We believe acquiring reading skills and being exposed to good literature are critical for success in leaning. Most students start to read in kindergarten and read classic novels by 4 th and 5 th grade. Students begin writing short stories in kindergarten and by third grade are very articulate and familiar with the written word. Math is taught with manipulative until the fourth grade. For several years, we have adopted the Saxon Math Program which emphasizes constant review and practice of all concepts embedded within the program.
Standardized tests show a school wide improvement of students computational abilities.
Teachers often extend learning beyond the textbook by making use of projects, science experiments, hands-on learning, and monthly field trips. Students also participate in the Jason project, the National Geography Bee and a school wide science fair each spring. Our teachers are selected not only for their experience and academic background, but also for their sensitivity to the needs of children in a changing and increasingly complex world. They know when to challenge and when to support, when a child needs to be encouraged to seed their own answers and when they need someone to direct them. Reasonably sized classes of 20 children, or less, allow teachers to address differences in children s learning styles and to give them the individual attention they need.