Elementary School
Elementary School: the Student at the Center of Learning
1st to 6th Grade Focused on the socioemotional development of children ages 6 to 11, Chapel’s Elementary School (1st to 6th grade) provides a safe learning environment, in which self-knowledge, interpersonal development, and conflict resolution are valued and constantly stimulated. In spacious, well-aired and lit classrooms, there are a maximum of 18 (1st grade) or 26 (2nd to 6th grade) students. Language development occurs in Portuguese and in English. Reading and writing in English is based on the phonics method. The Portuguese language portion is based on the teachings of Emilia Ferreiro and the constructivist approach of Jean Piaget. The English language acquisition process starts in Pre II, and for Portuguese, in 1st grade. The school calendar follows the American model, starting in August and ending in mid-June, with two vacation periods: June / July and December / January. Students stay at school for a full day, taking classes from 8 am to 3:10 pm, with a 15-minute break for the morning snack, 45 minutes for lunch (both provided by Chapel’s Food Service) and a 20-minute break in the afternoon. Between 3:30 pm and 4:30 pm extracurricular activities (in sports, arts, science, and technology) start. These activities are optional and vary according to the age group and the interest of the students. Pedagogical Approach Chapel’s pedagogical method puts the student at the center of learning. In each classroom, students work collaboratively, researching, sharing, comparing, and analyzing information as they develop academic and social skills. Students are encouraged to draw their conclusions, and teachers act as facilitators, stimulating connections and ensuring learning. The learning standards follow the Common Core for the American curriculum and the BNCC (Base Nacional Comum Curricular) for the Brazilian curriculum. The pedagogical
approach includes the Responsive Classroom program - RC. The program considers the child’s emotional development just as important as their academic performance. Real world concepts like autonomy and assertion are made concrete with interactive lessons. The social and emotional skills worked on are cooperation, assertion, responsibility, empathy, and self-regulation - skills developed in CARES classes (acronym for Cooperation, Assertion, Responsibility, Empathy, and Self-Regulation). Each semester one skill is worked on during weekly classes. The classes bring together students of different age groups for team-building activities and to discuss the skills. In 6th grade, the last year of Elementary School, students participate in CARES for Life classes. During this class, they experience and discuss themes specific to teens, from sexuality to social media. Chapel’s socio-emotional curriculum also includes the Abrace Program, which involves the entire school community in anti-bullying activities. A Typical Day of School Elementary School students start the day with a morning prayer. Afterwards, students participate in the Responsive Classroom (RC) class meeting. During this time everyone greets each other and shares personal experiences with the class community. Additionally, during this meeting, the learning objectives of the day are presented to students. Furthermore, peer relationships are developed and the rules and expectations of classroom behavior are reviewed. Structured according to the needs and age of each group, the RC classroom meetings emphasize, in the initial grades, learning procedures, routines, and appropriate forms of interaction. The purpose in the later grades is for students to develop and expand their communication and critical thinking skills. The daily class schedule varies to accommodate the main content and specialist classes. Throughout the week students take classes in English, Portuguese, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, Music, Arts, Physical Education, and Religion. Technology is also part of the curriculum and is systematically integrated into daily instruction. The Elementary School curriculum provides students with the opportunity to develop academically in English and Portuguese while improving socio-emotional skills. Recess and lunch breaks allow students the opportunity to play freely in a supervised and safe environment. Children take advantage of the ample play area, including the soccer field, two sports courts, and a playground. At the end of the school day, teachers and students reflect on academic and social accomplishments and plan the next steps for another successful day of learning. Hybrid Learning Due to the social distancing measures imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, in March 2020, the school adopted remote education. Since the beginning of 2021, Chapel has adopted hybrid learning. Hybrid learning consists of synchronous classes according to the age group. Following government decrees, the school receives a set amount of students for in-person activities daily, while the remaining students stay at home following classes simultaneously. There are rotating groups for in-person activities, however, all students are taught simultaneously, whether at school or home. The classrooms are equipped with proper technology for students at home to follow the classes live. The classroom set-up allows students to interact with teachers and peers through cameras, and permits them to view the board, the teacher, and the class. Asynchronous lessons are reserved for activities and projects. These activities are completed at home, individually, or in groups. After, the assignments are sent to the teacher or later presented to the class. Please note that under normal circumstances, classes are offered only on campus.
