Emphasis is placed on the natural setting, as the school has a large gated courtyard, community garden, and two playscapes (one for early childhood and one for older students). There are wheelchair-accessible walkways outside and alternative play opportunities for exceptional learners. Within the gated courtyard, there is covered seating to keep students comfortable and dry, or shaded on sunny days.

Classes can take place inside or outside. During more focused core classes, lessons take place within a classroom environment with pod seating. Each pod seats 3-4 students.

Developmentally appropriate lessons and curriculum about online safety.

Digital citizenship is reinforced through encouraging creative and prosocial use of technology as a tool for learning and connection.

Low and High-Tech Assistive Technology

Braille

Text-to-speech

Speech-to-text

Enlarged print

Virtual books

Adaptive listening

Augmentative communication

Flexible seating

Sensory headphones

Pencil grip

Applications:

Nearpod interactive presentations.

ClassDojo token economy system to reinforce positive and collaborative behavior.

DreamBox Learning Math for game-like mathematics instruction.

Lexia reading program, with colorful animation and engaging literacy practice.

Google Classroom: Classroom management and organization of materials/curriculum

Google Slides/Canva: Classroom presentation making

Weekly classroom newsletters and monthly bulletins are sent to families.

Annual family dinner celebration three times a school year!

Open houses, trunk-or-treat, recitals, assemblies, agricultural field trips, international nights, classroom game nights, and other events for parental involvement.

Contact information is shared, and parents can share what mode is best for them (e.g., phone, email, fax, etc.)

Bridge the gap between home and school with updates through ClassDojo. Families can monitor student progress, view photos, and see student rewards.

Herbs, vegetables, and fruits from the community garden can be shared with families.

A school food pantry, laundry machines, and donated clothing can help families in need - no questions asked and at no cost to them!

*Allow 10 minutes for buses to arrive

*Allow 5 minutes for transition time

8:45: Optional Classroom Breakfast

Report to the assigned classroom for optional breakfast. Student belongings should be placed in their wooden cubby.

9:15- 9:30: Circle Time( K-3) or Morning Meeting (4-5) on rug

Go over the visual schedule, day of the week, and weather. SMART Board/Projection with engaging animations can assist with the presentation.

A laminated copy of the visual schedule can be provided to learners upon request.

Incorporate one movement activity to transition into storytime.

Students should stay on the rug or go outside with the teacher if the weather permits for the following activity.

9:30 - 10:00: Story Time and Turn & Talk Discussions

10:00: Employ a transition that corresponds to the literature read. For example, "As we make our way to our seats/inside, show our friends your best kangaroo hop!"

10:00 - 10:40: Science

Discuss science topics and respect for the natural world. Examples: tend to or collect vegetables/herbs from the community garden. Have students identify animals that they are learning about within their unit.

10:40 - 11:10: Mathematics Whole-Class Lesson with manipulatives (e.g., blocks, abacus, paper clock, play money/coins).

Small support groups of 4 students rotate to the back of the class to work directly with the teacher to discuss concepts. Students can utilize online tools to reinforce mathematics concepts.

11:10 - 12:10: Classroom Community Lunch

Lunch in-classroom, community-style seating to encourage friendship building. The classroom mirrors a Maria Montessori classroom, with kitchens in the classroom. Two students can rotate to learn how to set the table and serve peers.

Allow for 5-10 minutes for clean up

12:20 - 12:50 Writing

Create short stories or essays (for older students). Learn about letters, tracing, writing one's name, or cursive.

Small support groups of 4 students rotate to the back of the class to work directly with the teacher to discuss concepts

12:50 - 1:05 Brain Break

Play a song and dance as a class.

1:05 - 1:40 Social Studies

Developmentally appropriate discussion of current events. Cultural considerations of past events. Use the SMART board for visuals, such as documentaries, pictures, archaeological sites, etc.

1:40 - 2:40 Art/Physical Education/Music (specials rotate every other day)

Art- development of fine motor skills, fingerprinting, holding writing utensils, and learning about colors.

Physical Education/Health: Movement and exercise education, integration of health

Music - singing, keeping time, learning a chosen instrument.

2:40 - 2:55: Snack (if students finish early, they can go directly into free reading or Recess)

2:55 PM - 3:30 PM: Independent Reading/Recess
3:30 PM: Dismissal on buses or family pick up.

The special education team is fit to student needs.

• Principal

  • School leader

    • Sets the tone

    • Embodies school mission and core values

• Vice Principal

  • Assists principal with leadership and proactively reinforces positive student behavior

• Dean

  • Oversees academic and behavioral misconduct.

  • Helps individualize student success

• Student's Family/Guardian

• Teacher(s)

  • General education and/or special education

• Paraprofessional

  • Provides in-class support for teacher and assigned student(s)

• 504 Coordinator

  • Assure the school is up-to-date and compliant with disability-related policy—specializing in 504 procedure, documentation, and implementation.

• Therapist

  • Out-of-school mental health care professionals utilize interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), talk therapy, non-directive therapy, etc.

• Psychiatrist

  • Mental health care professional focused on pharmacotherapies

• School counselor

  • 1:1 and group counseling to discuss interpersonal, familial, or emotional difficulties. Crisis-training.

• School psychologist

  • Academic, social-emotional, and behavioral testing. Consultation. Crisis-training. Small-group counseling. Helps to determine what supports are needed.

• School guidance counselor

  • Provides vocational advice and discussion

• Speech-language pathologist

  • Works with students who have difficulties with communication, annunciation, and phonics.

• School-based physical therapy and occupational therapist

  • Exercises and tests for the development of certain fine/gross motor skills.

• Crisis

  • De-escalation

  • Suicide-prevention

• Pediatrician (Advisory) & School Nurse

  • Physical care and special care plans for students. Providing health education, proper medication, and assistance as needed.

• Autism-specialist

  • Works with students diagnosed with ASD or show signs of ASD to assist in behavioral and emotional challenges.

• ABA (Applied Behavior Analyst)

  • Works on a team specializing in respondent and operant conditioning to change undesired, disruptive, or harmful behaviors.

• Academic

  • Chess

  • Spelling-bee

  • Book-club

  • LEGO building

  • Inventions

  • Robotics/coding

  • Language-specific club (e.g., ASL)

• Volunteering

  • Soup Kitchen

  • Clothing Drives

  • School Food Pantry

  • Best-Buddies

  • Tutoring

  • Animal shelters, charities, or organizations

• Arts

  • Pottery

  • Painting

  • Drawing/Doodling

  • Crochet/knitting

• Agricultural

  • Gardening

  • Animal-care

  • Animal identification

• Performing Arts & Creativity

  • Chorus

  • Band

  • Fantasy play

  • Instrument lessons (e.g., guitar, violin, recorder, flute, autoharp, vocal, kalimba)

  • Community Theatre

• Sports

  • Cooperative games

  • Kickball

  • Baseball

  • Soccer

  • Karate

  • Yoga

  • Cricket

  • Frisbee

  • Badminton