- Curriculum Overview
- After School
- Events and Celebrations
- Service Learning and Partnerships
- Special Assemblies
- Mini Courses
Curriculum
Language Arts - Literacy at SRV is serious, purposeful and joyful work. We use state and national standards as well as our progressive pedagogy to inform our teaching practices and guide our curricular decisions. Our goal is to help children live rich literate lives.
Mathematics - The mathematics program at SRV meets the standards of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. The curriculum emphasizes the skills of mathematical thinking, problem solving and communication. Instruction includes hands-on experiences as well as practice with number facts and computation.
Social Studies - The social studies program at SRV meets the standards of the National Council for the Social Studies. The curriculum addresses themes of self, community, geography, history, government and economics. Components include factual content, skills, experiences, and perspectives and values.
Special Projects & Activities - Special projects and activities at SRV complement and enrich the curriculum, and help make learning come alive. Projects and activities that are undertaken year after year in many classrooms include keeping classroom pets, cooking, producing plays, doing research reports and projects, and going on field and camping trips.
Choice and Recess - In the child-centered classrooms at SRV, choice time and recess give the children opportunities to exercise their imaginations as well as their bodies. The children learn to make choices and to pursue their personal questions and interests indoors and out.
Quiet Time - Quiet Time at SRV helps teach children to recognize and take control of their natural rhythms and ebbs and flows of energy through the day. They learn how to take time to rest, relax and regroup.
Sing and Assemblies - Sharing music and gathering as a community are strong traditions and values at SRV. Wednesday morning Sings and Friday morning Assemblies see all of the children and teachers, and many parents, come together to sing. Children also share work, present plays and lead the community in games and special activities.
Science - The science curriculum at SRV meets national standards for science education. Weekly science classes for children from preschool and up combine teacher-led lessons and activities in biology, chemistry and physics, and experiences and projects inspired by the children's interests and questions.
Technology at SRV is integrated with all curricula, and includes creative work (music, art, writing, creating web pages), research, and using application software.
Art - Art instruction and activities occur at SRV throughout the school on a daily basis, and art is a regular weekly class for children from kindergarten and up. The art curriculum is a combination of teacher-led lessons and projects in all media as well as art appreciation and history, and experiences inspired by children's interests and creative explorations.
Woodshop - Woodshop at SRV is a regular weekly class for children from preschool and up. Children are motivated because they may build whatever they wish, learning skills and gaining self-confidence as they go. Instruction, support and encouragement are given as needed while the qualities of creativity, independence and discipline are nurtured.
Music - Music instruction and activities occur at SRV throughout the school on a daily basis, and music is a regular weekly class for children from preschool and up. The music curriculum consists of a variety of experiences in appreciating and learning to make and move to all kinds of music. Some theory is introduced to older children.
Sports - Participation in sports occurs at SRV every day, and sports instruction is a regular weekly class for children from kindergarten and up. For interested children there is an organized game at the daily recess. Sports classes include teacher-led instruction and participation in competitive and cooperative activities and games chosen by the children themselves.
Library - Children from preschool and up visit the library at least once a week. The librarian teaches lessons in the library on research and study skills, reads aloud to children, helps with the language arts programs in the classrooms, leads some reading groups, and provides individualized reading instruction for some children.
Mini Courses - Mini courses at SRV are weekly periods when children from kindergarten and up may choose from a menu of school-wide "electives." Working in cross-age groups, children can try something new or pursue a personal passion in depth, from sports to crafts to advanced explorations in science or math.