Example of hybrid learning weekly schedule (1st grade)
Home Learning Chapel’s Elementary School innovated on the traditional homework model by replacing it with activities based on student interest. One of the practices emphasizes on reading. Students must read books of their interest every day for twenty minutes, according to their age group and literacy level. In doing so, they build their knowledge, practice reading skills, and develop vocabulary. The daily reading routine is recorded by students and monitored by teachers. Besides reading, Curiosity Projects occur monthly. Students choose a topic they are curious about, research that topic, and present the information to the classroom. This activity allows students to learn how to research, analyze, synthesize information, and present it to peers and teachers. Observing Student Progress Elementary classes are designed for students to develop a sense of responsibility for their learning and encourage them to practice self-assessment. Additionally, these classes facilitate students to define and monitor their individual learning goals. Goals are linked to the learning objectives and are specific to meet the needs of each child individually. Student performance is monitored by teachers as well as the support team. In the Elementary School, one counselor assists students from 1st to 3rd grades and another counselor is responsible for students from the 4th to 6th grades. Counselors assist students, parents, and teachers with their responsibilities and provide direct assistance to students in their academic, personal, and social areas. Counselors work proactively with teachers to monitor and identify students who may need additional support to reach their learning potential. Also, counselors, along with teachers, identify students who need to be academically challenged. This support service for students includes the development of individual learning plans, differentiated strategies to be adopted in the classroom, or the recommendation to follow up with external professionals. When individual monitoring is necessary, meetings are conducted with parents and teachers. In addition, a complete student report is developed, and a plan to support their progress is created. When necessary, the team of teachers and advisors develops an Individual Education Plan (IEP), which contains the learning goals, the strategies for achieving them, and the essential instructional adaptations. This plan is a partnership tool between the family and the school to support the student’s development. Student Support System Students participate in small group activities in the classroom and benefit from differentiation. Differentiated teaching occurs when a teacher plans a lesson that adjusts the content, the learning process, or the student’s expected outcome. Differentiation ensures that students at different starting points can receive the instruction they need to grow and succeed. Also, differentiation activities are proposed to students who are ready to advance in knowledge and therefore need to be challenged. Reports are sent every trimester describing a student’s progress towards the goals set. Periodic meetings between the teachers and parents ensure accurate feedback for students to be successful in both academic and socioemotional development.
Highlights of Chapel Elementary School Being a Writer Program One of the main objectives of Elementary School is to establish a solid foundation in literacy so that by the end of 6th grade, students achieve fluency in English and Portuguese. In both languages, the writing instruction occurs through the Being a Writer and Formando Escritores programs. The programs facilitate a collaborative writing community and cover the following stages: brainstorming, peer editing, writing, sharing texts, and reflecting. The elements found in these writing programs set them apart from other programs. Student work is analyzed regularly by the teacher and peers. The programs emphasize sharing ideas between the group and formal sharing of the final version, which may be presented to a classroom audience or published. In addition to Portuguese and English classes, elementary school students have daily access to specialist teachers for reading classes. Specialists work in small Guided Reading groups with the collaboration of the classroom teacher, to develop reading skills. Music and Visual Arts In Chapel’s Music program, students can develop their musical skills by exploring different instruments and movements. From this exploration, students learn to play, improvise, and compose music. During the Elementary School years, students have lessons on the recorder, xylophone, and percussion instruments. Each year, children show their musical skills at events such as the Christmas Recital (1st to 3rd grade) and the Music Recital (4th to 6th grade). Visual Arts teaching is based on artistic elements such as lines, colors, shapes, textures, lightness and dakness, formats, and spaces. Students are exposed to different techniques (painting, sculpture, drawing, and collage) and materials allowing children to create individual visual projects. In addition, Chapel’s art collection is used to enrich the environment. The collection includes 400 art pieces displayed throughout the hallways and classrooms, making Chapel not only a school, but an art gallery as well. Everyday Math Chapel’s Elementary School adopts the Everyday Mathematics program, created by the University of Chicago. The program’s main pillar is the daily practice of Mathematics. Everyday Mathematics emphasizes the use of real life, concrete examples as an introduction to the main concepts. Furthermore, repeated exposure to concepts and skills develop a long-term mathematical memory. Coupled with the frequent practice of mathematical skills through engaging games, students master concepts in the areas of numeration,
