Classrooms
Pre-K & Kindergarten
The Pre-Primary is an open Montessori influenced classroom using hands-on lessons that teach concepts of numbers, geometry, science, language, and geography skills. The environment provides opportunity for independent learning, creative expression, and social interaction.
The program offers flexibility for families by offering half-day or full-day attendance for students ages 3 to 4 year olds. Kindergarten is full-day, everyday class. Daily accessibility and communication between families and teachers, as well as scheduled conferences, fosters an individual plan for each student’s success. The teaching staff includes a lead teacher and assistant.
The Pre-Primary curriculum integrates multiple intelligences with sensorial experiences. Use of the five senses, with movement, provides avenues for absorbing the phonetic sounds of the alphabet (i.e. sandpaper letters, songs incorporating hand signs, preparing and tasting food, dancing and creative movement). The prepared environment encompasses safety lessons, books and printed materials, care of self and environment, and with daily calendar and discussions to promote self-expression and a welcoming exchange of ideas and learning through sharing and listening. Students learn concepts by working with materials, rather than by direct instruction.
The program offers flexibility for families by offering half-day or full-day attendance for students ages 3 to 4 year olds. Kindergarten is full-day, everyday class. Daily accessibility and communication between families and teachers, as well as scheduled conferences, fosters an individual plan for each student’s success. The teaching staff includes a lead teacher and assistant.
The Pre-Primary curriculum integrates multiple intelligences with sensorial experiences. Use of the five senses, with movement, provides avenues for absorbing the phonetic sounds of the alphabet (i.e. sandpaper letters, songs incorporating hand signs, preparing and tasting food, dancing and creative movement). The prepared environment encompasses safety lessons, books and printed materials, care of self and environment, and with daily calendar and discussions to promote self-expression and a welcoming exchange of ideas and learning through sharing and listening. Students learn concepts by working with materials, rather than by direct instruction.
Lower Elementary
The Elementary Level is comprised of students in grades 1 and 2 and grades 3 and 4. This grouping, using a rotating curriculum, allows students to learn more freely at their own pace, while allowing the teacher more time with the student to better support them in working with their unique learning styles and at their particular level of achievement.
The Curriculum
The primary focus of the curriculum at this level is Literacy and Numeracy. The class follows the themes adopted by the teaching staff throughout the year. Classroom studies revolve around these themes. Incorporated into these studies are our Camping program (students go camping twice a year), Wisdom of the Hands (wood-shop), Art, Music, the Social Sciences, and exciting field trips. The students begin to take ownership of their learning through this process and begin to discover their interests.
The Curriculum
The primary focus of the curriculum at this level is Literacy and Numeracy. The class follows the themes adopted by the teaching staff throughout the year. Classroom studies revolve around these themes. Incorporated into these studies are our Camping program (students go camping twice a year), Wisdom of the Hands (wood-shop), Art, Music, the Social Sciences, and exciting field trips. The students begin to take ownership of their learning through this process and begin to discover their interests.
Upper Elementary
The Elementary Level is comprised of students in grades 1 and 2 and grades 3 and 4. This grouping, using a rotating curriculum, allows students to learn more freely at their own pace, while allowing the teacher more time with the student to better support them in working with their unique learning styles and at their particular level of achievement.
Middle School
The primary focus at this level is Literacy and Numeracy. However, students are expected to begin using their skills to begin analyzing and critiquing information they are presented with or discover on their own volition. A thematic curriculum is documented in a way that allows the student interest and emergent learning to occur. Integrated into the curriculum are some of our signature programs and enrichment classes. These programs and studies include our Camping/Outdoor Education program (Students go camping in the Fall and Spring), Wisdom of the Hands (wood-shop), Art, Music, Spanish, Science, and Creative Writing. The students begin to gain ownership of their learning through this process. Teachers and students collaborate on the most effective means of assessing student progress through the use of portfolios and parent/student conferencing.
