Latest Issue of the Lower School Newsletter
LOWER SCHOOL OVERVIEW
Objectives for Core Classes
Grades PreK-5
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Language Arts: The goal is to create literate and thoughtful students. A sequential and integrated curriculum is used to teach reading, vocabulary, spelling, composition and grammar. The reading program is a phonetic approach which emphasizes decoding, analyzing and building vocabulary, and comprehension. The students read a variety of literary forms, write extensively, including creative writing, and analyze what they have read. | |
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Social Studies: The goal is to help students learn about themselves and their relationship to communities. They pursue this goal by studying historical facts, listening to stories, going on field trips and completing projects. |
Mathematics: The goal is to develop in the students an understanding of mathematical concepts, computational skills, problem-solving strategies and reasoning skills. The curriculum follows a sequential plan. Manipulatives, calculators and computers are integrated into the program to motivate and encourage students to view math as an everyday part of life.
Science: The goal is to have students appreciate the value of an exploring mind and the relevance of science in their lives. The skills of observing, measuring, classifying, analyzing, predicting, sequencing and recording are taught as well as comparing data for similarities and differences in order to draw conclusions.
OBJECTIVES FOR SPECIAL CLASSES
Art: The goals are to unlock the creativity in each child and to build confidence in creative expression. The curriculum focuses on skill development as well as exposure to different media, including paint, pastels, ink, colored pencils, markers and clay. Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten teachers incorporate art into their daily classroom instruction. In grades one through five, the students have art every week.
Technology: The goal is to teach students the capabilities of the computer as a tool for writing, problem-solving and obtaining information. The curriculum, therefore, provides students the opportunity to become computer literate and comfortable with using this educational tool. All classrooms have computers in them and three labs are available to students. In grades kindergarten through five, classes in the lab are held every week.
Science Enrichment: The goals are to allow students to explore the exciting world of science and to enable them to develop scientific processing skills through hands-on activities. Students in Pre-Kindergarten through fourth grade have classes once a week in the science lab. Fifth grade students are taught four days a week in the lab.
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Music: The goals are to provide an enjoyable and educational musical experience for all students, develop the musically creative capabilities of each student and encourage aesthetic awareness. Classes meet every week. | |
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Foreign Language: The goal for the students is to learn about another culture through the study of language. Oral comprehension and expression are elements of instruction. Grades one through five participate in these classes which meet every week. |
Physical Education: The goals are for students to develop motor skills and control of their bodies. Through a range of activities, they learn about having fun, sportsmanship, teamwork and discipline. Students in Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten enjoy their class (with one of the coaches--just like the "big kids"!) once a week. Students in grades one through five have PE four times a week.
Guidance: The goals are to help students build on their strengths and excel. The needs of the whole child are stressed with an emphasis on emotional and character development. In grades kindergarten through five, the classes meet every week.
Library: The Avondale Library and Media Center is available to all students. It serves as a supplement to the classroom by offering resources which complement the curriculum. Students are taught how to find and use available materials. Classes meet every week.
CLASS SIZE
Normally, twelve to eighteen students are assigned to a classroom with one teacher. In grades one through five, if 19-24 students are placed in a single classroom, a teacher assistant is assigned to the classroom. When a grade level has 25 students, two sections are created. Through this policy, the school honors the importance of small classes for quality instruction, nurturing individual students and constant evaluation of academic and social growth.
PARENT CONFERENCES
Communication between teachers and parents is crucial to the success of the Lower School program. Accordingly, two conference days are set aside for teachers to discuss student progress with parents. The initial conference occurs in early October, and the second is early May. In addition, a parent or teacher may request a conference at any time.
GRADE REPORTING
The goal of grade reporting is to provide parents with periodic assessment of student achievement, work and study habits, social development and conduct.
Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students receive written assessments once each semester. In grades one through five report cards are sent home at the end of every nine weeks. In first grade, student academic progress is indicated by P (performing successfully), S (showing progress) or E (experiencing difficulty).
The grading system for grades two through five uses numerical averages for academic subjects. Criteria are used to distinguish between levels of performance.
90-100 indicates that a student is excelling in several if not all of the following: skill development, application of skills, sustained and effective use of knowledge, frequent contribution to class discussion and initiative by going well beyond standard requirements and expectations.
80-89 indicates that a student is excelling in fulfilling requirements and expectations in some areas and displaying competence in many areas.
70-79 indicates that a student is satisfactorily fulfilling the requirements and expectations, sometimes exceeding or falling below them.
60-69 indicates that a student is not satisfactorily fulfilling the requirements and expectations in many areas.
Below 60 indicates that a student is not fulfilling basic requirements and expectations.
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