operations, data, and geometry. The program employs multiple problem-solving methods and strategies to develop proficiency and accommodate different learning styles. The main distinction of the program in relation to the traditional teaching of mathematics, is the content progression. Due to the spiral approach, students are exposed to varied content that reappears in different and more complex ways over time. Science Science in Elementary School follows the learning goals from the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), which guide students to understand core scientific concepts, explore specific knowledge (such as cause and effect, energy and matter, systems and scales) and practice the scientific process. In addition to the scientific content, the program also features global thinking and an understanding of scientific methods. In order to further stimulate students’ curiosity, the Elementary School library offers the Makerspace. Students are encouraged to create and test Science in practice, manipulating different materials in a mix of workshop and lab. Technology The use of technology is part of the daily lives of students and teachers. From early on, children learn about the benefits and risks of media and online networks. Chapel is certified by Common Sense Media. At the beginning of each school year, Elementary School students participate in the Digital Citizenship Program, created by this organization. The program covers online security, cyberbullying, and copyrights, among other topics. Students attend computer class once a week, using applications, games, and websites. From the 3rd grade onwards, students have email accounts, restricted for educational use. In Elementary School, communication-related skills are also developed, such as creating portfolios, presentations, and electronic editing. Physical Education and Sports In Elementary School, the main objectives of Physical Education classes are to develop an enthusiasm for physical activity, encourage students to live an active life, and learn sports. Classes include a variety of physical activities and games that stimulate the learning and development of motor, cognitive and socioemotional skills. Additionally, Physical Education and sports in school develop values such as discipline, collaboration, respect, sportsmanship, and persistence. This class focuses on individual and collective goals, as well as responsibility and commitment. Physical Education is a fundamental subject for character development and for shaping healthy individuals. Religion Chapel aims to educate human beings to reach their fullest potential. In addition to academic, physical, and socioemotional, a spiritual experience is cultivated amongst students and faculty. Religion classes offer a broad curriculum of biblical studies, values, ethics, and contemporary morals, including environmental issues. Students participate in masses and liturgical celebrations, in which students are invited to assume leadership roles. The Christian values of the community are strengthened by celebrating the first
communion at school, with preparatory classes (catechesis) integrated into the 3rd-grade curriculum. Chapel School is a Catholic chapel in São Paulo that conducts masses in English, and members of the school community are welcome to attend on Sundays. Extracurricular Activities Chapel offers daily extracurricular activities between 3:20 pm and 4:30 pm, including individual and collective sports such as gymnastics, judo, tennis, skateboarding, in-line skating, ballet, fencing, capoeira, cheerleading, futsal, soccer, basketball, and volleyball. Arts, science, and technology activities are also offered, such as coding, robotics, visual arts, and Chinese. The activities taught by specialized professionals hired by Chapel or through partner companies vary every semester and always occur on campus. Students participate in these activities according to their interests. For students from 3rd to the 6th grade, during the non-pandemic season, the school offers the Young Trojans sports program, which offers daily basketball, volleyball, football, and cheerleading practice, for boys and girls. In addition to practices at school, matches and championships are organized with teams from other international schools. Travel and Field Trips At Chapel, learning is not limited to the classroom. It also takes place on field trips starting in 1st grade. Field trips vary in duration and have different objectives for each grade level, respecting socioemotional development. Each field trip experience is arranged to expand the interdisciplinary