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Primary Years - Grades One to Five
Our school's student body is international and multi-cultural in character. We believe passionately in the value of a global education and accept the responsibility to teach our students how to develop skills which enable them to solve problems in constructive ways and to develop appreciation for cultures and languages different from their own. Learning activities are designed to help children learn tolerance, compassion and respect, not only for members of our school community, but for all.
In the Lower School we believe it is vital to teach children the basic literacy, computational, reasoning, critical thinking and technological skills they need to function as young learners. Our goal is to help our students to develop the tools for learning in order to be successful at the next stage of their school career and to develop lifelong learning habits. Our children study literacy, mathematics, social studies, science, and French, as well as music, art, and physical education. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Information Literacy are appropriately integrated throughout the curriculum. The Lower School programme comprises subjects being taught as discrete elements and integrated into transdisciplinary 'Units of Learning', which are constructed around "big ideas" or understandings of concepts drawn from science and social studies.
The Lower School Curriculum is elaborated from Standards and Benchmarks for each subject area. The Standards and Benchmarks identify what it is the students should know, understand and be able to do. The Standards and Benchmarks are the basis for planning for instruction and assessing student learning and progress.
Students in Grades 1 to 5 are enrolled in of one of four homeroom classes at each grade level. Literacy, mathematics and 'Units of Learning' are taught by the homeroom teacher. Specialist teachers provide instruction in art, music, physical education, French, English as an Additional Language (EAL), and library. ICT is integrated throughout the curriculum; children learn to use technology as a tool to enhance their learning both in the classroom and in visits to the library or computer lab. The ICT Learning Facilitator works closely with teachers to integrate technology into the instructional programme.
