Boys and girls in the Nursery and Pre-Kindergarten Program experience a relaxed atmosphere of trust, love and freedom in which each child can develop a positive self-image. In grades Kindergarten through five, our single-sex setting allows us to use teaching methods that are best suited to young girls’ learning styles and social skills.
Our Kindergarten Program develops girls’ self-confidence, self-awareness, independence and social skills while also laying a foundation for success in first grade. Girls receive individual attention from three teachers and they frequently work in small groups.
Language Arts
Teachers use a broad early-literacy approach in reading,
writing and phonics. Girls read large-print books, and dictated stories and poems. They also read in small guided
reading groups at their individual levels, read to themselves
and with each other during book enjoyment time. Process
writing occurs daily with dialogue journals and in Writers’
Workshop, where the girls create their own books.
Mathematics
Kindergarten girls develop number concepts through the use of a variety of math manipulatives. Pattern blocks, unifix cubes, Cuisenaire rods, tiles, geoboards, scales and other materials also help the children understand patterns, classification, graphing, geometry, measurement, time and money. Addition and subtraction, place value and problem-solving are introduced.
Science and Social Studies
Much of the Kindergarten curriculum is theme-related. In science, girls explore topics such as animals, seasons, plants, small machines and structures, musical instruments, water and sand, nutrition, dinosaurs and the five senses. In social studies, they learn about self, families, communities, occupations and other cultures, including holidays and geography. All themes are integrated with arts, reading, writing and math.
Arts
Kindergarteners take classes with the Primary School music and dance specialists, exploring rhythm, melody and musical genres. In the classroom, the girls enjoy drama, music appreciation and puppetry as extensions of their language arts program and as part of their choice time. Art activities introduce them to works by well-known artists and offer the girls hands-on experience in a variety of media.
Technology
Working in the computer lab in half-class groups, girls learn computer terminology and proper care and use of the computers. They also use multimedia programs that integrate mouse and keyboarding skills, writing about and illustrating topics learned in class.
World Language
The World Language Program begins in Pre-Kindergarten with the study of both French and Spanish. Students continue with both languages in Kindergarten; then select one language to study for first grade. They will continue with that language through the fifth grade in Primary School. Classes at all levels nurture enthusiasm for learning a second language while encouraging confident and uninhibited expression. In Kindergarten the program is oral. Reading and writing are added in grades 3, 4 and 5.
Physical Education
Kindergarten girls develop game skills, coordination and gross motor skills through twice-weekly sessions with the Primary School physical education specialist.
In first grade, each girl continues to progress at her own speed through small- and large-group instruction. Students begin their studies of science and art with specialists from those fields. A supportive environment and daily routine allow students to thrive intellectually, emotionally and physically.
Language Arts
The first-grade curriculum inspires girls’ love of reading
and writing. Teachers expose girls to a print-rich environment through the shared reading of poetry, big books and other fiction and nonfiction stories to teach phonics, decoding and reading comprehension.
The writing process is equally important. Skills such as
spelling, capitalization and punctuation, and the ability to convey ideas for a variety of purposes are developed through numerous creative writing experiences, journal writing and shared writing activities. Drama, listening centers,
poetry recitations songs and computer activities round out the first
grade language arts curriculum.
Mathematics
Topics include place value, one- and two-digit addition and subtraction, introductory multiplication and division concepts, fractions, time, money, problem-solving, patterns and spatial relationships. Girls gain a true understanding of new math concepts through the use of math manipulatives.
Social Studies
Students expand their study of the relationship of the self to family. The girls begin the year writing a mini-biography, then explore diverse ethnic and cultural heritages through a comparative study of children and families in Israel, Mexico and Japan. Research skills are acquired by having each child learn and write about an important African American. An introduction to map skills lays a firm foundation for the second-grade, geography -based curriculum.
Science
Science instruction is hands-on and inquiry-based, taking place in a dedicated Primary School science laboratory. The students begin to observe, experiment, investigate and predict, and then learn to communicate their findings. They gain a sense of wonder about the world as they start framing their own questions and thinking scientifically.
