ACADEMICS

Academic Calendar

The Lower School academic year is divided into four quarters.

Curriculum

Curriculum components of our early childhood program emphasize the developmental nature of young children and consist of:

• Gross and Fine Motor Development

• Social Development

• Cognitive Development o Language and Emerging Literacy o Mathematics

Core curriculum for Lower School students in grades K - 5 consists of instruction in the following content areas:

• Language Arts (Reading and Writing)

• Mathematics

• Social Studies

• Science

Complementary curriculum in grades K – 5 is integrated, whenever possible, with the core curriculum and consists of instruction in:

• Physical Movement

• Music

• Visual Arts

• French (Grades 3 – 5)

• Executive Function

• Technology

• Design Thinking

• Enrichment o A key component of the Schoolwide Enrichment Model is participation in enrichment clusters in 1st – 5th grades. Enrichment clusters provide opportunities for students to engage in long-term, real-world projects in mixed grade groups that are joined together through common interest. In Enrichment Clusters, students learn and apply the skills and methodologies of professionals in fields related to their areas of interest, and work toward a product, performance, or service for an authentic audience. PK4 and Kindergarten students develop the skills and mindsets for enrichment clusters through participation in short-term investigation teams based on shared student interests.

Reporting Practices

ESA reports detailed progress to students and parents at the end of each quarter.

Reports of Progress are available via myESA usually by 6 pm five academic days after the end of a marking period.

myESA ACCESS

ESA posts all Reports of Progress and Interim Reports online. Students and parents may access these reports using myESA.

Each member of a family has a unique user id and password. Families new to ESA need to follow the link First time on our new site? Forgot your login? ? just below the log in screen and follow the direction to receive their username and password. Each student and parent needs to follow this procedure to receive their individual log on information.

MyESA is accessed from the ESA website. Selecting the myESA button from the top right of the ESA website homepage will bring you to the login screen. Once you have logged on to myESA, you may select the child whose report you want to view at the top left in the light green menu bar.

Should a family not have access to myESA, they should contact the Registrar and request a hard copy of reports to be mailed home.

Grading System

PK3 through 2nd grade are non-graded. Each quarter, students receive detailed individual narratives and progress reports indicating growth in specific skills across the curriculum using the following descriptions.

• 4 Exceeding the standard

• 3 Meeting the standard

• 2 Nearing the standard

• 1 Not meeting the standard

Each quarter, 3rd grade students receive letter grades and detailed individual narratives in language arts and mathematics. Student progress in specific skills related to science and social studies is reported using one of the following descriptions:

• 4 Exceeding the standard

• 3 Meeting the standard

• 2 Nearing the standard

• 1 Not meeting the standard

Fourth and Fifth Grade students receive grades and detailed narratives in all core curriculum courses.

Interim reports and/or conference requests are sent at the midpoint of each grading period if there is a significant decline in a student’s work. Teachers will be pleased to discuss your child’s progress and/or grade reports at any point in the grading period by appointment in addition to regularly scheduled parent-teacher conferences at the end of the second quarter.

Grading Scale

ESA uses a grading system that includes pluses and minuses. Letter grades correspond to the following numerical values and grade point equivalent on a student's transcript:

Academic Honors

Academic Ranking

ESA does not academically rank its students.

HEADMSTER’S LIST

A student must receive a 3.67 grade point average and receive no grade (in any course) below a B- to receive this honor.

Honor Roll

A student will receive Honor Roll recognition provided he or she receives no grade (in any course) below a B-.

Fifth Grade Awards

The Headmaster’s Award is presented to the fifth grade student who most exemplifies “excellence from within.” The qualities considered for this award include academic excellence, leadership, and contributions to the well-being of the community.

The St. Barnabas Award is presented to the fifth grade student who maximizes his or her ESA experience.