Classical Music
• Musical Theater
• Cosmic Education

Middle School

Music

Taiko drumming is the format we offer to the Middle School students in music classes. Our classes involve Taiko terminologies, discipline, posture, basic rhythm, traditional Taiko rhythms and Taiko choreography - capability to performing on stage. This unique format provides our students not only with instruction in Taiko but also with opportunities for building creative expression, self-esteem, cultural awareness, and group cooperation.

There are four basic elements in Taiko that must come together as one unit throughout class. They are:

• KARADA: Discipline of body strength, power, and stamina
• KOKORO: Discipline of mind, self control, and spirit
• WAZA: Musical skills, physical expressions, and rhythmic expression
• REI: Communication, manners, courtesy, respect, harmony, language, and unity of spirit

Our music lessons also follow 9 guidelines of National Standards for Music Education.

Physical Education

The Middle School students meet twice a week for 45 minutes at a time.  The focus of the Middle School Curriculum is to prepare students for team sports or activities, which they can explore further in high school.  In their classes and during activities the students learn about the capabilities of their bodies and how exercise and a healthy diet can affect both performance and participation in sports.  Emphasis is placed upon promoting a positive self-image and development of a healthy approach to competition.  All children are able to play at a level that is comfortable for them, and because the classes are coed and multi-age, students can also improve their skills by playing with other students who may have more ability in that particular activity.  Emphasis is also placed on reciprocal teaching and peer-leadership during cooperative and team-building games.  

Students participate in annual fitness tests and learn about flexibility, endurance and strength exercises, which can be improved upon throughout the year.

Technology and Digital-Age Learning

The Information Technology Curriculum integrates seamlessly with classroom academics. Students routinely bring their assignments into IT class to utilize the programs and research techniques they have learned.

Students acquire a progression of skills through teacher instruction, self-directed software programs and cooperative and independent learning. Students use age-appropriate learning programs, become competent in the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Publisher, FrontPage) and safely and effectively utilize the Internet.

As foundational technology skills penetrate throughout our society, students will be expected to apply the basics in authentic, integrated ways to solve problems, complete projects, and creatively extend their abilities. ISTE's NETS for Students (2007) help students prepare to work, live, and contribute to the social and civic fabric of their communities.

The new standards identify several higher-order thinking skills and digital citizenship as critical for students to learn effectively for a lifetime and live productively in our emerging global society.  These areas include the ability to:

• Demonstrate creativity and innovation
• Communicate and collaborate
• Conduct research and use information
• Think critically, solve problems, and make decisions
• Use technology effectively and productively

Visual Arts

Students make weekly visits to the art studio and experience the works of master and contemporary artists, as well as lesser-known artists from other cultures. Visual Arts students learn about techniques and styles in art through examples or reproductions. They are then encouraged to use the inspiration to create their own unique projects. This develops a true appreciation for the elements of art as well as the artists studied.

 Students have countless opportunities in our art studio to explore materials, including the clay wheel, in both traditional and non-traditional ways.  Students are encouraged to experiment, take risks and express their feelings, opinions and ideas visually. They encounter the concepts of balance, space, texture, form, color and line. Although the curriculum varies from year to year, it is a key component in integrating classroom and cultural studies.

 The Montessori philosophy allows for individual exploration in learning. Our art classes are set up to provide experiences that follow this philosophy and the six National Standards for the Visual Arts.

Cultural Program

Each year, the Cultural Program highlights one of the arts. Guest artists are brought in throughout the school year for both individual classroom activities and general school assemblies. The Cultural Program is interspersed with relevant academics and, conversely, academics that are drawn from the themes of the Cultural Program.

Students stage their own production—an activity many consider to be the highlight of the school year. For the annual performance, students participate in all aspects of production. Roles range from actors/singers/dancers to set/costume/lighting designers to performance directors. To help foster independence, students are encouraged to work out their own solutions as a group.

The Cultural Program cycle includes:

• Dance
• Opera
• Folktales, Myths and Legends
• Art and Performance
• Shakespeare
• Classical Music
• Musical Theater
• Cosmic Education

The Montessori philosophy allows for individual exploration in learning. Our art classes are set up to provide experiences that follow this philosophy. We also are mindful to follow the six National Standards for the Visual Arts.