learning that takes place in the classroom and connects with the content. Students in 1st and 2nd grades take cultural day trips. From 3rd grade onwards, students take overnight trips to educational resorts in the state of São Paulo, where they participate in cultural and artistic workshops, as well as sports and recreation activities for up to three days. Nutrition and Health Services At Chapel, one of the ways to honor the cultures of the school community is through food. Chapel celebrates the cuisine of several countries, respecting the tastes and preferences of children from different locations. The school menu is carefully prepared by a team of nutritionists. Meals are executed internally by the kitchen team with the aim of developing healthy eating habits amongst students and guaranteeing nutritional quality in all meals. Chapel offers vegetarian options and personalized service with menus adapted for children with diabetes, gluten, or lactose intolerance, among other restrictions and special needs. Chapel’s Health Service has two nurses and a nursing assistant that attend to all divisions of the school. Their duties include acting as first responders on campus, monitoring contagious or parasitic diseases among students and teachers, and the individual monitoring of cases. Students with special needs, chronic illnesses, or illnesses being treated are examined exclusively by the nursing sector. Nurses take care of administering medications and monitoring them as well as recording individual medical records.
Libraries and Information Resources Chapel maintains two libraries for students, with resources to enrich teaching and learning. The libraries are modern, airy, and cozy. The Elementary School library has a collection of 10,500 books in English and Portuguese. The library also maintains premium subscriptions to databases and books such as Ebsco Explora Primary and TumbleBooks. These resources offer children’s books in English in an e-book format with animations, activities, and games. Similarly, in Portuguese, there is a database geared towards reading called Árvore de Livros, which includes 3rd and 4th-grade students. National and international newspapers are offered in print and digital format, including the children’s newspaper Joca, with individual subscriptions for 5th and 6th-grade students. Other attractions of the Elementary School library are video games as well as board games. Students from the 1st and 2nd grades participate in storytelling sessions, and all grades periodically receive visits from writers and perform activities related to reading. The library also holds a Makerspace and a place for lectures or exhibitions, in addition to traditional library activities. Every year, the library team organizes the Book Fair and the International Book Day Celebration, with literary activities aimed at all grade levels and offering national and imported books at cost. Elementary School students visit the library regularly to choose books categorized by the Lexile System. The Lexile System indicates the level of English comprehension required for reading each book. Parents are always welcome to borrow books to read at home with their children. Parental Involvement Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) The school’s Parent-Teacher Association works closely with Chapel representatives to help welcome new families. Additionally, this association promotes positive communication between home and school and helps at specific social and sporting events such as the Booster Club (group of parents that supports sporting events), the International Festival, the Christmas Bazaar, and the traditional Festa Junina. Facilities / Infrastructure Technology Classrooms are equipped with digital whiteboards and projectors; there are three computer and multimedia labs; more than 280 networked computers; more than 100 Chromebooks; more than 60 iPads and two 3D printers. The campus has highspeed wireless network connections. Campus Chapel School is located on a spacious and green campus, with more than 40,000m², and a built area of more than 13,000m². There is an official size soccer field; a sports gym; a climbing
wall; a multipurpose indoor sports court; a tennis court; a fitness center; an auditorium (also multipurpose) with a capacity for 784 people; conference and video conference rooms. There is also a chapel, used for liturgical activities and celebrations with students and masses on Sundays; nurse station; three Science labs and an Integrated Science room; two art studios, one of which is integrated with the environment; a music room; two libraries; three playgrounds for different age groups; cafeteria for students, teachers, and staff; and locker rooms in the sports gym. The school has an artesian water well and an energy generator. Safety Chapel’s campus is extremely secure, with only one entrance and one exit. School cars and vans that transport students have access to the internal areas of the school, and all students disembark inside the school campus, and the same happens at the exit. Cameras and security staff monitor buildings 24 hours a day, seven days a week, following strict access control protocols. The windows in all rooms are protected with bulletproof film.
