Elementary Education

Young children learn by doing, which is a core tenant of why play and experimentation are at the core of the Pathfinder experience.

Elementary education at Pathfinder

Through both unstructured and guided play, as well as more traditional academic projects - such as making books, keeping a tally of the changes in the forest, and mapping the campus - children develop the nascent intellectual and social skills that lead to academic success in later grades. Due to small class sizes, children experience emerging literacy and numeracy in a stimulating environment that sponsors individual challenges. The Pathfinder elementary program is further enriched by foreign language, music, visual art, library, and physical education instruction. Combined, these activities expose young children to a broad range of experiences necessary to promote intellectual and social growth.

Class Sizes

Our Kindergarten through Grade 5 classes are capped at a maximum of 17 students per classroom.

Sample Schedule

Each of our elementary classes are afforded access to our stellar co-curricular faculty throughout the week, alongside an academically stimulating environment allowing them to safely extend their intellectual and emotional boundaries. At Pathfinder, the elementary program provides children an opportunity to explore their widening concept of the world through unique projects, performances, field trips, and developing portfolios that demonstrate their understanding. Students practice researching and constructing knowledge on a wide range of topics, often combining subjects in interdisciplinary ways. The elementary program provides a nurturing supportive environment in which children learn how to learn.

A typical day could look like:

8:00-8:15am Arrival and Warm-up Activity
8:15-9:05am Reading and Writing Focus
9:10-9:55am Recess
10:00-10:45am Math
10:50-11:30am Language Arts/Social Studies
11:35am-12:20pm Lunch and Recess
12:25-1:10pm French
1:15-2:00pm Physical Education
2:05-2:50pm Music
2:50-3:00pm Pack-up and Head to the Pick-up Hut
3:00-3:15pm Pick-up

The place

Our campus has a “cabin in the woods” feel - because it used to be just that! Our elementary students spend the majority of their time learning on our upper-campus in their individual classrooms. Each room has a unique design, and is full of character and charm. Our students spend time outside as often as possible, exploring all our 22-acres have to offer.

CURRICULUM

The foundation of our elementary classrooms is grounded in the building of community. This sense of ”Community” or “family” is the thread that links everyone together. Here, the need for belonging, knowledge, joy in the sciences, arts, and fun is lovingly met. Character, responsibility, respect for others and the environment, interconnectedness, and friendship are practiced daily and highly valued. A love of learning is nurtured. Theater is a common element of classwork. As children move through the Pathfinder curriculum, their experiences in theater become more formalized. First Graders often participate in Readers’ Theater, which culminates in performances in front of their classmates. While Third Graders work together to write short stories and create their very own book to be published.

The curriculum is taught thematically. Language arts and social studies are highly integrated, and as often as possible Math is integrated within our thematic units. Frequent collaboration with co-curricular teachers ensures integration with science, art, music, physical education, and French.