The Nutshell 2018 – 2019 An Inside Look at Programs, Policies, and People AN INDEPENDENT DAY SCHOOL SERVING PRESCHOOL (AGE 3) THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE TABLE OF CONTENTS Primary School ..................................... 2 Preschool ............................................. 2 Pre-kindergarten ................................... 3 Lower School........................................ 4 Kindergarten ......................................... 5 Grade 1 ................................................ 6 Grade 2 ................................................ 7 Grade 3 ................................................ 7 Grade 4 ................................................ 8 Grade 5 ................................................ 9 Upper School ..................................... 10 Grade 6 .............................................. 12 Grade 7 .............................................. 13 Grade 8 .............................................. 14 Secondary Schools ............................ 15 Colleges ............................................. 16 Resource Services and Library .......... 16 Sustainability Program ....................... 17 Technology ......................................... 17 English as a Second Language ......... 17 Athletics .............................................. 17 Upper School Play ............................. 18 Music Lessons ................................... 18 Arts Festival Week .............................. 18 Buddy Program .................................. 18 Leadership Opportunities .................. 19 School Hours and Extended Day ....... 19 Summer Camp ................................... 19 Volunteer Opportunities ..................... 19 Transportation .................................... 20 Accreditation and Affiliations .............. 20 Tuition ................................................. 20 Extended Day Fees ............................ 20 Events and Traditions......................... 20 Directions ........................................... 21 Faculty and Administration ................ 22 NAIS Principles ................................... 24 Calendar .....................Inside back cover The Pennfield School’s Mission The mission of The Pennfield School is to create an inclusive community of dedicated learners, who have an appreciation for the joyful pursuit of knowledge—and respect for themselves and others as a way of life. At Pennfield, we provide students with a rigorous, challenging, and exciting program that gives our graduates the finest preparation and the greatest number of options for secondary school. THE PENNFIELD SCHOOL 2018 GRADUATES The following overview covers the curriculum for all grades, outlining general objectives and study materials for each subject and level. As you peruse these pages, keep in mind that education, being an evolutionary process, demands that our program be constantly refined and revised to meet the needs of our students. Pennfield faculty share the objective of giving students the most comprehensive, well-integrated, and meaningful understanding of each subject that can be provided. We hope to engender in students, along with a love of learning and a solid foundation for further study, a sense of responsibility toward themselves and toward each other. Grades preschool (age 3) through eighth at Pennfield are sectioned into three depart - ments: Primary, Lower, and Upper. Although this overview is broken down by department for the reader’s convenience, the scope and sequence of the curriculum is not interrupted by the students’ progression from one department to the next. The Pennfield School’s Head of Lower School and Head of Upper School work together to ensure continuity in our academic program. The Pennfield School does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, race, religious affiliation, non-disqualifying handicap, sexual orientation, family composition, ethnic or national origin, in the administration of its admissions, financial aid, educational policies, hiring or any of its school practices. Primary School PRESCHOOL The Primary School is comprised of pre - The preschool program aims to develop school and pre-kindergarten. Maximum class emerging language skills. Children learn the size on any given day in preschool is twelve connection between print and speech, explore students and in pre-k is sixteen students, with a books independently, and re-tell favorite stories. teacher and an aide. These programs run from They notice print in the classroom and recognize 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. with optional Extended that it has meaning. Students also begin to Day hours. recognize uppercase and lowercase letters and The Primary School curriculum focuses frequently used words. They are also able to largely on socialization and early life skills, write their own name. As communication skills intro ducing children to the world of school develop, children ask and answer pertinent ques - and learning in a nurturing environment. Teachers tions, state facts and observations, use language model respectful listening and appropriate to solve problems, and participate readily in language for conflict resolution. They involve singing, storytelling, finger plays, and rhyming children in finding positive solutions for disagree - games. Thematic units encompass all academic ments. Children learn to use their words areas, including art. effectively to communicate their thoughts and Each week a new letter is taught. A weekly feelings. Through games and group activities, rhyme book, cooking activity, coloring pages, and Primary students practice patience and sharing. gross motor activities are related to the letter They build friendships and learn to appreciate being taught. Sign language is introduced. their peers’ different backgrounds, ideas, and Math learning begins with patterning and emotions. Teachers foster positive group dynamics sorting objects by shape, color, and size. Numbers through the emphasis on cooperation and team - are explored through puzzles, rhymes, and work during group play and clean-up times. songs, as well as hands-on manipulatives of all Thematic units provide a basis for elemen - sorts. Sand and water play teach students about tary learning of all kinds, interweaving activities, measuring, weighing, and volume. literature selections, field trips, games, and The science curriculum for preschool discussions. Weekly visits to the school library students focuses on simple natural and physical extend the learning experience beyond the science concepts. These ideas are explored classroom. Science, Spanish, yoga, music, and further each week as students visit the science physical education are also included to enrich the table in the room and investigate a variety of program. Plenty of playground time provides for material with scales, magnifying glasses, and development of gross motor skills and spatial their senses. The children also make simple awareness. observations, predictions, and generalizations based on real-life experiences. Preschool students have a Spanish lesson each week, introducing them to the language they will study through grade eight. In addition, students enjoy weekly yoga, music, and physical education classes. 2 | THE NUTSHELL 2018 –2019 PRE-KINDERGARTEN such as in/on, above/below, and top/middle/ bottom are examined through play and stories. In pre-kindergarten, language arts learning Weekly science lessons, often consistent expands to memorization of rhymes, songs, and with the monthly theme, allow students to explore poems. Pre-kindergarteners gain letter and word the natural world. During the fall and spring recognition through letter of the week activities terms, the students focus on the Pennfield and comprehend that print is read from left garden by exploring seeds, observing plant to right. Handwriting Without Tears curriculum is growth, harvesting, and composting. used to teach correct letter formation techniques Pre-kindergarteners take part in weekly and to help children observe their own dictated Spanish lessons. Students learn songs in Spanish, stories in written form. The children’s speaking along with beginning numbers and words. and listening vocabularies continue to grow. Yoga instruction continues and mindfulness In math, pre-kindergarteners expand their techniques are introduced. Students attend shape vocabulary and continue with the con - weekly music and physical education classes. cepts of patterning and sequence. They readily Play through games, songs, and daily recess count up to 20 objects and begin to recognize helps children develop spatial awareness and and apply number symbols. Spatial concepts strengthen gross motor skills. Yoga instruction and mindfulness techniques are introduced. THE NUTSHELL 2018 –2019 | 3 strengths in each of these areas. Each year Lower School builds upon the lessons learned from the year Pennfield’s Lower School consists of kinder - prior, and students master skills in each of these garten through fifth grade, and is located in the disciplines at an age-appropriate level. downstairs wing of the school. English, math, and Art is a core part of every student’s education social studies are taught in a self-contained at The Pennfield School. Kindergarteners through classroom, and students go to different class - fifth graders work with a wide variety of media. rooms for science, foreign language, library, art, They explore drawing, painting, printmaking, music, and physical education. ceramics, and sculpture. The students refine