Frequently Dúvidas AskedFrequentes Questions What is the difference between an international school and a bilingual school? Is Chapel considered an international school or a bilingual school? An international school follows a foreign curriculum, adopting the language and following the school calendar of that country. In an international school, all subjects are taught in the language of the country of origin, and that country’s culture is taught in class and celebrated at events and holidays. A bilingual school follows the local national curriculum and the academic calendar, offering extra classes for some or all subjects in English. Chapel is an American International school in Brazil. Its official language is English and only Portuguese and Brazilian Social Studies (BSS) subjects are taught in Portuguese. Students follow the Brazilian and American curricula and begin the IB curriculum in 11th grade. When graduating from high school, students receive three degrees: Brazilian, American, and International Baccalaureate (IB). Is Chapel recognized as an American school? Chapel was founded in the 1940s as a parish school for children from the community of American families residing in São Paulo. Therefore, it has always been an American school in Brazil. Since then, activities have expanded and today Chapel offers three diplomas - American, Brazilian, and International Baccalaureate (IB), with early childhood education through high school. The curricular structure and the pedagogical approach prepare students for university and life, whether in the United States, Brazil, or anywhere in the world. What level of English proficiency is required and what are the requirements for my child to be admitted to Chapel? The level of proficiency in the English language is assessed individually, considering the particularities of each candidate and the respective grade they would enter. Admission is decided according to an interview, information provided by the family and academic records, recommendations from previous schools, and standardized test results. If my family is transferred, will my child be able to be admitted and follow classes in schools abroad? Yes. Chapel curricula follow the standards required by international schools around the world. Chapel has an internationally recognized tradition of excellence in teaching, so a student leaving Chapel will find it easy to follow classes at any international school they attend. How many teachers will my child have? Elementary school classes have between eight and twelve teachers. In some subjects, such as Portuguese and Brazilian Social Studies (BSS), there are two teachers who co-teach. Currently, in some subjects, there is also a teacher for in-person classes and another one teaching students online. What is the number of classes in English and Portuguese? All curricular contents are taught in English, the official language of the school and unites the entire academic community. The only classes taught in the Portuguese language are Portuguese and Brazilian Social Studies (BSS).
How many rooms are there for each grade? What is the number of students per class? At Chapel, each grade has a maximum of 52 students, divided into classes. In 1st grade, there are three classes of up to eighteen students each, and from 2nd to 6th grade, there are two classes of up to 26 students each. The distribution of students in classrooms is a complex process. Chapel takes into account the child’s total development to promote balanced classrooms. During this process, the team studies and observes the academic level, social, behavioral, and emotional needs, nationality, primary language, and other factors to create equitable classrooms. Students are placed in groups in which they will continue to develop their socio-emotional skills and will be challenged academically each day. Chapel is committed to reviewing this distribution closely, keeping students’ best interests in mind, and aiming for the best learning environment for their development. At Chapel, parents’ requests for teachers and/or friends are not accepted. How will I have access to my child’s academic development? Parent meetings are scheduled twice a year. On these days, regular classes are suspended to allow students and parents to participate. The meetings take place over three days, with each meeting lasting about 20 minutes. In 1st grade, the meeting takes place between parents and teachers. For 2nd to 6th grades, they are led by the students, who participate together with their parents. In addition to the two formal annual meetings, parents can request meetings with teachers, as needed, at any time during the school year to discuss their children’s learning and development. Teachers and counselors are available to meet with parents during regular school hours. Parents are encouraged to meet with their child’s teacher if they have any questions, concerns or want to be informed and/or share their children’s strengths and challenges. How is the student assessment process structured? Grades or rubrics? At Chapel students are assessed in several ways: in terms of content standards, their individual development, and language acquisition. Learning assessment is progressive and continuous, and grades reflect what students know and can do with curriculum standards. Released every quarter, a student’s grades are a fair and accurate reflection of their performance at any given time. The following grading scale is used: • The grade “Exceeds expectations” (4) describes the performance of the student who has exceeded the expected grade level standard. • The grade “Meets Expectations” (3) describes the performance of the student who met the expected grade level standard. • The grade “Approaches expectations” (2) describes the performance of the student who approached the expected grade level standard. • The grade “Needs intervention” (1) describes the performance of the student who was well below the expected grade level standard, and indicates the need for intervention. • The grade “No evidence of learning this quarter” (NE) describes performance of the student who presented no evidence to teachers, and indicates the need for intervention. Interventions are carried out through meetings between teachers, parents, and students, so that the student may achieve the expected performance.
