Specials

Music, art, physical education, STREAM and other “specials” courses are woven throughout the core curriculum at Grace, giving students of all ages the opportunity to explore diverse interests beyond academic learning.

STREAM

Science, technology, reading, engineering, arts, and mathematics are combined for an approach to learning that utilizes these topics as pathways to guide student inquiries, discussions, and critical thinking. STREAM is not the addition of reading and arts to fill voids, but rather a unique tool in teaching how each relevant discipline connects and works together.

Art

Elementary students in kindergarten through fifth grade have studio art once a week. Students explore various mediums each year with a focus on creativity, imagination and visual art design principles. The basic design elements of art: line, shape, texture, color and form are taught through drawing, painting, printmaking, weaving, clay, collage and more. Through our integrated early childhood curriculum, our youngest students regularly explore classroom themes through process art with their class teachers.

Physical Education

While all students enjoy creative movement through multiple daily recesses, formal P.E. instruction begins in kindergarten. Teamwork, cooperation and sportsmanship are continuously stressed with Grace’s character keys evident both on and off the field. Grace students learn to become team players, practicing good sportsmanship and fair play. Kindergarten through second-grade students concentrate on locomotor movements, eye-hand coordination and fitness through drills, sports and games. Students in Grades 3-5 focus on long-distance running, strength exercises, and more complex sports modules (football, basketball, baseball and soccer). Grace students of all ages are also given a solid foundation in exercise safety rules and healthy habits.

Music

All Grace students have music once a week. Music is taught using an interactive, collaborative and highly kinesthetic teaching method that allows them to develop the core skills of musicianship. All Grace students put on two musical performances each year, one at Christmastime and one in the spring, that incorporate singing and bells. These performances are two of Grace’s most cherished traditions and offer students the opportunity to shine on stage with their peers in a more formal setting.

Spanish Language

Weekly Spanish instruction begins in junior kindergarten with songs and games, a fun and engaging way to introduce our early childhood students to the different sounds of the Spanish language. As the students move into the upper grades, games, songs and activities continue to play an important role in the students’ understanding of the language, providing context to their studies. Elementary students are also taught grammar and academic vocabulary with the objective of achieving conversational Spanish by Grade 5.

Library

Weekly library instruction begins in kindergarten and focuses on age-appropriate literature appreciation, storytelling and research skills. Our extensive book collection with over 5,000 titles allows students in kindergarten through fifth grade to check out books weekly. As a school that loves to read, these library books are enjoyed at home and throughout the school day during breaks, on bus rides to and from field trips and when students find free time during class.

Religion

Once a week, kindergarten through fifth grade students are physically immersed in the stories of God and God’s people in the Godly Play room. Through the telling of stories and parables, children are supported to use their imaginations and listen to each other as they collectively “wonder”. Godly Play is about knowing God beyond just knowing about God. The stories invite each child into a lifelong relationship with God, scripture, and our religious traditions.