Technology
Meeting in the computer lab in half-class groups, students learn how to create and modify computer graphics, type words and sentences and manipulate text using various fonts, sizes and colors.
Art, Drama, Dance, Music - See the Arts section
World Language
The World Language Program begins in Pre-Kindergarten with the study of both French and Spanish. Students continue with both languages in Kindergarten; then select one language to study for first grade. They will continue with that language through the fifth grade in Primary School. Classes at all levels nurture enthusiasm for learning a second language while encouraging confident and uninhibited expression. In Kindergarten the program is oral. Reading and writing are added in grades 3, 4 and 5.
Physical Education
The Physical Education program encompasses movement education, fitness training, games and discussions focused around positive sportsmanship and healthy lifestyles. In grades one and two, the girls participate in physical activities which will help them develop small and large muscle coordination. Girls experience modified team and independent sports such as soccer, tennis, field hockey, volleyball, basketball, kickball, t-ball and tumbling. In grades three through five, students engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity that develops all components of physical fitness. The girls are exposed to traditional sport games and a myriad of cooperative and non-competitive recreational activities.
Library
The Primary School librarian works closely with all the teachers to ensure that the best resources are available for all aspects of the curriculum. The library supports our reading and writing program and is the center for research work for papers and projects. Library time is also used for choosing literature for outside reading and sharing stories.
Women’s Life Studies
This first-grade through twelfth-grade curriculum explores issues that reflect the physical, social/emotional and psychosocial development of women throughout their lives. In the Primary School, Women’s Life Studies consists of ten lessons each year in grades one through four. Topics include appreciating similarities and differences in families, helpful and harmful drugs, personal safety, friendships, assertive communication and body image. Fifth-graders take one trimester course which focuses on the physical and emotional changes of puberty in girls.
The second-grade curriculum consolidates skills learned
in Kindergarten and first grade and moves children on to
a new level of understanding in all areas. The number of
weekly science classes increases, social studies turns students’
attention toward world geography and cultures, and girls continue to strive
toward mastery of math concepts, spelling, reading, grammar
and punctuation.
Language Arts
Second-graders develop their skills as readers and writers
in an environment rich with literature. The girls read a
variety of trade books in both small and large groups, strengthening
their decoding and comprehension skills. Second-graders
also memorize and recite poetry weekly. The writing program
stresses imagination and logical sequencing. As students
write and publish their own stories and poems, keep journals
and respond in writing to what they read, they learn skills
such as spelling, sentence structure, punctuation and grammar.
Mathematics
Second-grade math emphasizes the study of numbers from 10 to 1000, focusing on place value and the structure of the number system. Students use manipulatives to master the four operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. They also concentrate on problem-solving, computation skills and mathematical thinking, using calculators and computer programs as tools and topics such as measurement, geometry, money and time.
Social Studies
This exciting year of exploration focuses on seven different world cultures. As children study one culture from each of the seven continents, they learn about land forms and waterways and acquire map skills. Girls are encouraged to compare and contrast cultures as they begin to develop a more complete world view.
Science
The second-grade science curriculum is closely aligned with the social studies and language arts curricula. Students learn about the different environments and living creatures on the seven continents. Hands-on, activity-based instruction develops students’ ability to ask appropriate questions, collect data and communicate their findings. Their natural curiosity for the world around them is nurtured, and they are encouraged to think critically.
Technology
The second-grade computer curriculum is also closely integrated with the social studies curriculum. As they illustrate and write about the seven continents they study, girls learn the basics of word processing and more advanced graphics techniques. Proper keyboarding is introduced and reinforced throughout the year.
Art, Drama, Dance, Music - See the Arts section
World Language
The World Language Program begins in Pre-Kindergarten with the study of both French and Spanish. Students continue with both languages in Kindergarten; then select one language to study for first grade. They will continue with that language through the fifth grade in Primary School. Classes at all levels nurture enthusiasm for learning a second language while encouraging confident and uninhibited expression. In Kindergarten the program is oral. Reading and writing are added in grades 3, 4 and 5.