What time can I drop off my child at Chapel? How long can my child stay at school? Students can arrive starting at 7:30 am and are welcomed by teachers and assistants. They can stay until the end of the after school activities, at 4:30, if enrolled in these activities. Non-enrolled students must be picked up at the time of departure, 3:10 pm. How are the academic year and school holidays structured? As an American school, Chapel follows the American calendar: the school year begins in August of one year and ends in June of the following year. There are two vacation periods: June/July and December/January. Is it possible to join in the middle of the year? Yes, it is possible to gain admission at any time of the academic year, subject to availability of vacancies and approval in the admission process. Is there a program for welcoming new students? Yes. In Elementary School the classroom community welcomes new students. The Responsive Classroom Program, through morning meetings, encourages and provides moments for new students to adapt and connect. As the classes mix each year, the first weeks are devoted to building the classroom community. In addition, before the beginning of the school year, there is an Orientation Day for new students, when they participate in integration activities, take a tour of the school, and meet the counselors, principal, and classroom teachers. What is the percentage of Brazilian and foreign students? And teachers? Of the total number of Chapel students, 80% are Brazilian and 20% are foreigners, from 32 different nationalities. Among the teachers, 79% are Brazilian, 13% are American and 7% are of other nationalities. The proportion is six students for each teacher, 43% of teachers have master’s or doctorate degrees, and
Chapel offers a continuous program of professional development. How is the Portuguese language taught to foreign students? Foreign students are part of the PLL (Portuguese Language Learners) program, which aims to introduce them to the Portuguese language. Portuguese classes follow the co-teaching model, in which one teacher works specifically with foreign students on acquisition of the Portuguese language, while attending the same class as their classmates. Peers are essential in this process because they are facilitators of knowledge and collaborate in the acquisition of the language by foreigners. As foreign students advance in their understanding of the language, support continues to be offered according to the student’s needs. How many and what meals are offered to students? Are they included in the monthly fee or paid separately? Students eat three meals a day at school, offered by Chapel or brought from home, according to the grade. Students in the 1st grade receive a morning snack, lunch, and afternoon snack offered by the school. From the 2nd to 6th grades, students receive a morning snack and lunch offered by the school and bring an afternoon snack from home. All meals offered by Chapel are included in the monthly tuition. Are extracurricular activities offered? At what times and prices? Yes. Chapel offers a wide range of activities, including a variety of sports, STEM, Arts, etc. All activities are offered on the school campus from Monday to Friday between 3:30 pm and 4:30 pm, and prices are not included in the monthly tuition. Information about extracurricular activities, schedules, and fees can be obtained from the Elementary Office. Does the school allow students to bring from home cell phones and other electronic devices? In Elementary School, the use of cell phones is not allowed. If you choose to send a cell phone with your child for any reason, it should remain off and in students’ backpacks. In addition, smartwatches should be kept at home to ensure a focus on learning and relationships established in the classroom. If these devices are seen at school, the teacher will keep them until a parent picks them up. The only exception will be for children who wear a smartwatch for medical reasons, for example, monitoring blood sugar as prescribed by a doctor. Elementary School students have access to Chromebooks during the school day and do not need to bring personal devices such as tablets and laptops. If any of these devices are needed for a specific project, activity, or hybrid teaching, the teacher will request that the device be brought to school.
We invite all families interested in Elementary School to schedule a visit to Chapel School. Get in touch! We will be happy to share more details.
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