Art
We have designed our visual arts program to evoke means of expressing creativity, communication, and an appreciation of perspective. Artists explore other artists’ work, art history, emotions, and meanings of artwork and ways in which art is a form of communication.
Students create two- and three-dimensional art projects based off the Units of Inquiry in the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) and the Colorado Visual Arts Standards. This program supplies a “think outside the box” approach where students develop a true sense of confidence and willingness to try new ideas in a creative way.
Spanish
As an IB PYP school, all students take part in our proficiency-based Spanish program. We tie in to IB PYP themes, concepts, and Units of Inquiry by looking at our own culture and exploring the products, practices and perspectives of diverse Spanish-speaking cultures around the world.
This program is a solid foundation for language studies in middle school and beyond. It can also stand alone as a program that develops practical and long-lasting communicative abilities in the Spanish language.
We use research-based strategies, collaborative storytelling, structured play, songs, and authentic conversations in Spanish to improve speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. Teachers conduct class with 90% or more in Spanish in an engaging and comprehensible way - Immersion, not submersion.
Music
Students explore singing, a variety of drumming, unpitched and pitched percussion, recorder, ukulele, and guitar, as well as creative movement and drama-all of which culminate in student performances throughout the year.
Extracurricular opportunities include:
2nd-3rd Grade Choir
4th-5th Grade Choir
4th-5th Grade Handbells
4th-5th Grade Spring Musical
In Music, we learn through inquiry, collaboration, and reflection and supports the Colorado Academic Standards in the way student musicians create, perform, and reflect throughout the year. We supply a positive atmosphere for students to try new things while developing an appreciation for culturally diverse styles and composers.
Physical Education (PE)
Physical and health education fosters the development of knowledge, skills and attitudes that will contribute to a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Through active learning, courses embody and promote the nature of wellbeing.
Students can learn to respect the ideas of others and develop effective collaboration and communication skills. PE builds positive interpersonal relationships that can help students to develop a sense of social responsibility.
A balanced curriculum gives students the opportunity to meet the IB PYP physical and health education objectives at the highest level, including:
Physical and health-related knowledge - Fitness, training methods, nutrition, lifestyle, and exercise.
Aesthetic movement - Gymnastics, jumping, skipping, hopping and balance.
Team sports - Football, basketball, kickball, soccer, volleyball and hockey.
Individual sports - Gymnastics, tennis.
International sports and activities - Athletic traditions and forms of movement beyond students’ personal and cultural experiences.