Grade Four Tour Materials
Fourth Grade
WHY GRADE FOUR?
Fourth grade is an admission entry point at Blake, with up to 20 new students joining the grade each school year. New students and families are welcomed by a caring community and supported through a thoughtfully designed fourth-grade program.
Fourth grade is often a critical moment in academic and social development for children. They are young and still developing as learners, classmates and friends. At Blake, fourth graders learn from expert educators who understand the nuanced changes children experience at this age.
Research and experience shows that in fourth grade students become more:
• fully engaged in reading to learn. The transition from “learning to read” to “reading to learn” happens in third grade and is fully set by fourth grade when students read to support their learning in a variety of academic areas. This is a critical shift for students, one that is instrumental to their continued academic progress.
• interested in group learning. Fourth graders seek collaboration and begin navigating group and social dynamics. They’re ready to compromise and open to the ideas of others.
• connected to specific friends. The fluid friendship dynamics of younger years develop into closer relationships. Fourth graders are attune to the wellbeing of others and often resolve friendship issues on their own. The strong friendships they make at this age often continue throughout their adolescence.
Research shows that ages nine and 10 are an important time in child development—socially, emotionally and cognitively. Blake’s fourth grade curriculum is designed to foster and encourage children at this vital stage in their development.
Project-based learning—a fundamental aspect of Blake’s curriculum—begins in fourth grade. Fourth graders also begin learning outside of the classroom through service learning projects, field trips that strengthen academic concepts and an all-grade multi-night trip.
A foundation of two academic years in Blake’s Lower School—as well as a familiarity with the campus and community—helps students prepare for the transition to the Middle School with confidence.
FOURTH GRADE CURRICULUM OVERVIEW
Science: Students develop skills in observation and exploration of the world around them. They form questions, design experiments and communicate their findings. Budding researchers connect scientific concepts with social and environmental issues such as climate change. Students use the “I Wonder Circle” to help them understand the dynamic process of exploration, observation and questioning.
Language Arts: Students learn vocabulary, grammar, syntax and reading comprehension. Teachers work with students in small groups to create narratives, informative texts and arguments that are vivid, engaging and convincing. Projects include writing poetry inspired by the natural world and participating in book clubs with peers and teachers.
Math: Students benefit from differentiation in the classroom and teachers who focus instruction on individualized needs. Students follow the Math in Focus (Singapore math) curriculum, which highlights the concrete, pictorial, abstract (C-P-A) trajectory.
Social Studies: Students engage in the inquiry process, learning to ask researchable questions, find answers and communicate findings. Global and cultural competencies are integrated into the curriculum, including: developing positive racial identities; geography and map skills; exploring the concepts of family and community; and learning about immigration.
Theater: Students learn about movement, dramatization and improvisation. Instruction of classroom half groups is provided in concentrated periods throughout the year. In fourth grade, students perform a multilingual script for their families. All students participate by acting, singing, playing in the orchestra or taking on backstage roles.
Engineering & Programming: Students learn about logic, text block coding and advanced robotics. They work with gear ratios and design their own amusement park ride with technical pieces and coding. They explore physics concepts such as momentum and energy types, using Edison, WeDo, Hummingbirds and the Microbit to build and create.
Physical Education: Students acquire skills needed for success in numerous physical activities and learn strategies to assess and improve personal health and performance.
Spanish: In addition to a classroom specialist, a native Spanish speaking intern assists in the classroom and leads small-groups for students who have not had Spanish instruction.
FOURTH GRADE HIGHLIGHTS
• Three days at Camp Widjiwagen
• Obre' d'Art theater performance for families
• Mississippi River boat field trip
• Monthly activities with first-grade buddies
Visual Art: Students have freedom to create projects from beginning to end. Teachers provide concepts, skills and demonstrations that support students in their work as they set-up materials, create, experiment and collaborate.
Music: Students choose to concentrate on either string studies or general music studies. In string studies, students select violin, viola or cello; participate in weekly lessons and ensemble practices; and perform in recitals and concerts. In general music studies, an Orff Schulwerk-based program incorporates movement, singing, chanting, expressive speech and playing pitched and unpitched instruments. Students experience various music styles, use imagination and play, develop skills and grow as musicians.
SCHOOL HOURS
Grade 4
School Day M-F 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m
Extended Day Before school: 7:30–8:30 a.m.
school: 3:30–6 p.m.
