Our Curriculum

Our curriculum is both theme-based and comprehensive, yielding vast, yet specific knowledge, building on progressive paradigms.Mikey can read and write. He knows where Madagascar is and Timbuktu too. He can tell you who Nero was. But he can also tell you that people with African descent started the first universities. He knows about Columbus, and George Washington. Mikey can speak a little French and sing Swahili. But they can also think; analyze, synthesis, fuse, take apart, think through, around and form a view of his/her own based upon Truth. At The DaySchool for children, we do adhere to the Core Knowledge curriculum as developed by Ed Hirsch but at an accelerated pace and definitely including the rich cultural diversity and heritage of other American people. Our curriculum brings together several top programs across the board including ones in music, art and ethics. This means we have brought together the very best approaches to bear in one place. ​​

 

A very significant aspect of school life is the infusion of our character education and social development. Its’ intent is to aid specifically at the moral education of the young. Moral education – the training of the heart and mind toward the good - involves many things, including explicit instruction, exhortation and training. It has been said that there is nothing more influential, more determinant, in a child’s life than the moral power of quiet example. The necessity of example is taken quite seriously at The Day School. Along with precept, habit and example, there is also the need for what we might call moral literacy. Because we respect the minds of the young – all our literature; stories, poems, essays and other literacy writings are intended to help children achieve this moral literacy. We show them what virtues and ethics look like, what they are in practice, how to recognize them, and how they work for the betterment of all. ​

 

Second, in our social development program we take this moral literacy a step further which involves explicit training in good habits and socially responsible behavior. We teach the children how to treat others as they desire to be treated and then give them opportunity to practice it. Next we help them to become consistent at it when they’re playing or during moments when they want to play with the same game that another child desires to play with – What should they say? What should they do? And what should they think? They learn social manners, self-control, respect for self and others, and cooperation etc. They begin to acquire the ability to communicate, negotiate and resolve conflict peacefully, while gathering listening and problem solving skills.