Co-Curricular Classes

Music

Our elementary and middle school music education programs engage children through song, speech, movement, listening, and instrumental play. The curriculum is influenced by the pedagogical premises of Carl Orff’s Schulwerk, which focuses on developing the musicianship of every child. Children learn by doing by interacting with their environment and acting upon it through exploration and experimentation, play and discovery. Music education, just like other types of learning at Pathfinder, are active processes, engaging children in holistic and meaningful experiences that lead to further growth and understanding. From PreKindergarten to Grade 8, our music curriculum is designed around the concepts of rhythm, melody, form, texture/harmony, and expression. The content of music education classes is often interdisciplinary and multicultural. Students learn about music history by exploring the lives and works of composers and styles of music ranging from medieval times to the present. Music class is 1-3 times per week depending on the grade level.

Studio Art

Pathfinder students not only learn to appreciate art; but also to create art using anything from clay and tempera paint, to watercolors and recycled materials. Art history is incorporated into the curriculum, from Prehistoric through Modern times, in a relatable way that makes all of our students excited to try new techniques from different eras. Our students are inspired by the nature surrounding our campus, the current stories they are reading, or a song they recently learned. Art is an essential element of a Pathfinder education, and is another avenue through which students can explore the broader curriculum. The arts are integrated into the classroom, with enrichment projects through cooperative ventures with the art teacher, such as creating art from a given country during a social studies unit. From Kindergarten to Grade 8, students meet at least twice a week for art class.

French

As a long standing tradition at Pathfinder, French instruction is integrated beginning in PreKindergarten. Students begin to learn through reading and singing, and as comprehension grows vocabulary and conversational French are introduced. By the time a student enters Grade 8, they are writing and reading in French, learning about countries where the primary language spoken is French, and learning the intricacies of French history. Classes meet with for French class anywhere from 1-4 times per week, depending on the grade level. Our French faculty work diligently to help any student who is new to Pathfinder, to feel like they can learn and grow alongside their classmates.

Physical Education

The Physical Education program at Pathfinder is full of opportunities for our students to learn about their health, try out new games, discover the history behind many sports, study athletes, and so much more. Physical Education is important for any growing child, and we believe integrating this education into their classwork can help build a stronger understanding of ways to take care of our minds and bodies. During any given day you might see PreKindergarten students practicing their shape recognition by building towers in a relay race, or Grade 8 students developing a complex jumprope routine. Students from PreKindergarten to Grade 8 are engaged in scheduled physical education 1-3 times per week.