Physical Education
The Physical Education program encompasses movement education, fitness training, games and discussions focused around positive sportsmanship and healthy lifestyles. In grades one and two, the girls participate in physical activities which will help them develop small and large muscle coordination. Girls experience modified team and independent sports such as soccer, tennis, field hockey, volleyball, basketball, kickball, t-ball and tumbling. In grades three through five, students engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity that develops all components of physical fitness. The girls are exposed to traditional sport games and a myriad of cooperative and non-competitive recreational activities.
Library
The Primary School librarian works closely with all the teachers to ensure that the best resources are available for all aspects of the curriculum. The library supports our reading and writing program and is the center for research work for papers and projects. Library time is also used for choosing literature for outside reading and sharing stories.
Women’s Life Studies
This first-grade through twelfth-grade curriculum explores issues that reflect the physical, social/emotional and psychosocial development of women throughout their lives. In the Primary School, Women’s Life Studies consists of ten lessons each year in grades one through four. Topics include appreciating similarities and differences in families, helpful and harmful drugs, personal safety, friendships, assertive communication and body image. Fifth-graders take one trimester course which focuses on the physical and emotional changes of puberty in girls.
Third-grade students are able to address more complex aspects of language, social studies and math. The year-long social studies theme, Native Americans, connects various fields of study.
Language Arts
As students gain fluency in reading, they can focus more on content and meaning. The third-grade reading curriculum develops skills such as making inferences and predictions, analyzing the author’s point of view and identifying main ideas. The girls examine a variety of genres from legends to biographies, as well as books relevant to the social studies curriculum. By writing every day, students learn to express ideas in a clear, organized manner. During Writers’ Workshop, the girls develop their own topics, confer with peers and edit for spelling, grammar, sequencing, and clarity. Weekly spelling, grammar, vocabulary and punctuation exercises reinforce basic skills.
Mathematics
Third-grade math emphasizes estimation and problem-solving. Rote calculation has its place within a framework of concept mastery. Girls expand their knowledge of place value, perform basic operations with whole numbers and fractions and solve problems with calculators.
Social Studies
The program investigates the interaction between people and the land. Children begin with the question: “Who were the first peoples of the Americas ” After studying the ancient basket-maker and pueblo societies, the girls begin a comparative study of Native Americans by region. Teachers emphasize the geography of North America and they introduce the element of time through use of timelines. Later, students learn about the European explorers and study the impact of two vastly different civilizations. Through report writing and presentations, third-graders begin to develop specific research and study skills.
Science
Third-grade science begins with a more formal introduction
to the scientific process. Students learn how to pose
questions and test them with experiments in a well-equipped
Primary School science lab. They explore such topics as
flight, magnets and simple machines, using their new knowledge
to design a useful invention. They also study topics related
to Native Americans, including plant growth, geology and
archeology. Finally, students finish the year with an in-depth
study of the ocean and its habitats.
Technology
Third-graders incorporate technology into many of their
classroom projects. The girls learn more word-processing techniques to use as tools to compose, edit, revise and publish
their work. They also use computer graphics as a way of enriching
their math learning.
Art, Drama, Dance, Music - See the Arts section
World Language
The World Language Program begins in Pre-Kindergarten with the study of both French and Spanish. Students continue with both languages in Kindergarten; then select one language to study for first grade. They will continue with that language through the fifth grade in Primary School. Classes at all levels nurture enthusiasm for learning a second language while encouraging confident and uninhibited expression. In Kindergarten the program is oral. Reading and writing are added in grades 3, 4 and 5.
Physical Education
The Physical Education program encompasses movement education, fitness training, games and discussions focused around positive sportsmanship and healthy lifestyles. In grades one and two, the girls participate in physical activities which will help them develop small and large muscle coordination. Girls experience modified team and independent sports such as soccer, tennis, field hockey, volleyball, basketball, kickball, t-ball and tumbling. In grades three through five, students engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity that develops all components of physical fitness. The girls are exposed to traditional sport games and a myriad of cooperative and non-competitive recreational activities.
