Academic Program
A comprehensive academic program is provided for Center School students in grades 1 through 8. The curriculum is designed to meet the needs of students and reflect the best of current research. Students receive explicit instruction in academic, organizational, and study skills to provide them with the strategies they need to become independent and confident learners.
Each grade at Center School looks slightly different, but the common goal is to build confident, independent learners who will continue to be successful beyond their years with us.
LOWER SCHOOL:
In lower school, students are just beginning to learn who they are as learners. Teachers focus on developing academic, behavioral, and social skills in an explicit manner. Students are also learning how their behaviors can be shaped in order to be the most successful learners that they can be.
Organizational skills are emphasized to develop executive function skills. Each student has an agenda book in which assignments are written, and parents are expected to sign the book each night signifying that the work has been checked and completed. Teacher and parent involvement is extremely important in the lower school in order to support students in growing as learners and citizens of Center School.
As students advance in grades, they take on more responsibility in preparation for middle school to include learning strategies for successful transitions. Self-advocacy is explicitly taught in each grade.
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MIDDLE SCHOOL:
In middle school, students embrace who they are as learners and learn to apply skills learned in lower school to their studies in middle school. Executive functions continue to be explicitly taught and emphasized in classes. More independence is expected, yet teacher and parent support is still required. As students advance in grades, support is scaffolded back.
An agenda book and sectioned binder are used with each class, and teachers sign each subject in the agenda book respectively to ensure organization of assignments. Students carry the agenda book and sectioned binder from school to home daily. Parents are expected to check and sign the agenda book nightly to show that assignments have been completed.
Advisors, who are middle school teachers, are assigned to each student. Advisors keep tabs of their advisees to make sure they are completing assignments and working to their potential. Advisors communicate with parents to make them aware of any concerns or important pieces of information.
"Seeing my child happy and successful is incredible to see! Thank you!" ~ J. Family.
"My child is reading! He has a love of books and enjoys coming to school. You are amazing!" ~ T. Family.
"Thank you for being so supportive to my family and to all of the students at Center School." ~ H. Family.