The Primary School provides a safe and supportive environment for a student’s first experience at Viewpoint. The stimulating academic program, the array of enrichment classes, nurturing teachers, and special traditions of Primary School foster the cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development of our youngest children. During this time of exploration and discovery, the study of an interrelated, sequential curriculum and the guidance of a caring faculty help children to gain self-confidence and to develop an eagerness for learning.
The Primary School enjoys its own geographical identity on Viewpoint’s scenic campus. Its homerooms, enrichment classrooms, assembly area, nurse’s office, and divisional offices create a secure and magical place for children to spend their day.
The core academic program in the Primary School focuses on reading, writing, grammar, spelling, arithmetic, and social studies. Beginning in Kindergarten, enrichment teachers and dedicated facilities for the study of science, computers, art, music, French, and physical education enhance the curriculum. Also, students enjoy visiting the Primary School’s library every week. The classrooms and facilities are designed for younger children and help to encourage the blossoming of creativity and inquisitiveness.
Recognizing that children grow in different ways, our teachers encourage children to develop their unique talents and interests. The children interact both in small groups and as a whole with their classmates, and enjoy a variety of engaging learning centers. Thus, each child’s day is filled with opportunities that are interactive, challenging, and fun.
The overall goal of the Primary School program is to seamlessly integrate with that of Lower School’s, and to encourage students to strive for a high level of academic achievement. Viewpoint’s philosophy maintains that a good education teaches children to think and to develop good judgment. The acquisition of these skills relies on a thorough interdisciplinary curriculum that relates all subject matter in a sequential manner. Our experience has shown that initial appropriate placement is the key to educational success; therefore, great care is taken to ascertain the developmental readiness of each child prior to admission.
MAKING GLOBAL CONNECTIONS: PRIMARY SCHOOL'S GLOBAL STUDIES MISSION
The Primary School's global studies mission is to send students to Lower School with a curiosity about the world and other cultures, an awareness of their place in the wider, diverse world, and an age-appropriate understanding of world geography. The students will also have a sense of their own worth and the worth of others as well as an appropriate understanding of social justice and moral responsibility. The students will gain an appreciation for cultural similarities and differences.
KINDERGARTEN OVERVIEW
The Kindergarten program introduces and develops academic skills in reading, language arts, printing, writing, and arithmetic. Critical thinking skills are encouraged and new concepts and techniques are presented sequentially. To balance the program, students engage in hands-on activities to help them grasp the application of basic concepts. Children also work at Centers – special locations set up around the room for activities, games, and puzzles, each designed to reinforce skills and concepts.
FIRST GRADE OVERVIEW
The First Grade program encourages students to develop fluency and confidence in oral reading. A variety of writing techniques are introduced and implemented throughout the year. In arithmetic, manipulatives reinforce basic skills. Emphasis is placed on number relationships and place value. Students have opportunities to work independently as well as participate in enrichment activities.
SECOND GRADE OVERVIEW
The Second Grade curriculum reviews, reinforces, and introduces concepts while preparing students for the independence required for success in Third Grade. After directed lessons, the students complete daily class work independently. Small motor skills are further developed with D’Nealian printing. Students are formally introduced to the writing process. They begin using a daily log to practice new concepts, record information, and keep track of homework.
ASSEMBLIES
Regular assemblies are a tradition at Viewpoint, and represent an integral part of the curriculum in Primary and Lower Schools. This time of coming together and sharing not only reinforces the idea that students belong to a community in which they should take pride, but also offers opportunities for students to develop and practice their public speaking and performing skills.
The Primary and Lower Schools each conduct their own separate regular assemblies, with a different class responsible for hosting and performing at each assembly. Traditions include the Pledge of Allegiance, patriotic song, the alma mater, and nondenominational prayer, as well as remarks from the Divisional Head and Headmaster. In addition, classes responsible for hosting and contributing prepare with their teachers to share their classroom experiences through skits, songs, dances, or poetry, all incorporated within the theme of each particular assembly.
Even the youngest children quickly become comfortable speaking and making presentations to an audience of their peers, teachers, and parents. Their fellow students as spectators learn the value of what it means to be an engaged audience, to listen politely to the performance, and to show appreciation for the performers’ hard work and preparation. As a sign of respect for this important regular community event, students wear more formal assembly-dress uniforms.
CHARACTER EDUCATION PROGRAM
Viewpoint’s character education program plants seeds of enthusiasm for building positive relationships, understanding the value of our presence in the world and seeing ourselves as active, responsible participants in our families, School and community. The curriculum offers a variety of opportunities to teach and reinforce virtues such as friendship, responsibility, compassion, and tolerance.
In Primary School, the character education program includes class discussions, books, and projects that help children to identify those values that best define a civilized society. Stretch the giraffe is the Primary School mascot for our character program. Each month, a different character trait is presented in the classroom and at assembly to encourage students to realize the benefit and value of an ethical and moral life. A portion of Viewpoint’s character education program encompasses the presentation to the children of Bible verses that affirm the program’s goals. Examples include Luke 6:31—“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” and Exodus 20:12—“Honor your fatherland your mother.” A complete list of these verses is available for reference in the Parent and Student Handbook.
MONTHLY CHARACTER TRAITS
September—Friendship
October—Responsibility
November—Respect
December—Compassion
January—Tolerance
February—Honesty
March—Courage
April—Respect for Environment
May—Loyalty
June—Family
COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM & PENNIES FOR PEACE
At Viewpoint, we are dedicated to the education of our students’ hearts as well as their minds. We strive to develop both intelligence and conscience. Volunteering helps students to explore their particular talents and skills and to learn from others with experiences different from their own.
Goals of the program include:
- To teach the value of compassion and caring.
- To learn how to put ideas into action.
- To become more aware of society’s needs and of an individual’s civic responsibility.
- To learn how one individual can be important to others.
- To gain personal experience and skills.
- To build self-esteem and self-reliance.
Primary School contributes annually to the Pennies for Peace Project. This project shows that even the smallest denomination in our currency, much like the smallest students in our community can make a significant difference in our world.
