CS Elementary School Viewbook

CS community school

E l e m e n ta r y S c h o o l • s u n v a l l e y, i d a h o

Welcome to Community School’s Elementary Program I am excited to share the possibilities offered by a Community School education with you. We are proud of the way we use authentic challenges and situations to teach students to work together, building basic skills while developing essential character strengths.

Our dedicated teachers foster classroom environments that are energetic, creative and exciting. When you visit, you might see a teacher working one-on-one with a student as they research hybrid animals or hear faculty asking questions that prompt a deeper understanding of the subject matter. Small group discussion, hands-on projects and teamwork are hallmarks of our learning process. At Community School, our students recognize the value of their setbacks as well as their successes — because, in

this supportive setting, they learn that failure is only part of finding the answers they seek.

I am fortunate to be part of a school that creates joy in learning; I see it every day in the students bounding around campus and in every chatty car ride home with my own boys after a day at school. I would love to help you explore whether your child could benefit from the Community School experience.

If you haven’t already been to campus, I look forward to meeting you and sharing our wonderful school.

Warmly,

Janet Salvoni Elementary School Head

experience the difference Community School offers an education unlike any other. Starting at the age of two, our students are encouraged to follow their passions and unleash their creativity while building a strong academic foundation. They become more mindful of others and learn to lead their classmates in a kind and effective way. When our students complete their elementary education, they have the independence and ability to thrive in Middle School.

wonder

Early Childhood Center Through Second Grade Imagination and curiosity abound in the early years of Elementary School as children explore, investigate and seek to understand their places in the world. Using the principles of the Reggio Emilia philosophy, teachers design lessons around the students’ natural interests. Teachers see students as capable learners who come to school with a plan for the day, and recognize the importance of helping children follow those passions.

Our students become healthy, inquisitive learners who learn to embrace their questions, guided by teachers who constantly push them to ask more.

vision

Third through Fifth Grade Students develop stronger voices in the later elementary school years, becoming confident and critical thinkers who rise to meet new academic expectations. Their developing minds become more aware of the way the world operates, and students work both independently and collaboratively to discover the answers to a myriad of questions. A student-centered approach fosters our students’ need to ask questions, to take risks and to accept that setbacks are part of the learning process. The Outdoor Program, community service and classroom activities develop every aspect of a student’s character, including perseverance, empathy and mindfulness. Armed with these tools, students charge into Middle School with confidence and passion, ready to take on new challenges and responsibilities.

confidence Leadership

Whether reciting lines in a play or being asked to share a personal experience with the class, our students are confident and competent speakers. They not only act on stage in front of a packed theater, they also write, direct, produce and design sets for many events throughout the school year. Students speak in front of their peers nearly every day, sharing opinions on current events, practicing Spanish vocabulary or leading a book discussion. As a result, students actively contribute to their classmates’ learning experience in a meaningful way. By honing their presentation skills, students become confident communicators, both in and beyond the classroom.

creativity arts

Children have an innate desire to express themselves through art, music, drama, movement and other creative forms. Teachers encourage students to experiment and explore within the guidelines of open-ended assignments, giving them the skills they need to use a number of mediums and techniques to create projects that are objects of pride and convey their unique ideas.

gretchen thoreen Remarkable Teachers

Kindergarten teacher Gretchen Thoreen takes an intensely personal interest in each and every child, investing in his or her skills and emotional development well before the first day of school. Throughout the month of August, Gretchen visits each student at home, creating a connection that not only helps the child feel comfortable with beginning the school year, but also works to guide Gretchen’s design of the classroom space and curriculum. As a result of this individual attention, Gretchen recognizes and celebrates each and every achievement, whether it’s learning to hold a pencil correctly or making eye contact and politely saying “Good Morning!” Gretchen creates a carefully ordered buzz of activity. Depending on the time of day, you may find children singing together and planning out the day’s schedule, or perhaps testing out their newly developed scissor skills by assembling construction-paper animals. Gretchen patiently shows children how they fit within the world around them, how to care about others, and how to persevere even if a project doesn’t go as planned.

bob polk

Remarkable Teachers

Elementary School science teacher Bob Polk understands the need to foster a child’s natural curiosity. With two daughters of his own now in the Upper School, Bob is well-versed in the importance of answering students’ questions and encouraging them to ask more, stimulating conversation and advancing student understanding. Bob holds weekly lunches with his students, during which time they can ask him anything they want to know about science: Can you extract water from sugar? Which animals can create hybrids and which can’t? What happens to a forest after it burns? Bob seriously answers even the most unexpected queries, ensuring that his students always feel comfortable taking academic risks and are deeply engaged in the subject matter. Students leave Bob’s class excited about what they’ve learned and eager to continue the conversation.

exploration Outdoor Program

Our Outdoor Program builds self-confidence, technical skills and perseverance in students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.

In the early years, students take day trips and hone their outdoor skills, finally embarking on their first confidence-enhancing overnight in third grade. Community School dedicates classroom time to experiential education, but often, it is the time outside the classroom that provides the most impactful intellectual and personal development for our students.

community One School

The Community School experience begins in Elementary School, but the magic is in the connectedness of mindset and community throughout the entire school. When our Elementary School students move into Middle School, they are prepared to test out their newly honed skills in a more collaborative environment where team teaching builds connectivity between subjects. Project-based learning is the glue that helps our maturing students combine the creativity of their early years with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the Upper School. By the time our oldest students graduate, they’ve developed strong, family-like bonds with their classmates, their teachers, their school and their community.

admissions

To learn more about Community School or to schedule a visit, please contact: Katie Robins • Director of Admissions krobins@communityschool.org • 208.622.3960 ext. 117 www.communityschool.org

Community School seeks students who will contribute in a positive way to the life of the school and benefit significantly from the unique environment the school provides. The school does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, color, religion, origin, ancestry, physical disability or sexual orientation. Nor do we deny admission to applicants whose families demonstrate financial need.

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