Elementary School (Grades 1st – 5th)
The Elementary School consists of Grades 1-5 some which have 3 classes in each grade, each with its own homeroom teacher who instructs students in the core subjects of Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Values using English as the language of instruction. These teachers collaborate with and are supported by the rest of our staff, who teach Art, Music, Physical Education, and Information Technology, along with Lengua Española and Sociales classes which are taught in Spanish.
A Common Core State Standards-based curriculum drives instruction in the areas of Language Arts and Math and for Science we follow The Next Generation Science Standards curriculum. Real world lessons and hands-on experiences are incorporated within daily instruction to link theory with practice, especially in Science and Social Studies subjects. The Elementary area is a unique setting in which students from Grades 1-5 build fundamental skills, grow their curiosity, begin to understand themselves as learners, and develop a sense of who they are as 21st century citizens.
The wide range of language abilities among students at PCIS require teachers to implement a variety of instructional strategies to engage the students in learning, facilitate their growth, and encourage success. An intensive English Language Support (ELS) program is provided to students with less English experience to help them quickly learn and embrace the language.
We utilize standards-based assessment in Grades 1-2 to describe what a student should be able to do at each grade level in all subjects. Standards-based progress reports provide a clear picture of what the student knows and the extent to which the student has mastered the skills required to move to the next grade level. Three times a year, parents meet with teachers to review student progress. In Grades 3-5, students are assessed through various academic indicators such as participation, classwork, homework, and projects. Throughout the year, we have Parents’ Evening events as well as Parents-Students-Teachers Conferences so teachers can discuss with parents/students their learning goals and celebrate our student’s achievements. Maintaining open lines of communication guarantees that all members of the educational community are aware of the school’s expectations for student learning. We encourage our parents to be actively involved in their children’s education.
