Trinity School – Head of School – Position Statement 7
ELEMENTARY PROGRAM
The school’ s educational program – its curricular and many co-curricular offerings – clearly reflect and embody the values and purpose articulated in the school’ s mission. The faculty and administration take the lead in shaping the program, and it is designed to engage students in Kindergarten through Grade 5 to develop the capacities and acquire the knowledge that will prepare them not only for their future education, but also for constructive and fulfilling lives. The school’ s Episcopal identity is open and honest. Chapel, a distinguishing feature at Trinity where children lead and participate eagerly, is held daily on the Upper Campus and weekly at the Lower Campus.
There is one class per grade level in Kindergarten through Grade 5. The small class sizes enhance learning. Each child is known, loved and understood. Learning is exciting, engaging, and is delivered in whole groups and small groups.
Cooperative learning is constant during the instructional day. These instructional groupings can be found in all curricular areas and are fluid. Learning occurs not only in the core curricula areas, but also in Art, Music, Chapel, Science, Physical Education, Spanish and other specialty classes. In addition, the academic experiences are enhanced by active service learning opportunities. Classes are staffed by a fulltime teacher and an assistant teacher or paraeducator.
There is unmistakable student engagement when one walks into classrooms. Teachers and students are actively involved in a variety of project-based learning activities, a greater movement from traditional teaching to constructivist leanings, and a wide range of instructional modalities to accommodate learning. Differentiated instruction, rotation models, small group and whole class activities, cross-age teaching and learning, hands-on projects, multimedia presentations and independent writing are some observed examples of student engagement / learning activities. In addition, clearly the small class size and low teacher-student ratio of 1:7 supports the positive student learning experiences. Students are served by faculty who know each child and meets them where they are.