Library
The Primary School librarian works closely with all the teachers to ensure that the best resources are available for all aspects of the curriculum. The library supports our reading and writing program and is the center for research work for papers and projects. Library time is also used for choosing literature for outside reading and sharing stories.
Women’s Life Studies
This first-grade through twelfth-grade curriculum explores issues that reflect the physical, social/emotional and psychosocial development of women throughout their lives. In the Primary School, Women’s Life Studies consists of ten lessons each year in grades one through four. Topics include appreciating similarities and differences in families, helpful and harmful drugs, personal safety, friendships, assertive communication and body image. Fifth-graders take one trimester course which focuses on the physical and emotional changes of puberty in girls.
The fourth-grade program continues to build girls’ abstract thinking skills. Students are given more responsibility and are provided with many opportunities to learn about and discuss the importance of cooperation, integrity and self-esteem.
Language Arts
The Language Arts curriculum focuses on abstract thinking and strong communication skills: inference, analysis, speaking, writing and listening. Students read and study novels, short stories and poetry that correlate with the social studies program. They develop vocabulary and writing skills as they write research reports, essays, personal journals, letters and creative pieces and work together on a class newspaper. Grammar lessons formalize their understanding of parts of speech, sentence construction and punctuation.
Mathematics
The fourth-grade curriculum covers two- and three-digit
multiplication, one-digit division, fractions, ratios, decimals,
measuring in the metric system, an introduction to percentages
and the collection and interpretation of data (which correlates
with science and social studies). The teachers emphasize
problem-solving and expect students to explain how they
arrived at specific answers to challenging problems. Small
group work and one-on-one instruction provide opportunities
for individualized learning.
Social Studies
Continuing the second- and third-grade emphasis on geography, the fourth-grade program highlights the different regions of the United States. Students explore the relationships among geography, economics, culture, ethics and political systems. Each student chooses an individual state for an in-depth project. Students also present current events to heighten awareness of their country and the world around them.
Science
Fourth-graders further develop their data collection skills and knowledge of scientific equipment. They are introduced to the methods of dissection during the muscle and skeletal system units. They also explore a number of other topics: heat and electricity, motion and speed, the solar system and the effects of pollution on the environment.
Technology
Students incorporate technology into most of their curricular subjects. In addition to receiving computer instruction in the lab, they often use the school’s portable laptops to complete their classwork and they learn how to appropriately use the Internet for research. They also begin to use more advanced word-processing, graphics and keyboarding skills. At the end of the year, they produce a multimedia slide show about the solar system.
Art, Drama, Dance, Music - See the Arts section
World Language
The World Language Program begins in Pre-Kindergarten with the study of both French and Spanish. Students continue with both languages in Kindergarten; then select one language to study for first grade. They will continue with that language through the fifth grade in Primary School. Classes at all levels nurture enthusiasm for learning a second language while encouraging confident and uninhibited expression. In Kindergarten the program is oral. Reading and writing are added in grades 3, 4 and 5.
Physical Education
The Physical Education program encompasses movement education, fitness training, games and discussions focused around positive sportsmanship and healthy lifestyles. In grades one and two, the girls participate in physical activities which will help them develop small and large muscle coordination. Girls experience modified team and independent sports such as soccer, tennis, field hockey, volleyball, basketball, kickball, t-ball and tumbling. In grades three through five, students engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity that develops all components of physical fitness. The girls are exposed to traditional sport games and a myriad of cooperative and non-competitive recreational activities.
Library
The Primary School librarian works closely with all the teachers to ensure that the best resources are available for all aspects of the curriculum. The library supports our reading and writing program and is the center for research work for papers and projects. Library time is also used for choosing literature for outside reading and sharing stories.