If you have questions, please contact Lynn Loew, Blake admissions coordinator, at 952-988-3423 or lloew@blakeschool.org.
semester/year in half groups; 4th grade performs for parents
Next steps
Thank you for exploring Blake. We hope your visit offered new insights and heightened your interest in Blake for your child. Below are next steps in the admissions process.
n Apply to Blake
If you have not already applied for admission to Blake, we encourage you to do so. Links to our online application for the 2025–26 school year can be found on the admissions page of the Blake website (blakeschool.org/admissions). The first-round application deadline for admission next fall is January 31, 2025.
n Schedule Screening (Pre-K to grade 5) or Testing (grades 6–12) for Your Child
Once you submit an application, you can schedule screening or testing for your child. Applicants from Pre-K to grade 5 schedule an on-campus screening through Blake’s admissions portal. Applicants to grades 6 through 12 can register for the Secondary School Admissions Test at ssat.org.
n Schedule a Visit for Your Child
Once you submit an application, we will reach out to you to schedule a visit for your child. Spending a day (or part of a day for our youngest applicants) at Blake is a terrific way for students to experience classroom and social life here.
n Apply for Financial Assistance
We welcome your interest in financial assistance to afford Blake. You can find information about our needbased financial assistance program and application on the Blake website. The deadline for submitting an application for financial assistance is January 31, 2025.
Please call the Admissions Office at 952-988-3420 if you have questions.
Thank you for considering Blake. Our goal is to create a personalized, warm and enjoyable experience for every family as they discover what their child can become at Blake. We are happy to answer any questions, so feel free to contact us.
Joe Silvestri
Director of Admissions and Financial Assistance School: (952) 988-3422
Mobile: (612) 437-5259
JSilvestri@BlakeSchool.org
Tony Andrade
Associate Director of Admissions Grades 6–12 Admissions Coordinator School: (952) 988-3424
Mobile: (612) 916-2046
TAndrade@BlakeSchool.org
Lynn Loew
Assistant Director of Financial Assistance Grades 2–5 Admissions Coordinator School: (952) 988-3423
Mobile: (612) 368-5420
LLoew@BlakeSchool.org
Laura Mark
Assistant Director of Admissions for Early Childhood Education, Grades Pre-K–Grade 1 School: (952) 988-3570
Mobile: (612) 368-5420
LMark@BlakeSchool.org
2 020–2 1 Financial Assistance
$9.1 MILLION in financial assistance grants 26% of Blake students receive financial assistance
ALL GRADES AWARDS MADE TO
Family income of those receiving tuition assistance ranges from less than $20,000 to more than $300,000
Financial assistance awards ARE GRANTS NOT LOANS
300+ students receive grants each year
Average financial assistance award is
Total Tuition
$600,000 MORE THAN in additional financial assistance awarded to support students beyond tuition including but not limited to:
BLAKE ALUMNI AROUND THE GLOBE
► An education at Blake opens the door to an extensive Alumni network.
► Blake alumni far and near are living purposeful lives as community and global citizens.
► The five states with the most alumni include Minnesota, California, New York, Florida and Colorado.
► Blake alumni encompass all former students of Blake, Northrop, Highcroft and The Blake School, including those who left prior to graduation. Once you’ve attended Blake, we always have a place for you.
► Alumni engagement opportunities: Alumni Board
Top five alumni states in brown
Nearly 200 alumni live outside the United States. The country with the most alumni outside of the U.S is the United Kingdom, followed by Canada.
Stay up to date with Blake alumni news and events on social media www.facebook.com/blakeschoolalumni.
PROFILE 2023–2024
OVERVIEW
Founded in 1900, Blake is a coeducational, independent, nonsectarian day school serving 1,330 students on two campuses, Hopkins (Pre-K to 8) and Minneapolis (9 to 12). In small classes and through comprehensive curriculum, students from a variety of backgrounds and lived experiences find common ground in shared values. Blake provides ample opportunities for students to develop outside of the classroom. They not only become critical thinkers but also leaders, artists, athletes and citizens of the world.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
22 credits in seven disciplines:
• Computer Science
• English
• Math
• Modern & Classical Languages
• Social Studies/History
• Science
• Visual, Performing Arts & Debate
Other courses include:
• 5 AP courses in Humanities
• 16 honors and AP courses in STEM
• 4 AP courses in Modern & Classical Languages
• Independent Study, by application
• Senior Seminar: Communication & Society: Senior Capstone Course
Enrollment in and advancement in honors and AP courses in math, science and social studies requires a minimum grade or departmental approval. Students cannot enroll in AP social studies courses until junior year.
