Kindergarten

Montessori Kindergarten classes offer the same high-movement environment found in our pre-school classes while offering a more focused reading and math curriculum that prepares students for success in first grade at any public or private elementary school. Families planning on having their student attend our San Elijo Campus Elementary School should enroll in the San Elijo Campus Kindergarten (Pre-Kindergarten) program to have specific preparation for our Encinitas Country Day School first grade. See the back of this brochure for an introduction to our elementary and middle school programs.

Foreign Language

Elementary students receive instruction in conversational Spanish through our foreign language program. Due to the large Spanish speaking population in our area, we have chosen Spanish as the most practical foreign language for our children to explore.

Nature Studies

A young child is fascinated with life. A drop of water, a pretty pebble, a ladybug or a weed affords as much a reason to pause and admire as the more grand spectacles of nature. Our school site is the natural home of a large variety of small plants and creatures. Taking time to smell the flowers, feel the wind or touch the soil connects the child with nature and fosters a lifelong appreciation of its beauty and rhythm. Opportunities to work in the vegetable and flower gardens, participate in corn, apple and banana harvests, plant bulbs, take a hike and explore under a rock are just a few of the outdoor activities that invite our students to explore nature.

Music Training

As part of our regular program, credentialed music teacher Nicolette Crawford presents weekly music classes. Nicolette comes to us with extensive background in the Yamaha, Suzuki and Orff methods of music training. Her years of experience have enabled her to develop a dynamic program designed to expose your child to the fundamentals of music. Ear training, note reading, rhythm, singing, and ensemble participation using Orff and percussion instruments are all elements of her program.

Inquire in the office for details about after school enrichment classes in music, art, karate, mathematics, and reading, as well as our holiday & summer camp programs.

Creative Arts and Crafts

Children receive significant benefits from a program rich in creative experiences. Exploring color, texture, structures and techniques through various art media exposes each child to his own potential in art. Art activities may be structured with a specific end in mind or may be simply present opportunities to work creatively with art media, crafts, art related skills or view the work of great artists. *Elementary students have the added benefit of weekly art classes with a credentialed art instructor.

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.

Movement Training

Our physical-motor training curriculum includes music and movement dance, gymnastics, yoga, games, and sports offered according to the level and ability of the children. As with our music program, our dance and gymnastics instructors are trained specialists in their field. The goal of the movement program is to contribute to the child’s balanced development by helping him improve coordination, agility, endurance and self-discipline. Physical motor training objectives are accomplished through a sequential program designed to challenge and test young children. Older children enjoy a physical education program that allows them to develop elementary level skills and use them individually and in group activities.

A Warm Loving Environment

A warm and loving environment is so essential to the growth of young children that we have made each child’s need to feel secure and valued our number one priority. Only when a child’s basic needs are met can he begin to venture out and start the work of creating himself.

Throughout the school, care has been taken to provide an experienced staff. Each adult has developed the maturity necessary to be able to nurture a child while subtly encouraging independence. The proper balance of these two points is vital to each child’s development.

Character Education*

Character training is an important part of a balanced program. Children need to learn the principles of right behavior at an early age and to be motivated to practice them. Our character education curriculum is designed to encourage the development of a strong moral foundation. 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.

Computers

Even the youngest children learn to operate our classroom computers. Bright graphics and quick verbal (or sound) responses to the children’s input holds the child’s interest while exposing him to a variety of multi-media learning experiences.

Imaginative Play

We offer special indoor and outdoor areas dedicated to your child’s imagination. Unstructured time is vital to the balanced development of a child. It affords time and opportunity to do or be anything. Children express their interests, feelings and fears through play. By having an opportunity to observe such play a teacher frequently gains new insights to use in meeting the needs of a child. Children have access to a variety of imaginative play equipment, such as household equipment, construction tools, blocks, dress up trunks, puppet theaters, and fantasy props. Outdoors we have a variety of vehicles, a trike track, and sand areas. Play equipment, garden plots, and nature areas round out the opportunities for your child to express his individuality through unstructured creative activities.

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.