Women’s Life Studies
This first-grade through twelfth-grade curriculum explores issues that reflect the physical, social/emotional and psychosocial development of women throughout their lives. In the Primary School, Women’s Life Studies consists of ten lessons each year in grades one through four. Topics include appreciating similarities and differences in families, helpful and harmful drugs, personal safety, friendships, assertive communication and body image. Fifth-graders take one trimester course which focuses on the physical and emotional changes of puberty in girls.
The fifth-grade year is the culmination of the Primary School experience. Teachers stress responsibility, self-sufficiency and conscientious work habits to help girls become independent and assertive learners. Study skills are woven into every aspect of the curriculum, providing a solid foundation for the middle school years.
Language Arts
Fifth-graders develop the oral and written communication skills they will need for work in Middle School. In Writers’ Workshop, they share their work with others, develop an effective writing style and apply their growing knowledge of grammar, punctuation and spelling to their own work. The study of literature focuses on basic reading skills, comprehension and interpretation, as well as an understanding of basic elements of plot, character and setting. Through creative writing, response journals, formal essays, dramatizations and artwork, students use the literature as a springboard for creative expression. Literature studies connect to the social studies curriculum.
Mathematics
The mathematics curriculum reviews and expands the algorithms of all four operations as applied to whole numbers, decimals and fractions, while also including units on geometry, graphing, measurement, percentages and an introduction to variable and algebraic expressions. Teachers stress computational skills even as they build students’ conceptual understanding. The math-writing connection is reinforced as students learn to explain math concepts with precise language.
Social Studies
American history, literature, geography and economics are all interwoven in the curriculum. The question, “What is freedom?” is central to our study of early American history. Classes take special note of the contributions made by women, African Americans, Native Americans and young people in this period. Activities are designed to help students develop strong skills in reading both novels and nonfiction texts. Students also conduct library research, debate issues in class, write journal essays, design maps, role-play and create computer presentations.
Science
Students use the scientific method as they work in the science
lab to investigate light, sound and weather and continue
their study of the body through the digestive and circulatory
systems. Students also explore ecology and natural resources as they prepare for
their overnight trip to the NJ School of Conservation. These
activities prepare them for their final science project,
an experiment they will devise and conduct themselves.
Technology
Fifth-grade students incorporate technology into most of their curricular subjects. In addition to receiving computer instruction in the lab, they often use the school’s portable laptops in the classroom to assist with their learning. The girls use computers for a range of tasks, including word processing, solving mathematical problems and representing data from their science experiments.
Art, Drama, Dance, Music - See the Arts section
World Language
The World Language Program begins in Pre-Kindergarten with the study of both French and Spanish. Students continue with both languages in Kindergarten; then select one language to study for first grade. They will continue with that language through the fifth grade in Primary School. Classes at all levels nurture enthusiasm for learning a second language while encouraging confident and uninhibited expression. In Kindergarten the program is oral. Reading and writing are added in grades 3, 4 and 5.
Physical Education
The Physical Education program encompasses movement education, fitness training, games and discussions focused around positive sportsmanship and healthy lifestyles. In grades one and two, the girls participate in physical activities which will help them develop small and large muscle coordination. Girls experience modified team and independent sports such as soccer, tennis, field hockey, volleyball, basketball, kickball, t-ball and tumbling. In grades three through five, students engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity that develops all components of physical fitness. The girls are exposed to traditional sport games and a myriad of cooperative and non-competitive recreational activities.
Library
The Primary School librarian works closely with all the teachers to ensure that the best resources are available for all aspects of the curriculum. The library supports our reading and writing program and is the center for research work for papers and projects. Library time is also used for choosing literature for outside reading and sharing stories.
Women’s Life Studies
This first-grade through twelfth-grade curriculum explores issues that reflect the physical, social/emotional and psychosocial development of women throughout their lives. In the Primary School, Women’s Life Studies consists of ten lessons each year in grades one through four. Topics include appreciating similarities and differences in families, helpful and harmful drugs, personal safety, friendships, assertive communication and body image. Fifth-graders take one trimester course which focuses on the physical and emotional changes of puberty in girls.
