Academics

Literacy and building a strong foundation for the skills of how to read and write well will enable greater access to and interest in great works of literature. Students will be taught how to explore main ideas, interpret meaning and themes, and learn to use context clues to predict outcomes through inference. Students will study classical compositions to serve as models to them in their own writing. Moreover, great literature can help children to think more deeply and help them express themselves well by reading how others communicate. Their imagination and creativity can be inspired by reading fairy tales, fables, myths, and heroic tales. Reading stories about failure, sin, weakness, rescue, and sacrifice can also help them process their own feelings and experiences. Literature can help children think about what life is like or could be, it is a study of life and relationships and can be an effective preparation for adulthood.

We will aim to grow interest and understanding by explaining mathematical concepts and strengthening their foundational knowledge. As students gain more progress in this field, they will be able to be prepared for the more technical and operational functions of mathematics. By using the Singapore Math curriculum, students will focus on building conceptual understanding, fluency, and confidence in problem solving. They will also have daily math facts practice to master the basics and solidify their foundation.

We want to teach students the multi-faceted complexities of history. Avoiding simple jingoism, slogans, or hagiography, students will learn that there is a great deal to be said on both sides of every question. This enables students to enrich how they understand and view present-day issues with the wealth of wisdom of those who have gone before them. Not merely memorizing facts and dates, but understanding the flow of events and the consequences of ideas and values. We will read biographies, original essays, letters, documents, look at art, music, government structures, laws, and political, cultural, and economic impacts. We will take children to the places where the historical events happened to help them be in awe of the reality of these events. Students will begin to learn about Church history and the Reformation. They will study major emperors and their impact on Europe. They will learn about knights and their code of chivalry and honor. They will learn about the Gutenberg printing press, Roman emperors, and the birth of democracy.

We will teach children that the world we live in is God’s handiwork full of order, structure, and beauty that is ready for us to explore and discover through observation. We will introduce students to the scientific method, teaching them to make observations about the natural world around them – the clouds, birds, trees, flowers, weather. We will teach them to focus on acquiring and assessing information through observation and exploration. Drawing, questioning, observing, and understanding the ecology and geology of Washington, D.C. among other things. We will also seek to introduce students to connect these concepts with modern science and technology, building technological familiarity and fluency and teaching students how to use the appropriate tools or platforms for science projects.

Learning about and practicing art not only allows children to express themselves but also teaches them how to see the world, attentively observing the quality of and differences in colors, shapes, and sizes. Cultivating the discipline of learning a musical instrument provides another means of communication and expression. Both art and music can lift our spirits, affect our moods, and change our thoughts. Students will be exposed to a variety of media including watercolor, acrylics, pastels, clay and ink. They will learn the basic elements of art: line, shape, color, form, texture, space, and value. They will also learn about the life and works of famous artists including Van Gogh, Henri Rousseau, Monet, among others.

We see the value in building relationships within the school and with others outside of the school. Through field trips to different neighborhoods, to visit guest speakers, local landmarks, museums, and parks, we would seek to put students in touch with a wide cross section of people – different ages, backgrounds, jobs, education, and social circles. Both Abraham Lincoln and Benjamin Franklin only had a few years of formal education. They spent most of their formative years reading books, working, living in different places, and meeting many different people. Life was their education. Books are wonderful, but an insufficient substitute for life. We want to encourage a rich curriculum inside and outside of the school.