The Primary Choice
its doors in 1958 ed en op t rs fi ol ho Sc Christ Methodist Day en, it has continued th e c n Si s. nt de u st to 75 kindergarten was founded: it t po s e am s t ac ex the to grow and thrive in Memphis, just of e dl id m e th in e, u en right along Poplar Av d Shelby Farms Park. an m ru Fo x dE Fe n ee about halfway betw
Choosing Primary
Choosing Co-Ed
An elementary school invests all of its resources in the
A co-ed school is reflective of the real world. Our boys
development of young children. At CMDS, we are solely
and girls learn how to work with and respect each other,
focused on cultivating an authentic elementary experience.
which better prepares them for the years ahead.
An elementary school gives parents time to get to
A co-ed school provides opportunities for friendships
know their child. Strengths, learning style, personality and
between boys and girls. Middle school can be awkward
interests are developed during a child’s formative years, and
enough, so a co-ed primary experience produces more
that knowledge makes it easier to choose a middle school.
grounded children who are comfortable interacting with
An elementary school preserves childhood. Our
each other.
environment provides a safe place for students to take risks,
A co-ed school fosters leaders. Boys and girls are given
explore their God-given talents and discover their likes and
the same opportunities to collaborate and solve problems
dislikes. They are not exposed to too much, too soon.
together. Therefore all are emboldened to lead their peers.
An elementary school offers opportunities for young
A co-ed school teaches to the individual child. We break
students to lead. At CMDS, 12-year-olds are the big kids on
through the stereotypes typically associated with how
campus. So at an early age, our students are taking the lead
boys and girls learn differently. CMDS teachers know each
in the school musical and campaigning for Student Council.
child as an individual and customize activities to reach every type of learner.
Choosing CMDS O U R T E ACHE RS CMDS is a destination workplace, and our dedicated teachers go beyond the 8-to-3. They love on their students, embodying the school’s nurturing atmosphere, while also challenging them in the classroom.
O U R AC A DEM IC S Active engagement is more meaningful than worksheets. Our inquiry-based, hands-on curriculum is designed to foster all the things that set children up for success. Our STEAM Initiative propels students to seek out rather than receive information.
OUR ENCORE Our Encore program expands and complements the core CMDS curriculum. Students never spend a whole day with one teacher in their homeroom. They are instead immersed in an elementary, liberal arts-style experience.
O U R GR AD UAT ES CMDS graduates matriculate to a variety of Memphisarea schools, so after 6th grade, they automatically have friends all over town. Beyond that, our pursuit of educating the whole child – academically, spiritually, physically, socially and emotionally – leads to well-rounded students who are ready for their next chapter.
Early&CSKhildhood 2K , PK , JK
CMDS makes learning child’s play. In no place is that philosophy more apparent than in our Early Childhood classrooms. Purposeful play reinforces a developing child’s natural curiosity. They may not realize that those fishhooks they’re drawing are J’s or that hammering golf tees into a pumpkin works wonders for their hand-eye coordination. The Early Childhood division is made up of four grade levels: 2K, PK, JK and SK. Each room is its own sort of mini learning community where enriched, age-appropriate curriculum complements group activities, technology and purposeful centers. EC classrooms are fully engaged in hands-on learning. Students – and their teachers – can usually be found on the floor or on their feet. Our students get used to their Encore schedule early on. Even our 2K classes move through a weekly Encore rotation that exposes them to a sweeping slate of subjects
Lower School 1s t, 2 n d & 3 rd
and activities. Each Early Childhood grade level intentionally builds on the next. By the time our students are in SK, they’re solving problems in small groups and confidently engaging in theoretical discussions.
First, second and third grade may be the most fundamental years of a young person’s life. At CMDS, our Lower School division is focused on balance. The Lower School curriculum gives every child a solid foundation in select core subjects (Literature, Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies) while also providing opportunities for creativity, critical thinking and problem solving. Encore classes round out the rigorous core curriculum. Similar to the Early Childhood philosophy, each Lower School grade level purposefully builds on the next. In first and second grade, the curriculum gets more rigorous while the classroom environment remains familiar. The students still have one primary teacher, and still go outside for recess twice a day. By the time CMDS students reach third grade, they achieve a major transition. They have a departmentalized learning environment in which one teacher specializes in Literature and Language Arts and the other in Math, Science and Social Studies. They are reading to learn and applying conceptual math skills to real-world problems.
Upper School 4th, 5th & 6th
As students mature in their education, more
The Upper School curriculum also intensifies
independence is appropriate. Because we are a
accordingly as these students are now capable of
primary school, CMDS Upper School students are
flexing their foundational knowledge in exciting
able to take on a major leadership role on campus.
ways. They’re focused on analyzing text, discussing
Our fourth, fifth and sixth graders add Leadership
literature in small groups and meeting with peers to
to their weekly Encore rotation. They are governing
critique their own writing. They’re moving to more
the Student Council and the Honor Society. They are
complex experiments in science while math escalates
not only participating in service projects, but also
in step. Fourth grade continues departmentalized
deciding which organizations to serve.
learning while fifth and sixth graders transition to a more traditional middle school schedule: Four teachers each specialize in a different core subject, and the school day is broken into 45-minute blocks with a study hall. By the time a student graduates from CMDS, he or she has engaged in a comprehensive study of the Bible. The weekly Encore class’ curriculum is taught on a continuous rotation that ensures every CMDS student covers every book. Throughout their years at CMDS, students are taught and encouraged to vocalize their faith. As a culmination, each sixth grader chooses a life verse and shares their personal faith story with the entire class.
cmdsmemphis.org
Christ Methodist Day School is devoted to exceptional Christian elementary education for boys and girls through spiritual development, academic excellence, social responsibility and personal integrity.
411 S. Grove Park Memphis, TN 38117 901.683.6873 info@cmdsmemphis.org