Opportunities outside the classroom between the grades enrich learning processes, social skills, and conflict resolution. Camping, field trips, and recess are opportunities for multi-age interaction. Altogether, these activities create cohesion and a sense of belonging to the school family.
Opportunities outside the classroom between the grades enrich learning processes, social skills, and conflict resolution. Camping, field trips, and recess are opportunities for multi-age interaction. Altogether, these activities create cohesion and a sense of belonging to the school family.
Upper School
Currently the Upper School is composed of students in grades 7 to 12. Block scheduling and instructor interaction empower students to experience a stimulating learning environment.
We offer instruction from qualified professionals in small classroom settings. With block scheduling, teachers benefit from more useable instructional time each day because less time is lost with beginning and ending classes.
Also, when students attend as many as 8 short classes in different subjects every day, instruction can become fragmented; longer class periods give students more time to think and engage in active, project-based learning, travel, and community involvement.
This learning model is proven to be highly effective for students and continues the philosophy of the Clear Spring School into the Upper School years.
Combined with our tradition of service learning with local mentors, the Clear Spring School provides a comprehensive program of community involvement by preparing young adults for fulfilling lives after graduation.
Integrated into all of our academic studies are our signature programs and enrichment classes.
The Travel Program is a point of integration for history, geography, civics, math, science, sociology, language and culture.
The Internship program is ideal for furthering student education and helps them decide on a career path. Through this program, many students have discovered new careers that they hadn't previously considered.
The Independent Studies program gives the student the opportunity to fulfill his or her credit needs. The program may also be used for students who have a special interest.
We offer instruction from qualified professionals in small classroom settings. With block scheduling, teachers benefit from more useable instructional time each day because less time is lost with beginning and ending classes.
Also, when students attend as many as 8 short classes in different subjects every day, instruction can become fragmented; longer class periods give students more time to think and engage in active, project-based learning, travel, and community involvement.
This learning model is proven to be highly effective for students and continues the philosophy of the Clear Spring School into the Upper School years.
Combined with our tradition of service learning with local mentors, the Clear Spring School provides a comprehensive program of community involvement by preparing young adults for fulfilling lives after graduation.
Integrated into all of our academic studies are our signature programs and enrichment classes.
The Travel Program is a point of integration for history, geography, civics, math, science, sociology, language and culture.
The Internship program is ideal for furthering student education and helps them decide on a career path. Through this program, many students have discovered new careers that they hadn't previously considered.
The Independent Studies program gives the student the opportunity to fulfill his or her credit needs. The program may also be used for students who have a special interest.
Heart Strings Studio
A music studio on campus where students are engaged in learning about music and also the exploration and creation of music.
Wisdom of the Hands Studio
A woodshop program in which every student participates founded on the belief that having the hands engaged in learning is important for all students and supports all learning styles. A woodshop program in which every student participates founded on the belief that having the hands engaged in learning is important for all students and supports all learning styles. The woodshop is now located in the new Phyllis Poe Hands-on Learning Center.
https://wisdomofhands.blogspot.com
https://wisdomofhands.blogspot.com
https://wisdomofhands.blogspot.com
https://wisdomofhands.blogspot.com
Outdoor Education
A variety of programming at the Clear Spring School is focused on outdoor Education. Blocks on Environmental Science as well as camping, fishing and nature focused field trips are just a few of the ways the Clear Spring students are engaged with the natural world.
Sewing Studio
This program led by Mark Hughes provides students with the opportunity to learn the skills of sewing and other fiber arts. The Sewing studio is located in the Phyllis Poe Hands-on Learning Center.
Heath & Wellness
Students are in yoga class learning about self-care with Victoria Canter.
Beekeeping & Gardening
Students learning from resident beekeeper and gardening instructor, Bethany Smith.
Visual Arts Studio
The new art studio in the Phyllis Poe Hands-on Learning Center offers our student a variety of art classes in different media.