Athletics
English
POST-AP COURSES
• All senior electives offered at post-AP level
Computer Science
• Advanced Topics in Computer Science & Intermediate Programming with Python (CMU)
Math *0ffered on a rotation, year-to-year
• Advanced Topics: Conjectures, Refutations & Proofs*
• Advanced Topics: Graph Theory & Network*
• Advanced Topics: Linear Algebra with Topics in Multi-variable Calculus*
• Advanced Topics: Interest Theory & Actuarial Math*
Modern & Classical Languages
• Advanced Hispanic Culture & Literature
• Advanced Topics: Chinese Culture & Literature
• Advanced Topics: Hispanic Theater & Film
• Advanced Topics: LeMonde Francophone
• Advanced Classics: Age of Augustus and Empire
• Advanced Classics: Politics & Poetry
Social Studies
• Advanced Topics: Research
UPPER SCHOOL CO-CURRICULARS
Student Leadership
80% of Upper School students participate in at least one of 32 sports on 77 different athletic teams. (Students commute from the Upper School to Blake’s athletic facilities in Hopkins.)
Visual & Performing Arts
Includes two choral ensembles, two instrumental ensembles and three annual stage productions. Students lead an average of six curated gallery shows and attend 45 debate tournaments per year.
Student Publications
Spectrum, award-winning student newspaper; Flash, literary arts magazine; yearbook.
Forum, student government; Community Judiciary Board; Student InterAction Committee (SIAC); peer counselors; Bear-to-Bear peer tutoring; Student Diversity Leadership Council; Student Interview and Recommendation Committee.
Academic Clubs
DECA, Quiz Bowl, Science Olympiad, math team, robotics, mock trial, ModelUN, debate.
Service Learning
25% of Upper School students choose to participate in Community Service Board committees and/or Service Path Recognition where they volunteer for at least 100 hours in one year.
GLOBAL LEARNING
• Academic immersion courses are led by Blake faculty who partner with local organizations. Destinations have included China, Sierra Leone, Cuba, Vietnam, Morocco, India, U.S.-Mexico border and Rwanda.
• Through Global Online Academy (GOA), a consortium of leading independent schools, students learn about real-world topics in a global community.
• Blake partners with School Year Abroad, the High Mountain Institute, the Alzar School and other organizations for off-campus study.
Affinity Groups
Student-led spaces for identitybased affirmation and support. Specific groups focus on gender, sexuality, religion, race, ethnicity, family structure and ability.
Clubs & Organizations
Approved and sponsored by the student government. Groups focus on creative writing, history, politics, languages, chess, arts, finance, e-sports, rocket science, the environment and more.
Blake does not rank students or weight
* Includes all Blake courses taken during the academic year beginning in ninth grade through junior year.
Test Takers
COVID-19: Blake shifted to remote learning for the fourth quarter of 2019–2020. Blake started 2020–2021 in a hybrid model, with half of the student body in the building each day. On Nov. 5, 2020, Blake moved to full remote learning and then resumed the hybrid model on January 19, 2021. In the 2021–22 academic year, Blake returned to full in-person teaching and learning. Students received letter grades for all courses and school years.
MISSION
Blake engages students with a dynamic, academically challenging education in a diverse and supportive community committed to pluralism and a common set of values. Students pursue an integrated program of academic, artistic and athletic activities, preparing for college, lifelong learning and purposeful lives as community and global citizens.
COMMITMENT TO PLURALISM
A vibrant learning environment springs from a diverse school community. For this reason, Blake seeks and values students, families and employees with a wide range of backgrounds, identities and life experiences. Individually and collectively, we strive for understanding across differences in an inclusive environment where everyone can belong, contribute and thrive.
CORE VALUES
Respect Love of Learning Integrity
Courage
ADMINISTRATION
Anne E. Stavney, Ph.D. Head of School
Joseph J. Ruggiero, Ph.D. Upper School Director
COLLEGE COUNSELING
Sara Kyle
Director of College Counseling skyle@blakeschool.org
Jim Mahoney
Associate Director of College Counseling jmahoney@blakeschool.org
Nora Main
Associate Director of College Counseling nmain@blakeschool.org
Wendy Johnson College Counseling Coordinator werickson@blakeschool.org
CJ Jones Eckhardt College Counseling Liaison cjeckhardt@blakeschool.org
Amanda Minoff
College Counseling Liaison aminoff@blakeschool.org
ACCREDITATION
Independent Schools Administration of the Central States (ISACS)