Lower School

Overview

Our Lower School program is where the foundation for lifelong learning begins. In grades K-6th, our students are encouraged and challenged with the building blocks of phonics, reading, spelling, grammar, math, science, social studies, writing, and Latin vocabulary. Each core class is taught in conjunction with Biblical teachings and supported by specialty classes. Our students participate in computer lab, music, art, chapel, P.E., and media each week to provide a well-rounded experience.

The biblically integrated curriculum used at each grade level at Calvary Day School is developmentally appropriate. The reading curriculum in K-2 is heavily phonics based. The textbooks used in each grade are selected from a variety of Christian and secular publishers.

Communications

Our Lower School offers a rigorous communications curriculum while nurturing our students to reach his or her full potential. Our mission is to partner with parents to equip students to think, learn, and live from a Biblical worldview by integrating God's word into every aspect of life so they can impact the world for Christ.

Teachers use a variety of teaching strategies and styles to reach all learners and challenge them in the areas of writing, reading, grammar, spelling, and vocabulary. Abeka, our reading program, starts with a strong beginning in TK and Kindergarten of phonemic and phonological awareness. this strong foundation launches our students into emergent readers that develop into fluent readers. Our curriculum utilizes reading textbooks, anthologies of short stories, and novels to gain a deeper understanding of strategies and literary components in order to increase comprehension. We use the Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEQ) as our writing program. This allows students to achieve a deeper understanding of and success in the written language. All of these components of our communications curriculum center on God's Word in order to know Him personally and make Him known.

Mathematics

BJU (Bob Jones University Press) Math is the curriculum used in the Lower School at CDS. The math program engages student interest, using age-appropriate themes and clear explanations. BJU math provides multiple paths to learning comprehension. New concepts are introduced with student manipulatives to promote interactive learning. Exercises and reviews frame concepts in different ways in order to engage different learning styles. Students learn how math applies to real life and understand how it will relate to their future vocations and their place in God’s world.

Fine Arts

In the Lower School fine arts department, we believe each child is made in God’s image. Since we are created in His image, the creativity of God is inside of us. God intended for the arts to bring joy and beauty into our lives, and to bring honor and glory to Him. Through weekly music and visual art courses, students learn vocabulary and skill set related to the arts, as well as 21st-century skills like self-control, self-discipline, listening, and teamwork. The Lower School classes provide a solid foundation for students to continue studying the arts in the Upper School. Lower School students have opportunities to showcase their talents in the arts through various musical performances throughout the school year as well as an art show during the fall semester.

Latin

Students in 3^rd -6^th grades learn Latin because it is a foundation for learning other languages and understanding English. We use the Cambridge Minimus series in 3^rdand 4^th grades, the Leap into Latin curriculum in 5^th and 6^thgrades, and the Cambridge Primary Latin Course additionally in 6^th grade. Students not only learn vocabulary and grammar but also learn mythology, culture, and history which put the language in context. Our students learn Latin through a variety of activities including reading and translation, drama, songs, games, and projects.

Kindergarten

At CDS, our philosophy is that children should be allowed the freedom to be children. We allow for them to explore and experience the world in an active, hands on, environment. We believe that 5 years olds should be allowed to be 5 year olds. By having the ability to teach in small groups, we are able to keep a developmentally appropriate component to our kindergarten while accelerating students who are ready for more of an academic push. Since we do not have primary grades engage in standardized testing, we allow the child to develop into a strong reader during these years and provide a stress-free environment for the child to develop their reading comprehension skills.

Calvary, believing that every child is made in the image of God and has their own unique God-given talents, comes alongside parents to support the growth and success of each child.

Testing Scores

FAQs

After Care

Calvary Day School operates an extended care program from the end of school in the afternoon until 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday for children in K through 6th grades. Extended care operates ONLY on regular school days and is not provided when school is closed or operating on an early dismissal schedule. Current rates are $5.00 per day for the morning and $15.00 per day for the afternoon.

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