Mission Statement
Encinitas Country Day School is a non-sectarian, multi-cultural, private school established in 1988 to provide a balanced education designed to support the all-round physical, intellectual, emotional, and character education of children.
Dynamic Montessori Curriculum
Montessori prepared environments, individualized instruction, and credentialed staff, combine to form the developmental and academic foundation of our elementary school. Pre-K and Kindergarten students enjoy traditional exercises in the areas of practical life, sensorial, language, mathematics, geometry, science, art and cultural studies. Elementary students enjoy an expanded Montessori “Cosmic Education” program that integrates art, music, geography, history, botany, zoology and physical science experiences with the development of academic skills. Concepts come to life in the hands-on Montessori environment. Students refine their understanding and skills through research, complementary exercises and field studies designed to help them gain a comprehensive view of their time and place in the universe.
Individualized Instruction and Standardized Testing
Individualized reading, language, spelling, writing and mathematics curriculum meet state standards and assure that students achieve academic goals. Traditional reading and math materials reinforce academic concepts and prepare students for traditional programs and testing. Each year we administer standardized testing in grades 1-8 in order to monitor student progress and provide necessary academic accountability.
Ongoing Character Education**
Character training is an important part of a balanced program. Children need to learn the principles of right behavior and be motivated to practice those principles consistently. Children are presented with universally accepted principles and encouraged to implement them at school and at home. Honesty, courage, friendliness, patience, courtesy, valuing oneself and serving others are typical principles presented through stories, real life examples and practical exercises. Older students learn more sophisticated social, goal setting and introspection skills.
Physical Education
The new San Elijo campus supports physical education activities with a playground, playing field, running track and jogging trail. Elementary students will have daily opportunities for physical activity and have structured physical education classes at least twice a week. Future phases will add a gymnasium and swimming pool.
Visual and Performing Arts
Our program includes weekly performing and visual arts classes. Music classes are one of the elements of the performing arts program. Music classes provide instruction in the fundamentals of music through ear training, note reading, rhythm, singing and ensemble participation. Art classes give students an opportunity to enjoy creative projects, develop the skills necessary to work with various art and craft media or learn about the history of art. Throughout the year, creative and performing arts programs are offered as part of the overall elementary instruction.
Cultural Studies
Our cultural studies program encourages an attitude of appreciation and respect for the vast cultural diversity we see all around us. Children learn easily that despite our outer differences, people around the world are very much the same. A loving family unit, a sense of community, and faith in God are common threads throughout the world’s cultures. Our use of non-sectarian prayer allows each child to come to school complete with his own religious and cultural background and find an environment that reinforces his home training in a non-sectarian way. A morning prayer, the singing of traditional songs such as “God Bless America,” and expressing gratitude to God for food are among the simple ways the children share in the cultural universality of man’s connection with God.
Foreign Language
Our students have weekly instruction in conversational Spanish. We have chosen Spanish for our students’ first foreign language experience because our area is home to a large Spanish speaking population. Children are immersed in the language in fun and interactive ways to help them acquire the language in a natural setting. The class addresses all four domains of language according to the student’s ability: listening, speaking, reading and writing, but the emphasis is on oral communication.
Science
Our students have weekly standards driven science instruction that features hands-on experiments to support an academic atmosphere of scientific questioning and discovery.
Our campus includes a large conservation area that encompasses a creek and more than four acres of native habitat. In addition, the Escondido Creek flows past our campus through the County reserve to the south, and westward into the San Elijo Lagoon. Our students will have opportunities for supervised exploration, study and environmental protection activities within and around these environments.
Multi–Media
Each classroom has its own computer and internet access. In addition, our media center houses books, a computer lab and a media library for classroom and student use. Students will learn various keyboarding, word processing, desk-top publishing, multi media presentation, internet research and programming skills in weekly multi-media classes.
Our Commitment to You
Our curriculum is the product of an ongoing effort to provide children with a balanced foundation of academic excellence, physical fitness, self-control and moral strength at an early age. Our intent is to enter into a partnership of true support with the families we serve. Each member of our staff is aware of our commitment to serve your child with a vision of the adult he will someday be.
School Documents
You can view and print a copy of our school documents by clicking on these links:
ECDS Admissions Packet - 2010-2011 School Year (PDF, 10 Pages)
ECDS Dress Code Standards (PDF, 1 Page)
ECDS School Calendar - 2009/2010 (PDF, 13 Pages)
