The elementary school educational experience enables students to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary for academic achievement. At the start of each year, parents are given the grade level objectives and expectations for their children. The programs include Early Start, Kindergarten, and Grades 1st through 5th.  The four core areas are English, Mathematics, Science, and History/Social Science. 

ENGLISH

Grades K-2

The reading and writing curriculum is aligned to the Virginia State Standards of Learning. Daily instruction encompasses four literacy strands: Communication and Multimodal Literacies, Reading, Writing, and Research.  Students will participate in oral discussions to develop language and expand communication skills.  Classroom instruction will immerse students in text-rich environments that will provide explicit instruction to develop phonological awareness, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, comprehension.  The use of fiction and nonfiction text will allow students to develop comprehension strategies to access grade level text to gain information or read a text for enjoyment. Reading and writing will develop together as students write in a variety of forms to communicate ideas connected to authentic literature. Research skills will formulate by having opportunities to answer questions and solve problems.

Grades 3-5

The reading and writing curriculum is aligned to the Virginia State Standards of Learning. Daily instruction encompasses four literacy strands: Communication and Multimodal Literacies, Reading, Writing and Research.  Students will use communication skills to participate in classroom discussions, work respectfully with others in a variety of situations,  and develop presentations using multimodal tools.  Students will read a variety of fiction and nonfiction texts, which relate to all content areas and personal interests. Students will continue to develop strategic reading skills, such as word analysis and construction of meaning from text. Students will continue to apply comprehension strategies to compare and contrast story elements and differentiate between fiction and nonfiction. Students will grow as readers and writers as they explore writing in a variety of forms that will develop writing skills that are foundational to effective written communication and critical thinking. These skills are essential for success in future postsecondary education and workplace environments.
Link to English Virginia Standards of Learning and Curriculum Frameworks


MATHEMATICS

The mathematics curriculum is aligned with the Virginia Mathematics Standards of Learning. Emphasis is placed on the mathematics process goals which include mathematical problem solving, mathematical communication, mathematical reasoning, mathematical connections and mathematical representations.  Focus of elementary mathematics is building conceptual understanding while developing computational fluency. Strands include Number and Number Sense, Computation and Estimation, Measurement and Geometry and Probability, Statistics, Patterns, Functions and Algebra.  
Link to Mathematics Virginia Standards of Learning and Curriculum Frameworks

SCIENCE

The science curriculum is aligned to the Virginia Science Standards of Learning. Emphasis is placed on students investigating the natural world and the practices that scientists and engineers use as they design and build models and systems. Additional emphasis is placed on the science and engineering practices and the scientific method  systematic observation, measurement, and experimentation. K-6 themes have been built into the standards to allow for a more cohesive approach. Areas of focus include Scientific and Engineering Practices; Force, Motion, and Energy, Matter; and Living Systems and Processes; Earth and Space Systems; and Earth Resources. 
Link to Science Virginia Standards of Learning and Curriculum Frameworks


HISTORY / SOCIAL SCIENCE

The history and social science curriculum is aligned with the Virginia History and Social Science Standards of Learning objectives, which include strands that are specific to each history content area. Additional emphasis is placed on historical thinking skills that provide opportunities for students to become critical thinkers of local, state, national, and world history.  Historical thinking skills include but are not limited to identifying and analyzing artifacts and primary and secondary sources, interpreting charts, graphs, and pictures to determine characteristics of people places or events, comparing and contrasting ideas and perspectives to better understand people or events, determining relationships with multiple causes and effects, and investigating and researching to develop products orally and in writing.
Link to History and Social Studies Virginia Standards of Learning and Curriculum Frameworks

RESOURCE

Art

The Elementary Art Program is aligned with the National Standards for Arts Education and the Virginia Standards of Learning.  Students in grades K – 5 attend art class a minimum of once a week.  The goal of the program is to facilitate an understanding and an appreciation for art. 
Link to Fine Arts Virginia Standards of Learning and Curriculum Frameworks

Music

The Elementary Music Program is aligned with the National Standards of Music Education and the Virginia Standards of Learning.  Students experience music through a variety of related activities, which include listening, singing, and moving.  Emphasis is placed on exploration, appreciation, creativity, expression, and enjoyment.  
Link to Fine Arts Virginia Standards of Learning and Curriculum Frameworks

Physical Education

K-5 Physical Education Programming is aligned with the National Standards of Physical Education and the Standards of Learning.  The goal of physical education is to develop physically educated individuals who have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to enjoy a lifetime of healthful physical activity. 
Link to Physical Education Virginia Standards of Learning and Curriculum Frameworks